Capturing the rambunctious, jolly nature of his extensive Burgher family, the reader catches a glimpse of the various characters who have played a significant role in Ondaatje’s life. The novel starts with Ondaatje witnessing a dream that manages to successfully lure him back to Sri Lanka. Certain parts of the book are fictionalised, as Ondaatje couldn’t possibly know the intimate details of certain events. This blurring of fiction and memory adds an interesting element to the novel and helps in bringing the characters to life. Ondaatje’s style of writing beautifully portrays the lighthearted merriness and the bittersweet endings in an effortless manner that anyone can relate to.

Source: The Nation February 28, 2021 08:03 UTC