A slice of life, imagined and experienced
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The author has been a successful civil engineer, who had earned several international accolades for his contribution to some landmark civil engineering projects overseas. This book is his first contribution to the literary world.
He has skillfully assembled 15 multifaceted stories, with diverse characters and incidents, encapsulating his personal experiences and imagination in Sri Lanka and abroad. Most stories portray the mindset of people in real life situations in their day-to-day life and have a twist in the tale. Some of them are open-ended and the dialogue used, conveys emotions where desirable. Some local terms with regional variations that are shown in italics would direct the reader to the glossary at the end of the book. This would be useful, particularly to non-Sri Lankan readers.
Although some stories appear to have a sad ending, there is a tinge of childhood mischief, in most of them.
Taking a brief look at a few of his stories, the first story titled ‘The Pot at the end of a Rainbow’ focuses on the plight of three good friends, in a desperate situation trying to become rich overnight by resorting to desperate measures.
In ‘Smokey’, he steps into the avian world, to bring out the kind of fairytale bond between a child and a bird. This story has been written and emailed, as his birthday gift to his granddaughter in England, during his period of isolation, in Sri Lanka during the Coronavirus pandemic.
‘Living in Hope’ portrays the emotions of a disabled daughter, the youngest in the family, who tries to fulfil her old father’s wish, when other siblings had failed.
‘Good Samaritans’ is an exciting journey through the Southern coastal towns of Sri Lanka, while ‘Ramblers’ Club’ draws the reader to the glorious town of Galle. He has not failed to pay tribute to the southern coastal town that was his home away from home, during his youth.
The story titled ‘King Coconuts’ is so vivid, and appears to be a reflection of one of his own mischievous escapades with his playful friends during his childhood.
In ‘Unforgiven’, an innocent family learns to put up with an inconsiderate neighbour, who takes every opportunity to annoy and hurt them.
Although the author does not believe in ghosts or spirits, in ‘Audit Trail’ he has fabricated a nice creepy story, about ghostly experiences.
The story about the little blind boy titled ‘Fingers that see’ is quite moving.
The stories focus on the normal and abnormal behaviour of human beings, under different circumstances. All the short stories are quite interesting and alluring.
They are thoroughly enjoyable, and I have no doubt that they will resonate with readers.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital.
| Book facts | |
| Lost in Retirement and Other Stories by Raja de Silva Reviewed by Prof. Emeritus Tuley de Silva |