With Penguin General.
In celebration of South Asian History Month, Penguin General has kindly selected a few readers to receive a collection of stunning books.
The Boy With The Topknot by Sathnam Sanghera:
"It's 1979, I'm three years old, and like all breakfast times during my youth it begins with Mum combing my hair, a ritual for which I have to sit down on the second-hand, floral-patterned settee, and lean forward, like I'm presenting myself for execution."
For Sathnam Sanghera, growing up in Wolverhampton during the 1980s was a complex experience. On one hand, it was a vibrant era filled with George Michael mixtapes, the allure of Dallas on television, and the occasional indulgence of a Bounty Bar. On the other hand, it involved navigating a childhood characterized by a wardrobe of tartan smocks, a modest 30p-an-hour job at a local sewing factory, and the ongoing quest to master the perfect top knot.
Amid these contrasts, Sathnam also grappled with his family's peculiar and often challenging behaviours, which he accepted as normal until a profound revelation at the age of twenty-four altered his perspective entirely. With remarkable courage and a keen sense of humour, he embarks on a journey to unravel their extraordinary history, tracing his father’s difficult life in rural Punjab to the bustling streets of Wolverhampton. In doing so, he seeks to make sense of a life shrouded in secrets and discover the deeper truths that define his family's legacy.
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You People by Nikita Lalwani:
You People is an intriguing narrative set in a seemingly ordinary Italian restaurant in London, distinguished by its Sri Lankan chefs and kitchen staff made up largely of undocumented immigrants.
The story centres around Tuli, the restaurant's charismatic owner and a modern-day Robin Hood, who is dedicated to helping those in need. Among his patrons are Nia, a nineteen-year-old Welsh girl fleeing her troubled family, and Shan, a refugee escaping the Sri Lankan civil war in search of his own family.
As Tuli guides Nia and Shan, they find themselves drawn into a dangerous web of secrets that challenges their morals and survival instincts. The unfolding of Tuli's mysterious operation forces each character to confront difficult ethical dilemmas, ultimately leading to the question of how far one would go to deceive in the pursuit of survival when the law is stacked against them.
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