The City Of Invention

Set amid the Orthodox Jewish community of Hendon, North London, it tells of the aftermath of the death of a beloved and revered Rabbi and the return of his wayward, sexually unorthodox daughter. It's wickedly funny, inventive and nicely crafted, using a range of narrative voices. The characters are strongly drawn, the dynamics of a small community well observed and the central theme - the way that cultural identity is both hugely enriching and intensely claustrophobic - is discussed with humour and intelligence.