Reviews The Guardian Rachel Hore, writing in the Guardian, wrote: "A father-daughter conflict as hot as vindaloo spices up this comic saga of a Pakistani family who own a string of restaurants on Manchester's famous "Curry Mile"...Sparky characters, exuberant idiom and rich detail combine to make this an enjoyable slice of Desi life, Manchester style." (The Guardian, 2-Dec-2006) New Statesman Ziauddin Sardar, writing in New Statesman magazine named TCM as one of his books of the year: "The Curry Mile by Zahid Hussain...tells the story of a young, rebellious Muslim woman who is forced to rescue her father's restaurant business in Manchester's Asian area. Squabbling families with overbearing fathers, neighbourhood business feuds, charlatan mystics, music and mayhem - all human life is there." (New Statesman 27-Nov-2006) SALIDAA South Asian Literature and Arts Archive wrote: "This is Zahid Hussain’s debut novel which explores the lives of an Asian family in the restaurant business in Manchester’s “curry mile,” one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares populated by Pakistanis, Arabs, Kurds, Indians, Jamaicans, Somalis, and uniquely reflecting a side of Britain that is often left unrealised in contemporary writing. Written through the perspectives of a father and daughter, it engages with family dynamics, obligations and traditions, as well as personal desires, dreams and motivations" (SALIDAA January 2007 Newsletter) CALABASH magazine Safeena Chaudhry wrote: "The narrative is witty and warm. Subtle linguistic nuances delve into and dissect internal and external divisions. Hearts, minds and masalas mix with backstabbing secretaries, ruthless business dealers and independent daughters." (Calabash Summer 2007) Academic The first academic review of The Curry Mile can be found in a recent publication "Young, British and Muslim" written by Jon Snow and Phillip Lewis.	Desi-culture Manc-style: Zahid Hussain's The Curry Mile is a fascinating glimpse into life in Bombay mix Britain. Mark Sullivan, award-winning playwright, author A fresh and lively account of contemporary British Asian life which lifts the lid on the fierce rivalry and fiery family sagas behind Manchester's beloved Curry Mile. Cath Staincliffe, author, Blue Murder TV series originator The Curry Mile reminded me of Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz' Cairo Trilogy: family feuds, infuriating fathers and a strong sense of place. Manchester: along the roads through the rain to heart of the city. Tom Palmer, author, literature activist This novel offers something more than a comic take on restauranteurs vying for business and scrapping over the National Curry Awards. It's a shrewd study of cultural shape-shifters and their responses to the conflicting demands of age, faith and materialism. Essential reading. Dr. Corinne Fowler, Lancaster University, UK The depiction of the restaurant trade rings true - amidst the spicy emotions and boiling passions, it's a world viewed with tenderness and an eye for detail. Dinesh Allirajah, poet and short story specialist, member, Asian Voices, Asian Lives Revealing and quirky. A chick flick cum chapatti thriller: worth reading if only for the outrageous jalfrezi of Asian and English phrases. Shamshad Khan, international poet This is a revealing 'behind the scenes' look at living in the restaurant trade written with soul, exuberance and pathos. The Curry Mile tackles the issue of living in multi religious, multi generational, materialistic society with singular panache and candour. Qaisra Shahraz, author of The Holy Woman and Typhoon Other Sources BBC Manchester Lancaster University Asians in Media Magazine Asian News The Arts Council Ethnic Now Cultivasian Home

Reviews

The Guardian

Rachel Hore, writing in the Guardian, wrote:

"A father-daughter conflict as hot as vindaloo spices up this comic saga of a Pakistani family who own a string of restaurants on Manchester's famous "Curry Mile"...Sparky characters, exuberant idiom and rich detail combine to make this an enjoyable slice of Desi life, Manchester style."

(The Guardian, 2-Dec-2006)

New Statesman

Ziauddin Sardar, writing in New Statesman magazine named TCM as one of his books of the year:

"The Curry Mile by Zahid Hussain...tells the story of a young, rebellious Muslim woman who is forced to rescue her father's restaurant business in Manchester's Asian area. Squabbling families with overbearing fathers, neighbourhood business feuds, charlatan mystics, music and mayhem - all human life is there."

(New Statesman 27-Nov-2006)

SALIDAA

South Asian Literature and Arts Archive wrote:

"This is Zahid Hussain’s debut novel which explores the lives of an Asian family in the restaurant business in Manchester’s “curry mile,” one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares populated by Pakistanis, Arabs, Kurds, Indians, Jamaicans, Somalis, and uniquely reflecting a side of Britain that is often left unrealised in contemporary writing. Written through the perspectives of a father and daughter, it engages with family dynamics, obligations and traditions, as well as personal desires, dreams and motivations"

(SALIDAA January 2007 Newsletter)

CALABASH magazine

Safeena Chaudhry wrote:

"The narrative is witty and warm. Subtle linguistic nuances delve into and dissect internal and external divisions.
Hearts, minds and masalas mix with backstabbing secretaries, ruthless business dealers and independent
daughters."

(Calabash Summer 2007)

Academic

The first academic review of The Curry Mile can be found in a recent publication "Young, British and Muslim" written by Jon Snow and Phillip Lewis.

Desi-culture Manc-style: Zahid Hussain's The Curry Mile is a fascinating glimpse into life in Bombay mix Britain.

Mark Sullivan, award-winning playwright, author

A fresh and lively account of contemporary British Asian life which lifts the lid on the fierce rivalry and fiery family sagas behind Manchester's beloved Curry Mile.

Cath Staincliffe, author, Blue Murder TV series originator

The Curry Mile reminded me of Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz' Cairo Trilogy: family feuds, infuriating fathers and a strong sense of place. Manchester: along the roads through the rain to heart of the city.

Tom Palmer, author, literature activist

This novel offers something more than a comic take on restauranteurs vying for business and scrapping over the National Curry Awards. It's a shrewd study of cultural shape-shifters and their responses to the conflicting demands of age, faith and materialism. Essential reading.

Dr. Corinne Fowler, Lancaster University, UK

The depiction of the restaurant trade rings true - amidst the spicy emotions and boiling passions, it's a world viewed with tenderness and an eye for detail.

Dinesh Allirajah, poet and short story specialist, member, Asian Voices, Asian Lives

Revealing and quirky. A chick flick cum chapatti thriller: worth reading if only for the outrageous jalfrezi of Asian and English phrases.

Shamshad Khan, international poet

This is a revealing 'behind the scenes' look at living in the restaurant trade written with soul, exuberance and pathos. The Curry Mile tackles the issue of living in multi religious, multi generational, materialistic society with singular panache and candour.

Qaisra Shahraz, author of The Holy Woman and Typhoon

Other Sources

BBC Manchester

Lancaster University

Asians in Media Magazine

Asian News

The Arts Council

Ethnic Now

Cultivasian

Home

The Curry Mile - A Novel

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