kelbi's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Complicated. Thoughtful. Always interesting. A snapshot of life in a London street. Totally untypical of the rest of the country, but maybe faithful to that part of the capital
jjb21's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Tales of random people on a street, just like Scotland Street. Enjoyable read. Not the trickiest twist to figure out!
elliesjenna's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
zamantoleafoa's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A low read but reaches a nice crescendo. Has a ruminative feel to it.
maravictorine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
jurgitasir's review against another edition
4.0
It took me quite a while to read this book. At nearly 600 pages it's not a small book as it is, but what made me slow down considerable was the way the story was told. There is very little dialog in this book. It's almost completely written in thoughts and musing of the main characters. But this is probably how they managed to get under my skin. At one point I actually didn't want to read because I was so worried what is going to happen to one of the characters.
This book gets to you slowly. You don't even notice when you start to care about everyone in it.
I am not a great reader of contemporary fiction but in the end and really enjoyed the whole story.
This book gets to you slowly. You don't even notice when you start to care about everyone in it.
I am not a great reader of contemporary fiction but in the end and really enjoyed the whole story.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
Pepys Road is a microcosm of London society in the 2000s, a south London street which is becoming gentrified and desirable. Rich bankers and football players live cheek by jowl with older, original residents and the corner shop is run by a family of Pakistani immigrants. The traffic warden is an African asylum-seeker, the builders are Polish and the nannies speak English as a foreign language. Pepys Road hides secrets as all streets do but someone starts sending postcards and DVDs the the residents, all saying the same thing - We Want What you Have.
Every character in this book is a cliche, from the shocking conceptual artist who is nice middle class boy from Essex to the pompous immigration judge who is more concerned with people working illegally than with human rights, but that is what makes it such a great read. Each individual has their own story and each story is believable as it resonates with tales told in the media. The prose is fizzy and whole thing is both a parody and a parable - like Dickens de nous jours
Every character in this book is a cliche, from the shocking conceptual artist who is nice middle class boy from Essex to the pompous immigration judge who is more concerned with people working illegally than with human rights, but that is what makes it such a great read. Each individual has their own story and each story is believable as it resonates with tales told in the media. The prose is fizzy and whole thing is both a parody and a parable - like Dickens de nous jours
dustfeather's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hannahnott's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
s_i_h's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75