Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee

I did enjoy the insight into normal relationships which can and do cause laughter, pain and suffering. although the family is of Indian origin it has all the traditions associated with that country, even though the central figures were born in the EAST End of London.The writing is so good you almost hear all the accents and nuances and the humor aimed against the rellies is wonderful, and could be part of any family regardless of ethnicity.There is pain and sorrow as there is in real life, and I felt it all. Loved it. Dorothy Maley

Excellent Book

Much as I loved Syal's charming debut novel, "Anita and Me," I was a little leery of this one, which had been described as "an immigrant Indian Waiting to Exhale." Set amidst the Punjabi community of east London, the book chattily follows the trials and tribulations of three 30-ish lifelong friends and their relationships with each other. Chila is the sweet, innocent, plain girl who manages to bag the most eligible bachelor in town. Sunita is a former law student who dropped everything for love and has now been run ragged by the routine of motherhood and is rapidly heading for middle-age. Tania is the self-assured beauty who's turned her back on tradition and fashioned a media career and a string of non-Indian boyfriends. While the three natter on about the old standards (marriage, sex, friendship, family, etc), much attention is given to the difficulties of feeling out their cross-cultural existence and the moral dilemmas it poses. While these difficulties are ably captured, much of the book reads like a bad movie. In attempting to show various sides of female friendship, Syal veers into great swathes of cheezy, ill-considered writing. The paths all three characters take over the course of the book are entirely predictable, as are their various transformations. It's not particularly awful, but neither is it particularly remarkable or fresh--a big disappointment following "Anita and Me."

Ms. Meera Syal is one of those authors who keeps you interested without snoozing once!!! She is also a comedienne and takes part in a radio show called "Goodness Gracious Me." I am not sure if this show is still on the air...but I listened to a few tapes and it is genuinely hilarious!!This book journeys into the lives of three friends and their relationships with men. It introduces(unlike other similar books)sexuality, infidelity, inter-racial relationships, and other important issues that need to be addressed this day in age! The stories are set in Britain, so it is a great viewpoint on how Indians live there and what they deal with on a day to day basis.This book also explores the close-knit relationships of all the characters who are bound together by their friendship/trust at first, but then things start to fall apart as infidelity comes into play... a must read book for anyone yearning to dig deep inside the intricate facades of the Indian Culture!! =)

As regular readers of my reviews will know (!!), I love novels about India. This is a book about modern Indian women living in Britain and their struggle to assymilate two very different cultures. I have many Indian friends, and the women portrayed in this novel are very typical. This novel is also extremely funny with very vivid and lovable characters but underneath it all their stories are very poignant. This would be a great book for discussion in a Book Circle.

Life isn't all ha ha hee hee starts with a wedding and ends with a funeral ... and just that shows us how carefully Meera Syal takes us into the lives of 3 friends with their joys and sorrows.I liked this novel because first of all it is very well written, lots of times I found myself laughing ... that might be as well because I could relate to the characters, being myself of Indian origins and having seen the Indian communities in London.

Growing up in a traditional Paksitani household, our mother frequently used the phrase that is this book's title - life isn't all ha ha hee hee. I knew somewhat what she meant, this book however makes it blatantly obvious. Syal does an excellent job in exploring the depths of the various characters and while reading (i could not put the book down!) you are reminded of people you know and even of yourself - or at least parts of yourself. This book reminds us that there are many faces to being 'desi'. When you start thinking of how your life "should be" because of upbringing/cultural standards/expectations - this book reminds you that all of these thoughts are self-imposed. And when you start to wonder if it is better on the other side of the fence remember - life isn't all ha ha hee hee there either.

I bought this book in july 2000 and since then I've read it thrice. That should count for something. I read some of the reviews and all I can say is that this story isn't just about Indian british girls.Any hindu female growing up in an western socity can relate to these issues. These questions and stories are so common, but related to all day life, that they become fascinating. Someone dares to write about things we girls don't dare to talk about. It seems a trend from the contemporary hindu females, like Jhumpa Lahiri with "the interpreter of maladies", the write about these issues. Hindu males/females could learn more about themself reading these kind of books instead of " men are from mars and women are from venus".

Having read Anita and Me back in the 90's and having thoroughly enjoyed it, I was in no doubt that this would also be an excellent book. I absolutely loved it and I am reading it again. The details about growing up as a British Asian woman are so true and hilarious, from going to dodgy day-time gigs in London to having to put up with Uncles with bad jumpers. What a howler!What I love most about Syal's work are the descriptions and the details. So crisp and true to life.

Having seen the television show 'Life isn't all ha ha hee hee' which I loved, I wanted to read the book. Meera Syal is a brilliant writer, telling her story with amazing honesty. I loved her description of the cultural way of life of the Asian-British people, as this is very different yet similar to most peoples cultures in a land not of their birth or ancestry. Her story of three Asian women and their different feelings, emotions and ways of adapting to what their culture expects from them is very moving. To those wishing to understand a different and very interesting culture, I highly recommend this book.

Interesting to read about modern day young Indian women in England, very funny in places, Love Meera's sense of humour.

I did not particularly enjoy this book. I found it a bit long winded and repetitive.

Would not recommend

Read this book in 4 sittings. Well written and kept the reader engaged.

I read this after years and found I enjoyed it as much as the first time!

Good product will buy from again deliver on time can't complain just what I was looking for

I decided gloto read this after reading House of Hidden Mothers and enjoying it immensely. This earlier book is not so accomplished, but it is still a good read. Syal's understanding of the psyche of young anglo-indian women is superb.

Second booking have read by the author. Brilliantly written, totally captivating, well recommended. Starting her newest book next. Happy reading

Couldn't put it down. Heart-breaking at times, and very funny at other times. Great book.

A wonderful insight into life and love coping with the pull of tradition versus modern . funny and heartwarming.

It's an o.k book

Well worth reading. Humorous in parts whilst also being emotional. Interesting to note that irrespective of race, creed of culture we all experience the same things.

Disappointing ending thought that the first half of the story was superior to the second - bit cliched too - marriages births deaths with sister solidarity running through ....