How far would you go to protect the sanctity of your home? What lengths would you follow to get the girl you desire? Get ahead at your job? Get rich, stay high?
From an idle village in semi-rural Essex to the corridors of banking in central London, three sets of ordinary but different people become linked through a single act of desperation. Snack van is a story of vengeance. It explores a depth of human emotion. It reminds us we’d do anything to protect what we have and grab what we can.
Ordinary people can be dangerous.
Assessment:
Plot: The idea of ordinary people driven to desperation is a solid premise, but this suggests tension that begins early and mounts steadily. Pacing is slow for the first two thirds of the novel, with a lot of quotidian details. Things hot up in the last 50 pages, but the escalation feels abrupt after the slow start.
Prose: Short chapters and a stream-of-consciousness quality lend immediacy to the writing. But they also feel disjointed at times, slowing down the narrative momentum. The alternation between more elevated descriptive language and conversations heavy with slang can be a bit jarring. Occasional incomplete sentences or unusual idiomatic expressions can also confuse or slow readers.
Originality: Variations of this plot idea and structure (ordinary people under pressure/multiple story strands coming together) have certainly been done before, but they are still effective. And the setting of the banking world and a quiet English suburb works well for tensions boiling beneath the surface.
Character Development: Multiple characters heading for a climactic collision creates a good working structure, but also scatters the emotional focus, making it hard for readers to connect. Because characters are dealing with problems that are minor or of their own making for most of the novel, they can come off as self-absorbed and shallow, making it difficult for readers to sympathize with them or invest in their fates. Also, while surprising plot twists are exciting, they can be problematic if they undermine earlier character development.
Date Submitted: April 01, 2017
Real characters to care about and therefore made me read on. I couldn't anticipate any happening and some shocking twists and turns throughout. No true heroes or villains- the writer presents humanity at their most desperate - gritty, unnerving and primal at times, a cross section of our society is revealed and laid bare, and tells of what the reasonable and unreasonable can be driven to do.
An excellent read - I couldn't put this book down! It's a realistic story of a middle class family who have to take matters to address a very annoying neighbour! A problem that no doubt happens to many! The book is very easy to read and well written!
There is a great build up all the way to the end and keeps you hooked. There is a mixture of some real dodgy characters and bit of Canary wharf types who live life on the edge! I also like all the parts of London this book covers!!
witty observations of everyday life situations - a great read
I really enjoyed this well written book. There is an intriguing plot with a diverse mix of characters which were intricately described, drawing you in as though they are familiar to you. It has a fascinating overall theme which sees the author delving into human behaviour. A great read
I am guessing the author had experienced this before in real life. I am saying that because some of the descriptions are very detail, which is good. Very well written as well. Once you start reading you forget there are words on the page and you are not standing next to the characters and experiencing everything with them; imagery so vivid that you can almost taste and smell what the main character does. The storyline moves quickly and the writing style is direct which kept me captivated and wanting to read more.
A well observed satirical comment on living life in suburbia, and the contrasts with the pressures and temptations of city life. Very readable and an interesting ending. I really enjoyed it - a fun holiday read
Trashy, humourous, well observed and a virtual page turner. Perfect as a sunshine holiday read. Polished this off in a couple of days. Enjoy.
This is a tale of modern day life and demonstrates what can happen when people don't conform to societies rules.
Mark and Jas and their two children live on a suburban estate. Mark has suffered from depression and anxiety in the past and now spends his free time planning his Mediterranean garden. What appears to be a peaceful neighbourhood on the surface turns into a battleground when Mark's new neighbours, Stan and Doris Jackson, move in next door and disrupt his life.
Mark is an academic with a Phd from Cambridge and believes in his own superiority. He has a middle class faith in the legal system and the police, always assuming they will take his side. His faith is shattered as he realises that the even local resident's association is ineffective. He is on his own and will have to take matters into his own hands. This is difficult for Mark. He's an obsessive, driven to desperation when others don't comply with his rules.
Interspersed with Mark's story is the portrayal of his younger brother, Theo, who works in London. Through Theo and his friends, the author skilfully introduces the reader into the world of drug dealing and paints a compelling picture illustrating just how easy it is to become dragged into this dark and violent underworld.
The plot is unpredictable and constantly surprising. The writing is very descriptive and imaginative and some scenarios are breathtaking (i.e. the scene when Dex drives around the motorway with a haul of drugs in his car). There are also some very accurate portrayals of modern life; office politics and the stress of office life, far right political organisations, and the dangers of on-line dating. The main theme running throughout shows what can happen when seemingly ordinary people are pushed to their limits. Dealing with topics of jealousy, friendship, loyalty and revenge the author leads the reader to re-examine the ordinary by showing us what might lie behind it.
A totally engrossing read which gripped me from the beginning. Highly recommended.
"I liked the fast paced speed that did not leave me wanting. The story was fast and complete. I will not write more about the story because I do not want to give away more plot. You will have to read it to experience the thrill these people get by acting on their desire for revenge. Snack Van was funny, adventurous and even scary at times. It was a roller coaster ride that I enjoyed immensely. I actually read it twice, but for the sheer pleasure of it. Buy it; you will love it and read it again and again." Reader's Favourite, Rabia Tanveer.
