Reviews

Reef by Romesh Gunesekera

frilledutt's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

inkspelled's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

the_hope_guy's review against another edition

2.0

Written more than two decades ago and it has aged badly. I was disappointed with this book because it touches on some really interesting issues, but only briefly. Humans thoughtlessly destroying the coral reefs, its wider consequences on society (such as more flooding, very relevant in the wake of the 2006 tsunami), the rise of left-wing insurgency and government corruption: all take second fiddle to a bland romance. Perhaps because we see through the perspective only of the servant Triton, the affairs of the outside world are only glimpsed. Doesn’t Triton also care about what happens to his country? He seems more interested in his cooking and is horrified when another servant shows excitement in socialism.


When Triton is warned about the rise of tourism (“They will ruin us. Turn us all into servants. Sell our children…”) he is unmoved “But I am only cook”. Which in this novel, is all he is interested. But surely cooks have minds too.


Even Downton Abbey manages more social critique and Gunesekera does his character a disservice, having Triton show more awareness and interest in the emotions of his master than his own. This idealized vision of loyal, trustworthy help tells you more about how post-colonial elites would like their servants to be than what their life was actually like.

smb04's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sunibooni's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

rpapaluca's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

coppercrane2's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

dude_yikes's review against another edition

3.0

This book has such a unique perspective regarding a soon to be war torn country.
I wish the only thing that would bother me was a fish I didn’t know how to prepare.
It was a mix of caring too little and too much.
Probs wouldn’t read again

kamna's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

shrutisri's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

2.5