Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan - Review - Women's Prize Shortlist 2024.
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- čas přidán 5. 05. 2024
- A review of Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan.
Jaffna, 1981. Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor. But over the next decade, a vicious civil war tears through her home, and her dream spins off course as she sees her four beloved brothers and their friend K swept up in the mounting violence. Desperate to act, Sashi accepts K's invitation to work as a medic at the field hospital for the militant Tamil Tigers, who, following years of state discrimination and violence, are fighting for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority. But after the Tigers murder one of her teachers and Indian peacekeepers arrive only to commit further atrocities, Sashi begins to question where she stands. When one of her medical school professors, a Tamil feminist and dissident, invites her to join a secret project documenting human rights violations, she embarks on a dangerous path that will change her forever.
Set during the early years of Sri Lanka's three-decade civil war, Brotherless Night is a heartrending portrait of one woman's moral journey and a testament to both the enduring impact of war and the bonds of home.
Great review. I get your dislike, I felt the same but I somehow accepted the memoir style. I went with the idea that it was on purpose and enjoyed it a bit more then. What bothered me was the feeling that it was too much of stuff happening to one girl just for the sake of evoking compassion when it could have been done in some other way (maybe). It was especially noticeable in the part with K on stage. It was a horrible scene and yet I feel it was written just to bring more misery. But I also need to say that I learned a lot about Sri Lankan history and this book was so powerful in explaining nuances about this civil war. I appreciate that the author brought it to the spotlight and she did it well.
"lifeless" is the best way to describe the way it is written. Totally agree with you
I thought it was great. I actually appreciated the distance from the character, not sure I could have read it otherwise, it was heartbreaking enough.
I agree that Seven Moons was probably a better book but Brotherless night fits the bill for being more accessible.
Last years Miles Franklin winner covered some similar themes, that one is very accessible too and the characters are more relatable.
Thank you , I'm reading this and can not connect. Keep going until I can't . DF Enter Ghost halfway same reason. So far, Solider sailor best ,made me laugh out loud, but I connected . if you don't know what family life like around babies may not connect but excellent gift for too be parents. 3 more to read !!
Great review, as usual. Thank you.
I ended up DNFing after reading about three quarters of it for precisely the reasons you gave for not rating higher. I tried. I really reallly tried .
Excellent review. I had a similar reaction.
Can you do a review on baron in the trees by italo calvino? Could be for you
ooo! ill check it out :)
How about reviewing an oldie but goodie
The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell
Appropriate for the times Thanks!
Agree with you about this book & 7 Moons. I got bored towards the end & it was because I also had no investment in the characters. 3 stars from me as well. Felt much the same about Enter Ghost as well.
I loved Maali Almeida and also A Passage North. I think I'll skip this one.
I've just finished this book and I just couldn't get on at all with the writing style and I couldn't connect. I was drifting off away from the prose so often and it felt so strange that the subject matter be such a harrowing thing and yet I felt no emotion at all. I just didn't like the writing and like you I had no emotional connection with the characters, it felt more like a textbook instead of a novel in a way. I honestly thought that might be where they were going with it when the subject of the book came up, but it turned out to not be that book.