37 pages 1 hour read

Nayomi Munaweera

Island of a Thousand Mirrors

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera is a novel centered on the Sri Lankan Civil War, narrated from the perspectives of Yasodhara, a Sinhala woman who emigrates to the United States with her family, and Saraswathi, a Tamil girl whose life is shattered by the conflict, leading her to join a militant group. Graphic depictions of violence, including sexual assault, are included.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera poignantly captures the Sri Lankan civil war's impact on two families from opposite sides. Munaweera's lyrical prose and vivid imagery are widely praised, but some critique the uneven pacing and character development. Nonetheless, the novel offers a compelling, emotional exploration of conflict and identity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Island of a Thousand Mirrors?

Readers who appreciate deeply emotional narratives and intricate family sagas, as seen in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, will be drawn to Nayomi Munaweera's Island of a Thousand Mirrors. This novel offers a poignant exploration of Sri Lanka's civil war through evocative prose and rich cultural context.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Modern Classic Fiction

Themes

Identity: Race

Topics

Military / War

History: World