B-format paperback, 256 pages
English language
Published by And Other Stories.
Cabbages . . . The Turkish variety are prized for their enlarged leaf bud, that’s where we put the heroin . . .
There’s a stash of heroin waiting to be imported, and no one seems sure what to do with it . . . But Ayla’s a gardener, and she has a plan.
Offering a fresh and funny take on the machinery of the North London heroin trade, Keeping the House lifts the lid on a covert world thriving just beneath notice: not only in McDonald’s queues and men’s clubs, but in spotless living rooms and whispering kitchens. Spanning three generations, this is the story of the women who keep their family – and their family business – afloat, juggling everything from police surveillance to trickier questions of community, belonging and love.
So, in my opinion, the novel format kind of fails her. But, you know, I guess it's a matter of taste. Would suggest to read an excerpt first. Would appeal you more if you're a migrant or of migrant background and if you live in the UK.
