Greetings from Bury Park cover art

Greetings from Bury Park

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Greetings from Bury Park

By: Sarfraz Manzoor
Narrated by: Sarfraz Manzoor
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About this listen

Sarfraz Manzoor was two years old when his family emigrated from Pakistan to join his father in Bury Park, Luton. His teenage years were a constant battle to reconcile being both British and Muslim. But when his best friend introduced him to Bruce Springsteen, his life changed for ever. In this affectionate and timely memoir, Manzoor retraces his journey from the frustrations of his childhood to his reaction to the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7.

Original, darkly tender and wryly amusing, this is an inspiring tribute to the power of music to transcend race and religion and a moving account of a relationship between father and son.

©2007 Sarfraz Manzoor (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Cultural & Regional Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Heartfelt Inspiring Feel-Good

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Critic reviews

"Beautiful and moving...a book to make you believe that we are all more alike than we know." (Tony Parsons)

"Every detail rings so true that you feel you have been offered a seat in his living-room. Suffusing all this is Manzoor's warm, humane, unsensational voice: it makes you want to extend the hand of friendship to him." (Sunday Telegraph)
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This bloke gripped me from the start and, even though I’m ten years younger and ten shades whiter than Sarfraz, I found myself nodding along to most of what he was saying.

I laughed, I cried and my heart was warmed.

If you’re a Springsteen fan, you’ll Iove it.
But, even if it isn’t the Boss who brought you here, I still feel there’s plenty to offer.

Superb

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A great book to listen to by all Bruce Springsteen fans and greatly narrated by the author.
Baby, we were born to run....

Tramps like us...

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Well read, very interesting especially as I lived in Bury Park in the 90s amongst the Pakistani community.

really enjoyable book

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I enjoyed watching 'Blinded by the Light' so much that I decided to download the book the film was based on. I am glad I did because I absolutely loved this story and could not stop listening. I am not Pakistani and not Muslim, but also an immigrant in the UK and found the author's experiences very relatable. Beautifully written, well read by the author - I highly recommend.

Very engaging - loved it

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As a mixed race British-Chinese person, the discussion on addressing both parts of your identity was very thought provoking and made me not only consider a sense of belonging but also made me think more about my Mum’s experience of moving to the UK and integrating. Loved this book, so glad I listened to it and it helped make “Blinded by the Light” mean so much more. Highly recommend!

Engaging and thought provoking

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such a heartwarming story, thanks for breaking down some barriers that never existed for me but did for many others.
thankyou Safraz for telling your story so well

a life well lived,

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Loved the film. Started listening to Bruce after it, and am seeing him at Hyde Park in July.
The book was equally as amazing but in a different way. Much more thought provoking and a magnificent eye into the childhood of someone who was born the same decade as myself. Really enjoyed finding out about his family and life in Luton.

Didn’t disappoint

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I chose this after seeing the movie blinded by the light which was epic. This book that inspired it also joins that category. I was disappointed to reach the end of it and have recommended it to others.

A great story well narrated!

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Thoroughly enjoyed hearing Sarfraz's account of his and his family's experience of life in Britain as a Pakistani Muslim. Lorlts of the questions about identity, belonging, navigating culture, tradition, difference and kinship resonated.

The writing and narration is engaging, and I appreciated the inclusion of an afterword that allowed Sarfraz to reflect on his motivation for writing the book and events that have occurred since.

Throughout, you could feel the warmth in his friendship with Amolak, the tension he felt navigating between the world of his parents and the British culture which he was exposed to, his search for belongining and his own identity, and of course the revere he has for Springsteen.

What I appreciated most was the factual and balanced way in which Sarfraz shared his experience - not shying away from the reality of why his father came to this country and his feelings towards it, and of his own experience of discrimination, racism and prejudice without calling it out explicitly or using it as a political agenda (despite a few references to politicians of the day!). Even more interesting was learning how Sarfraz's outlook and behaviour changed over time, shaped by his experience, both direct and indirect.

I came to this book because the adverts for the film on Prime Video intrigued me. I don't know much about Bruce Springsteen or his music and expected the film to be another heartwarming tale of a kid growing up with dreams inspired by a hero. I was drawn to it, in part curious about the music, but haven't had the opportunity to see it yet. And I am so glad I got to read this book first, to understand what inspired the film and no doubt provide richer context and insight to that which will unfold on screen. I love the fact that whilst an important influence on Sarfraz's life Springsteen isn't the star, that role belongs to his friends and family. I now look forward to watching the film :-)

Personal, honest & insighful account

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The title says it all. The book is touching, moving, funny and sad at the same time. I loved it

A wonderful listen

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