“Violence should not be met with the silence of the oppressed.”

Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home, in Westgrove, Sydney, houses an array of individuals from many different cultural backgrounds but to them, it is simply home. however, while love and non-judgement are the principles of the nursing home, the town of Westgrove is not without its racial prejudices. when a member of the Westgrove community accuses the owners of Cinnamon Gardens of racially motivated offences, many members of the public begin both a verbal and physical assault on not only the nursing home, but the residents and workers themselves. this story details the strength in community and friendship, and also the awful effects of racism in Australia.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is a superb story about family, community, and race. this novel powerfully captures both the casual and explicit racism in Australia. there were moments that were deeply shocking and difficult to read but also moments that were reminiscent of conversations i’ve overheard in, disappointingly, everyday conversation. Chandran’s ability to dive so deep into the stories of an array of characters, but simultaneously maintain the reader’s interest, was spectacular! i thoroughly enjoyed learning about each character’s stories, upbringings, and the events they had lived through to make them who they were.

the last book set in Australia that i read was Craig Silvey’s Jasper Jones. reading books set in environments that you are (at least vaguely) familiar with never ceases to provide a feeling of comfort. and it’s the simple things that are the most relatable; like Nikki’s chapter, where she discusses her thoughts about the ‘Hold On Pain Ends’ posters that ostensibly irritate both of us to similar extents.

my favourite characters are Maya, Ruben, & Uncle Mozammel (the latter appearing only briefly, but making such a huge and important impact). i adore them and everything they stand for; they, amongst many others in this story, are true heroes.