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There are currently 21 member reviews
for Island of a Thousand Mirrors
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Kristen H. (Hagerstown, MD)
slow at first but then took off
At first, I was not excited to read this book. It was not until I got a little further into the book that it really grabbed my attention. I thought that the characters were well described but did have some difficulty following them.
I would recommend this book for a book club discussion as I feel it would generate some good discussions. The main character of the book really became someone I would love to meet and talk to.
Other then the slow start, I would give this book a four star out of five star rating.
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Robin M. (Corpus Christi, TX)
Beauty, madness, grief and loss of a homeland
There is such lovely and poetic prose in this novel, in spite of the subject, that I want to read it again. The author describes the smells, sounds, tastes of Sri Lanka vividly, as only a person who once called it home can. There is the same personal depth of feeling in the portrayal of the hopes, dreams and fears of the characters. There is undercurrent of grief in this novel, which eventually swells to a torrent and deeply affects the futures of the women portrayed here. This is an enlightening-and terrifying-look at civil war and the far reaching consequences in today's world. I definitely will recommend this book for both the beauty of the writing and the importance of the story it tells.
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Mary B. (Laguna Woods, CA)
Fascinating Read
I like a book that either entertains me or gives me new knowledge & this book did both. It is beautifully written with strong characters. I could almost feel the moist air & greenery of the island of Sri Lanka & had to laugh at the descriptions of LA from an immigrants perspective. I would recommend it for book clubs as there is a lot for discussion.
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Esther L. (Newtown, PA)
A future book club selection
A powerful and poignant story of two families set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war.It is lyrical and riveting and you feel Sri Lanka's beauty but also the brutal effects of the war.
I had some trouble following the different characters portrayed but I was certainly glad that I kept reading.
The two families are on opposing sides: the Sinhala and the Tamil revolutionaries who want part of the island as their own.Suicide bombers,rape,brutality but also love. I will suggest this novel to my book club.
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Carolyn S. (Decatur, GA)
Island of a Thousand Mirrors
This books gives one a excellent portrayal of the cultural and ethnic differences faced by the people in Sri Lanka during their war. The characters are engaging and the descriptions leave an impression. However, with many characters to follow and changing from past to present, it is difficult to keep the time periods and characters from getting confused.
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Becky H. (Chicago, IL)
Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera
I enjoyed the writing which was clear and moving. The descriptions of the island were wonderful, not just the physical beauty but the smells of food, people and nature. I felt like I really knew the characters. I hope the final edition has a "cast of characters" as it was difficult to keep the various families and generations straight, especially as they were seemingly unrelated as the narrative moved from generation to generation and Sinhala to Tamil and back again. I learned a vast amount about the Sri Lankan history of civil violence.
Book groups will find themselves discussing discrimination, arranged marriage, ethnic differences, education, parental desires for their children, the life of the immigrant in a new land, jealousy between siblings, soldier versus terrorist, the effect of violence on people and culture, and the sense of smell. Some groups may find the descriptions of sexuality (including violent rape) disturbing.
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Julie G. (West Hartford, CT)
Eye Opening View of Sri Lanka
I am often drawn to books about other countries and for that reason was very interested in reading this book. While I was fascinated to learn about the clash between the Tamil and Sinhala people, what particularly struck me was how differently the lives are for women in that culture. Because the author gave more weight to Yasodhara I could relate far more to her dreams, fears, and motivations than I could for Saraswathi. That being said, I found it somewhat hard to be as sympathetic to her as perhaps I should have been. Regardless, however, I think the book is well worth reading.
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