'The Buddha of Suburbia' by Hanif Kureishi

December 2024 - 'The Buddha of Suburbia' by Hanif Kureishi

The London Archives' book group discussed Hanif Kureishi's, Buddha of Suburbia, which was published in 1990 and was also made into a film starring Naveen Andrews. More recently a stage adaptation was presented at the Barbican Theatre.

I am an Englishman, born and bred. Almost.

With these words we are launched into the coming-of-age story of Karim, a teenage inhabitant of London’s southern suburbs who, in the late 1970s, dreams of a life lived elsewhere in London, where all the cool people live and where life actually matters.

Post-Colonial literature

Kureishi’s 1990 novel is now a classic of post-colonial literature. In the terminology of the time, our anti-hero Karim is a mixed-race, mixed-up boy surrounded by a memorable cast of characters. The group appreciated Kureishi’s forensic portrayal of place – sensitive to the subtleties that separate Bromley, Beckenham and Chislehurst for example and the way in which the suburbs and London are two separate worlds.

A time capsule

In many ways this novel is a time capsule: music, fashion, and politics are front and centre and as a result some readers were surprised to find how much it had dated. Its heady mix of sex, drugs and rebellion perhaps doesn’t shock as much as it once might have done. Readers saw links with J.D. Salinger’s 'A Catcher in the Rye', another problematic protagonist, though many of Karim’s difficulties are the normal misunderstandings of youth. As one reader observed, your parents are always weird when you’re a teenager, and nothing anybody does makes any sense. Another reader felt the novel was a bit of a mess, but then so was Karim.

Racism in the novel

One element that did shock was the amount of racism Kureishi packs into the novel – not a surprise for those that remember or have read about London in the 1970s – but surprising in the way it was often couched in comic terms. This led to a debate as to whether Karim (and perhaps Kureishi?) has normalised something that was an remarkable daily norm for any person of colour at this date, or whether this was a sign of teenage bravado, a devil may care response to threat.

The Buddha

Karim’s father – the Buddha of the title, nothing of the sort – is a central, hilarious figure. Like other members of his family, the novel’s tone towards him is bittersweet and Karim’s relationship with him develops over the time of the novel. There are moments of great sensitivity when exploring the break-up of Karim’s family, underscored by complete farce. Readers wanted more of Karim’s mother Margaret, a ghost in the narrative who is the victim of events, even if we sense that she does eventually find happiness.

Structure of the novel

Given the high regard in which the novel is held, some readers were disappointed by its structure. Kureishi’s voice is so strong that it’s easy to forget that this is his first novel and this can be seen in the slightly out of control plot. Several attendees had seen the recent stage adaptation by Emma Rice which smooths out the plot and untangles some of the novel’s problems, and which was warmly recommended.

The Streets of My Heart

There is a tenderness to the novel – Karim comes to appreciate his family and loves his friends, learning that London isn’t perhaps all it’s cracked up to be. The original title for the novel was “The Streets of My Heart” and we discussed how different the novel might have been with such a title.

Related archives

In the session, the group looked at records that represented the culture of the period, including newspaper clippings about David Bowie who performed at Earls Court in May 1973 (ref: LMA/4684/01/06/1973). This included negative letters from the press, such as one critic who commented:

I missed all the fine points of his performance, such as the golden sun painted on his forehead, the details of the numerous costumes and the subtle mime.

Also investigated were programmes of the 'Festival for Mind and Body' which was held at Olympia in 1978 (ref: LMA/4684/02/02/1978/007). Sponsored by the 'new age' magazine New Life, the programme gives us an insight into the burgeoning interest in alternative culture and spirituality which Kureishi pokes fun at in the novel. It reveals how many of these ideas were becoming increasingly mainstream. The programme includes adverts for yoga, Buddhism, exercise and alternative spirituality.

The Mary Ward Centre is an adult education facility that started life as the Passmore Edwards Settlement in 1890. Yoga classes start to be delivered in the early 1970s, and the papers relating to the administration of these classes give a sense of practitioners and practise in this period (ref: LMA/4524/G/04/006).

Explore the book group homepage and find out what the group are reading next.

An Exhibition - London Against Racism: The GLC Years

In 1984, the Greater London Council declared the 'Year of Anti-Racism'. In a free exhibition at The London Archives, is a unique opportunity to see reproductions of the posters which were part of the 'London Against Racism' initiative. Posters provide powerful visual evidence of our social and cultural history, often used to influence behaviour, shape values, and inspire action - whether fighting, voting, or protesting. See the exhibition in the Information Area.

On 8 March, 2025 The London Archives will be hosting a symposium, 'The year of Anti-Racism: Then and Now' to commemorate the 40th anniversary with a day of talks in conjunction with the display of the posters.

Find out more about how The London Archives is committed to understanding and addressing the legacies of discrimination and colonialism that are embedded within our collections, practices, and institutional history on our 'Decolonising and Diversifying our Collections' page.