The Tinner's Hounds

These caused quite a stir when installed a few years back.  Estimated to cost £30,000 to make, these bronze dog statues were cast out of old miner's boots and the references made by the locals ranged from 'Mildly amusing' to 'grotesque...a waste of tax payers money.'  I think they are rather endearing and I am sure the furor has died down somewhat now.

( Dogs Close Up )

Brick Lane

I finished Brick Lane last night and my first impression is that it was a very descriptive book, which conjured up the image of an east London street, which has a history of multi-national immigrants living there.  Today and in Ali's book, it is a Bangladeshi-Sylheti community, where racial and religious conflict are never far away.  The older characters are well-fleshed out, not so much in regards to Nazneen and Karim, which is a disappointment.  Maybe Ali decided that as they were centre stage, they didn't need as much character - I felt that they were a bit lifeless in comparison to the rest.

It is a good book, though I must admit I should have read it during the day when I am awake, rather than late at night when I am trying to read two chapters before I sleep.  Therefore, I found it too protracted, especially as it is a large book.   I also found that some of the plot was over described - maybe a little 'show' rather than 'tell' would have been better.  Nevertheless, I think it is a book that I will come back to and I would like to see how it translated to the big screen.

Monica Ali: Brick Lane Done :-)