Boundary Road by  Ami Rao

Boundary Road

Ami Rao

Aron and Nora travel on the number 13 bus across London during the rush hour. What emerges is a vivid and compassionate portrait of multi-cultural London. They talk to some passengers and observe others. An unexpected page turner and you will find yourself caring about everyone you meet on the journey.

Extract

It's an inspired month, August, he always thought, an inspired month that on a yearly basis reliably brings about some really inspired behaviour. Take London for example. London, usually so cheerless and self-serious becomes in August a seaside town, sky like sea, pavement like sand, people walking around the streets like it could be a beach, clad in tiny pieces of cloth that conceal nothing at all, like swimwear, really. What could be better than that? The spectators are happy, the naked people are happy, everybody is happy - actually -  everyone smiling and greeting strangers with nods and waves and whatnots. 

Parallels
  • Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan
  • Small Island by Andrea Levy
  • The Study Circle by Haroun Khan