Shahid, rebelling against his conservative Muslim family, attends a mediocre college in London during the late 80s. Honestly, I chose this book because G Willow Wilson said it was one of her favorite books while she attending university. I find Kureishi's writing to flow well in a realistic, gritty way. His description of characters and setting brings the reader deeper into the story with every page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is questioning our society and the treatment of others.