Book Reviews (Commonwealth Union) _ Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, is an island nation known for its rich culture and resources. Attracting thousands of people from all over the world to enjoy its splendour, the island also has a wealth of literature that reflects its culture, history, and traditions. Here is a list of 9 Sri Lankan novels that capture the spirit of life on the island.
- The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
Winner of the 2022 Booker Prize, the novel captures life in 1990s Sri Lanka. Revolving around a deceased war photographer, Maali Almeida, the narrative is a look into the afterlife as he attempts to lead his friends to a hidden stash of war photographs within the span of seven moons. The novel is beautifully written and interlaced with dark humour to create a masterpiece that exposes the brutal truths of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
- A Maiden’s Prayer by Srianthi Perera
Set in the 1970s, A Maiden’s Prayer revolves around Berty Rajakaruna, a bachelor reluctantly considering a family-orchestrated marriage for the purpose of keeping the beloved family estate from the clutches of his sister. The novel is a witty narration from the perspective of Berty’s niece, punctuated with Buddhist, astrological, and societal dynamics against the political backdrop of Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s government.
- Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, by Shehan Karunathilaka
An ambitious novel about an alcoholic journalist attempting to track down a missing cricketer, Chinaman has received several awards for its brilliance, including the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize for Asia and the 2008 Gratiaen Prize. Speckled with booze, national interests, and gambling, the novel intriguingly sees the narrator abandoning his quest, giving in to his addiction.
- Anil’s Ghost, by Michael Ondaatje
This novel revolves around Anil Tissera, a forensic anthropologist sent by an international human rights group to identify murder campaign victims during the late twentieth century. Upon discovering newly discarded remains at an ancient burial site, the story delves into family, identity and terrible truths.
- Uprooted by Martin Wickramasinghe
An English translation of the Sri Lankan author’s Gamperaliya, the novel is one of the most famous in Sri Lankan literature and depicts the changing conditions in the country during the twentieth century. Part of a trilogy that includes The Age of Kali and Destiny, the novel digs into a successful family experiencing the decay of traditional structures, followed by the rise of the bourgeoisie and the emergence of the labour movement.
- Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Naomi Munaweera
A breathtaking debut set during the Sri Lankan Civil War, the novel weaves together the two opposite sides of the war through its protagonists, Yashodara and Saraswathie. Intertwining the two different voices of war, Munaweera’s novel is a depiction of heritage, conflict and family.
- Noontide Toll, by Romesh Gunasekara
A beautifully written novel full of philosophical musings, it follows a retiree who drives people along the coast of Sri Lanka in an old van. Reflecting on the people he meets, the novel ponders how lives have changed because of the war.
- Serendipity, by Ashok Ferrey
Depicting London and Sri Lanka during the 1980s, Serendipity is a collision of satire, comedy, and thriller. The novel moves around a Tamil-Sinhalese London barrister who returns to Sri Lanka to claim inheritance of a house named Serendipity, located in Cinnamon Gardens. With impeccable plot twists, Serendipity takes the readers through the different people she meets in Sri Lanka.
- On Sal Mal Lane, by Ru Freeman
Taking place during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the novel is an evocative story depicting a racially diverse mix of families living within a community. Relaying the gradual loss of a country and the people residing within it, Freeman’s novel mirrors the slow succumbing of friends to the tragic ideologies of war.
