Tag Archives: South Asian

There is a common thread weaving through books by authors of South Asian background: lyrical, dream-like prose undulating through and pulsating life onto paper, conjoining the lush tropical jungle, humidity, warm Indian Ocean currents, haunting superstition, monsoon season and a never ending quest for justice and closure. All familiar and comforting. Perhaps, they subconsciously aim to mimic the ornate, spherical nature of written language originating from Sanskrit, translating the physicality of characters into the ethos of being human. Michael Ondaatje, Jhumpa Lahiri, Salman Rushdie and now Nayomi Munaweera. As a member of the “1.5” generation of Americans (born in another country but growing up in the US), specifically of Sri Lankan origin, I thoroughly appreciated this effort. If you are at all curious about the 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka that only recently ended, here is a book that lends a good perspective, fictionalized, of course. My only disappointment is the lack of depth and development in the main characters, except one, which is likely intentional. It is difficult to feel emotions at their fullest capacity because of this. Highly recommended and looking forward to the few other books coming out by authors of a similar background!