The Corner Shop: A BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club Pick

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKNuanced, human and engaging Nikesh Shukla, ObserverFull of life, characters, gossip and all the richness of the local community Sir David JasonA delightful story of growing up above the shop Nigel Slater, ObserverCleverly links her own memories of shop-bound life with the last 50 years of British history SpectatorI come from a hidden world: I am the daughter of shopkeepers. Ive seen you on a Sunday morning, nipping out to get a pint of milk or to grab a newspaper. I came to know a lot about you; whether your politics leaned to the right or left, whether you were gay or straight, and whether you were plagued by cash-flow problems or had enough disposable income to indulge your penchant for Cadburys Creme Eggs.Babita Sharma was raised in a corner shop in Reading, and over the counter watched a changing world, from the clientele to the products to the politics of the day. Along with the skills to mop a floor perfectly and stack a shelf, she gained a unique insight into a shifting landscape - and an institution that, despite the creep of supermarkets, online shopping and delivery, has found a way to evolve and survive - and is now once again keeping us all going.From the general stores of the first half of the 20th century (one of which was run by the father of a certain Margaret Thatcher), to the reimagined corner shops run by immigrants from India, East Africa and Eastern Europe from the 60s to the noughties, the corner shop has shaped the way we shop, the way we eat, and the way we understand ourselves.WINNER OF THE BUSINESS BOOK AWARD FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITYA triumph Radio TimesA compelling, full selection box of a story Sanjeev KohliOne of the best books Ive read on the immigrant experience in this country Daily MailI loved it cover to cover Angela Clutton, author of The Vinegar Cupboard