Brick Lane - Strictly my viewpoint

I recently finished reading Brick Lane girl, by Monica Ali. The book is about a young Muslim girl Nazneen, from Bangladesh who gets married (at the age of 18) to an older man (around 36) and moves to London. Its a completely new life for her there and a new set of challenges and trials to face. Its a story about her acceptance of her fate, coming to terms with her life, the circumstances that lead her to change the way she is and for the first time make her stand up and take a decision for herself.
I felt that the book was a little slow paced and could not really capture my interest. For most part of the book Nazneen is the main protagonist but in the background and the shadow of the other characters (her husband, children, the doctor and the other ladies). I did not find any of the other characters interesting (maybe her sister a little bit) nor intriguing.
But Nazneen's character was quite interesting, she comes across as an intelligent observer. She is someone who remains in the background, lets people do most of the talking (whether its her husband on his literary trip or Mrs Islam crying on her never-ending illness). She reflects most of her intelligence in her observations of people and understanding/analysis of their behaviour and character. Its quite amazing how she never really complains about her life and husband to anyone. She just accepts everything.
But as you accept this quite docile creature and assume that her life would go on like this till the end.....in comes a sewing machine (!!!!) and of course the life changing Karim. This is when you realise Nazneen's strength as a woman, as the one who can take up charge of the house, earn a living for her household if the need be. You realise she has been quiet not due to lack of talent or the ability but just because that was the need of the hour probably. Finally she realises her dream, what her life is all about and what she and her children really need. The end is a bit surprising, but not at all disappointing (at least for me).
All in all, a decent read. Not very highly recommended but yes you can read it. The book has a lot more to offer in terms of the life of the Bangladeshis and their issues in London and also about religion. There is also a parallel story of her sister Hasina (through the letters she writes) and her mother. But what spoke to me most in the book is what I have written about.