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Who They Was
Who They Was | Gabriel Krauze
6 posts | 5 read | 9 to read
Who They Was is an electrifying autobiographical British novel: a debut that truly breaks new ground and shines a light on lives that run on parallel, but wildly different tracks. This life is like being in an ocean. Some people keep swimming towards the bottom. Some people touch the bottom with one foot, or even both, and then push themselves off it to get back up to the top, where you can breathe. Others get to the bottom and decide they want to stay there. I don't want to get to the bottom because I'm already drowning. This is the story of the other London. This is the story about what it's like to exist here right now, about boys too eager to become men, growing up in the hidden war zones of big cities, and of the girls who are there when it happens. This is the story of reputations made, and lost, of violence and vengeance - and never counting the cost; of concrete towers and blank-eyed windows; of endless nights in police stations and prison cells. This is about the boredom, the rush, the despair, the fear and the hope. This is about what's left behind. This is our story.
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review
Graywacke
Who They Was | Gabriel Krauze
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Pickpick

Criminal life, straight in. I found this riveting on audio as he constantly lives on violent edge and constantly spontaneously combusts and there‘s blood and serious damage to someone, between his classes on literary theory. What‘s messed up is it‘s based on his life. So, while it‘s fascinating and authentic and well written, it‘s also by a guy who really hurt people for no legitimate reason. Another from the 2020 Booker longlist.

Lcsmcat I think I‘ll pass on this one. Thanks for the warning. 😀 3y
Suet624 I‘ll pass too. 3y
Graywacke @Lcsmcat @Suet624 the book is good. Really. Just the ethics around it … I‘m not sure how I feel about it. 3y
33 likes3 comments
blurb
Graywacke
Who They Was | Gabriel Krauze
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Whoa, intense opening. South Kilburn (London) violent crime scene. It‘s autobiographical fiction and Krauze reads it himself. Started this morning.

review
Minervasbutler
Who They Was | Gabriel Krauze
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Pickpick

This slab of "estate noir" is the story of Snoopz and his exploits in the grim streets of South Kilburn and environs. Snoopz spends most of his time bunning zoots when he isn't teefing or riding around in a whip looking for a burner. Survival in South Killy depends on respect, and respect is won by willingness to use a blade or a gun. Few books reveal with such clarity the bleak life choices available to kids in these environments. Mesmerizing.

54 likes1 stack add