Gabriel's Gift Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Gabriel's Gift Book

Gabriel's Gift is in many ways an old-fashioned coming-of-age novel that gives early adolescent angst its full pathos but Kureishi is saved from the potential mawkishness of his subject by prose attuned to the streets, pubs and people he writes about: The place was full of childish men from the post office and the local bus garage gazing up at the big TV screen. Dad's grey-faced mates were playing pool. They all looked the same to Gabriel with their roll-ups, pints and musty clothes. They rarely went out into the light, unless they stood outside the pub on a sunny day, and they were as likely to eat anything green, as they were to drink anything blue or wear anything pink. Gabriel's gift is that he is an artist trying to find his own colour-palette in the grey-tinged North London world described above and overcome the pain his parents' messy personal lives cause him. A meeting with Lester Jones, an ageing glam rock star, and former pal of Gabriel's somewhat hapless dad gives him the energy and opportunity to embark on his task of self-making and finding a better place in the world. Lester's lesson is that Gabriel's life and work need to be one thing. Gabriel's ally on this path is the voice of his remembered twin brother Archie. En route, his parents reconcile; his father finds some sense of purpose in teaching guitar and important friendships with his schoolmate Zak and the local gay restaurateur, Speedy, are formed. The tentative sweetness of its protagonist remains the novels greatest strength. The writing is wistful, almost whimsical, though one misses a little of the anarchic nastiness that characterised the best of Kureishi's earlier work. --Neville Hoad Read More

from£1.92 | RRP: £6.99
* Excludes Voucher Code Discount Also available Used from £2.19
  • Amazon

    The protagonist of Hanif Kureishi's delightful novel is Gabriel, a fifteen-year-old North London schoolboy trying to come to terms with a new life, after the equilibrium of his family home has been shattered by the ousting of his father.Fending for himself, as well as providing emotional support to his confused (and confusing) parents. Gabriel is forced to grow up quickly. The only support he can draw upon is from his remembered twin brother, Archie, and from his own "gift", which is accompanied by sensations that urge him into areas of life requiring the utmost courage and faith. A chance visit to seventies rock star Lester Jones crystalizes the turbulent emotions inside Gabriel, and helps him to recognize and engage with his gift...

  • ASDA

    The protagonist of this novel is a 15-year-old North London schoolboy called Gabriel. He is forced to come to terms with a new life and use his gift for painting in order to make sense of his world once the equilibrium of the family has been shattered by his father's departure.

  • 0571209297
  • 9780571209293
  • Hanif Kureishi
  • 18 March 2002
  • Faber and Faber
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 178
  • New edition
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through any of the links below and make a purchase we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Click here to learn more.

Would you like your name to appear with the review?

We will post your book review within a day or so as long as it meets our guidelines and terms and conditions. All reviews submitted become the licensed property of www.find-book.co.uk as written in our terms and conditions. None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.

All form fields are required.