Really interesting idea and I thought, from a sociological perspective, it would be innovative and more engaging. I found the narrator really difficult to engage with and was constantly fighting to remain within the story. For this reason I didn't actually finish the book, but think the audio was a more challenging way to read it.

This is a period in history I remember very well. Although as a white, middle class teenager living in North West London, I couldn't possible imagine the the daily hardships and established, ingrained racism our black residents were expected to live with. A case of put up and shut up. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could say that level of abuse no longer existed - maybe one day.. The story is very cleverly told using the language of Brixton in the 80s. That required real focus on my part to make sure I was following the dialogue correctly. But it gave the book great authenticity and I had a strong feeling of being in the 1980s. I had the impression that this story came straight from the author's heart and he constructed a very emotional, highly charged piece of writing and because I could feel how important this book was for him, it became important to me too. Choices had to be made, and lives lived in the full glare of judgemental Britain A hugely enjoyable listen with lots of heart felt emotions