For all of us who loved Meera Syal's book 'Anita and Me', this book is an absolute must. In the same way that I personally identified with the characters in Anita and me, I felt a strong affinity with the players in this new book.

The book is essentially a story of friendship, marriage, love and betrayal in the lives of three Indian girls who grew up together in London's East End in the 1970s and 80s. Each chapter flicks into the individual lives of Chila, Sunita and Tania, although the main thread of the story revolves abound Chila.

Chila, the quiet, gentle (simple?) girl next door who never dreamt that she would get such a good catch is introduced to and marries Deepak. Sunita, the militant student lawyer falls in love with and marries Akash, another idealist. Two children follow quickly and she settles down into unhappy middle-aged motherhood before her time - her only external lifeline being her work as a legal adviser in a Citizens Advice Bureau. Tanya, the rebel who never felt that she belonged anywhere breaks from her family and embarks upon a high profile TV producer's career and acquires an English live-in boyfriend.

Syal cleverly threads the story through meetings, event and tragedy. Affairs, betrayal and break-ups follow as the story unfolds. I guarantee that every reader (Indian or not) will recognise someone they know in this book. Whether it's one of the main characters or one of the many other people who walk across the pages of this book.

Syal has a real gift for describing characters with their foibles - the elderly aunts and uncles that we all have; the almost surreal description of Deepak on his white horse trotting through the East End on a snowy day to his wedding ceremony; the young Indian couple going through counselling with Akash…..these are just a few that stuck in my mind.

Meera Syal has dedicated this book to the 'East London kuriyaan'. I believe that this book is for all the 'kuriyaan' wherever we were brought up in the UK. We are all, or have all been through the same journey that Syal describes. And we know that, as the title says, Life isn't all ha ha hee hee!

Click here to buy 'Life Isn't all ha ha hee hee!' TODAY!

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