Sarfraz Manzoor

Sarfraz Manzoor is Pakistani and has been living in England since he was two years old. Now he is a journalist who has worked for the Guardian, among other media outlets. He has also turned this memoir Greetings from Bury Park into a fictionalized screenplay for the movie Blinded by the light. In his book he tells his story: What was it like growing up in England? What was it like living up to his family's values at home and being another self at school? Would he ever find love? What is love anyway? How to cope with the death of his father? All those questions are answered, or at least attempted to, by Manzoor in his short memoir of the first three decades years of his life.

This memoir is not structured chronologically, but rather by different categories that are always prefaced by a song title and lyrics of a Bruce Springsteen song. Why Springsteen? When Manzoor was young he discovered the music of Bruce Springsteen through his best friend Amolak and they have been serious fans from an early age. Manzoor even goes so far as to say that Springsteen's music had the answers about the big questions in life that he could not find anywhere else, neither with friends, nor with family, nor through religion. While teenage life is hard enough as it is, it is even harder for a boy from Pakistan growing up in 1980s England. Personal insecurities are amplified by cultural differences and trying to find his way in life is that much harder for Manzoor than for other teenagers as there are high expectations of his family that are added on top of societal pressures. I liked how Manzoor explores the formation of his identity and his relationship to Britishness. Despite everything that he had to go through growing up he eventually describes England as his land of hope and dreams, in reference to the eponymous Springsteen song.

I read this book because I was intrigued when I first listened to a radio interview while driving through Scotland in the summer of 2019, which was when the movie was published. Note that the movie is only a fictionalized account of Manzoor's life and the book is the actual version. I liked both the book and the movie a lot. 4 stars for the book.… (plus d'informations)

I decided to read Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor after seeing the movie it inspired, "Blinded by the Light". I decided on the spur of the moment to see the movie on a hot August weekend night. I am an adult male but I will admit that the tears flowed liberally.

I will start by stating that I like Bruce Springsteen only to a point. I liked the book and movie far more than Bruce's music. The book reinforces my love of Western culture and the freedom that it gives. Mr. Manzoor exemplifies the tension between loyalty to hearth, home and community and the opportunity to embrace the joy and freedom that Britain and America make possible.

While acknowledging and not shedding his roots, he firmly rejects the madness and fanaticism of extremist religious culture. As for Springsteen I see him in a whole new light. My instincts that he was a down-to-earth and normal version of the twisted genius Bob Dylan was born out. I highly recommend the twin experience of the book and the movie. I will not spoil the experience by divulging the successful resolution of the internal cultural torment.
… (plus d'informations)

I decided to read [b:Greetings from Bury Park|2190231|Greetings from Bury Park|Sarfraz Manzoor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320499674l/2190231._SY75_.jpg|2195950] by [a:Sarfraz Manzoor|650097|Sarfraz Manzoor|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] after seeing the movie it inspired, "Blinded by the Light". I decided on the spur of the moment to see the movie on a hot August weekend night. I am an adult male but I will admit that the tears flowed liberally.

I will start by stating that I like Bruce Springsteen only to a point. I liked the book and movie far more than Bruce's music. The book reinforces my love of Western culture and the freedom that it gives. Mr. Manzoor exemplifies the tension between loyalty to hearth, home and community and the opportunity to embrace the joy and freedom that Britain and America make possible.

While acknowledging and not shedding his roots, he firmly rejects the madness and fanaticism of extremist religious culture. As for Springsteen I see him in a whole new light. My instincts that he was a down-to-earth and normal version of the twisted genius Bob Dylan was born out. I highly recommend the twin experience of the book and the movie. I will not spoil the experience by divulging the successful resolution of the internal cultural torment.… (plus d'informations)