Reviews

When Memory Dies by A. Sivanandan

mariah123456's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Three generations of love, heartache, search for understanding and meaning, this book gives me much to think about. I was surprised that the violence of the Sri Lankan Civil War wasn't the main focus; rather, it was centered on trying to grapple with family, history, and social and political morals and issues. It's themes and issues are highly relevant to human existence and could be applied to any number of conflicts, both past and present, which is perhaps the most frightening part of it all. 

Here are two of my favorite quotes: 

"'A Sinhalese who speaks Tamil and a Tamil who speaks Sinhala. Excellent, excellent, now we can make a nation.' He rose to go. 'Don't give up hope, thambi, the fight is just beginning,' he said in Tamil" (205).

"'When memory dies, a people die,' Uncle Para broke into his reverie, and Vijay had the eerie feeling that the old man was privy to his thoughts before he was. But, remembering his experiences of the past few days, he asked: 'What if we make up false memories?' 'That is worse,' replied the old man, 'that is murder'" (335).

sage1994's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

jeanetterenee's review

4.0

Reality is so depressing.