Reviews

Esikaupunkien buddha by Hanif Kureishi

crisisaurora's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

iloveyoutoad's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

eyoung19's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kate_st's review against another edition

challenging funny tense medium-paced

3.5

I find it difficult to identify with protagonists who are emotionally distant wanderers through the plot, but by the second half I was attached to him anyway. This book is bonkers and funny and very smutty but all in a disturbing way (which is a good way to also describe British cultural politics, so…). I’m glad it’s for book club so I’ll get to think about it and discuss it more. 

peachiepeachie's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition

4.0

Smart, entertaining and funny with a dry English sense of humor. Sometimes a little bit too theatrical (as in: like a play) for my taste, but I breezed through it. I liked how it dealt with topics of sexuality, cultural identity, and politics with such ease - the main character Karim is bisexual Indian-Englishman from London sometimes milking rich people for 'The party' but not going to the important political protest because he can't be arsed. He stumbles through the novel, permanently without direction beyond immediate needs.

One other small caveat: Some of the sex scenes/talk was a little weird. I think the crudeness and strangeness added humor at times, but other times it was a bit much.

m_sesoko's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

freshkatsu's review against another edition

3.0

alex_weixler's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

mayankshah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0