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A review by mariella123
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
An extremely easy 5-star
I love how historical fiction helps you understand history through the lived experiences of those who endured it. When it comes to war or conflict, so much focus is placed on dates and numbers—but this book is deeply human. I found this sentiment particularly well expressed when Sashi reflects on how she hadn’t thought to record how many people were there in the beginning. The stories and people Sashi meets helped me to understand the Sri Lanka civil war in a very unique way.
The sections where the author directly addresses the reader are incredibly powerful, forcing you to confront questions like: What is a terrorist? Where do I position myself in all of this? Particularly after the scene at the end with the UN. These moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Also, this book is truly feminist & seeing the war through the eyes of Sashi gave an important perspective.
Throughout the book, it felt as though every sentence could make me cry—even the simple ones. I've finished the book feeling sad, sad about all the ways in which Sashi lost each of her family members and some friends but feeling extremely grateful for having the chance to read the book & learn in this way.
I love how historical fiction helps you understand history through the lived experiences of those who endured it. When it comes to war or conflict, so much focus is placed on dates and numbers—but this book is deeply human. I found this sentiment particularly well expressed when Sashi reflects on how she hadn’t thought to record how many people were there in the beginning. The stories and people Sashi meets helped me to understand the Sri Lanka civil war in a very unique way.
The sections where the author directly addresses the reader are incredibly powerful, forcing you to confront questions like: What is a terrorist? Where do I position myself in all of this? Particularly after the scene at the end with the UN. These moments linger long after you’ve finished reading.
Also, this book is truly feminist & seeing the war through the eyes of Sashi gave an important perspective.
Throughout the book, it felt as though every sentence could make me cry—even the simple ones. I've finished the book feeling sad, sad about all the ways in which Sashi lost each of her family members and some friends but feeling extremely grateful for having the chance to read the book & learn in this way.