Fiction

You People

You People

  • Downloads：1719
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-09-07 07:51:04
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Nikita Lalwani
  • ISBN：0241987075
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Summary

'A moving， authentic， humane novel which raises fundamental questions about what it means to be kind in an unkind world' Guardian
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The Pizzeria Vesuvio looks like any other Italian restaurant in London - with a few small differences。 The chefs who make the pizza fiorentinas are Sri Lankan， and half the kitchen staff are illegal immigrants。

At the centre is Tuli， the restaurant's charismatic proprietor and resident Robin Hood， who promises to help anyone in need。 Welsh nineteen-year-old Nia， haunted by her troubled past， is running from her family。 Shan， having fled the Sri Lankan civil war， is desperate to find his。

But when Tuli's guidance leads them all into dangerous territory， and the extent of his mysterious operation unravels， each is faced with an impossible moral choice。

In a world where the law is against you， how far would you be willing to lie for a chance to live？
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'Intelligent and heart-piercing - an exceptional novel about the Britain we live in， even if we choose not to see it' Kamila Shamsie， author of Home Fire

'Asks tough questions about the nature of goodness in an unfair society' Sunday Telegraph BOOK OF THE WEEK

'Lively， poetically written and above all compassionate' Sunday Times

'A female lead who isn't defined by a romantic story arc？ Yes please。 Lalwani's serious， ravishing way of writing about the secret life of Britain is just what we need' Times

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Reviews

Nicole ，

picked this up randomly in the book store， not knowing it at all， and it was a good choice ！！！ read it in just a few days。 it was really captivating， althought it took me a bit of time to get into it & to enjoy it。 i reaaaally like tuli man。 so many questions about him。 it's frustrating & also nice that a lot remains open picked this up randomly in the book store， not knowing it at all， and it was a good choice ！！！ read it in just a few days。 it was really captivating， althought it took me a bit of time to get into it & to enjoy it。 i reaaaally like tuli man。 so many questions about him。 it's frustrating & also nice that a lot remains open 。。。more

Todd Hogan ，

Choppy story told from two points of view in alternating chapters means a lack of cohesiveness as one reads。 It was hard to identify with either narrative when the reader is whipsawed between the two。 Ultimately， the story itself was just not very engaging。

Kaylie Sudlow ，

Where do I start？This book was so respectfully done and made me love all of the characters。You follow two points of view throughout this book of Nia and Shan。 Nia is a Welsh girl with Indian heritage from her father who she never knew， who comes to London after leaving home。 Shan is an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka who has come to London to try and get away from the violence in his home country。 Trying to get his wife and child over to him too。Shan's story was so sad and hard to read at times Where do I start？This book was so respectfully done and made me love all of the characters。You follow two points of view throughout this book of Nia and Shan。 Nia is a Welsh girl with Indian heritage from her father who she never knew， who comes to London after leaving home。 Shan is an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka who has come to London to try and get away from the violence in his home country。 Trying to get his wife and child over to him too。Shan's story was so sad and hard to read at times especially when the anxieties he had were overwhelming for him。 It was written so well that you were there with him and felt the pain and fear he was going through。Nia's story was also sad but what I loved the most was her character development throughout especially as she gets more involved in the comings and goings of the restaurant Vesuvius。Both lead characters were heartfelt and I wanted to know where they got to。I would have loved to have had an extra pov from the restaurant owner Tuli， as I felt he was a really intriguing character。Overall， I thought this was eye opening， it showed the troubles that those seeking asylum or immigration can go through but again in such a respectful way。I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by the author。 。。。more

Elizabeth George ，

Lalwani shines a light on immigration in London， particularly on illegal immigration。 We are taken into the world of Shan， an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka whose people are being persecuted and murdered。 We are also taken into the world of Nia， a young woman from Wales with a drunken Welsh mother and an absent father。 Their paths cross at a pizzeria called Vesuvius run by Tuli， a man who keeps his secrets well-hidden and his determination to save his foreign （and mostly illegal） workers from Lalwani shines a light on immigration in London， particularly on illegal immigration。 We are taken into the world of Shan， an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka whose people are being persecuted and murdered。 We are also taken into the world of Nia， a young woman from Wales with a drunken Welsh mother and an absent father。 Their paths cross at a pizzeria called Vesuvius run by Tuli， a man who keeps his secrets well-hidden and his determination to save his foreign （and mostly illegal） workers from the clutches of the deportation police。 All Shan wants is to be reunited with his family， to bring them to London so that they might establish a life for themselves there。 All Nia wants is permanent removal from her mother's drunken lifestyle and the rescue of her younger sister who remains behind as watchdog and caretaker。 The author gives us a real sense of what it's like for people who are desperate just to be safe， to have a life among the people they love， to do what's right for those people and for others。 I learned a lot from immersing myself in their world and in the vividness with which it was depicted by the author。 。。。more

Seinka ，

3。5/5

Elizabeth ，

As seen in the New Yorker: https://www。newyorker。com/magazine/20。。。 As seen in the New Yorker: https://www。newyorker。com/magazine/20。。。 。。。more

Sandy Barker ，

You People by Nikita Lalwani - The title itself gives a hint that the book will be about people who feel like outsiders。 I was able to read this book in three days， and that helped me become truly involved in the story。 This is a top pick for me。 The two main characters， Shan and Nia， who alternate chapters， are both struggling to keep a secret life and to build a new life。 Shan has escaped from Sri Lanka and is desperately trying to find his wife and child。 Nia is local to Britain， but has esc You People by Nikita Lalwani - The title itself gives a hint that the book will be about people who feel like outsiders。 I was able to read this book in three days， and that helped me become truly involved in the story。 This is a top pick for me。 The two main characters， Shan and Nia， who alternate chapters， are both struggling to keep a secret life and to build a new life。 Shan has escaped from Sri Lanka and is desperately trying to find his wife and child。 Nia is local to Britain， but has escaped the physical and emotional abuse of an alcoholic mother and is trying to get her life on track even though she still worries about her younger sister。 In the middle is Tuli， the owner of Pizzeria Vesuvio， which seems to be like any other pizza spot in London - lots of people from different countries work together and form a bond。 But what exactly is it that Tuli does for all of these people？ Why are they all so loyal to him？ The many ways that Shan and Nia are drawn together through the story are touching and so human。 The motivation that Tuli has， though some might question it， feel genuinely altruistic。 The questions of immigration， refugees， and human dignity are all entrenched in this book。 Lots of things to discuss。 。。。more

Phillipa Ward ，

With the in depth， shocking theme of immigration， asylum and human traffiking， I'm left wondering how this book managed to keep at surface level and have the style of chick-lit。 With the in depth， shocking theme of immigration， asylum and human traffiking， I'm left wondering how this book managed to keep at surface level and have the style of chick-lit。 。。。more

Ajy ，

the author writes like poetry， although it was hard to read at the beginning。 the story of tuli， nia， shan and the people around them tugs you in and makes you think about the unfairness of society。

William Koon ，

Nikita Lalwani’s style and content both border on too much and not enough。 We know too little about the main character Tuli。 Is he a hustler， a humanitarian， where does he get his money， is he exploiting those he seems to be helping？ Where exactly is his power？ One just does not know。 And the author gives us no help。 The whole work has too much overwriting and underthinking。On the surface this book would seem to be about the immigration situation in Britain pre-Brexit。 But the secondary characte Nikita Lalwani’s style and content both border on too much and not enough。 We know too little about the main character Tuli。 Is he a hustler， a humanitarian， where does he get his money， is he exploiting those he seems to be helping？ Where exactly is his power？ One just does not know。 And the author gives us no help。 The whole work has too much overwriting and underthinking。On the surface this book would seem to be about the immigration situation in Britain pre-Brexit。 But the secondary character of Nia is Welsh （with one Indian parent） and stands out amongst the Tamil workers。 Then too there is one of the more gratuitous scenes in this me too era when Nia is hooted at， and she casts blame on herself for having bare legs and not wearing leggings。 If one wishes to read a truly interesting and vital novel on this subject， read Exit West， Mohsin Hamid’s precise and riveting and engaging comments on the world at flux。 You People has none of the above。 。。。more

Melanie Caldicott ，

Well written but needed more developmentChallenging themes and well-written prose but disappointing in lack of depth to plot and characters。 Left feeling like this passed me by。

Cicada ，

DNF - had a hard time focusing and getting into the story， the writing style isn’t for me。

Marilyn ，

It is interesting to read about the snares and blind spots that trouble the immigrant chaotically。 Well done

Hannah ，

Lalwani’s writing is smooth on this topic of London’s underbelly。 I enjoyed the two POV of Nia and Shan。 One is female one is male ; one is young， one is an adult ; but both are disconnected from their loved ones and rely on Tuli and the restaurant for human contact and help。 The blurb had me thinking this was much more dramatic and thriller-like。 The question of the outcome in the second half was a page-turner so in that sense they were right， but the story in itself is much more down to earth Lalwani’s writing is smooth on this topic of London’s underbelly。 I enjoyed the two POV of Nia and Shan。 One is female one is male ; one is young， one is an adult ; but both are disconnected from their loved ones and rely on Tuli and the restaurant for human contact and help。 The blurb had me thinking this was much more dramatic and thriller-like。 The question of the outcome in the second half was a page-turner so in that sense they were right， but the story in itself is much more down to earth and real。。。 in a good way。 。。。more

Stace A ，

This book is an eye-opening look at life in Britain today， highlighting the moral and ethical plight of undocumented migrants。 What I love is that this story could be any migrant - the story is similar to what you hear and read of so many refugees and asylum seekers， full of loss， trauma and hope。 It could also be any documented observer and so it cuts to the heart， Nia has her own difficult problems to face and is an excellent example of how just because we struggle， we can still make the decis This book is an eye-opening look at life in Britain today， highlighting the moral and ethical plight of undocumented migrants。 What I love is that this story could be any migrant - the story is similar to what you hear and read of so many refugees and asylum seekers， full of loss， trauma and hope。 It could also be any documented observer and so it cuts to the heart， Nia has her own difficult problems to face and is an excellent example of how just because we struggle， we can still make the decisions to help others。“But then you would never intervene in anything，’ he said， not in an arguing way， just with this odd， eerie hush in his voice。 ‘Let me ask you something。 What about the basic idea of just being there？ Just taking part， responding to need， not walking on by。 To be present rather than absent， to forgo being a bystander？”It's a short well-written book， which despite its length has a real depth and history to it。 Its characters are fleshed-out individuals， with their own complex lives which makes the moral messaging really stand out， you get so invested in the outcomes for Nia and Shan that you can't help but want to help， and stop being a bystander。 It's a powerful book for our times and an excellent foil to the endless negative press about migrants and asylum seekers in this country。 。。。more

Helen ，

I picked this up as part of an offer in Waterstone's as I was drawn in by the colourful cover and I'm incredibly glad I did。 This is the story of the mysterious Tuli， a London restaurant owner， told through the perspectives of two of his employees: Nia and Shan， the former British from a broken home escaping her alcoholic mother， the latter a Sri Lankan illegal hoping to bring over his wife and son。 This tells of UK immigration and the measures one will go to flee to safely and unity their famil I picked this up as part of an offer in Waterstone's as I was drawn in by the colourful cover and I'm incredibly glad I did。 This is the story of the mysterious Tuli， a London restaurant owner， told through the perspectives of two of his employees: Nia and Shan， the former British from a broken home escaping her alcoholic mother， the latter a Sri Lankan illegal hoping to bring over his wife and son。 This tells of UK immigration and the measures one will go to flee to safely and unity their family。 。。。more

Deb Lonnon ，

Book review 5/2021 'You People' Nikita LalwaniQuick read， alternate chapters - a young woman working in a London restaurant， escaping difficult family life back in Wales and her colleague an illegal refugee desperate to find and reunite his family。 Genuinely moving and well thought out， tense in places but also uplifting。。solid 3/5 Book review 5/2021 'You People' Nikita LalwaniQuick read， alternate chapters - a young woman working in a London restaurant， escaping difficult family life back in Wales and her colleague an illegal refugee desperate to find and reunite his family。 Genuinely moving and well thought out， tense in places but also uplifting。。solid 3/5 。。。more

Alison ，

This is a bit of a slow burn book。 It starts simply enough， but as the book progresses the pace steadily picks up along with the complexity and the emotional depth。 The book deals with big issues， sure - immigration， the Tamil plight in Sri Lanka， addiction and poverty， but it also hits hard on intimate issues - what makes a good person， what can be forgiven， how we communicate and miscommunicate。 It generates a surprising amount of tension around human motivation。 The book also draws joy out of This is a bit of a slow burn book。 It starts simply enough， but as the book progresses the pace steadily picks up along with the complexity and the emotional depth。 The book deals with big issues， sure - immigration， the Tamil plight in Sri Lanka， addiction and poverty， but it also hits hard on intimate issues - what makes a good person， what can be forgiven， how we communicate and miscommunicate。 It generates a surprising amount of tension around human motivation。 The book also draws joy out of the every day - in the vivid， loving descriptions of working people， London in rain， the lights in a supermarket and in the book's broader celebration of the day to day act of trying to live better。 It is an ultimately hopeful book。 。。。more

Beth Robertson ，

A really interesting look at the life of undocumented immigrants in London， but I was disappointed with the execution。 I found the characters didn’t have much depth， the writing wasn’t always clear and sometimes the action was too rushed。 It definitely made me think though and I’m glad I read it for the insight。

Denni ，

Another sitting about keeping an eye on dog chance to read for me。 The account of the raid by the Border Police on the restaurant in north London where much of this novel is based was a genuinely terrifying moment--something I'd not thought too much about previously。 Another sitting about keeping an eye on dog chance to read for me。 The account of the raid by the Border Police on the restaurant in north London where much of this novel is based was a genuinely terrifying moment--something I'd not thought too much about previously。 。。。more

Barry ，

A novel inspired by a PhD thesis on Sri Lankan refugees。 Really persuasive， immediate writing。

Cathryn ，

A superb and incredibly important book

Lauren ，

I was drawn to this book after reading that it discussed life from an illegal immigrants POV and that it asked questions on morality in an immoral world， so in principle， the idea was very intriguing and somewhat highly important。 However， I found the plot to be very simplistic and at times it felt like I had read pages and pages and nothing had actually happened。 The writing was very descriptive and vivid yet sometimes a little fruitless。 The characters were also quite underdeveloped in my opin I was drawn to this book after reading that it discussed life from an illegal immigrants POV and that it asked questions on morality in an immoral world， so in principle， the idea was very intriguing and somewhat highly important。 However， I found the plot to be very simplistic and at times it felt like I had read pages and pages and nothing had actually happened。 The writing was very descriptive and vivid yet sometimes a little fruitless。 The characters were also quite underdeveloped in my opinion。 Shan's character had such an important narrative， discussing life as an illegal immigrant living in the UK but I didn't feel that the writing evoked enough emotion or displayed enough urgency to be able to pull this storyline off。 Shan's storyline was also overshadowed by Nia's character most of the way through the book。 Nia， is a young welsh girl that arrives at the restaurant， who has experienced an abusive childhood。 But again， her character and plot didn't develop enough to answer the big questions abuse and neglect raise so it felt a little unnecessary to use this backstory。All in all， the idea is exciting and the novel has some beautiful writing in it， but the execution of the plot/characters was a little disappointing。 。。。more

Chris ，

This book is an interesting read， that is， in the way it is written。 The characters are the staff of a pizzeria in London， some of them are illegal immigrants。 The writing draws you into their world in a calm， normalising manner， putting you into the middle of their complicated， sometimes turbulant lives in a very unemotional way。 Slow to start， it builds to a climax I was very invested in。

Delena Caagbay ，

Beautifully written book about finding safety and belonging

Diana Turchi ，

Interesting structure （one chapter for each leading character flip flopping between the two） however the first half is very slow， and the last 40 or so pages have all the action。 I wish the epilogue was longer so I could learn more of what the future holds for the characters。

Leesa ，

Well written character driven story。 Raises a lot of questions。

Selena Hanet-Hutchins ，

Really enjoyable writing。 Often I thought ‘wow， write that down’ because one line would capture so well a particular aspect of human life or feeling。 The dialogue good too。 The narrator was also excellent （Penguin audio edition - her name not to hand right now）。 I would listen to more books read by her。I would have given this five stars but something about the resolution of Nia’s journey and her friendship with Tuli， her ending seemed too obvious， or neat or something。。。unsatisfying。。。as thought Really enjoyable writing。 Often I thought ‘wow， write that down’ because one line would capture so well a particular aspect of human life or feeling。 The dialogue good too。 The narrator was also excellent （Penguin audio edition - her name not to hand right now）。 I would listen to more books read by her。I would have given this five stars but something about the resolution of Nia’s journey and her friendship with Tuli， her ending seemed too obvious， or neat or something。。。unsatisfying。。。as thought Lilwani had given up when she’d found the Shan plotline。 （Or maybe took a big chunk out。） I wanted to have unlocked Tuli’s mystery， more of his backstory and motivation， by the end too。Still， worth a read for sure: very good writing and an interesting side to London。 。。。more

aqilahreads ，

do you。。。。。。。。。。。judge a book by its cover？？？？？？ i have to be honest that i do like most of the time 🤪🤪🤪 （（and also just most of the time getting myself disappointed LOL）） I MEANNNNN look at how pretty this cover is？！！？？ ofc i couldnt resist！！！！！！ but the story itself didnt do any justice :（（（（（（ omg maybe its just me。。。。。。。DNF-ed @ 40% bc it got to a point where i dont even understand what i was reading lololol。 the plot sounds really interesting though - about the lives of illegal immigrants w do you。。。。。。。。。。。judge a book by its cover？？？？？？ i have to be honest that i do like most of the time 🤪🤪🤪 （（and also just most of the time getting myself disappointed LOL）） I MEANNNNN look at how pretty this cover is？！！？？ ofc i couldnt resist！！！！！！ but the story itself didnt do any justice :（（（（（（ omg maybe its just me。。。。。。。DNF-ed @ 40% bc it got to a point where i dont even understand what i was reading lololol。 the plot sounds really interesting though - about the lives of illegal immigrants working at a pizza restaurant。 ugh i wished the execution of the plot was better。 :"） 。。。more

Pratiksha ，

I listened to this one。 The first half of it was so painfully slow that I almost DNFed it multiple times but for once I am glad I finished a book that I wanted to DNF。 This would be a much better book if there was more editing and most of the first section was cut out。 There is a lack of cohesion in this book。 I didn't think Nia's story was that interesting and I much preferred listening to Sian's。 I've never read a book exploring undocumented people in contemporary times， I found that really in I listened to this one。 The first half of it was so painfully slow that I almost DNFed it multiple times but for once I am glad I finished a book that I wanted to DNF。 This would be a much better book if there was more editing and most of the first section was cut out。 There is a lack of cohesion in this book。 I didn't think Nia's story was that interesting and I much preferred listening to Sian's。 I've never read a book exploring undocumented people in contemporary times， I found that really interesting。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=You People

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=You People&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,You People&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0