I actually finished this a few days ago, and was rather eager to post about it... then I started (and finished) reading John Grisham's The Testament. Man, John Grisham can write some intriguing drivel.

Back to Brick Lane, though. It was like a modern Jane Austen. With immigrants. From Bangladesh. Who are poor and live in council housing in Britain. So really, not that much like Jane Austen, except that it's set in Britain.
But it reminded me of Jane Austen - the female lead, discovering who she really is despite having repressed her own desires and moving with fate. The tensions of Sept. 11, 2001 and terrorism come into play, since the characters in the novel are all Muslims, and they feel the pressure of being different (maintaining purdah, for instance) in their adopted home. The book is intriguing on many levels, particularly the chapters of ill-written letters from the main character's sister - the parallel, but opposite, life. One always did what she was supposed to, the other never did. Which one is happier is debatable.
Ali weaves an interesting look into the post-colonial world of Britain, without coming across as preaching about racism, the immigrant condition or any of the other political topics her novel touches.