2023 Booker Longlist: Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

by jenp27 on September 4, 2023

Next up for our panel is a debut novel, Western Lane by Chetna Maroo.

Synopsis from Booker Prize website: Eleven-year-old Gopi has been playing squash since she was old enough to hold a racket. When her mother dies, her father enlists her in a quietly brutal training regimen, and the game becomes her world.

Slowly, she grows apart from her sisters. Her life is reduced to the sport, guided by its rhythms: the serve, the volley, the drive, the shot and its echo. But on the court, she is not alone. She is with her pa. She is with Ged, a 13-year-old boy with his own formidable talent. She is with the players who have come before her. She is in awe.

You can purchase a copy of the book here

Four of our panelists read this book. Keep reading to find out what they thought.

Tracy’s Thoughts: Even though Western Lane seems to be specific to the sport of Squash, and to the UK, it addresses some broad issues, with a surprising tenderness.

I appreciated the adult spin on a child’s grief in this book. It was written looking back many years on 11 year old Gopi’s life after her mother died, and the choices she had to make at that time.

Characters and descriptions were seen from a child’s perspective but described by an adult later- this is hard to do effectively, and it was unreliable at times. The descriptions that were very specific, unfortunately for me, were about squash. I have no clue about the sport, so I was lost. I’ll have to watch some matches on Youtube to see what it is.

The story itself was touching, and a look into Gopi’s grief and confusion at such a pivotal time in her life was enlightening- it reminded me that kids take on more than we give them credit for.

Writing quality: 3.5/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Character development: 2.5/4
Plot: 2/4
Enjoyment: 1.5/2
Total: 12/20

Jen’s Thoughts: At the risk of being rude, I’m flummoxed at how this made the longlist. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad book, and in fact it’s a solid debut novel, but it’s just not even in the same league as the types of books we expect to make the list. The author is known for her short stories and this novel is barely more than a short story, clocking in at less than 150 pages. I did like the attempt to tie grief to the sport of squash but at times it read as formulaic. I also felt distracted by the fact that the story was told from the point of view of an 11-year old. So at times the book felt formulaic and other times unbelievable. The story itself was a touching story and I did find it easy to read and relatively enjoyable. I think the author is talented but for me it’s simply a solid book and not a booker candidate.

Writing quality: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Character development: 2/4
Plot development: 2/4
Overall enjoyment: 1/2
Total: 12/20

BookWorm’s Thoughts: Another book about grief what an uplifting longlist this is, or so I thought going in. Once I started the story I actually really enjoyed it, yes there are sad moments but there are also moments of joy, of love and hints of moving on.

I liked the use of squash as a method of discipline and self-control and as a coping method for loss and while I have never actually been interested in the game I was invested in how the contest would turn out.

An unusual family dynamic and an unusual solution to the lone parent issue.

Writing quality: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Character development: 3/4
Plot development: 3/4
Overall enjoyment: 2/2
Total: 16/20

Nicole’s Thoughts: Many years when I read Booker books I feel so grateful for the prize for introducing me to books I would never have known about – like last years worthy winner, a book I still think about. This year is an ABSOLUTE slogfest. I knew it was going to be a dicey year for me when I found out Eduygan was the chair. I couldn’t finish Washington Black so I figured a lot of the books would be similar – and they are. A whole lotta nothing, and that’s what this was. Meh. Meh. Meh.

Writing quality: 3/5
Originality: 2/5
Character development: 2/4
Plot development: 2/4
Overall enjoyment: 1/2
Total: 10/20

Have you read this one? Let us know what you thought.

Our panel’s rankings