Review Summaries

• The fragmented, poetic narration is often praised for conveying the chaos of war and the characters' inner unease. Some readers appreciate the deliberate pace, while others find it demanding.

Reviews

• 美しい文章で語られる悲しい物語

  かつて国を出て、ヨーロッパで研究をしていたアニルは、人権団体の要請によって、スリランカへ戻る。虐殺された人たちの身元を調べるという仕事を引き受けて。 過去の思い出に満ちた故国は内戦で、想像を絶する悲劇に満ちていた。がい骨となった死体の1つを「セーラー」と名づけ、この死体の身元を探し求める。 アニルのこれまでの人生、がい骨の「セーラー」の人生、アニルが出会う人々の人生、そしてスリランカの長い歴史、これらに流れているそれぞれ異なる時間が重なりあって、美しい文章で語られながら、悲しい物語は進む。 ストーリーは読者を引きつけるし、英語は読みやすい。

• 悲しく、美しく、忘れ難く、不思議な本。

  English Patient でもそうだったように、1ページ目から漂うこのずっしりと重い悲しみはこの著者の本領発揮なのでしょうか。そして、やはりEnglish Patientでもそうだったように、民族全体の苦しみをじっくりと目撃させられる女主人公は強烈な自我と個性を持って恋に挑みます。本筋とは一見関係ないような彼女の恋物語はなぜ挿入されるのか、政治的迫害をテーマに、出口のない民族対立を描きながら、一人一人の心の強さと奔放さに人類の希望の光を見出しているのかも知れません。この著者の作品は、パッチワークのようにあちこちから紡がれて、全体像が完成すると、一言では名状しがたい情感を残します。職人芸です。

• The book took me to another depth of understanding what happened in Sri Lanka during that period - much more disturbing than just reading the news during those times. There is so much underlying sadness in all his books and it really touches your heart

• I read this book while I was in Sri Lanka. I think the stories and perspective really helped me to speak to the people while I was there. There was so much more I wanted to ask but was not sure what was appropriate. This book helped me to understand some of the conflict during the War. I wrote about this book recently: Article first published as Sri Lanka: To Go or Not To Go? on Technorati. After the 30 year civil war ended, we decided to go to Sri Lanka last summer. Our friends enjoyed a month of great travel in September 2009 and encouraged us to go. Wondering about the impact of so many years of war, I was worried about this trip. When we arrived, I learned that there had been 450 years of Dutch, Portugese and British rule before the civil war. I decided to ask as many questions as I could. During our six weeks in Sri Lanka, I was constantly amazed by the friendliness of the people. Everyone wanted to talk to us and tell us how happy they are that the war is over, that there is peace, and that they can now travel in their own country. The young students we met at Anuradhapurna were from the East and no one had been able to travel to this incredible ancient site for decades. A large group of adults came by bus from Colombo to Nilaveli Beach and all the men wanted to shake our American hands, offer us drinks and ask, "Sri Lanka good?" We told them, "Yes Sri Lanka is good. The people are so friendly." Perhaps the friendliest I have ever met in the 100+ countries I have seen! During our trip, I read several books of both fiction and non-fiction about Sri Lanka. Reading about string hoppers (noodles made of rice) while eating them for breakfast added to the entertainment. Reading about the government secret killings and clashes between Tamils and Singhalese in Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost was spellbinding. What really happened I wondered? To read about the drama and struggle of women's daily lives from the point of view of Latha and Biso, two main characters in Ru Freedman's A Disobedient Girl, and then to see it was eye opening. I turned to Jewish World Watch to discover more about the conflict in Sri Lanka. In their June World Crisis Update, Susan Brooks wrote: "Since 1983, Sri Lanka has suffered from continuous conflict between the government and a separatist rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (often known as the Tamil Tigers). The conflict is estimated to have killed up to 80,000 people with over one million displaced...Both sides may have committed war crimes...Sri Lankan refugees are still living in transit camps while the land is being de-mined...The government continues to hold 11,000 alleged LTTE in 'rehabilitation centers with no legal representation, no access by human rights groups or relatives." Our journey did not include the North and Jafna, foreigners were told you needed permission by the government to venture to the Far North. Many locals told us that they can and will go to Jafna but we were not allowed. I am not sure what the conditions are but the JWW report makes me wonder and so does the book Not Quite Paradise by Adele Barker. Both sources indicate that there are ongoing issues. Staying at the YMBA (Young Man's Buddhist Association) in Kataragama and enjoying the pilgrimage festival, it appears that all is well. However, traveling the two or so "blocks" from our hostel to the beach in Nilaveli past barbed wire and Singhalese Buddhist soldiers makes me wonder. The security checks on the bus near Arugam Bay seemed more for alcohol than bombs but it is hard to know as an outsider. I hope that tourism will continue to flourish along with peace, sealed roads and more freedom to travel. This small island nation is beautiful with treasures of ancient cities, national parks filled with elephants and leopards and wonderful welcoming people. I highly recommend making the effort to visit this wonderful country. Auyobawan and Stuti (Good bye and thank you).

• Anil arrives alone on a Human Rights mission to uncover evidence of atrocity; she is a fragile yet strong character, very similar to the Hana of earlier novels by Ondaatje and as interpreted by Juliette Binoche in the film The English Patient, but her family background lies in Sri Lanka rather than Canada. In the end, redemption from her fraught visit eludes her although she is instrumental in bringing it for others. If you are not familiar already with the dark past of civil war in that beautiful island then you will be both shocked and amazed in equal measure. We also learn much about her own complicated backstory. Nobody wants the truth, she finds. Hard to put down once started.

• As always Michael Ondaatje’s exquisite writing exposes both the beauty and horror of life in Sri Lanka allowing us to feel deeply for those involved and understand some of the complex political and religious conflict. A wonderful book to read before seeing Sri Lanka, I loved it.

• Enjoyed reading. thought sometime a bit like beating about the bough

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