cpointing's review against another edition
4.0
I remember watching Anita and Me repeatedly as a teenager with my sister; it was one of our favourite films at the time. Fast forward some 15 years or so walking into the library with my children, and what book should I see promoted at the front other than Anita and Me. I was absolutely thrilled and nostalgia urged me to pick up the book. I remembered the main plot and characters and was excited to get lost into an old familiar world.
The book is set in the early 70s yet I found much of it easy to relate to my own childhood: disapproving friendships, walking the local streets with said friends, occasionally getting up to mischief. The way that Meera Syal writes the story you genuinely feel as though Meena is real and talking you through her experiences; as if she was on old friend reminiscing on the old times.
Meena is a cheeky and feisty young girl with a huge imagination. The village of Tollington is far too small to contain such a vivid personality. Although Meena is certainly not perfect, she is young and learning about life and relationships, and the reader gets to grow with her. Meena begins the story as a young girl who idolises her slightly older neighbour, Anita Rutter. Anita has a bad attitude, is dishonest and troublesome, yet this only intrigues Meena more. Although Anita is seen as a bad egg, the reader is often reminded of her troubled family life, particularly through her relationship with her mother, and it is often easy to forgive her mishaps.
The relationship of Anita and Meena does seem odd at times; I wonder why a girl of Anita’s age and seeming popularity would want to hang around with Meena. To begin with Anita has her girl gang of Sherrie and Fat Sally but these relationships deteriorate, as all relationships with Anita do. Perhaps Anita uses Meena to boost her own status and indeed to have someone else to boss around.
Like most (if not all) parents in the book, Meena’s parents are dismayed to find Meena hanging around with Anita and consequently landing herself in trouble multiple times through out the book. They are already concerned about Meena’s vivid imagination and tall tales so the last thing they had hoped for was a bad influence on their daughter.
Meena feels as if she is not quite where she should be: a daughter of Punjabi parents born in an all white village in England. Meena knows no Punjabi, she yearns to eat English frozen food for dinner and wear clothes her white friends wear. Mostly, she wants to be nothing like her Indian cousins Pinky and Baby who are well behaved, intelligent but also far too straight for Meena’s liking. Meena is rebellious and brave and wants to fit in with the other Tollington wenches.
Racism is a theme through out the novel; not only do we see the casual racism of the time, but also how violent it could be. We also learn about the Indian partition and how horrific it would have been for those living through such a time.
Overall the book is a good blend of highs and lows, two worlds colliding. I loved the mixture of English and Indian culture, especially through Nanima who comes to stay with Meena. It is through Nanima that Meena really starts to embrace her Indian heritage and to feel proud of who she is and where she is from. It is also through Anita that Meena gains confidence to be herself and walk away from toxic friendships. By the end of the book I felt proud of how far Meena had come, and positive for the future of her supportive family who always did seem a bit misplaced compared to the majority of the brash Tollington Ballbearings women and co.
The book is set in the early 70s yet I found much of it easy to relate to my own childhood: disapproving friendships, walking the local streets with said friends, occasionally getting up to mischief. The way that Meera Syal writes the story you genuinely feel as though Meena is real and talking you through her experiences; as if she was on old friend reminiscing on the old times.
Meena is a cheeky and feisty young girl with a huge imagination. The village of Tollington is far too small to contain such a vivid personality. Although Meena is certainly not perfect, she is young and learning about life and relationships, and the reader gets to grow with her. Meena begins the story as a young girl who idolises her slightly older neighbour, Anita Rutter. Anita has a bad attitude, is dishonest and troublesome, yet this only intrigues Meena more. Although Anita is seen as a bad egg, the reader is often reminded of her troubled family life, particularly through her relationship with her mother, and it is often easy to forgive her mishaps.
The relationship of Anita and Meena does seem odd at times; I wonder why a girl of Anita’s age and seeming popularity would want to hang around with Meena. To begin with Anita has her girl gang of Sherrie and Fat Sally but these relationships deteriorate, as all relationships with Anita do. Perhaps Anita uses Meena to boost her own status and indeed to have someone else to boss around.
Like most (if not all) parents in the book, Meena’s parents are dismayed to find Meena hanging around with Anita and consequently landing herself in trouble multiple times through out the book. They are already concerned about Meena’s vivid imagination and tall tales so the last thing they had hoped for was a bad influence on their daughter.
Meena feels as if she is not quite where she should be: a daughter of Punjabi parents born in an all white village in England. Meena knows no Punjabi, she yearns to eat English frozen food for dinner and wear clothes her white friends wear. Mostly, she wants to be nothing like her Indian cousins Pinky and Baby who are well behaved, intelligent but also far too straight for Meena’s liking. Meena is rebellious and brave and wants to fit in with the other Tollington wenches.
Racism is a theme through out the novel; not only do we see the casual racism of the time, but also how violent it could be. We also learn about the Indian partition and how horrific it would have been for those living through such a time.
Overall the book is a good blend of highs and lows, two worlds colliding. I loved the mixture of English and Indian culture, especially through Nanima who comes to stay with Meena. It is through Nanima that Meena really starts to embrace her Indian heritage and to feel proud of who she is and where she is from. It is also through Anita that Meena gains confidence to be herself and walk away from toxic friendships. By the end of the book I felt proud of how far Meena had come, and positive for the future of her supportive family who always did seem a bit misplaced compared to the majority of the brash Tollington Ballbearings women and co.
urvishah's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
05hamiltonk's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly loved this book more than I can put into words. Its absolutely perfect and captures the time so incredibly. The issues she describes so well; the realisation of racism amongst your friends, the feeling of being an outsider, being embarrassed of your parents/culture, etc is something that any person of colour can relate to so much who grew up in a white area. It's not often put into words. Absolutely hilarious but touching too all at the same time. I am so thankful for this book. Also Meena is just a fucking character, love her!
simmykapoor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
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
3.5
erin_jessie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
platosfire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
Anita and Me...a comic look at a troubled time, highlighting the tensions that come from the clash of cultures within its setting.
Nine year old Meena comes from a nice Punjabi family. Her parents are reluctant to let her forget her cultural roots, but Meena is at the age where she is more focused on the immediate. As the only coloured family in the small mining town of Tollington Meena is desperate to fit in with her peers...and the local ‘queen bee’ Anita. Inevitably, this doesn’t always go well.
The clash of Meena’s home life and her environment is written about with great comedic focus. It’s hard to laugh at some of these events and attitudes at the same time as hanging your head that this was the reality.
On occasion certain characters are, perhaps, exaggerated to develop a point. However, on the whole this was a good-humoured look at a key moment in time.
Nine year old Meena comes from a nice Punjabi family. Her parents are reluctant to let her forget her cultural roots, but Meena is at the age where she is more focused on the immediate. As the only coloured family in the small mining town of Tollington Meena is desperate to fit in with her peers...and the local ‘queen bee’ Anita. Inevitably, this doesn’t always go well.
The clash of Meena’s home life and her environment is written about with great comedic focus. It’s hard to laugh at some of these events and attitudes at the same time as hanging your head that this was the reality.
On occasion certain characters are, perhaps, exaggerated to develop a point. However, on the whole this was a good-humoured look at a key moment in time.
la_karina1818's review against another edition
4.0
It was an alright story
The atmosphere of 1970s England was iconic
The message of the acceptance yet segregation between Asians and British people was subtle yet important
A story about how friendships could actually be quite toxic
The atmosphere of 1970s England was iconic
The message of the acceptance yet segregation between Asians and British people was subtle yet important
A story about how friendships could actually be quite toxic
mayankshah's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.25
laurarosessupposes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Witty, tragic, and emotional. Enjoyable read.