Queuing for the Queen

LoveReading Says

Outpourings of grief don’t get much bigger or more impactful than the queue of thousands upon thousands who gathered to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state at Westminster Hall in September 2022. The monarch’s death clearly struck a chord with people from diverse walks of life – and it is this moment of shared grief, and these people’s stories, that Sweta Rana captures so powerfully in her poignant debut novel.

Estranged mother and daughter, Rani and Tania, are reunited by the passing of the queen and the joining of ‘the queue’. The 24 hours they spend waiting to say farewell not only brings them close to a warm and eclectic cast of characters, but also provides an opportunity for them to explore the cultural and emotional issues at the root of their fragile relationship.

There is so much to admire about Sweta Rana’s storytelling. Her switch between the first and third person narratives for Tania’s present and Rani’s past serves to highlight the stark difference in the British Indian experience over the course the queen’s reign, and despite the overriding sombre nature of the novel, it never feels contrived or overly sentimental. Yes, there are moments that will have you reaching for the tissues – some of the random acts of kindness are too much to bear – but mostly you’ll be drawn in by the authenticity and general loveliness of what takes place.

Queuing for the Queen is a joyful, reflective story about our relationships with our loved ones and the stories that have made us who we are; but above all, it’s a love letter to London, and a much-loved monarch who embodied so many of the novel’s themes: humanity, integrity; and resilience. A gorgeous and timely read for everyone, everywhere.

Lindsay Quayle

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