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First Utterance
The story of three men, deemed mad in a dystopian world, who shirk reality for dreams, music for silence and sanity for peace. Plunge into the myth and mystique of Mirage as the collective fate of these men brings a nation to its knees and heralds the end of time itself.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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March 28, 2016Theena's first book is a beauty.
A mere 80 pages, the density of its content, despite the succinct wordplay throughout, bursts through each word compelling you to invest all your attention in it. Multi-tasking or reading-on-the-go won't work with this, but given that you can finish it up nicely within two hours (three at the most, if you're a slow reader), the time isn't hard to come by.
I find the plot and the presentation fascinating, especially the whole 'eight days' theme. In all honesty though, I lost thread a couple of times and was a bit disoriented at the frequent jumps in style and prose, but realized that that was more to do with me being maladjusted to eBooks than anything else. Soon as I got the physical copy in hand (and was able to flip through it, holistically), I realized that I should've paid more attention to the layout when reading it in the first place, to not have gotten muddled up.
What I find most admirable is that this is the first Sri Lankan author I've come across who's crossed genres and universes, and hasn't written a book set (specifically) in Sri Lanka. There are familiar names and words of course, but this isn't a book about our war, our villages, our universities, or our Colombo.
This is quite fresh.
A mere 80 pages, the density of its content, despite the succinct wordplay throughout, bursts through each word compelling you to invest all your attention in it. Multi-tasking or reading-on-the-go won't work with this, but given that you can finish it up nicely within two hours (three at the most, if you're a slow reader), the time isn't hard to come by.
I find the plot and the presentation fascinating, especially the whole 'eight days' theme. In all honesty though, I lost thread a couple of times and was a bit disoriented at the frequent jumps in style and prose, but realized that that was more to do with me being maladjusted to eBooks than anything else. Soon as I got the physical copy in hand (and was able to flip through it, holistically), I realized that I should've paid more attention to the layout when reading it in the first place, to not have gotten muddled up.
What I find most admirable is that this is the first Sri Lankan author I've come across who's crossed genres and universes, and hasn't written a book set (specifically) in Sri Lanka. There are familiar names and words of course, but this isn't a book about our war, our villages, our universities, or our Colombo.
This is quite fresh.
March 28, 2016
Rarely I think has an author's first utterance come off as well as this, the first Miragian Cycle. Theena in his debut dares to tackle not simply fantasy or scifi or drama, but the realms of speculative fiction, magical realism. "Genres" mined to great depths by greats like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and depths to which 'First Utterance" clearly aspires to. Does it reach them? Yes. I think it does far more than it does not.
While a reader might find an overarching narrative hard to pin down at first, reading this from moment to moment might be the best course of action. It will all come together in the end. Stay unburdened and let the writing, which in it's lyrical nature is more akin to poetry than prose, entrance you on a journey. In fact, the numerous shifts in form are unusual for such a short book.
It's trippy. It has a touch of insanity. It's beautiful. I'd wish there was more but I don't know if I could take a bigger dose of this Miragian intensity in a single serving.
Good read.
While a reader might find an overarching narrative hard to pin down at first, reading this from moment to moment might be the best course of action. It will all come together in the end. Stay unburdened and let the writing, which in it's lyrical nature is more akin to poetry than prose, entrance you on a journey. In fact, the numerous shifts in form are unusual for such a short book.
It's trippy. It has a touch of insanity. It's beautiful. I'd wish there was more but I don't know if I could take a bigger dose of this Miragian intensity in a single serving.
Good read.
April 7, 2016
3.5 stars.
I was told to read the book without looking for a plot, and that's exactly what I did, letting the words wash over me, and leaving one story as I go into the next. Was I in awe? No. But that is probably because I have issues with any material that involves prophets and religion as a fact (and I have no issue believing in Thestrals and Hippogriffs. Go figure). I liked this for the language. For the way parts of the book read like poetry. I liked this for the way different threads were seemingly left around, only to be tied at the end.
I think I will like this better once the other books are also read.
I was told to read the book without looking for a plot, and that's exactly what I did, letting the words wash over me, and leaving one story as I go into the next. Was I in awe? No. But that is probably because I have issues with any material that involves prophets and religion as a fact (and I have no issue believing in Thestrals and Hippogriffs. Go figure). I liked this for the language. For the way parts of the book read like poetry. I liked this for the way different threads were seemingly left around, only to be tied at the end.
I think I will like this better once the other books are also read.
June 11, 2025
The language is nice and easy to read. The story and structure was confusing. I have no idea what happen other than the broadest strokes.
The world building, what little I could grasp was interesting. I wish it was a bit longer and a bit slower.
The world building, what little I could grasp was interesting. I wish it was a bit longer and a bit slower.
October 12, 2017
I spent the entire night reading this, I couldn't put it down. So cleverly written to have parallels with current day societal issues, and yet be so foreign at the same time?
April 5, 2025
Confusing but super cool. Take notes as u read!
June 10, 2025
This book is not for everyone. It asks if it's one country, one truth; what will we call a man who claims a different truth? If it inconveniences us, will we ignore his eyes, his voice and cage him?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews