[.ca] Cinnamon Gardens (ISBN 0771079567)

too short:
I became interested in Shyam Selvadurai's novels after he came to read at my high school a little while ago. He read from "Funny Boy", and I got so intrigued I went right to the library to pick it up. I had it read in three days. About a month and a half later, I picked up "Cinnamon Gardens" Selvadurai's novels both deal with Sri Lanka (Ceylon during the 20s), politics, and the social constraints of Asian society. I've read a lot of books, but for some reason, Selvadurai's strike me as the most honest. It's so refreshing to read a novel in which nobody is simply "Good" or "Bad". The people are real, rounded characters with dreams and fears, desires and regrets. The prose is written in the third person but there is none of the tiresome self-absorbed banter that often plagues novels about serious issues such as homosexuality, self-government, and women's rights. Reading Selvadurai's prose, you feel as though you are experiencing events, not being told that they are occurring. I actually found "Cinnamon Gardens" more enjoyable than "Funny Boy" if only because it was a continuous novel, allowing for more character development than the six short stories in "Funny Boy". Somehow, with his plain style, Selvadurai made the characters real. I found myself sympathizing with them right from the very beginning. It's too bad the book was double spaced and in large font, because I could have read a thousand pages of this novel and still felt like it was too short. I can't wait until Mr. Selvadurai's next novel is finished. He told us it would be set in Toronto, which promises a very interesting perspective. A real achievement.

Read This Book:
This book was given to me while I was in the hospital. Even though I was finding it difficult to concentrate on anything for more than 5 minutes I could not put this book down. Everything about the book was fascinating to me, the culture, the characters and the politics. I was transported from my drab hospital room into a warm flower scented country. I was struck by the relevance of this book; the conflict and misunderstanding between ethnic peoples who share a country is happening all over the world, atrocities continue and innocent people are caught in the crossfire. This story could be set in Rwanda, Serbia or the middle east. I have since read Funny Boy and I eagerly await Mr. Slavaduri's next book.

Read "Funny Boy" first:
I was very pleased to see this book on the shelf, as _Funny Boy_ is one of my favorite books. _Cinnamon Gardens_ is definitely a pleasure, but not in the same league. In fact, a good part of my enjoyment of this later book is probably derived from remembering how much I enjoyed the earlier book--from the feeling, you might say, of having another chance to spend virtual time with the author, whom one can't help liking. I was disappointed by occasionally stilted prose, and characters whose actions sometimes seem contrived. _Funny Boy_ was smaller in scope--a delightful, fascinating and careful study of a smaller group over a shorter time period--and I felt that in contrast, the author had taken on a bit more than he could deftly handle with _Cinnamon Gardens._ It hopes to be a sweeping multigenerational epic, but I felt that some stories got short shrift; some aspects were rushed through, and some characters seemed undeservedly underdeveloped--a smaller canvas seems better suited to the author's undeniably tremendous talent. This doesn't mean that the book is not enjoyable--on the contrary I found it pleasant and interesting/informative. But to really see why Selvadurai is so worthy of admiration, and why his many fans will wait for his next book with the greatest anticipation, it's probably a good idea to read this....after you read _Funny Boy_ first.

Quietly and richly told:
CINNAMON GARDENS is really two gently unfolding stories of the effects an oppressive society (or family) can have on love and hope. The first story is that of Annalukshmi-a young teacher who simply wants to forge her own way through life, without being bound by societal conventions. She is a teacher, who dreams of being a headmistress, until she learns that because she is not English it can never happen. She hopes to find a loving relationship, but instead must struggle with the necessity of arranged marriages. Selvadurai beautifully portrays her inner conflict and frustration with the limitations imposed upon her, and the open-ended resolution of her story is so completely in tune with her character. The second story is that of Balendran, the beloved younger son of a wealthy businessman. When the man with whom he had an affair during college in England comes to Ceylon, Balendran gets a glimpse of how differently his life could have turned out had his father not abruptly ended the affair. He is forced to look at where he is and where he could have been, and to decide where he wants to be in the future. Several other events force Balendran to take control at last of his life, instead of letting others control it for him. Selvadurai allows the stories to quietly be told. CINNAMON GARDENS is not a page-turner in the usual sense of the word, but I guarantee if you read it you'll want to stick with it to see where Balendran and Annalukshmi end up.

Purely Excellent for all one may learn & retain:
This novel did overly use one of my all-time favorite words: VERANDAH. However, it's still worth taking the time to get lost in the authors' world. It took me to a new culture and another part of a dramatic world. It's interesting how a world apart is really so much the same in any world. There were two storylines about an uncle & his niece that merged into one as if a masterpiece. Each chapter began with a profound verse from the Tirukkarul. I am utterly excited about finding his first award-winning first novel called Funny Boy. The research done is apparent. There were so many wonderful lines in this book. Here are a few of my favorites: The different stages of a man's life are often reflected in the guests he invites to his annual dinner. ...choices are never easy. But what life is without its regrets. They're, you know...inverts. 'Friends of Oscar', as Aunty Ethel used to say. You disappoint me to the very core. ...I always knew that man was a snake in the grass. The last part of a novel was always her favorite. As you well know, when people act according to their opinions they can end up ruining other lives. I refuse to let our friendship end as it stands...In silence. Yet, simultaneous with this love, he felt a burning shame. I, too, have things in my life that I keep hidden from others. Certain wrongs must be righted. ...we might, through our letters, stegnthen the bond between us...AND MANY MORE!