Product Description

Sarfraz Manzoor was two years old when his family emigrated from Pakistan to join his father in Bury Park, Luton. His teenage years were a constant battle to reconcile being both British and Muslim. But when his best friend introduced him to Bruce Springsteen, his life changed for ever. In this affectionate and timely memoir, Manzoor retraces his journey from the frustrations of his childhood to his reaction to the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7. Original, darkly tender and wryly amusing, this is an inspiring tribute to the power of music to transcend race and religion and a moving account of a relationship between father and son.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70087 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'Beautiful and moving ... a book to make you believe that we are all more alike than we know' Tony Parsons 'While the book is about many things - the impact of multi-culturalism, a coming-of-age story and a Nick Hornby-style documentation of musical obsession - it is Manzoor's relationship with his father that lies at its heart' Independent 'Every detail rings so true that you feel you have been offered a seat in his living-room. Suffusing all this is Manzoor's warm, humane, unsensational voice: it makes you want to extend the hand of friendship to him' Sunday Telegraph 'A small wonder - the end result is genuinely moving rites-of-passage in which pop music plays an essential role' Mojo

About the Author
Sarfraz Manzoor is a writer, broadcaster and documentary maker. He has written and presented documentaries for BBC 2, Radio 4 and Radio 2. Prior to his broadcasting career, Sarfraz Manzoor was a deputy commissioning editor at Channel 4, and before that spent 5 years as producer and reporter on Channel 4 News. His written work as appeared in publications as diverse as the Guardian, Daily Mail, Marie Claire, the Independent, the Observer, Uncut, Spectator, Prospect and New Statesman.

Customer Reviews

Warm, engaging, touching
As a huge Springsteen fan for over 30 years I came to the book expecting fan worship; what I didn't expect was a warm and engaging book about Father-Son relationships.

I will pass the book to my son - maybe it will explain some things to him.


And the Springsteen bits were very very good.

Interesting but slighlty repetitive
This is a good book, I found myself laughing out loud at various points and Manzoor is a talented writer. He frequently teases out hypocrises and creates a vivid picture of his somewhat miserable existence in Luton in the 1980s. However, I only give the book 4*s because there are many events or incidents that Manzoor repeats - for instance, his friend and he visit the Twin Towers in New York and this incident is covered twice. Given that the book is fairly short as it is I felt this was unnecessary. I enjoyed his reflections on Mr Springsteen though!

A real gem!
At a time when young Muslim men are only mentioned in the media in relation to terrorism, it is extremely refreshing to hear the story of a young Muslim man who doesn't fulfil that stereotype. Manzoor's tale of growing up in Luton uses warmth and humour to describe his struggle to balance the demands of family life and culture with his personal hopes and dreams. He articulates with great honesty and accuracy the difficult relationship he had with his father and the experiences and pressures faced by second generation British Muslims.

The antidote to the trials and tribulations in Manzoor's home life arrives in the form of Bruce Springsteen and the enthusiasm with which he conveys this life changing discovery is inspiring to say the least. Springsteen's music acts as a healing balm, offering understanding and solace to a young man struggling to reconcile the expectations of his father with his ambitions. Islam and Springsteen may make an unlikely pairing, but Manzoor proves that, in his heart at least, they can sit alongside one another in harmony.

Manzoor's writing takes the reader on a journey that covers the entire emotional spectrum and leaves one feeling content in the knowledge that his battles, and indeed his father's battles before him to create a better life, were worth the pain and effort. Reading this book reminded me of my own relationship with my family and the journey that my parents have made from their homeland. It also made me feel less alone with my experience of being a second generation British Muslim.

This book won't only appeal to Muslims though. This is a story about growing up in an uninspiring English town, the complicated dynamics of family life, and the decisions and sacrifices one can make to influence the path that their life takes. Manzoor is certainly one home-grown Muslim we should be proud of.