You ask the questions: So, Monica Ali, what does an Oxford-educated

In Brick Lane, when the central character, Nazneen, is born her family decide that she should be "Left to Her Fate". Do you ever feel that fate has played an important role in your life?

Jo Osbourne, Chipping Norton

The book is essentially a meditation on fate and free will. It is a topic that interests me profoundly. The central issue for Nazneen is, "What is it in my life that I can control and what must be accepted?" For her, everything is framed in terms of her own particular social, cultural, religious and family background. She has very different terms of reference to the average Westerner, but the issues are universal.

While Nazneen is most often blind to the potential for autonomy, I'd say that I am more or less the opposite, and too frequently blind to the limits of autonomy.

Brick Lane has been called "a despicable insult to Bangladeshis at home and abroad". The focus of the complaint was the opinions expressed by the male protagonist, Chanu, who is disparaging about the Bangladeshi community in Britain. To what extent do you agree with his beliefs?

Sarah Rigby, Manchester

That criticism was the opinion of one man, who succeeded in getting some publicity both for himself and - inevitably - for Brick Lane. It doesn't represent the very large, very positive response I've had from readers with a Bengali heritage.

Do I agree with Chanu's beliefs? About what? About white people all being "ignorant types"? About doctors being nothing more than parrots, with no true learning? About wives being kept indoors as much as possible? About the Queen having met virtually every one of her citizens?

How's the second novel going?

Chris Jonas, by e-mail

I've decided to skip out that difficult second novel and move straight on to the third, which apparently is much easier.

`Brick Lane' by Monica Ali is now available as a Black Swan paperback at pounds 7.99

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