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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I like his prose which has a poetic quality to it. The story can wander at times, but it is essentially about someone who left her country as a student, then returns years later during a civil war. Not only does she no longer understand the language or culture, but the chaos of civil war has been added to the difficulties of surviving (literally) in a foreign place.
I should have loved this. The book is set in Sri Lanka and is a personal look of the violence that has taken place there in the last 3 decades. Corruption at all levels and the futility of trying to uncover the truth. It was beautifully written, but I couldn't focus on it.
I was certain In the Skin of a Lion would never be equalled by Ondaatje. But Anil's Ghost comes pretty damn close.
I was fascinated, am sure the book would show me more if i reread it. Moving, terrifying, heartbreaking.
i absolutely went into this re-read thinking that the gloss would have faded - i read this book when i was 16 and loved it, but have had people who read it since then give it middling reviews. and in year 10 almost everyone hated it.
WELL! it has not faded. it's not the best novel ondaatje has written, but i still find it strange and beautiful. the images interlock delicately and meaningfully, skulls and buddha heads and miners, the act of chiselling and the erosion of water and the interruption of rain, women disappearing through crime or by choice, the homogenising force of violence and death and religion. some images are contrived and melodramatic — ananda's hand on anil's face, her strange dancing — but that's not the worst crime a writer can commit, especially one whose man disease i have excused and will continue to excuse into the forseeable future…
the gamini window towards the end takes the wind out of the novel's sails a bit, but i do enjoy hearing about his work — i love the focus on work, the detailing of tasks, the physcality of labour! — perhaps a more integrated structure would have allowed for the same content without the loss of momentum. and of course, that unsatisfying ending to the ordeal with sailor. it makes the story real but doesn't necessarily make it great. anil becoming once more a frustrated outsider treated cruelly and kept in the dark, while men manage things around her, isn't a super fulfilling turn of narrative either. a meatier climax would have served — there was melodrama before, so why none where it mattered?
still enjoyable, still very rich, still a lot going on! i stand by 16yo laura and her fierce defence of this book…. you were right girl…..
WELL! it has not faded. it's not the best novel ondaatje has written, but i still find it strange and beautiful. the images interlock delicately and meaningfully, skulls and buddha heads and miners, the act of chiselling and the erosion of water and the interruption of rain, women disappearing through crime or by choice, the homogenising force of violence and death and religion. some images are contrived and melodramatic — ananda's hand on anil's face, her strange dancing — but that's not the worst crime a writer can commit, especially one whose man disease i have excused and will continue to excuse into the forseeable future…
the gamini window towards the end takes the wind out of the novel's sails a bit, but i do enjoy hearing about his work — i love the focus on work, the detailing of tasks, the physcality of labour! — perhaps a more integrated structure would have allowed for the same content without the loss of momentum. and of course, that unsatisfying ending to the ordeal with sailor. it makes the story real but doesn't necessarily make it great. anil becoming once more a frustrated outsider treated cruelly and kept in the dark, while men manage things around her, isn't a super fulfilling turn of narrative either. a meatier climax would have served — there was melodrama before, so why none where it mattered?
still enjoyable, still very rich, still a lot going on! i stand by 16yo laura and her fierce defence of this book…. you were right girl…..
Ondaatje writes beautifully, but is not always accessible. Some of the imagery has stayed with me through the years.
2017: Just now finished. The plot line of this book is really interesting-- a forensic anthropologist uses her knowledge to try to prove the Sri Lankan government killed innocent people during their civil war-- but the potential mystery/drama of plot line is untapped, instead favoring a focus on character backstory, which I didn't particularly enjoy because I didn't really enjoy any of the characters all that much. This reading left me feeling flat and a little bored. I will have to reread in a few months for class, so hopefully my opinion will shift to a more positive light than its current one.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Although slow at times, this book kept me interested through to the end.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated