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The Sweet and Simple Kind: A Poetic Account of a Nation's Troubled Awakening
As Ceylon evolves into independent, turbulent Sir Lanka and a highly political family attempts to balance language with religion and privilege with equity, two young women pursue their personal freedoms In an engrossing and dramatic family drama set against the backdrop of Ceylon's bumpy evolution into Sri Lanka, the Wijesinha clan struggle to balance their staunch political ambition against the ignominy of an embarrassing family scandal. And when two young cousins Tsunami and Latha become firm friends no one can guess how their loyal support of one another will help them win personal freedom against all odds. Beautifully written and resonant in its social insights, this tale creates a richly imagined world of love, political chicanery, and family turmoil in the newly independent Sri Lanka of the 1950s and 1960s—a story that's enchanting with its combination of authenticity, humor, and passion.
712 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 23, 2012
The Sweet and Simple Kind, A novel of Sr Lanka by Yasmine Gooneratne. I picked it up because the synopsis looked interesting, never for a moment, imagining that it would blow me away.
It traces the life of 2 cousins, who form a close friendship, through the vacations that the spend together. As their lives evolve, the author also, manages to paint a wonderful picture of Sri Lankan society and politics during that time. The two cousins, Latha and Tsunami Wijesinha, are of the same age, with just three months between them.
Tsunami Wijensinha’s family is the more affluent, more westernised family(in some ways, more British than the British themselves) and her mother is an Indian Tamil. Latha’s family is not as well off, and her mother is extremely strong in her views about Sinhalese values, which she feels that Tsunami’s family does not give enough importance to. As Latha is growing up, she finds a wonderful feeling of freedom in Tsunami’s house that she never finds in her own, only to find much later, that it is all reversed. Her, once rigid, family becomes a sanctuary for both her and her cousin.
The books traces there lives, the turbulence in their personal lives as well as their societies as they try to over come an embarrassing family scandal and go on to university together. How they react and behave when confronted by racial and caste discrimination. People changing, slowly but surely. The book just reminds me of issues, that face probably, every society. How some of the westernised folk look down on Sinhalese speakers, how Tamils and other minorities are not treated as equals.. and how it all erupts, finally.. It mirrors society everywhere so well. And it also brings home the fact that intolerance and racial chauvinism can only be detrimental in the long run.
The characters are drawn up so well, and emotions, so beautifully conveyed. I almost cried when the book ended.. If there is any book that I have absolutely loved, in recent times, this is it! And best of all, I got a feel of Sri Lanka, the country. The issues that it had to face as it evolved from Ceylon to Sri Lanka. One thing I know for sure is, I am going to re-read it now.. and that I need to find her other books to devour.
It traces the life of 2 cousins, who form a close friendship, through the vacations that the spend together. As their lives evolve, the author also, manages to paint a wonderful picture of Sri Lankan society and politics during that time. The two cousins, Latha and Tsunami Wijesinha, are of the same age, with just three months between them.
Tsunami Wijensinha’s family is the more affluent, more westernised family(in some ways, more British than the British themselves) and her mother is an Indian Tamil. Latha’s family is not as well off, and her mother is extremely strong in her views about Sinhalese values, which she feels that Tsunami’s family does not give enough importance to. As Latha is growing up, she finds a wonderful feeling of freedom in Tsunami’s house that she never finds in her own, only to find much later, that it is all reversed. Her, once rigid, family becomes a sanctuary for both her and her cousin.
The books traces there lives, the turbulence in their personal lives as well as their societies as they try to over come an embarrassing family scandal and go on to university together. How they react and behave when confronted by racial and caste discrimination. People changing, slowly but surely. The book just reminds me of issues, that face probably, every society. How some of the westernised folk look down on Sinhalese speakers, how Tamils and other minorities are not treated as equals.. and how it all erupts, finally.. It mirrors society everywhere so well. And it also brings home the fact that intolerance and racial chauvinism can only be detrimental in the long run.
The characters are drawn up so well, and emotions, so beautifully conveyed. I almost cried when the book ended.. If there is any book that I have absolutely loved, in recent times, this is it! And best of all, I got a feel of Sri Lanka, the country. The issues that it had to face as it evolved from Ceylon to Sri Lanka. One thing I know for sure is, I am going to re-read it now.. and that I need to find her other books to devour.
July 13, 2020
3.5
This book is billed as a “compelling family drama, set against the backdrop of Ceylon’s turbulent evolution into Sri Lanka,” and while the writing is good, and the level of detail given to social structures and mores is reminiscent of Jane Austen, I found myself expecting more. Drama occurs, but it ends up feeling like a bump on the road, a narrative mess that is tidied away neatly without exploring the emotional toll on the character with any true depth. While there are aspects of the political transition present, the focus of the story is on Sri Lanka’s wealthy elite, and any turbulence is fleeting and mostly in the background. I enjoyed reading this and really wanted to love it more, but it just wasn’t compelling enough.
This book is billed as a “compelling family drama, set against the backdrop of Ceylon’s turbulent evolution into Sri Lanka,” and while the writing is good, and the level of detail given to social structures and mores is reminiscent of Jane Austen, I found myself expecting more. Drama occurs, but it ends up feeling like a bump on the road, a narrative mess that is tidied away neatly without exploring the emotional toll on the character with any true depth. While there are aspects of the political transition present, the focus of the story is on Sri Lanka’s wealthy elite, and any turbulence is fleeting and mostly in the background. I enjoyed reading this and really wanted to love it more, but it just wasn’t compelling enough.
February 7, 2015
Charmingly simple!
January 5, 2023
A must read.
Ceylon to Sri Lanka is not just the story of the independence of this island nation. Presented as a family saga of a westernised family, this is a story of the past and the present, of colonial lifestyles and a nascent national identity, it is a story of many races and many languages. Said through the parallel lives of two girls who grow up together, each different yet pursuing their personal freedoms. Each true to each other. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same, this is Gooneratne at her best.
Ceylon to Sri Lanka is not just the story of the independence of this island nation. Presented as a family saga of a westernised family, this is a story of the past and the present, of colonial lifestyles and a nascent national identity, it is a story of many races and many languages. Said through the parallel lives of two girls who grow up together, each different yet pursuing their personal freedoms. Each true to each other. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same, this is Gooneratne at her best.
September 2, 2020
A beautiful trip down history of then Sri Lanka. The social and political dramas are so real. But yet life seems to have been more relaxed and uncomplicated unlike in this techno age, with letters and telegrams being the mode of communication. The urgency is not there for most times. Enjoyed reading this book.
May 10, 2024
It's the Nazi jokes for me.
January 29, 2014
First half of the story is amazing. a page turner I would say. gave me so much information about some amazing good books and lot of tips to make my sons childhood a memorable one. I love the book for that. Second half dragged a bit I thought its with too much info, i certainly didnt fancy getting to know about each and every school teacher of the main character's mother, nor did I like the ending it was very slow and dull for me.
giving four stars for the high drama it had in its first half and the info and tips it provided me. Im glad that I read it.
giving four stars for the high drama it had in its first half and the info and tips it provided me. Im glad that I read it.
December 21, 2008
This book could have been radically shortened. I was deeply interested in the subject matter as it covered the early colonial history of my native country. However, 300 pages into this story I was getting restless, nothing much was happening. I skipped to the last 100 pages and read to the ending and did not miss a beat. A good read for somweone wanting a primer on Sri Lankan history over the last 75 years or so
February 5, 2017
As the name implies nothing happened for the first 600 pages. The last 108 were interesting!
November 13, 2012
Very much enjoying the book. Finished the book now and enjoyed it very much. Gave me a glimpse of a country and her people of whom I know very little. The characters are interesting, the plot lines are good. I recommend this book.
August 18, 2014
It's a mind-numbing tome on marriage and how Sri Lankan families groom their children from birth for marriage. O/w it's very well written and clearly demonstrates the brilliant writing of Yasmine Gooneratne. Sadly 'cos of the subject matter I'm giving up on the book.
September 13, 2015
A good novel about women and their position in society in 50-60s Srilanka.
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July 6, 2016
Although it's a quite long I loved the details about Sri Lanka's history in the 50s and 60s. Specially reading about the sentiments of different people on the events that took place during that time. Latha's character was developed beautifully.
October 11, 2010
Got me interested in Sri Lankan books again. It's sweet and simple sure, but it has a flavour of it's own.
December 19, 2014
Read this 'cause it was on a list of Sri Lankan queer fiction and I mean it was totally lovely (girls! who are besties!) but there was only one very minor gay boy in the whole 700+ pages, so.
November 6, 2016
A wonderful novel of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews