The Buddha of Suburbia

[Whatsername868]

I was wandering around in the book store today while I was on break, and I noticed this book called The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi. Hmmm, I'm sure you can guess what it instantly made me think of...

But anyway, I was curious about it (because it actually looks like a pretty good book, I'm going to read it as soon as I can), and I found out it was even "made into a four-part drama series by the BBC in 1993, with a soundtrack by David Bowie." Here's a little more that Wikipedia says about it...

Hanif Kureishi's two novels The Buddha of Suburbia and The Black Album are about initiation, (black, Asian) British youth, pop culture, the condition of England, and London.

The Buddha of Suburbia is said to be very autobiographical. It is about Karim, a hybrid teenager, who is desperate to escape suburban South London and make new experiences in London in the 1970s. Gladly he takes the unlikely opportunity when a life in the theatre announces itself. When there is nothing left for him to do in London anymore, he stays in New York for ten months. Returned to London, he takes on the offer of a part in a TV soap opera and the book leaves its reader on the verge of Thatcherism.

The suburbs are "a leaving place" from which Kureishi's characters must move away. To Karim, London—even though it is geographically not far away from his home—seems like a completely different world. Therefore his expectations of London are great.

In The Buddha the move (in)to the city (and later on through the city) seems to be like an odyssey, or even a pilgrimage. On the first page Karim introduces himself as follows: "My name is Karim Amir, and I am an Englishman born and bred, almost". This motif is reinforced throughout the novel.

Pop music is an important theme in Kureishi's novels. One could even say that his novels have a soundtrack. London itself is associated by Karim to a sound.

It's probably just a coincidence that the name is similar to Green Day's "Jesus of Suburbia", but I thought that maaaybe he was inspired by this book? Or maybe I'm just trying to make connections that aren't real. What do you think??

----> Wikipedia Page

[depardu42]

I think you're just trying to make connections that aren't real. :bored:

[music_that_is]

Coincidence.

Unrelatively(?) interesting though.

[Sharmellow]

It's a coincidence. The book looks alright though.

[Green Jay]

I think it's very likely that it has something to do with Billie Joe's inspiration for JOB

[rage-love-life]

Coincidence. But maybe he did, nobody aside from Billie knows. Wait, maybe some do.

This is one hell of a stupid post.

[Fulano]

I read somewhere that JOS have some connection with BOS

I never heard of this book before, the only thing that i heard is about this connection...

but i dont remember too much now because of pot high...

but maybe it has a connection...

[Waffles]

I think you're just trying to make connections that aren't real. :bored:

Could be.

[amy_runs]

I think that could be possible

[Bob4775]

hahahh i knew about that for awhile because naveen andrews from LOST played BOS in the movie

but i think that if any inspiration came from it, it was just the title and not anything else

[Guest Shangri-La]

The Buddha of Suburbia is a David Bowie song. I always assumed the title JOS was inspired by Bowie.

The book is about race relations in the UK and it came out way after the song did so i think it's safe to say there's no connection to it whatsoever..

[saintcarlos]

wiki says "Not to be confused with The Buddha of Suburbia (song)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_of_Suburbia

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

Mm, could be possible.

[Foxboro Hot Tubs]

coincidence

[Katarina.]

Uhm, could be possible, but don't think so.

[Guest Hayley]

I think it's just a coincidence.

[Hermione]

The Buddha of Suburbia is a David Bowie song. I always assumed the title JOS was inspired by Bowie.

The book is about race relations in the UK and it came out way after the song did so i think it's safe to say there's no connection to it whatsoever..

Exactly. Green Day definitely got the name from the Bowie song. And seperately from that, the author of the book also got the name from the Bowie song.

So not so much a coincidence as two people getting a title from the same place.

[Mrs.Kerplunk]

what ?

[nimrod-41]

This could be a decent question to ask Billie if we ever get to do a Q&A with the band again... But other than asking, there's no way we could ever know. Does seem like just a coincidence though.

wiki says "Not to be confused with The Buddha of Suburbia (song)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_of_Suburbia

Kind of off topic, but at the bottom of that page it lists Green Day's singles discography and it has 'JAR', 'Poprocks & Coke', 'I Fought The Law' and 'Shoplifter'... Did I miss something?

[Fulano]

This could be a decent question to ask Billie if we ever get to do a Q&A with the band again... But other than asking, there's no way we could ever know. Does seem like just a coincidence though.

Kind of off topic, but at the bottom of that page it lists Green Day's singles discography and it has 'JAR', 'Poprocks & Coke', 'I Fought The Law' and 'Shoplifter'... Did I miss something?

well i never understood wiki

[Guitar4Girl]

Looks like it might just be a coincidence.

[Becky.]

I think both the book and JOS got it from the David Bowie.

[Lauren]

I think it's one of those things that inspires you without you realizing it.

Like Billie was probably in a book store, and saw the title of the book and didn't even make note of it. Then one day all of a sudden he thinks "Jesus of Suburbia! That's a good name!"

[depardu42]

Kind of off topic, but at the bottom of that page it lists Green Day's singles discography and it has 'JAR', 'Poprocks & Coke', 'I Fought The Law' and 'Shoplifter'... Did I miss something?

Wiki lies a lot, just because it's mostly random people submitting info that isn't fact-checked all that often.

[SlappyDJ1]

i heard somewhere that the riffs are kinda alike.