Soho

Soho

  • Downloads:2542
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-02-27 00:16:33
  • Update Date:2025-09-24
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Fiona Mozley
  • ISBN:8413626366
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

El Soho, un lugar cáustico e insaciable, es el único punto de Londres que realmente siempre está despierto。 A los turistas que pasean, también se encuentran los oportunistas que merodean, adictos que se arrastran, trabajadoras del sexo que se exhiben para los clientes que las rondan, personas sin hogar, gente que está perdida。 Bajan por la calle Wardour, se asoman por Dean, se meten en L'Escargot, se escabullen por callejones desiertos, esquivando borrachos y contenedores de basura, y salen a las bulliciosas avenidas desbordantes de energía, llenas de vida y desenfreno。

En una esquina descansa un edificio, igual que los edificios contiguos。 Sin embargo, este alberga una heterogénea muchedumbre de ricos y pobres, desde el sótano hasta la terraza de la azotea。 En las últimas plantas, Precious y Tabitha han establecido su hogar, pero ahora corre peligro: la propietaria, una multimillonaria llamada Agatha, quiere expulsar a las mujeres que viven y trabajan allí para construir restaurantes caros y apartamentos de lujo。 Los hombres como Robert, que visitan el burdel, tendrán que ir a otro sitio。 Y las personas que, como Cheryl, duermen en el sótano, deberán encontrar otro lugar donde esconderse al caer la noche。 Pero esas mujeres no piensan rendirse。 Soho es su territorio y están dispuestas a luchar。

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Reviews

Aida

This was a slooooooow starter。 I thought I wouldn't finish it, but thankfully, pace and storywriting picked up eventually it turned out to be a pretty fun read, addictive at times even。 But in the end it turned out to be a bit… shallow? I was excited for a novel dealing with gentrification and contemporary inequality, and the novel does deal with these issues, yet in a wholly superficial way。 This was a slooooooow starter。 I thought I wouldn't finish it, but thankfully, pace and storywriting picked up eventually it turned out to be a pretty fun read, addictive at times even。 But in the end it turned out to be a bit… shallow? I was excited for a novel dealing with gentrification and contemporary inequality, and the novel does deal with these issues, yet in a wholly superficial way。 。。。more

Lisa

I came across this book via a #6Degrees chat about Fiona Mozley's first novel, Elmet which I really liked。 It prompted me to look for Hot Stew at the library。。。Like Elmet, Hot Stew explores themes of class, gentrification, inheritance and political activism, but in an entirely different milieu。  Hot Stew is set in rapidly gentrifying Soho and the focus is on the impending destruction of a community of sex workers and other marginalised people。 And while Elmet showed that love within families can I came across this book via a #6Degrees chat about Fiona Mozley's first novel, Elmet which I really liked。 It prompted me to look for Hot Stew at the library。。。Like Elmet, Hot Stew explores themes of class, gentrification, inheritance and political activism, but in an entirely different milieu。  Hot Stew is set in rapidly gentrifying Soho and the focus is on the impending destruction of a community of sex workers and other marginalised people。 And while Elmet showed that love within families can, to some extent, make social injustice endurable, Hot Stew shows that love comes within different kinds of families and relationships。It is the kind of novel that will divide readers。  It invites criticism from some for being crudely simplistic about wicked property developers and the evils of capitalism, and for its non-judgemental representation of sex workers as part of the service industry。  OTOH, sex workers may not like the comic representation of their work, and activists probably don't like the way the portrayal of protest as haphazard social events undermines their seriousness of intent。  There is even some commentary about politically incorrect gardening。。。There are also weeds: unwanted interlopers。  There are dandelions, daisies, clover, moss。  They infiltrate the pristine lawn Jackie and Keith set down when they bought the house: strips of turf rolled up like sacred scrolls, laid side by side to stitch themselves together over that first summer。Jackie wages war on weeds。  She wages war with a miniature pitchfork, secateurs and chemical weapons。  She hoes, she scarifies, she pulls weeds from between the patio stones with clenched fists before they have time to settle。  She rips, tears, snips, swears。 (p。94) But this is a metaphor for the savagery of the way the unwanted are removed from gentrified places, with any weapons that work, regardless of the harm they cause。There's a striking scene involving the supercilious Agatha, who inherited her vast wealth from her crime boss father who invested in property。  He disinherited his other daughters in her favour because he thought she was going to be a male heir, but #schadenfreude! he died before she was born。  This unearned wealth has made her judgemental and elitist。。。To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers。com/2022/02/23/h。。。 。。。more

Nicole D。

Goodness, I just take far too long to "read" books these days vs。 listening。 I thought this was an excellent book。 Lots of different characters from different walks of life in London。 Ultimately,。 a battle of the haves, the have somes, and the have nots。 There are a lot of characters, not all of them strictly necessary (Lorenzo for example), not all of them likable (Agatha)。 I can't say exactly why it all worked for me, but I was totally absorbed by the lives intersecting in this story。 Goodness, I just take far too long to "read" books these days vs。 listening。 I thought this was an excellent book。 Lots of different characters from different walks of life in London。 Ultimately,。 a battle of the haves, the have somes, and the have nots。 There are a lot of characters, not all of them strictly necessary (Lorenzo for example), not all of them likable (Agatha)。 I can't say exactly why it all worked for me, but I was totally absorbed by the lives intersecting in this story。 。。。more

Samantha

if you like themes of gentrification, class, and what it means to make a living and a life。

Kim

I'm mad that it took 100 pages for Mozley to get to the plot。 My edition is about 300 pages, so an entire third of the novel was just introducing this huge cast of characters and building them up in a chaotic way。 I constantly forgot who they were and why I needed to care。 It felt like Bastian and his crew didn't need to be in this at all。 I feel like his plot line, while I liked it, weakened the main plot since it was so different。My biggest gripe is that there were too many distinct storylines I'm mad that it took 100 pages for Mozley to get to the plot。 My edition is about 300 pages, so an entire third of the novel was just introducing this huge cast of characters and building them up in a chaotic way。 I constantly forgot who they were and why I needed to care。 It felt like Bastian and his crew didn't need to be in this at all。 I feel like his plot line, while I liked it, weakened the main plot since it was so different。My biggest gripe is that there were too many distinct storylines for a book this short, and the minute I was enjoying one I got pulled out and tossed into a different one。 I don't think the tying up that happens at the end really did enough to bring them all together。Also, minor spoiler, I'm really mad about the gratuitous scene of animal violence Mozley decided to use。 Didn't need it to know the particular character was horrible, they were already overwritten to be the worst。 。。。more

risenmoons

I found this book entertaining at times, and a little dull at others。 Overall, it's an enjoyable book about gentrification, humanity, relationships, and community。 I liked it, and I enjoyed the writing style, but I probably wouldn't read it again so I'm going in the middle with my rating and giving it 3。5 stars。Edit: I will say, though, I give 5 stars to the way the character of Robert is written。 I'm so used to reading or watching or listening to caricatures of Scottish people, based purely on I found this book entertaining at times, and a little dull at others。 Overall, it's an enjoyable book about gentrification, humanity, relationships, and community。 I liked it, and I enjoyed the writing style, but I probably wouldn't read it again so I'm going in the middle with my rating and giving it 3。5 stars。Edit: I will say, though, I give 5 stars to the way the character of Robert is written。 I'm so used to reading or watching or listening to caricatures of Scottish people, based purely on stereotypes such as drunkeness, difficult to understand accents, or aggression and violence。 While Robert's character does have a history of the latter two, it's given a reason。 A real, dark history within Glasgow。 The best part, though, is it's never written as though he's proud of it, or has an insatiable lust for violence! His Scottishness is just part of his character, not the whole thing。 。。。more

Anne Logan

Does a book called “Hot Stew” all about a crowded neighborhood kind of give you the willies? Normally I’d say ‘me too’, but because I’ve spent the last two years avoiding people, Hot Stew by Fiona Mozley sounded like something I wanted to dive into immediately。 It’s set in the present day (sans Covid) in the teeming neighborhood of Soho, London, and features a varied cast of characters, all connected via a collapsing townhouse on the verge of being sold。 Gentrification, class, the gender divide, Does a book called “Hot Stew” all about a crowded neighborhood kind of give you the willies? Normally I’d say ‘me too’, but because I’ve spent the last two years avoiding people, Hot Stew by Fiona Mozley sounded like something I wanted to dive into immediately。 It’s set in the present day (sans Covid) in the teeming neighborhood of Soho, London, and features a varied cast of characters, all connected via a collapsing townhouse on the verge of being sold。 Gentrification, class, the gender divide, complicated inheritances, and power struggles are all found within these pages。 Mozley does a superb job of keeping the reader centered within the chaos, and I never felt confused or scattered amidst all the action。 Highly recommend this one!To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:https://ivereadthis。com/Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis。com/subscribe/Or follow me on social media!Facebook: https://www。facebook。com/Ivereadthis/Twitter: https://twitter。com/ivereadthisblogInstagram: https://www。instagram。com/ivereadthisYouTube: https://www。youtube。com/channel/UCD6E。。。 。。。more

Ciara Bignell

Humorous but thought provoking

Leire Docky

3'8 3'8 。。。more

Cerisaye

A Book Group selection I would never have read otherwise, so I suppose it was always going to have to work to win me over。 My rating suggests it didn't。 Yet there's much to like about 'Hot Stew': the sleazy Soho setting, sympathetic characters, issues addressed that concern me (gentrification, homelessness, sexual exploitation, misogyny, racism, privilege and classism), interesting storylines and multiple character povs。 Nonetheless for me the whole is less than the sum of its parts。 Somehow it A Book Group selection I would never have read otherwise, so I suppose it was always going to have to work to win me over。 My rating suggests it didn't。 Yet there's much to like about 'Hot Stew': the sleazy Soho setting, sympathetic characters, issues addressed that concern me (gentrification, homelessness, sexual exploitation, misogyny, racism, privilege and classism), interesting storylines and multiple character povs。 Nonetheless for me the whole is less than the sum of its parts。 Somehow it seemed to me to belong more to the 80s than 2022。 Maybe this reflects failure to address problems that have been with us since the 70s that have only got worse with current socioeconomic circumstances? Which is depressing but realistic。 I don't know exactly what didn't work for me tbh。 More than a whiff of caricature about, say, the Baddie Developer Lady, hookers with hearts of gold, a tendency to paint with a broad brush in a way that makes authorial intent simply too obvious? I had to laugh at the young actor persuaded to join the cast of a 'Game of Thrones' style sex & swords TV show, uneasy about 'sexposition' and exploitation。 A passable, easy read with nice short chapters and good build-up, but somehow disappointing overall。 I haven't yet read 'Elmet', Mozley's much praised earlier book, and I will, but I expected something more substantial, eg John Lanchester's 'Capital'。 。。。more

Sam Donnan

I hadn't heard of Fiona Mozley before picking up this book as part of Book Club, so thought I'd give it a go。 Focusing on the gentrification of Soho with a number of other themes, it was alright, nothing special。 I only felt lukewarm for any of the characters, and it took me a while to finish the book。 The cover is also very odd - I'm sure there is meaning behind it, but it's like the publisher doesn't even know what the book stands for。 I hadn't heard of Fiona Mozley before picking up this book as part of Book Club, so thought I'd give it a go。 Focusing on the gentrification of Soho with a number of other themes, it was alright, nothing special。 I only felt lukewarm for any of the characters, and it took me a while to finish the book。 The cover is also very odd - I'm sure there is meaning behind it, but it's like the publisher doesn't even know what the book stands for。 。。。more

Melisa Cabello Cuahutle

Love this, I think I will re-read it again sometime, also weirdly it only made me want to move out more?

Svitani

Insustancial, he llegado a la mitad del libro forzándome muchísimo hasta que he sido consciente de que no es para mí。 La narrativa deja mucho que desear y las tramas son muy planas, aunque no sé qué otra cosa esperaba。

𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 🦢◞♡࿐ ࿔*:・゚

“On the corner of the street, there is an old French restaurant with red-and-white checkered tablecloths。”“…hahahahaha up from the belly of the city。”

Julio Gagne

Great writing and characters but not much actual story and a bit of a deus ex machina ending。

Rhiannon

Absolutely loved the prose at the beginning, and thought ‘Right, I’m in for a good one here’ but slowly got disillusioned with 2D characters who were kind of caricatures, readable and thought-provoking with all the links between sex and money with all the characters, I liked the focus on the small details like the snails and the pigeons。 However inclined to agree with the critiques of the portrayal of sex workers and the minimisation of collective organising。

Leslie Britton

Overly descriptive of setting - couldn’t get into it!

Kerri

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway。 I got this copy ages ago, started reading, stopped, started, stopped, started and finally decided to just push through。 It was a plod for me。 The moving from one set of characters to another set in every chapter made it hard to follow even with the very thin threads connecting them。 I didn't find it funny at all and felt the satirical piece to even be underwhelming。 Maybe my being American contributed to it being less engaging, but I do read other Br I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway。 I got this copy ages ago, started reading, stopped, started, stopped, started and finally decided to just push through。 It was a plod for me。 The moving from one set of characters to another set in every chapter made it hard to follow even with the very thin threads connecting them。 I didn't find it funny at all and felt the satirical piece to even be underwhelming。 Maybe my being American contributed to it being less engaging, but I do read other British authors who I truly appreciate, so I don't think that's all it is。 Overall, it reminded me a little of Confederacy of Dunces, which I also did particularly care for, so maybe it is partially that satire is not my thing。 I recommend reading other reviews before deciding if you want to give it a try。 。。。more

Ashley

I gave up after 20%

Diane Guvenis

I loved Elmet。 I didn't enjoy this as much, but it is staying with me。 I loved Elmet。 I didn't enjoy this as much, but it is staying with me。 。。。more

linn

idk why but i just didn't vibe with this one and i just didn't (?) care (?) idk why but i just didn't vibe with this one and i just didn't (?) care (?) 。。。more

Abby Lynn

I found this book very interesting, although I found the characters lacking depth。One of my favorite things about this book is the way it portrays gentrification and the ways the class system negatively affects certain sects of people。 I think these are very important representations to have across literature, although I feel like it lacked accuracy and depth from time to time。

Ella Smith

I love a sex worker

Margaret Lowry

Unsubtle

Rhoda

3。5*

Sarah

Reading this book as a piece ascribing meaning to the gorgeous cover is probably the best way to read this。 As a commentary on gentrification, white feminism, and sex work, it lacks nuance and falls a bit flat, and as a fiction story it’s too busy to get to the meat of anything。 What was the point of Bastian? Or even Lorenzo, honestly?And Agatha, sweetie, not to kink shame, but what the hell?

Sue Oxley

This book felt like a collection of short stories joined together。 While it’s an easy read I would have preferred to not jump between the characters quite so much。

Deezy

Idk 3。5!! Took a while for me to care about what was going on, but I was invested in a few of the people by the end。 Some of the stuff with Debbie McGee made me like uh wat and I wanted Agatha to get her foot run over but that didn’t happen so I’m going to kms

Jakki

I actually did not finish this book。 I really didn’t like the writing style。 I may try it again later。

John

The book wasn't bad。 It was just mediocre。 Lots of characters, most with boring happy ending。 The book wasn't bad。 It was just mediocre。 Lots of characters, most with boring happy ending。 。。。more