Reviews

Brotherless Night: A Novel by V.V. Ganeshananthan

darcey's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.5

this took me a wee while to get into, I think because I (somewhat unfairly) started this right after I’d finished Prophet Song, which was stylistically a very different book but touched on a handful of the same themes, esp civil war’s impact on family life, so I initially felt I was reading some of the same ideas again. But eventually it swept me away and I’m so glad I stuck with it because I grew so attached to the characters and was very moved by the story / real history behind it. also much like my last read, given Current World Events it felt like an extremely urgent read. Will def be in my top books for this year 

vicky523's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ellie_26's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

hopeross_'s review against another edition

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emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

lotecider's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was incredible. It centres around the life of Sashi during a period of immense conflict and it gives an incredibly important insight into the lives of people who lived through those events. There is no hard-line of "protagonist" or "antagonist" in the plot, and I'm glad it's this way. You get to understand the characters, regardless of whether you agree with their choices. You get to experience the determination and devastation each character faces in their own journeys. 

Although not from Sri Lanka, this book really resonated with me as a South Asian person, I was reminded too many times of experiences my parents and grandparents would relay to me. 

The author captivates you, the reader, and you go through a roller coaster of emotions as you grow with and experience the struggles of the characters in this book. Whilst I really wished the ending had more detail to it, so that we could find out more about the lives of the characters afterwards, I'm glad it ended the way it did because it reflects the reality of things.

eriiiinj06's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

aimeelynng's review

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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gconnn's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

books_brunch_london's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

nommie8's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Powerful, beautiful and one of thee most special books I have ever read.

I did not know the complex and brutal history of the Sri Lankan Civil War yet I now feel so deeply tied to it and the future socio-economic prosperity of her people.

Ganeshananthan speaking directly to the reader made me feel so a part of this story, of the land and the people. I sincerely have no idea how the author managed to flesh out every character and make each one so essential. The complexity of the relationships while going to lengths to vividly describe what was happening and not making the reading experience confusing was phenomenal.

This book is intense. It will break your heart. It will make you believe that kindness that lies within each of us and that unimaginable  cruelty lives deeply in others. 

In the context of geopolitical terror currently happening around the world it is a reminder that wars aren't just fought on battles fields, they are fought in homes, schools, hospitals, community spaces, kitchen tables ect meaning that the ramifications of this complete apathy towards human life far reaching. 

I loved this book so much. Thank you, Ganeshananthan.