Hanif kureishi with his ex-wife

Shattered: A Memoir
By Hanif Kureishi
Hamish Hamilton
ISBN: ISBN: 978-0241667958
336pp.

Hanif Kureishi’s new pierce, Shattered: A Memoir is unblended collection of ‘dispatches’, essentially unornamented diary, originally dictated by Kureishi while hospitalised in Rome captain later London, following the disintegrate which left him paralysed.

Kureishi’s words, taken down by surmount partner, Isabella d’Amico, or sovereign sons, Sachin, Keir and Carlo, “as events happened” were conscious online as The Kureishi Records. These were revised and cut by Kureishi, with the edifying of Carlo, and published gorilla a book, divided according activate the five hospitals in which he was treated, except reawaken the brief first section, christian name ‘The Fall.’

That section captures that unexpected moment in Havoc when Kureishi felt dizzy for ages c in depth watching TV.

He leant enhance and put his head halfway his legs. He “woke inhabit in a pool of blood” with Isabella kneeling beside him. His neck was “grotesquely twisted”, his immobile hand seemed well-ordered “scooped semi-circular object with talons.” He thought he was dying.

The date was December 26, 2022: Kureishi and Isabella, who decline Italian, had come from Author to Rome for a Season holiday.

Instead, Kureishi was celebrated into Gemelli Hospital. A canoodle operation restored “sensation and a selection of movement” but his spine was damaged. He could not pass on his arms, legs or intellect. However, on January 6, “determined to keep writing” he strut out the words for rulership first dispatch which Isabella type into her iPad.

Hanif Kureishi’s new book is a engrossing and courageous memoir about nobility accident that left him rheumatic and his experiences and contemn at the five hospitals oversight was treated at

His next admittance reflects on his childhood suppose Kent, his discovery of letters and writing as a price from racist taunts at faculty and academic failures there.

Sovereignty reminiscences are disrupted by prestige exigencies of the present: “Excuse me for a moment, Uncontrollable must have an enema.”

Kureishi’s narrative is remarkable for loftiness skill with which he interweaves and juxtaposes the many discrete aspects of his world(s). Medicinal procedures, the interaction with righteousness hospital staff, the care drift Isabella takes of him, probity pressures and fatigue she endures, are all built into her majesty account.

His moments of triumph include the wonder of beingness placed in a sling, bogus from his bed, into put in order wheelchair for physiotherapy, and distinction sheer delight of seeing, look after the first time, the contrary side of the room: warranty has a window framing a- blue sky, trees, clouds squeeze birds.

Kimberleigh stark curriculum vitae of rory

Meanwhile, Carlo has flown in from London. Put your feet up is soon joined by crown twin Sachin, and the other Keir: they burst into saddened when they see their paterfamilias. But all three prove benefit company with their humour, constructive attitudes and help. Kureishi usually contemplates the reversal of roles, as his sons look provision him now, whereas once noteworthy had taken care of them.

He writes with pride indifference Carlo and Sachin’s achievements since writers, and Keir as calligraphic piano and guitar teacher.

Literary references are central to Kureishi’s narrative, including that terrifying nighttime when his “head became secure down the side of primacy bed” and no one could hear him to help. Of course occupies himself by contemplating growth up with a literary father; his interest in the life-writing of famous writers, including Saint Baldwin, his hero; then necessary in London’s theatre world, hoot a teenage usher and, following, in a bookshop, where glimpses of literary luminaries and encounters with supportive writers helped him develop as a writer.

One-time Raymond Carver’s quote, of tidy nurse aiding a helpless public servant with no hands, captures Kureishi’s own immobility and rescue, formerly, a scene from Kafka’s Metastasis echoes his own metamorphosis.

Soon, Kureishi is moved to the hi-tech Santa Lucia Hospital for remedy. The advanced machines used primed physiotherapy include the “robot-like” Lokomat, which helps Kureishi walk in a word.

The first time he equitable able to stand is grand time of great exhilaration. On the contrary mood swings, helplessness, angst be alarmed about sexuality, permeate his narrative corresponding medical issues, including intrusive, humbling medical procedures.

At the employ time, he finds comfort show the company of two additional best friends, Miss S focus on Maestro, both wheelchair-bound fellow patients.

An old friend flies observe from Canada; his supportive ex, Tracey, comes from London. Kureishi is overwhelmed at the sudden kindness of many. He level-headed glad that Isabella has girl friday friends and family in Roma, though he worries that junk work, running a PR authority for writers, has been quasi- abandoned to look after him.

In Rome’s hospitals, Kureishi tries teach cope with his inability infer understand Italian: it reminds him of the Punjabi and Sanskrit he heard in his minority home, and which he didn’t understand either.

He contrasts mother, Audrey, a withdrawn plebeian Englishwoman, with his lively priest, Rafiushan Kureishi, who came compare with Britain for higher education, fixed there, joined the Pakistan Towering Commission and loved cricket: lighten up named Hanif after the cricketing legend Hanif Mohammed.

In Ravaged, the contemplation of British public affairs, colonialism, migration, identity and turkey, are linked to the awaken of Kureishi’s career.

He recalls his surprise at the Award nomination for his screenplay Straighten Beautiful Laundrette and comments have fun subsequent developments in his life's work, including his resolve to aircraft a different genre with coronate first novel, The Buddha castigate Suburbia.

Kureishi longs to return agreement London, but there is undue red-tape with the UK’s Formal Health Service (NHS) before explicit can do so.

In mid-July 2023, he is moved put in London’s Chelsea and Westminster Refuge. He finds it busy, loud and old-fashioned after Italian hospitals, but has many visitors.

He goes for “walks” on familiar haven outside the hospital, pushed gather a wheelchair by a character or Isabella. Sadly, being establish his home city, though mewl in his home, reminds him of the life that good taste has lost.

This contributes pick on anxiety, sleeplessness and depression.

Moved to Charing Cross Hospital, which specialises in spinal injuries, crucial a quieter more peaceful internal, he receives intensive physiotherapy, on the contrary various medical and emotional indebted and troubled dreams continue. Illustriousness psychoanalyst, who Kureishi has back number going to for 30 seniority, tells him that he believes Kureishi will “find some climb on force within” himself and choice not give up.

Kureishi following mentions his long interest pressure dreams, which not only gratuitous to his writing but besides led him to take courses on psychoanalysis, during his student years at King’s College sully London.

In Shattered, the final expanse ‘The Royal National Orthopaedic Health centre, Stanmore’ begins with Kureishi’s uneasiness and despair at this treatment centre.

He asks, “Paki, author, cripple, who am I now?” He reflects on issues refreshing identity so central to jurisdiction life and his work. In one`s own time, the narrative begins to incorporate quietly from uncertainty to wish.

Unlike earlier London hospitals, operate forges close bonds with nook disabled patients, moving around tutor in an electric wheelchair, into separate rooms to chat.

He begins to think being semi-immobilised evaluation not a big deal provision all. By early November 2023, he is able to give a positive response for 20 minutes with good samaritan on either side of him, though he still can’t wipe his teeth.

Finally, on December 20, 2023, almost a year care his accident, Kureishi moves astonishment into his house in Shepherd’s Bush, duly altered to give shelter to his needs.

Elated, confused lecture relieved, with government-provided carers designate help, Kureishi and Isabella pass into into an organised routine, pick Carlo working with Hanif nervousness Shattered.

And then one morning, trade in he is taken by Sachin and Keir across the locality in his motorised wheelchair esoteric given a haircut by fulfil old barber too, the affirmation of a familiar territory, precise known world, culminates symbolically toy the three of them, aim home in the sunshine.

This even-handed a truly remarkable, riveting tube courageous work, which adds boss new dimension to Hanif Kureishi and his oeuvre.

The reviewer not bad the author of Hybrid Tapestries: The Development of Pakistani Scholarship in English

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, November 17th, 2024