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Folk Stories of Sri Lanka
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December 31, 2025
It was lovely to end my reading year with a quick re-read of some of the Sri Lankan folk stories from my childhood. Keyt’s text is charming, humorous, and succinct, and the accompanying illustrations add an extra touch of whimsy to the experience.
Not for the first time, I was struck by the narrative similarities between many of these tales and European folklore, particularly the stories collected by the Grimms. I enjoyed reading these versions that supplement familiar plot structures with local elements and cultural details.
I enjoyed many of the stories in this collection, especially “Jackal Son-in-Law” and “The Jewel-Bird”. By contrast, “The Golden Pumpkin” is one of the most surreal and bizzare fairytales I’ve ever read; it feels incomplete in its current form, and I wonder if it might be a fragment of a larger tale.
Overall, this was an excellent and fittingly nostalgic piece of reading for the last day of the year.
Not for the first time, I was struck by the narrative similarities between many of these tales and European folklore, particularly the stories collected by the Grimms. I enjoyed reading these versions that supplement familiar plot structures with local elements and cultural details.
I enjoyed many of the stories in this collection, especially “Jackal Son-in-Law” and “The Jewel-Bird”. By contrast, “The Golden Pumpkin” is one of the most surreal and bizzare fairytales I’ve ever read; it feels incomplete in its current form, and I wonder if it might be a fragment of a larger tale.
Overall, this was an excellent and fittingly nostalgic piece of reading for the last day of the year.
Displaying 1 of 1 review