Compelling, compassionate

A big important read, which I heard about only because of its Women’s Prize nomination

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Horrible History

The narrator does a fantastic job telling this traumatic story which is more like nonfiction at times. Although only 13 hours it’s a tough listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

important topic, poor storytelling

The recount of Sri-Lankan civil war from insider's perspective - an interesting topic, but cardboard characters and dry narration (from the author, not the audiobook's performer) kept me at arm's length emotionally and made the book much less powerful.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Views from a cycle

I listened to the book whilst on a cycle tour of Sri Lanka - it felt good and proper to full immerse myself in this heart breaking story of resistance and its place the people’s history as told by women.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliant and moving book

This novel is very closely based on the facts of the Sri Lankan civil war which I knew virtually nothing about. It is narrated by a Tamil woman who was a young girl at the beginning of the war.

It's written in quite a straightforward and matter of fact style which took a while to get into but that is one of the things that makes it so brilliant and moving. It avoids gory details of violence and sentimentality which a lesser author might be tempted to do. It focuses on the results of the violence on ordinary people who are not powerful but are caught in the middle of power struggles between 3 group - the Sri Lankan Government, the Tamil Tigers and the Indian 'peacekeepers'.

The book also exposes that there is no simple good and bad as the Tamil Tigers, supposedly fighting for freedom are as cruel as the government they are fighting and the Indian 'peacekeepers' are also cruel and violent. It powerfully explores, too, the terrible decisions ordinary people have to make to survive when that can involve making moral compromises just to survive. And the consequences for the few, incredibly brave people who do take a stand against the violence and try to document the abuses. The straightforward narrative means that this isn't overwhelming although it's a tough listen but a very rewarding one.

Although set in the Sri Lankan civil war, it's probably also what happens in most wars so has much wider significance. Highly recommend.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A harrowing story

I found it a hard listen due to the lack of fluency of the reader. I could only listen for short bursts.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Compelling and heartbreaking story

Captivating story that engaged my interest from start to finish, and was beautifully read and narrated

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Authentic representation

It felt like I was in sei lanka walking the same path as shashi and her brothers witnessing the events live. The narration was very authentic to understand the country and its people in its true sense with the regional accent and that helped me enjoy the book even more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A brutal read

This is a story that should be widely read but I had no idea what a difficult read it would be. I had so little knowledge about the civil war in Sri Lanka despite it happening in my life time. Now I know so much more and have had by heart broken listening to this novel. The narrator is quietly powerful and ideally suited to the story she reads.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Powerful female narrative

The novel encapsulates the conflict of self v society when your family and friends are directly affected by a brutal civil war, mirrored in so many conflicts now. How do we make choices and bear the consequences?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!