The Buddha of Suburbia

[Guest Shangri-La]

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!"

false.

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.

yessss! i started reading the book last year because of the bowie song, but i never finished it.

glad someone knows what i'm talking about

[chatnoir]

My very first post on GDC was on that book (in the book suggestions thread in August 2008). Honestly, when I first listened to JOS, I thought, "awesome, he must have read that book". I somehow missed, it was a Bowie song. I think, if the book was somehow an inspiration, Billie Joe would have said it, there is no need to be ashamed of inspiration, so it's probably just the same theme based on the Bowie song.

But still, the book is amazing, everybody should read it. Here's what I wrote about it:

Does anyone know "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi?

It is sort of a coming of age story and takes place in the late 1970s in London. Karim, whose father is originally from India is desperatly trying to escape the suburbs in the South End of London, in which he grew up. There are problems at home (his father is having an affair) and of course in his personal life -for example he has this deep crush on his sort of a punkrocker friend from school - Charlie. But there are also women, he is interested in...And there is the theatre. Could his interest in theatre and acting be a possible way out of his problems and out of suburbia?

Sorry, this is probably a very poor description of this wonderful book. I have read it so many times by now and every time I find new things to be excited about. It is just so much fun to see how this guy deals with his problems, being sensitive and smart and eager and having so much energy, which he must learn to channel.

And well, why any Green Day Fan should read it - That's obvious, isn`t it?