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A review by anusha_reads
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
BROTHERLESS NIGHT, V.V. GANESHANANTHAN, SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024, WINNER OF CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE 2024
Compelling, impactful, nuanced… I’m running out of adjectives for this book.
“SOME PEOPLE TELL THE STORY ONE WAY, AND SOME PEOPLE TELL IT ANOTHER. DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS ARE THE SAME; DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT TELLERS HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF FREEDOM.”
Sashikala or Sashi, while sitting in NY, recalls her time in Jaffna. Sashi, while in school, aspires to become a doctor. Her eldest brother goes missing and thus the title. The story is about Sashi and her family, their struggles, and the unrest due to the Sri Lankan civil war.
The book vividly portrays the horrifying reality of war. In war, safety is elusive, and the line between right and wrong becomes blurred.
Despite being written in simple language, the book delivers its message powerfully. Sashi’s narration makes it read like a memoir, yet it’s an epic tale. The inclusion of Tamil words adds a delightful touch. Sashi’s determination and relentless work ethic are endearing, making her a protagonist to admire. This wonderful feminist novel highlights the struggles of many women and their efforts to raise awareness about the hardships faced by ordinary people.
“A TRANSGRESSION AGAINST A MOTHER IS A UNIVERSAL TRANSGRESSION; WHEN A MAN TREATS A MOTHER KINDLY, HE IMAGINES THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMEONE IS GETTING UP ON A TRAIN TO OFFER A SEAT TO HIS OWN MOTHER, OR PERHAPS HELPING HER TO CARRY HER SHOPPING FROM THE MARKET.”
One of the most compelling parts of the book is the portrayal of a group of mothers whose collective strength compels the authorities to return their sons, who were taken away by force.
“THIS WAS WHAT OUR MOTHERS HAD WARNED US ABOUT: MEN AND THEIR DESIRES, MEN AND THEIR WILLS, MEN AND THEIR BODIES ENCROACHING ON OURS. IN WHISPERS WE HAD BEEN WARNED OF THE RUIN OF RAPE, HOW IT WAS SOMETHING FROM WHICH WE COULD NOT RECOVER.”
The book arouses indignation for those perpetrators who instigate abductions, rapes, and killings. It is sad to read about the people affected by these.
The family in the novel are avid readers, with brothers recommending books like Mother by Maxim Gorky and Kumari Jayawardane’s Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World.
“IN STANDING UP FOR OTHERS WE ALSO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES. THIS COURSE REQUIRES COURAGE, AND NO OTHER IS OPEN TO US”
This is a very interesting, poignant novel which is must-read.
Compelling, impactful, nuanced… I’m running out of adjectives for this book.
“SOME PEOPLE TELL THE STORY ONE WAY, AND SOME PEOPLE TELL IT ANOTHER. DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS ARE THE SAME; DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT TELLERS HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF FREEDOM.”
Sashikala or Sashi, while sitting in NY, recalls her time in Jaffna. Sashi, while in school, aspires to become a doctor. Her eldest brother goes missing and thus the title. The story is about Sashi and her family, their struggles, and the unrest due to the Sri Lankan civil war.
The book vividly portrays the horrifying reality of war. In war, safety is elusive, and the line between right and wrong becomes blurred.
Despite being written in simple language, the book delivers its message powerfully. Sashi’s narration makes it read like a memoir, yet it’s an epic tale. The inclusion of Tamil words adds a delightful touch. Sashi’s determination and relentless work ethic are endearing, making her a protagonist to admire. This wonderful feminist novel highlights the struggles of many women and their efforts to raise awareness about the hardships faced by ordinary people.
“A TRANSGRESSION AGAINST A MOTHER IS A UNIVERSAL TRANSGRESSION; WHEN A MAN TREATS A MOTHER KINDLY, HE IMAGINES THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMEONE IS GETTING UP ON A TRAIN TO OFFER A SEAT TO HIS OWN MOTHER, OR PERHAPS HELPING HER TO CARRY HER SHOPPING FROM THE MARKET.”
One of the most compelling parts of the book is the portrayal of a group of mothers whose collective strength compels the authorities to return their sons, who were taken away by force.
“THIS WAS WHAT OUR MOTHERS HAD WARNED US ABOUT: MEN AND THEIR DESIRES, MEN AND THEIR WILLS, MEN AND THEIR BODIES ENCROACHING ON OURS. IN WHISPERS WE HAD BEEN WARNED OF THE RUIN OF RAPE, HOW IT WAS SOMETHING FROM WHICH WE COULD NOT RECOVER.”
The book arouses indignation for those perpetrators who instigate abductions, rapes, and killings. It is sad to read about the people affected by these.
The family in the novel are avid readers, with brothers recommending books like Mother by Maxim Gorky and Kumari Jayawardane’s Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World.
“IN STANDING UP FOR OTHERS WE ALSO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES. THIS COURSE REQUIRES COURAGE, AND NO OTHER IS OPEN TO US”
This is a very interesting, poignant novel which is must-read.