roohii's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This book swallowed me like a tidal wave. The writing is gorgeous, evocative, powerful - and yet, simple. Striking. The sentences resonate like the toll of a heavy bell, each pendulous turn exposing a new sliver of tension and intention in the reader's mind.
Ganeshananthan uses a number of little techniques that she pulls off effortlessly; brief passages where she switches to writing in the second person, and you could swear she had stopped her train of thought to pause and take your hand in hers as she recounts the thrum of loss, urgency, and duty that pounded in her own chest. At other intervals, although the text is written in English, Ganeshananthan invites the reader to savor the phonetic quirks of a particular word in her mother tongue, describing its syllables, the way its familiarity could almost light a match to illuminates an otherwise dark moment.
This is a story about war but it is not about the fighting. It is about the thousand heartbreaks that are accumulated in the tensions leading up to conflict, as well as the fear and uncertainty of the worrying and the waiting, the way it can fracture a family the way even a tiny splinter of a crack can arc like lightning across a glass surface that was once whole but will never be described as such again.
I will recommend this book to everyone I know, and I will read it again and again. It's an absolutely staggering work of insight, humanity, and emotion described so vividly you might swear you had been there yourself.
Ganeshananthan uses a number of little techniques that she pulls off effortlessly; brief passages where she switches to writing in the second person, and you could swear she had stopped her train of thought to pause and take your hand in hers as she recounts the thrum of loss, urgency, and duty that pounded in her own chest. At other intervals, although the text is written in English, Ganeshananthan invites the reader to savor the phonetic quirks of a particular word in her mother tongue, describing its syllables, the way its familiarity could almost light a match to illuminates an otherwise dark moment.
This is a story about war but it is not about the fighting. It is about the thousand heartbreaks that are accumulated in the tensions leading up to conflict, as well as the fear and uncertainty of the worrying and the waiting, the way it can fracture a family the way even a tiny splinter of a crack can arc like lightning across a glass surface that was once whole but will never be described as such again.
I will recommend this book to everyone I know, and I will read it again and again. It's an absolutely staggering work of insight, humanity, and emotion described so vividly you might swear you had been there yourself.
themaggiemch's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sashi is a young girl growing up in a country filled with tension and unrest. She wants nothing more than to be a doctor, and to live with her parents and four brothers in peace. However, as conflict arises, she must choose her own path, one that will inevitably diverge from those of her beloved brothers'.
While reading the book, I was under the impression that the title, "Brotherless Night", was in reference to a specific night that Sashi lived through, a night when her eldest brother was missing. However, after finishing the novel, I think that the title isn't limited to just 12 hours- Sashi's entire journey to adulthood was a long, brotherless night for her. The conflict between the Sinhalese people and the Tamil cast a shadow upon Sashi's life, and it took her brothers away from her in various ways. In the unending night of war, she had to learn to stand on her own, without the support from her brothers.
Sashi was a character who had the potential to be more interesting than she was. I felt as though her voice lacked an intimacy that would've benefitted this story- instead, it was told in a manner that seemed almost emotionless at times. There was a lot of "telling" instead of "showing", and it sometimes made the prose clunky and hard to get through.
However, the supporting characters were all very interesting. I especially loved Anjali, one of Sashi's mentors. Her skill for critical thinking was one of the main drivers of Sashi's development, and she was a joy to read about. Sashi's brothers felt very distinct (with the exception of Dayalan) and they had nuances to their characters that were very refreshing.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to learn more about Sri Lankan history, as well as anyone who wants a complex story of difficult decisions. I was so happy that I was able to discover more about this period of time, and quite frankly confused that I had never heard of it before. I definitely want to learn more about Sri Lanka, and will be eagerly awaiting Ganeshananthan's next release!
I received an advanced reading copy of this novel- all opinions are honest, and my own.
While reading the book, I was under the impression that the title, "Brotherless Night", was in reference to a specific night that Sashi lived through, a night when her eldest brother was missing. However, after finishing the novel, I think that the title isn't limited to just 12 hours- Sashi's entire journey to adulthood was a long, brotherless night for her. The conflict between the Sinhalese people and the Tamil cast a shadow upon Sashi's life, and it took her brothers away from her in various ways. In the unending night of war, she had to learn to stand on her own, without the support from her brothers.
Sashi was a character who had the potential to be more interesting than she was. I felt as though her voice lacked an intimacy that would've benefitted this story- instead, it was told in a manner that seemed almost emotionless at times. There was a lot of "telling" instead of "showing", and it sometimes made the prose clunky and hard to get through.
However, the supporting characters were all very interesting. I especially loved Anjali, one of Sashi's mentors. Her skill for critical thinking was one of the main drivers of Sashi's development, and she was a joy to read about. Sashi's brothers felt very distinct (with the exception of Dayalan) and they had nuances to their characters that were very refreshing.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to learn more about Sri Lankan history, as well as anyone who wants a complex story of difficult decisions. I was so happy that I was able to discover more about this period of time, and quite frankly confused that I had never heard of it before. I definitely want to learn more about Sri Lanka, and will be eagerly awaiting Ganeshananthan's next release!
I received an advanced reading copy of this novel- all opinions are honest, and my own.
atsundarsingh's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I couldn't put this down. It was incandescent. It was searing. It made my heart physically ache, and made me do a thousand searches for nonfiction follow-ups. I am 100% going to read Ganeshananthan's previous book. the writing for this just completely gripped me, and once I got going in earnest, it just snowballed.
The family of the novel's protagonist Sashi is complex, and the book spends the entire time slowly unwinding the moral complexity of strongly held beliefs, and unravelling the word 'terrorist'. I was struck by the way Ganeshananthan made the entire cast of characters possible to understand, and you could see consistency of character even as motivation and ideologies changed. Truly can't wait to insist that everyone read this in 2023 and beyond.
*Thanks to Random House, NetGalley for the ARC. Book release: 3 Jan 2023*
The family of the novel's protagonist Sashi is complex, and the book spends the entire time slowly unwinding the moral complexity of strongly held beliefs, and unravelling the word 'terrorist'. I was struck by the way Ganeshananthan made the entire cast of characters possible to understand, and you could see consistency of character even as motivation and ideologies changed. Truly can't wait to insist that everyone read this in 2023 and beyond.
*Thanks to Random House, NetGalley for the ARC. Book release: 3 Jan 2023*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Animal death, Genocide, Violence, Torture, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Hate crime, War, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Police brutality
marianeedstoread's review against another edition
5.0
Prior to reading this novel, I knew very little about the war in Sri Lanka, let alone that it spanned 25 years! This novel gives us a glimpse into the conflict on the island off the coast of India.
Sashi is the only girl among her siblings. Life in her town of Jaffna as a Tamil in Sri Lanka has its challenges but the enjoys time at the library studying and reading with her 3 older brothers. She dreams of being a doctor like her eldest brother who lets her read his medical textbooks has she prepares for exams. But then the Jaffna Library is burned down and trouble is simmering between the Sinhalese and the Tamil. While studying for her exams at her grandmother's home, her eldest brother is killed and her grandmother's home is burned down. Two of her brothers join the militant group known as the Tigers. This is the story of a determined girl, trying to fulfill her dreams of being a medical doctor amidst the chaos and violence of the war. She has to decide where her loyalties lie and make sense of the atrocities that her brothers might be taking part in as she figures out where her place is during this difficult time.
This novel was intense. The detail in which the author explains the political situation in the country really helped me understand how complex this war was. The internal turmoil that Sashi dealt with as she was coming of age and into her early adults years was heartbreaking. This was such an eye-opening read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this early review copy. The novel will be available on 1/3/2023.
Sashi is the only girl among her siblings. Life in her town of Jaffna as a Tamil in Sri Lanka has its challenges but the enjoys time at the library studying and reading with her 3 older brothers. She dreams of being a doctor like her eldest brother who lets her read his medical textbooks has she prepares for exams. But then the Jaffna Library is burned down and trouble is simmering between the Sinhalese and the Tamil. While studying for her exams at her grandmother's home, her eldest brother is killed and her grandmother's home is burned down. Two of her brothers join the militant group known as the Tigers. This is the story of a determined girl, trying to fulfill her dreams of being a medical doctor amidst the chaos and violence of the war. She has to decide where her loyalties lie and make sense of the atrocities that her brothers might be taking part in as she figures out where her place is during this difficult time.
This novel was intense. The detail in which the author explains the political situation in the country really helped me understand how complex this war was. The internal turmoil that Sashi dealt with as she was coming of age and into her early adults years was heartbreaking. This was such an eye-opening read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this early review copy. The novel will be available on 1/3/2023.
internationalreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, War, Vomit, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Blood, Injury/injury detail, and Violence
caroline2499's review
challenging
emotional
informative
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
3.25
bookreviewswithkb's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Brotherless Night is a moving novel about the Sri Lankan Civil War and the ways the war pushes humans to unimaginable corners of decision making. how the people closest to us can become unrecognizable. this book is all consuming, with a plot that draws you in and characters you’ll feel deeply connected to. this is a book about survival
and in some ways this novel speaks to the courage and strength of women, who traditionally bear the brunt of the terrible choices of the men in their lives. the women who continue to navigate their choices with dignity and resolve, who make beauty out of war, out of destruction. although this novel seemingly centers on Sashi’s brothers and father, it’s really an examination of the perspective of women during this war
thank you to @RandomHouse and @Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review! publishing date is January 3rd, 2023
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape
sharrivel's review
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book follows a young woman who’s goal is to become a doctor, however her country of Sri Lanka goes through a civil war. Life changes for her, her family, and her friends as they all take different roles during the war.
I was unfamiliar with the Sri Lankan Civil War, so much that I didn’t even know that it happened. Brotherless Night was informative and it also told the stories of various people and the atrocities committed by all sides. It started slow at first, and then it picked up to really showcase how normal her and her brother’s lives were. I thought some of the romance came out of nowhere and I really wish that relationship was more fleshed out.
I still recommend this book, especially since I feel it’s about something that isn’t mentioned in American textbooks.
I was unfamiliar with the Sri Lankan Civil War, so much that I didn’t even know that it happened. Brotherless Night was informative and it also told the stories of various people and the atrocities committed by all sides. It started slow at first, and then it picked up to really showcase how normal her and her brother’s lives were. I thought some of the romance came out of nowhere and I really wish that relationship was more fleshed out.
I still recommend this book, especially since I feel it’s about something that isn’t mentioned in American textbooks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Genocide, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content and Rape
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