Sultry romance, tense politicking and colorful mythmaking combine for a broad, engaging novel.
This magical-realist novel features Faustian pacts and forbidden love in its depiction of the circumstances feeding into the Sri Lankan civil war.
Thurai’s debut teems with characters navigating the social, political and spiritual realities of 1950s Ceylon, in what is now Sri Lanka. Arjun Kumaran, an assistant to a local government agent, arrives at his new home with the Chelvam family. Despite her marriage to Raj, it’s not long before Neleni Chelvam falls head over heels for Arjun. But otherworldly circumstances intensify alongside their romance: Followers of the demon Hooniyam aim to conspire against the power of local Tamils. While Arjun is out investigating the weak progress of a government road project, the conspirators target him and others because of their Tamil background. Asoka, the penitent second protagonist, flees the violence that Hooniyam and his minions perpetrate. From here, a wealth of stories emerge: Arjun’s brief affair with Leela, the foreman’s wife; Asoka’s secret relationship with Sriya, which causes her betrothed, Tissa, to vengefully join Hooniyam’s forces; the election of Bandaranaike, with his strong religious ties; and the slow-burning desire that fires up between Arjun and Neleni, which raises tension in the Chelvam household. Thurai’s lengthy novel is more realistic than magical, as she evokes mythos without letting magic overwhelm the humanity of the narrative. Hooniyam, the horrific demon, is one of only a few nonhumans that pop up, and the bulk of the intersecting stories develop out of human emotion and real cultural rifts in historical Ceylon. Thurai’s work may divide readers with deep connections to Sri Lankan politics, but her empathy helps bridge the fissure between the Sinhalese and Tamil people. Amid powerful insight into post-colonial politics and the beginnings of Sri Lanka’s violent war, the author only condemns the violence that erupts out of the cultural and political conflict, not the nonpartisan life decisions the citizens on either side of the conflict must make.
Sultry romance, tense politicking and colorful mythmaking combine for a broad, engaging novel.Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
ISBN: 978-0956970305
Page Count: 824
Publisher: Hot Monkey Publishing
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Certain to stir the debate surrounding reproduction and environmental sustainability.
A bleak, provocative portrait of the difficult choices to be made if humanity is to survive.
Brent is quite convincing in his argument that we’re heading toward “the perfect storm” of global ecological crises. Population growth exacerbates the rising level of consumption and shrinking resources, especially with respect to fossil fuels, which paints a new, stark reality highlighted by climate change, pollution, scarcity of potable water and food shortages. The author predicts that this critical situation will lead to armed conflicts between nations; thus, he asserts, “The choice is between resource wars with weapons of mass destruction and coercive population control.” For the most part, Brent writes in an accessible style, offering multiple examples or illustrations whereby readers can easily digest the large amount of statistics and mathematical projections. However, many readers may believe that there’s a way to convey the urgency of the matter without resorting to a hostile, confrontational tone. In fact, readers might then feel more engaged and less browbeaten. Most likely, inflammatory references to “parasites” or “religious fanatics who produce the most children and spread like a cancer over the face of the earth” will alienate even those who support some of Brent’s more palatable recommendations, such as increased access to proven methods of birth control. In the end, Brent advocates a global “One-Child-Per-Family law,” along with execution of parents (and their second child) who disobey; naturally occurring multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) would represent an exception to the rule. This scenario raises a myriad of questions: Who will take care of the first child, now orphaned? Will those with a genetic predisposition toward multiple births be privileged or oppressed? Will homosexuality become a more socially desirable trait? Without addressing these particular consequences, he unequivocally states: “Each individual will have a very clear choice—execution or birth control or sterilization or abortion or abstinence.”
Certain to stir the debate surrounding reproduction and environmental sustainability.Pub Date: June 6, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985412906
Page Count: 130
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An educational tool that’s well-disguised as a compelling, fun read, excellent for kids interested in dogs, food and travel.
In this fast-paced, engaging kids’ book, a dog scours the world for the ingredients to the perfect biscuit, while an evil biscuit company is hot on her heels.
The first book of the Snoutz Adventure series tells the story of Pipper, a puppy and food blogger seeking her next great adventure and scoop. While hanging out with her pals—Sophie, a librarian; Sidney, a mail carrier and aspiring rock star; firefighter Hilda; designer–inventor Archibald and personal trainer Chance—the dogs help her realize that she should track down the secret ingredient for a perfect dog biscuit. Meanwhile, the leading dog biscuit manufacturer, Bogus Biscuits, has been cutting costs and producing biscuits that are making everyone sick. When Bull Bogus catches wind of Pipper’s quest, he sends Bumbles Brug to tail her and determine the secret to the perfect biscuit so he can steal it and use the recipe to save his failing company. Pipper travels around the world, visiting the pyramids in Egypt for inspiration on the perfect design, trailing a vivacious dog in France who teaches her about the beauty of ginger and other ingredients, and venturing into other countries where she picks up tips from locals. Pipper’s friends at home discover that she’s being tailed, so they alert her and then infiltrate Bogus Biscuits in a plan to get their products off the market. Murphy and Fingerhuth do an excellent job creating tension, which keeps the reader wondering whether Bumbles will derail the investigation. The book effectively presents the world of contemporary technology: Each chapter includes a blog posting by Pipper, including comments that readers have left, and the characters use cellphones to message each other. In addition to Sharp’s rich, colorful illustrations, the authors offer a glimpse of foreign cultures—Pipper learns phrases from each country, she eats local dishes, sees iconic buildings and mentions major cultural attractions—which amount to a great overview of countries most kids have never visited. There’s also a crash course in healthy nutrition, featuring recipes for salads and other foods (including dog treats).
An educational tool that’s well-disguised as a compelling, fun read, excellent for kids interested in dogs, food and travel.Pub Date: March 30, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615388083
Page Count: 145
Publisher: Mutt Media
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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