suzie_b_reads 's review for:

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

5.0

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At first I thought this was a gentle story, giving me a sense of community and warmth. And then I felt a huge punch as the book becomes one of the appalling systemic racism in Australia. Although I felt the escalation of the violence to be a little unrealistic , I applaud Shankari for emphasising the treatment of immigrants and refugees and how it is one to be ashamed of. The scenes of civil war in Sri Lanka are confronting, yet necessary, for us to understand how we should be proving a home as a refuge and opportunity for re-growth, yet never loosing the essence of yourself and your culture. Quite brilliant and thought provoking, there are so many layers to unpack.