A review by bibliobethreads
Who They Was by Gabriel Krauze
4.0
I started Who They Was with genuine intrigue and excitement. Even though it was long-listed for the Booker Prize, I had still not heard very much about it or seen it discussed in any great depth. I wasn’t prepared for such a powerful story, made all the more poignant by it being autobiographical.
Gabriel straddles two lives - one in which he’s a highly intelligent student of English Literature at university and the other on the streets of London as part of a gang, known as Snoopz. The novel explores the hard, dangerous edge to this young man’s life when he becomes embroiled in drugs, guns, stabbing and robberies.
As Gabriel juggles the two sides of himself, he learns the importance of having a loving family, nurses betrayal from disloyal friends and comes to terms with the consequences of what his actions and reactions may mean for his future.
Who They Was is not an easy read but it felt so authentic, fresh and current with its bird’s eye view of the gang culture, slang and rules of the London streets. Having those two sides to Gabriel felt really important and I was often heartbroken that he was so heavily invested in his life as Snoopz.
I’ll never be able to fully imagine or appreciate what life is like for kids who become involved in that world but I want to thank the author from the bottom of my heart for giving me a glimpse and for educating me in a really honest and open way.
This is the sort of story that lingers long after you’ve finished. It’s only now when I look back on it that I realise how much I enjoyed being immersed in Krauze’s narrative. Bursting with bold, colourful characters and some real thought-provoking passages, I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
Four stars
Gabriel straddles two lives - one in which he’s a highly intelligent student of English Literature at university and the other on the streets of London as part of a gang, known as Snoopz. The novel explores the hard, dangerous edge to this young man’s life when he becomes embroiled in drugs, guns, stabbing and robberies.
As Gabriel juggles the two sides of himself, he learns the importance of having a loving family, nurses betrayal from disloyal friends and comes to terms with the consequences of what his actions and reactions may mean for his future.
Who They Was is not an easy read but it felt so authentic, fresh and current with its bird’s eye view of the gang culture, slang and rules of the London streets. Having those two sides to Gabriel felt really important and I was often heartbroken that he was so heavily invested in his life as Snoopz.
I’ll never be able to fully imagine or appreciate what life is like for kids who become involved in that world but I want to thank the author from the bottom of my heart for giving me a glimpse and for educating me in a really honest and open way.
This is the sort of story that lingers long after you’ve finished. It’s only now when I look back on it that I realise how much I enjoyed being immersed in Krauze’s narrative. Bursting with bold, colourful characters and some real thought-provoking passages, I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
Four stars