- The Guardian,
- Friday October 20 2000
This is the book that took our longlisters by surprise: a novel of fantasy versus reality set in the mind of an Indian teenager who imagines herself as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's while battling with the expectations of her southern Indian society.
Judging by the paucity of critical response, it took everyone else by surprise too. It was reviewed in only two places, with Andrew Biswell in the Daily Telegraph praising its ability to combine a bawdy, comic style with moments of seriousness and emotional depth. In the Guardian, meanwhile, Lisa Darnell found it colourful, spirited and crackling with charm.
But the reading group at Borders in Cheshire Oaks - one of four that are helping to decide the shortlist for the award - were not quite so impressed. They found the characters a bit cartoonish, although they felt its underlying themes were strong, and particlarly liked the way it dealt with class.
