Arjan Banga, the son of Indian immigrants, is happy with his life. Living in a hip part of London he has it all: an interesting job, a beautiful flat and a glamorous English fiance. Then the sudden death of his Father forces him to return home and work alongside his Mother in the family corner shop. Reevaluating his life and priorities Arjan sets about finding his long lost Aunt Surinder intending to reunite her with his Mother, but can he reconcile his family responsibilities with his modern day independence and carefree lifestyle?
Alternating between the present day family and the family as it was in the 1960's we learn that the stories of Arjan and Surinder echo each other. Both serve as a commentary on the clashes of two different lifestyles and cultures, as well as highlighting the differences between the generations and their changing views over the years.
Marriage Material is quite a complex tale. It took me a little time to get into it but once I was I was hooked. It is very observant, it is also very humorous and there are plenty of side plots and stories to entertain. I liked Sathnam Sanghera's writing style, the tale flowed nicely, the characters were totally believable and there were many small details that made the story very realistic. I found myself rooting for Arjan and his family throughout the book and I loved how it ended.
Recommended.
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