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A review by serendipitysbooks
A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
The plot of A Passage North may be sparse - Krishan travels by train from Colombo to northern Sri Lanka to attend a funeral - but there is actually a lot going on in this slim novel, most of it in his head. As he travels Krishnan’s memories traverse his grandmother and her career Rani, whose death in unusual circumstances led to his journey. He also recalls his time with his former girlfriend Anjum, from whom he recently received an unexpected email. And of course he mulls over Sri Lankan history, particularly the civil unrest and its effects on the north. The impacts of grief and the long lasting effects of trauma can be clearly seen.
The novel unfolds in a stream-of-consciousness style. The writing is lyrical yet compelling and wholly absorbing. It’s very much a quiet, insular novel whose power and impact creeps up on you slowly and increases the more you think about it. Which is fitting for a book so focused on the power of thought and memory to help us make sense of the journey life has taken us on.
Sensitive readers may need to take care towards the end of the book where Krishan muses in great detail about exactly what is happening to Rani’s body during the cremation process. I imagine this could be very triggering, especially to those who have recently suffered a loss.
Final Verdict - Very insular and literary. This one has got to be among the top contenders for the Booker.
The novel unfolds in a stream-of-consciousness style. The writing is lyrical yet compelling and wholly absorbing. It’s very much a quiet, insular novel whose power and impact creeps up on you slowly and increases the more you think about it. Which is fitting for a book so focused on the power of thought and memory to help us make sense of the journey life has taken us on.
Sensitive readers may need to take care towards the end of the book where Krishan muses in great detail about exactly what is happening to Rani’s body during the cremation process. I imagine this could be very triggering, especially to those who have recently suffered a loss.
Final Verdict - Very insular and literary. This one has got to be among the top contenders for the Booker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War