Londonstani
Encyclopedia
Londonstani is the name of Gautam Malkani
's debut novel
published in the United Kingdom
in 2006. The book's name is derived from the setting of the novel, London
, and the story's subject matter, the lives of second and third generation South Asian immigrants. The book was highly promoted, but did not do well commercially.
The novel was a "much-anticipated debut" well before its release, as a result of the book's reception at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair
and the six-figure advance reportedly paid for the rights to the book by publishing company Fourth Estate
. Moreover, the novel promised a portrait of the kind of British young man who might have been involved in the 7 July 2005 London bombings
. Publication was accompanied by an expensive promotion campaign including a tour of the United States. According to Time
magazine, the advance for the book as the first part of a two-book deal was $675,000. Despite the attention paid to the book, sales were relatively weak and by April 2008 only 15,000 copies had been sold. The Guardian
reported that people in the publishing industry started talking of the "Londonstani effect"--when a much-hyped novel can't sell as well as was expected.
, a London
neighborhood, and its main character is a young man, Jas, who joins a gang of Sikh
and Hindu
youngsters making a living on the side unlocking stolen cell phones. When they take a phone from the wrong person, Jas and his three friends become engaged in "a shadowy scheme that leads to Terrible Consequences." Besides being pursued by gangsters, Jas also has to deal with cultural problems after he falls in love with a Muslim
girl.
and Tim Martin, both writing in The Independent
, called the novel "a competent debut by a talented writer" and "a bold and vigorous debut," respectively.
The novel's language is a mixture of different British dialects (including texting abbreviations), which critics such as Tim Martin ("The addictive exuberance of Jas's patter is also a form of literary prestidigitation") seem to approve of. Others are less convinced. Suhayl Saadi (a writer of Pakistani descent), for instance, praises "the powerful, sometimes homoerotic, depiction of violence and sexual frustration" but notes that the "good" people in the novel all tend to speak in a proper kind of British English: "Empathy is created for South Asians only if they speak with a British accent," and this linguistic stereotyping leads Saadi to a damning conclusion: "This is a shabby, 21st-century, Orientalism and is not dissimilar from the mentality via which the Middle East is being re-colonised."
The plot, and especially the ending, was praised by some and severely criticized by others. Tim Martin praised the "shattering twist that maintains total narrative cogency while turning the entire book upside down," but Suhayl Saadi calls it "contrived and unconvincing" and complains of a "clunky" plot. James Bridle, on ReadySteadyBook, agrees, in an otherwise positive review: "The less said about the final twist, which smacks of rushed, massive-advance-mediated desperation, the better." Mandy Sayer, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, praises the novel for exuding a "charming, original energy" but criticizes "the surprise ending and resolution [which] is disappointing, cliched and trite." Her overall conclusion: "As a contemporary cultural artefact, Londonstani is second to none. As a novel, it is overwritten and undercrafted. I have no doubt it will do very well."
Within two years after its publication, Londonstani became the subject of a full-length academic article: "Escaping the Matrix" by Michael Mitchell studies the book for its perspective on multi-cultural England.
, praised the novel's language ("The novel is written in an imaginative mix of English, Punjabi, Urdu, profanity, gangsta rap and mobile-phone texting") in an altogether positive article. The New York Times book editors picked the novel as an "Editor's choice" in August 2006. A full-length review in the New York Times was mixed, criticizing its "teenage flaws" and "an embarrassingly sophomoric twist for a denouement"; still, Sophie Harrison praised its "extra-aural overtones."
In the Netherlands, responses were positive and both novel and author received a great deal of coverage. NRC Handelsblad
published a lengthy review, which concluded by calling the book an interesting debut by a promising writer. Vrij Nederland
published a lengthy interview with the author (he was in the Netherlands promoting the book). VPRO
's 3VOOR12
reported on the 2006 edition (named "Londonstani," after Malkani's novel) of "Crossing Border," an annual festival in The Hague
which combines music and literature, featured Dutch and British bands (including Panjabi Hit Squad
and British Asian Ms Scandalous
), and Malkani reading passages from his book. A review on a Hindu
website praised the novel for its many deftly handled and relevant plotlines and its linguistic qualities, and saw Malkani's portrayal of "Londonstanis" as relevant to "Hollandistanis" also. Trouw
, however, called the book shallow, and Dutch writer Robert Vuijsje called it the worst book of the year.
Londonstani appears to have received little attention in the German or French press, and what attention it got was negative.
Gautam Malkani
Gautam Malkani is a journalist for The Financial Times, and the author of the novel Londonstani. He has worked on the FT's UK news desk in London as well as in the Washington bureau. He is currently the head of the newspaper's Creative Business section....
's debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
published in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2006. The book's name is derived from the setting of the novel, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the story's subject matter, the lives of second and third generation South Asian immigrants. The book was highly promoted, but did not do well commercially.
The novel was a "much-anticipated debut" well before its release, as a result of the book's reception at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. As to the number of visitors, the Turin Book Fair attracts about as many visitors, viz. some 300,000....
and the six-figure advance reportedly paid for the rights to the book by publishing company Fourth Estate
Fourth Estate
The concept of the Fourth Estate is a societal or political force or institution whose influence is not consistently or officially recognized. The Fourth Estate now most commonly refers to the news media; especially print journalism, referred to hereon as "The Press"...
. Moreover, the novel promised a portrait of the kind of British young man who might have been involved in the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
. Publication was accompanied by an expensive promotion campaign including a tour of the United States. According to Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine, the advance for the book as the first part of a two-book deal was $675,000. Despite the attention paid to the book, sales were relatively weak and by April 2008 only 15,000 copies had been sold. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that people in the publishing industry started talking of the "Londonstani effect"--when a much-hyped novel can't sell as well as was expected.
Contents
The novel's action is set in HounslowHounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
, a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
neighborhood, and its main character is a young man, Jas, who joins a gang of Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
youngsters making a living on the side unlocking stolen cell phones. When they take a phone from the wrong person, Jas and his three friends become engaged in "a shadowy scheme that leads to Terrible Consequences." Besides being pursued by gangsters, Jas also has to deal with cultural problems after he falls in love with a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
girl.
Critical reception
Criticism in the British press seemed in agreement that the novel is a notable debut. Suhayl SaadiSuhayl Saadi
Suhayl Saadi is a physician, author and dramatist based in Glasgow, Scotland. His varied literary output includes novels, short stories, anthologies of fiction, song lyrics, plays for stage and radio theatre, and wisdom pieces for The Dawn Patrol, the Sarah Kennedy show on BBC Radio...
and Tim Martin, both writing in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, called the novel "a competent debut by a talented writer" and "a bold and vigorous debut," respectively.
The novel's language is a mixture of different British dialects (including texting abbreviations), which critics such as Tim Martin ("The addictive exuberance of Jas's patter is also a form of literary prestidigitation") seem to approve of. Others are less convinced. Suhayl Saadi (a writer of Pakistani descent), for instance, praises "the powerful, sometimes homoerotic, depiction of violence and sexual frustration" but notes that the "good" people in the novel all tend to speak in a proper kind of British English: "Empathy is created for South Asians only if they speak with a British accent," and this linguistic stereotyping leads Saadi to a damning conclusion: "This is a shabby, 21st-century, Orientalism and is not dissimilar from the mentality via which the Middle East is being re-colonised."
The plot, and especially the ending, was praised by some and severely criticized by others. Tim Martin praised the "shattering twist that maintains total narrative cogency while turning the entire book upside down," but Suhayl Saadi calls it "contrived and unconvincing" and complains of a "clunky" plot. James Bridle, on ReadySteadyBook, agrees, in an otherwise positive review: "The less said about the final twist, which smacks of rushed, massive-advance-mediated desperation, the better." Mandy Sayer, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, praises the novel for exuding a "charming, original energy" but criticizes "the surprise ending and resolution [which] is disappointing, cliched and trite." Her overall conclusion: "As a contemporary cultural artefact, Londonstani is second to none. As a novel, it is overwritten and undercrafted. I have no doubt it will do very well."
Within two years after its publication, Londonstani became the subject of a full-length academic article: "Escaping the Matrix" by Michael Mitchell studies the book for its perspective on multi-cultural England.
Reception outside the UK
Critics in the United States were generally positive. Donald Morrison, in TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, praised the novel's language ("The novel is written in an imaginative mix of English, Punjabi, Urdu, profanity, gangsta rap and mobile-phone texting") in an altogether positive article. The New York Times book editors picked the novel as an "Editor's choice" in August 2006. A full-length review in the New York Times was mixed, criticizing its "teenage flaws" and "an embarrassingly sophomoric twist for a denouement"; still, Sophie Harrison praised its "extra-aural overtones."
In the Netherlands, responses were positive and both novel and author received a great deal of coverage. NRC Handelsblad
NRC Handelsblad
NRC Handelsblad, often abbreviated to NRC, is a daily evening newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. The newspaper was created on October 1, 1970, from merger of the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad . In 2006 a morning newspaper, nrc•next, was launched...
published a lengthy review, which concluded by calling the book an interesting debut by a promising writer. Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland is a Dutch magazine which was established during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II as an underground newspaper but has since grown into a magazine. The weekly magazine is generally considered to be intellectually left-wing...
published a lengthy interview with the author (he was in the Netherlands promoting the book). VPRO
VPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
's 3VOOR12
3VOOR12
3VOOR12 is a multimedia platform of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting VPRO for alternative pop.3VOOR12 has 2 digital television channels , different radio channels ranging from punk, Roots and Alternative rock to metal), radioprograms on 3FM, a website and a weekly live event...
reported on the 2006 edition (named "Londonstani," after Malkani's novel) of "Crossing Border," an annual festival in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
which combines music and literature, featured Dutch and British bands (including Panjabi Hit Squad
Panjabi Hit Squad
Panjabi Hit Squad are a group of Asian artists signed to the UK imprint of Hip-Hop giant, Def Jam. The members all grew up in Southall, UK. As well as working with various high-profile acts such as Mariah Carey, Ashanti, and Sway, they also work with community projects such as youth project BBC...
and British Asian Ms Scandalous
Ms Scandalous
Ms Scandalous is a British Asian bhangra/rap artist.She was born in Southall, West London, to a Punjabi family, and was signed up by Panjabi Hit Squad after she was spotted working part-time at a music store in Southall, and asked to audition on the spot...
), and Malkani reading passages from his book. A review on a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
website praised the novel for its many deftly handled and relevant plotlines and its linguistic qualities, and saw Malkani's portrayal of "Londonstanis" as relevant to "Hollandistanis" also. Trouw
Trouw
Trouw is a Dutch daily newspaper. "Trouw" is a Dutch word meaning "fidelity", "loyalty", or "allegiance", and is cognate with the English adjective "true"...
, however, called the book shallow, and Dutch writer Robert Vuijsje called it the worst book of the year.
Londonstani appears to have received little attention in the German or French press, and what attention it got was negative.