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A review by kaushalaperera
Chinaman: The legend of Pradeep Mathew by Shehan Karunatilaka
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"All the good in the world you can fit inside a rambutan. And still have enough room for you and me" ๐
WG Karunasena is a retired sportswriter who is on the verge of death thanks to his drinking habits. Like many of us Sri Lankans, he is a hedgehog for Cricket. His final wish is to write a memoir of the unsung spin bowler Pradeep Mathew, whom he believes to be the greatest cricketer to walk the earth. On his journey to find about this unrecorded bowler, he manages to unveil staggering truths about SL cricket, political involvements and himself๐ฅ
The novel is quite descriptive because WG cannot write without a shot of arrack in hand. But it's amusing. I personally like the author's writing including his dark humour and sarcasm. So, obviously I enjoyed the lengthy journey ๐ซถ๐ป
As the story wavers between the truth and fiction, it provides an insight on SL Cricket with chinaman, lissa, carrom flick, floater, double bounce balls, alongside the secrets and dealings during the late 90's. Apart from cricket, WG goes on with his ramblings about family, society, humans and the crooked island. The island where cricket has become an innocent religion which is believed to have no caste, class or boundaries, but indeed has its margins and cruelties ๐๏ธ
"Explain the differences between Sinhalese and Tamils? I cannot. The truth is, whatever differences there may be, they are not large enough to burn down libraries, blow up banks, or send children onto minefields. They are not significant enough to waste hundreds of months firing millions of bullets into thousands of bodies."
#Chinaman is highly critical about the country, just the way I expected, with its criticism of the perpetual racism in SL. It is kind of a mysterious review on cricket, life, choices and the greyness in the world. The characters are neither good or bad. The author doesn't even try to make one look good. Everyone is flawed and dented with their own story to tell, something I love about #ShehanKarunatilaka 's writing! ๐งฉ
"Promises uttered by Sri Lankans ending in the word definitely have a high likelihood of being broken."
And now I can't help but to smirk at anything that ends with definitely! ๐
WG Karunasena is a retired sportswriter who is on the verge of death thanks to his drinking habits. Like many of us Sri Lankans, he is a hedgehog for Cricket. His final wish is to write a memoir of the unsung spin bowler Pradeep Mathew, whom he believes to be the greatest cricketer to walk the earth. On his journey to find about this unrecorded bowler, he manages to unveil staggering truths about SL cricket, political involvements and himself๐ฅ
The novel is quite descriptive because WG cannot write without a shot of arrack in hand. But it's amusing. I personally like the author's writing including his dark humour and sarcasm. So, obviously I enjoyed the lengthy journey ๐ซถ๐ป
As the story wavers between the truth and fiction, it provides an insight on SL Cricket with chinaman, lissa, carrom flick, floater, double bounce balls, alongside the secrets and dealings during the late 90's. Apart from cricket, WG goes on with his ramblings about family, society, humans and the crooked island. The island where cricket has become an innocent religion which is believed to have no caste, class or boundaries, but indeed has its margins and cruelties ๐๏ธ
"Explain the differences between Sinhalese and Tamils? I cannot. The truth is, whatever differences there may be, they are not large enough to burn down libraries, blow up banks, or send children onto minefields. They are not significant enough to waste hundreds of months firing millions of bullets into thousands of bodies."
#Chinaman is highly critical about the country, just the way I expected, with its criticism of the perpetual racism in SL. It is kind of a mysterious review on cricket, life, choices and the greyness in the world. The characters are neither good or bad. The author doesn't even try to make one look good. Everyone is flawed and dented with their own story to tell, something I love about #ShehanKarunatilaka 's writing! ๐งฉ
"Promises uttered by Sri Lankans ending in the word definitely have a high likelihood of being broken."
And now I can't help but to smirk at anything that ends with definitely! ๐