Rating: 4 out of 5.

Just finished this book yesterday and have to say it is one that has touched me immensely. Stories set in exotic locations have always fascinated me and this was definitely one of the best.

Set in Sri Lanka, the story follows the lives of Latha and Biso the main protagonists who though having different destiny’s are connected by a thread. The period is the same that my generation has grown up in and so I could actually relate to bits like where Latha is awed by Princes Diana and wants to become like her and later mourns her death like one of her own.

The book starts with Latha being brought to the house as a servant girl and playmate to Thara, the little daughter of the house and how they grow up together. It then goes back to Biso’s story where she is trying to escape an unhappy marriage with her three children and embarks on a journey that changes their lives forever. From here on the story moves back and forth from Latha to Biso and finally towards the end, the link between Biso and Latha comes to light though the reader would probably be able to guess it halfway through the book.

Even though Biso’s story ends in tragedy, Latha’s ends on a hopeful note and fills us with optimism for the future. There are a lot of poignant moments in the book and some where I could actually feel Biso’s pain being a mother myself and it is these moments that make the book worth remembering. Apart from the attraction of the storyline itself, the setting was also a refreshing change and it was fascinating to know more about our neighboring country Sri Lanka.

This is Ru Freeman’s first book that came out in 2009 and definitely one which should not be missed. I am looking forward to reading her second book as well.

Recomended Reading Age for this book: 13+

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