Cat & Fiddle (Lesley Jørgensen, Scribe)

Cat and Fiddle, winner of the 2011 CAL Scribe Fiction Prize for an unpublished manuscript, follows the scandals and fortunes of two connected families in rural Wiltshire. The Anglo-Bangladeshi Choudhurys provide colour and warmth as the mother tries to marry off her brood of three: Tariq, a former jihadist art curator grappling with his sexuality; shunned artist Rohimun with her ruined reputation; and baby Shunduri, the ‘princess’. The establishment Bourne family, together with wealthy Greek wife Thea, are renovating the ancient family estate, and also have their share of hidden skeletons. The characters in Lesley Jørgensen’s debut novel are vivid, albeit slightly caricatured, the dialogue is engaging and the vernacular convincing. This is a big, fat satisfying read, which will appeal to fans of books featuring intricate plots, family webs, rollicking love stories, multiculturalism (particularly with a sub-continental theme) and clashes between tradition and modernity, religion and culture. The depictions of Mrs Begum’s Bengali cooking are tantalising, as are the details of artist Rohimun at work with her oil paints, and the sumptuous descriptions of the Bangladeshi saris. I adored this sprawling, funny novel. This is highly recommended late-summer reading.

Joanne Shiells is a former retail book buyer and editor

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Category: Reviews