First, this novel has some pretty titillating stories in it, so it gets the blood pumping. But also the cultural context of the novel is fascinating, a really interesting look into the honor culture of this ethnic group in diaspora london. The main character is kind of snoozer, but she's that way to elicit different interesting reactions from everyone else. And the variety of stories throughout the novel, from the stories the women generate to those of the various side characters, are totally fascinating.