Don't Go, Ramanya

by Rush Leaming

"Don't Go, Ramanya is thriller reading at its best, cementing a turbulent political atmosphere with an overlay of diverse and realistic human concerns and endeavors that border on the extraordinary. Genre fans who seek atmosphere and description in their reads will find that Leaming doesn't sacrifice either psychological depth or evocative setting for the sake of fast-paced action, winding all into an emotionally and socially charged saga that's hard to put down." -- D. Donovan, The Midwest Book Review

The debut novel from Rush Leaming:

Ramanya, a former rebel soldier from Burma (Myanmar), now lives as a Buddhist monk in Thailand. One morning, a strange man appears at his temple and says that Ramanya’s family, which Ramanya had long thought dead, is actually alive and in hiding back in Burma.

Is it true? Or just a trick by the ruling junta to lure him back and execute him for war crimes?

A hostage crisis in downtown Bangkok rockets up tension between the two countries. Armies mobilize and head to the border. Ramanya and two of his closest confidants — an American teacher and a British priest— have 48 hours to get to Three Pagodas Pass and sneak him past the military before the border is completely sealed.

Three men running from secrets and tragedies in their past. Four tense days in and around Bangkok.

A taut literary thriller that you won't soon forget.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2016

About the author

RUSH LEAMING has done many things including spending 15+ years in film/video production working on such projects as The Lord of the Rings films. His first novel, Don't Go, Ramanya, a political thriller set in Thailand, was published in the fall of 2016 and reached number one on Amazon. His second novel followed suit in summer 2018, entitled The Whole of the Moon, set in the Congo at the end of the Cold War. 2021 saw the 5-star reception of his crime thriller Dead Tree Tales.

His short stories have appeared in Notations, 67 Press, Lightwave, 5k Fiction, and The Electric Eclectic. He has lived in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Zaire, Thailand, Spain, Greece, England, and Kenya. He currently lives in South Carolina.

Reviews

[Marta Tandori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Go, Ramanya by gifted author, Rush Leaming, is, as the book’s synopsis indicates, a taut, literary thriller that immediately throws readers into turbulent political upheaval as the Mon rebel army wage assault on the Burmese Embassy. Ironically, the book’s main protagonist, Ramanya, and his best friend, Tissa, belonged to the rebel army before seeking refuge at the monastery as monks. Michael Shaw, an American, teaches English to the monks at the monastery, while Father Bob, a man of the cloth, is suspected of orchestrating the assault on the Embassy. Each man’s former life is complicated, overshadowed by tragedy and upheaval…Leaming has a consummate skill in being able to effortlessly set the stage for the reader. All one really has to do is close one’s eyes to picture the tropical setting, to see the chaos as a sleepy city comes to life, with shop keepers and street vendors plying their wares as people bustle about their daily business amid the noise and traffic, already feeling the effects of the cloying humidity. The intensity of the action, the fine line between idealism and violence and the presence of imminent danger is tangible in the author’s narrative which makes the book such a compelling read. On another level, the book also examines the issue of humanitarianism and how the actions of one’s past ultimately have consequences on one’s future. Don’t Go, Ramanya has plenty to offer for book lovers that prefer a story with a political bent or simply those who love a solid thriller. Either way, you can’t miss.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The book offered a history lesson in Burma/Myanmar and Thailand areas. The book is a political thriller with some interesting twists and turns. All of the main people in the book have past issues and are running from something personal. I appreciated the writing in this book and the editing. It was a quick read and the editing allowed this book to flow without repetition and excess words that I find in so many books published recently. I will look for more books in the future by Rush Learning.

I did get this book as a read and review book for an honest review. Please do not hesitate to buy this book and enjoy the story.

[Ashley Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to start by saying that I received a copy of this novel through Goodreads giveaways.

This novel was nothing what I had expected it to be but I enjoyed it very much. The main character Ramanya leaves his past behind to live a life of peace rather then war. He believes his mother and sister dead until one day a man shows up with proof that they are not. With the help of an English teacher and a priest the three set out on a journey that seems impossible! Each man learning more about the other as they spend more time together. This novel is a must read! War continues around the world and this novel is a reminded of what other endure for others, especially family.

[Blanca Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Political thriller with a gripping plot
This is a very interesting story about Ramanya, who has fled his homeland and become a Buddhist monk only sixteen months before the start of the events depicted. His mother and sister were killed by soldiers during a period of civil unrest. There is a psychological depth to the novel and, although it is very political, ythe author does not lose track of his characters. I thought Father Bob and Michael Shaw – both escaping from events in their past – were excellent foils for Ramanya himself.

[Ann C. Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fell in love with the characters

Rush Leaming's "Don't Go, Ramanya" features three unlikely heroes...an English teacher, a priest, and a Buddhist monk. The story takes place in the newly renamed Myanmar, where rebel factions are fighting a corrupt government. Sometimes when I am reading a book I become distracted by the author's method of character development. Leaming, on the other hand, spins a tale and reveals characters in a natural way, so that you feel like you're there watching. This is a beautiful story that is beautifully written. I highly recommend it!

[Rachel Sakitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Go Ramanya is a interesting book about the lives of three main characters and how their lives are brought together. They embark on a journey to help Ramanya get back to his family. It was quick paced and easy to read.

I would recommend this book to others.

[Denise Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Go, Ramanya written by Rush Leaming is an amazingly well written novel. The author uses vivid details and descriptions to pull the reader into the world of Ramanya, the main character. The novel is fiction, but has aspects of non-fiction, as some of the story line is based on events that actually took place. In the beginning of this book, the author encourages the reader to research these events, and I took the initiative and learned quite a lot. I believe the reality of truth mixed with this non-fiction story line increases the believability of the characters and the stories behind those characters. The author switches the point of view between the characters, and the reader learns of their troubles and follows the characters through to them facing the consequences to choices they had made earlier in their lives. The description of Burma and the remote Asian areas are well written and the author does a wonderful writing job with the descriptions of the upheaval of the government and really made the book hard to put down. Combining the stories of characters with such different backgrounds really added a depth that kept my attention and helped me to relate to each of the characters. The main storyline follows Ramanya and his effort to make it back to help his family. The beginning of this novel is a detailed account of a dream, and really pulled me into the pages and helped me to imagine this book in my mind. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more of Rush Leaming’s work.

[Ian Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramanya is a young Burmese who had revolted against the Military government of Burma (Myanmar) then decided this was getting him nowhere, so he fled to Thailand and became a Buddhist monk in Bangkok. There are two lesser characters: Michael, an American who has come to Bangkok to "escape" and has degenerated to a drunk, and Bob, a priest who has also become involved in Burmese revolts. Ramanya is told his family is alive, and he is invited to go back to a remote part of Burma and be with them. Bob and Michael accompany him, while Michael starts to recover. Bob has troubles with corrupt Thai police. So the main part of the book is simply a story of travel from Bangkok to a remote part of the border, in the dense jungle, to smuggle Ramanya across the border. The story is an interesting description about life in the various parts of Thailand, with detailed descriptions of the landscape, and of the people. Some might argue the descriptions are too long. From a plot point of view, it can be summarized as the trials and tribulations of Ramanya as he goes home while trying to avoid Burmese authorities and corrupt Thai police. It may be described as a thriller, but it really is not as it moves too slowly for that. The grading is based on the premise that what I have described is all the reader wants. If the reader wants more, then it is not there.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I read this book I was often reminded of how realistic this story is considering it is a novel. The struggles the common citizen, in a third world country, faces just for survival is foreign to those of us in the States. We don’t fear our fathers and sons will be taken to fight a political war, or taken as slaves.
Don’t Go, Ramanya is a stimulating novel that rapidly moves you from each of the main characters. Rush Leaming charms us with the sweet innocence of orphans who are delighted with an albino kitten, then the story escapades to riots, extortion, and running back to find lost family members left behind.
I love the diversity of using Monks, a teacher, and a Catholic priest. Each hiding from their own demons while trying to find a meaning to their lives, sometimes people just need a reason to exist.

[HKelleyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Go, Ramanya by Rush Leaming is a very good debut novel.

During the turbulent days of the Burmese Embassy hostage crisis, the lives of a monk (Pra Ramanya), a priest , (Father Bob Hanlan) and a teacher (Michael Shaw) collide in unusual ways as they band together to reunite a family torn apart by the Army and the political uprising.

Each man is running away from some action he took earlier in his life. And, ultimately, each deals with the consequences of their action—in very different ways.

I was emotionally satisfied at the end of this story. I would recommend this book to a friend. And, I would read another book by this author. 3 ¾ stars

HKelleyB is an editor, proofreader, and book reviewer. This honest review is given in exchange for a free copy of this e-book.

[Brian Rothbart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book as it helped me revisit two of my favorite countries: Thailand and Myanmar. The descriptions of the settings are so vivid that you almost believe you are in Southeast Asia. The characters are also so well defined. The fast paced plot moves along nicely and there are some nice twists and turns. It is an all around well written book. I look forward from more books by this author. Highly recommend.

[Jace Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cool book. Fast-paced but with a lot of depth. Great characters and setting. Vivid descriptions of Thailand and Burma. It starts off with a dream sequence, which many say is a no-no, but it was well-done and I liked it. The author tells the story from the POV's of four different characters, and amazingly it works! Each one is distinct and fully realized and it never gets confusing. Some nice twists at the end that I didn't see coming. Highly recommend.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from Goodreads giveaways.

This was a good story. The author did a good job of creating characters that were believable and felt like they were real people. I wish I knew more about the historical context of the background events, but I didn't feel lost while reading it either.

[LyndaVee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just can’t categorise this novel. It defies categorisation. It is part thriller, part political history, part geography lesson, part travelogue and part thriller. I very much enjoyed it for all these reasons but especially because it is character driven and the main three characters, Bob, Michael and the eponymous Ramanya, are skilfully drawn and I really cared what happened to them.

[Jane Speight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Journey of Hope And Redemption

The characters are deep and strong and they move through a fast moving plot that takes the reader through an exotic land which fills the senses. A powerful book and a must read.

[Brittney Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. The settings are good and credible and the characters feel real . The plot can be confusing sometimes but overall a good novel.