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Suncatcher
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 JHALAK PRIZE1964. Ceylon is on the brink of change. But Kairo is at a loose end. School is closed, the government is in disarray, the press is under threat and the religious right are flexing their muscles. Kairo's hard-working mother blows off steam at her cha-cha-cha classes; his Trotskyite father grumbles over the state of the nation between his secret flutters on horseraces in faraway England. All Kairo wants to do is hide in his room and flick over second-hand westerns and superhero comics, or escape on his bicycle and daydream. Then he meets the magnetic teenage Jay, and his whole world is turned inside out. A budding naturalist and a born rebel, Jay keeps fish and traps birds for an aviary he is building in the garden of his grand home. The adults in Jay's life have no say in what he does or where he he holds his beautiful, fragile mother in contempt, and his wealthy father seems fuelled by anger. But his Uncle Elvin, suave and worldly, is his encourager. As Jay guides him from the realm of make believe into one of hunting-guns and fast cars and introduces him to a girl - Niromi - Kairo begins to understand the price of privilege and embarks on a journey of devastating consequence. Taut and luminous, graceful and wild, Suncatcher is a poignant coming-of-age novel about difficult friendships and sudden awakenings. Mesmerizingly it charts the loss of innocence and our recurring search for love - or consolation - bringing these extraordinary lives into our own.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2019
31 people are currently reading
2421 people want to read
About the author
Romesh Gunesekera
21 books194 followersRomesh Gunesekera was born in Sri Lanka where he spent his early years. Before coming to Britain he also lived in the Philippines. He now lives in London. In 2010 he was writer in residence at Somerset House.
His first novel, Reef, was published in 1994 and was short-listed as a finalist for the Booker Prize, as well as for the Guardian Fiction Prize. In the USA he was nominated for a New Voice Award.
Before that, in 1992 his first collection of stories, Monkfish Moon, was one of the first titles in Granta’s venture into book publishing. It was shortlisted for several prizes and named a New York Times Notable Book for 1993.
In 1998, he received the inaugural BBC Asia Award for Achievement in Writing & Literature for his novel The Sandglass. The previous year he was awarded one of the prestigious Italian literary prizes: the Premio Mondello Five Continents. In 1995 he won the Yorkshire Post Best First Work Award in Britain.
His third novel, Heaven’s Edge, a dystopian novel set in the near future was published by Bloomsbury in 2002.
Four years later Bloomsbury also published The Match hailed as one of the first novels in which cricket was celebrated, and a forerunner of the many cricket-related novels that have followed.
In 2008, a collection of his Madeira stories were published in a bilingual edition to celebrate its 500th anniversary of the founding of Funchal in Madeira.
His most recent novel is Suncatcher. His other books are Noontide Toll, a collection of linked stories, and the historical novel The Prisoner of Paradise.
Romesh Gunesekera is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has also received a National Honour in Sri Lanka.
He has been a judge for a number of literary prizes including the Caine Prize for African Writing, the David Cohen Literature Prize and the Forward Prize for Poetry. He has been a Guest Director at the Cheltenham Festival, an Associate Tutor at Goldsmiths College and on the Board of the Arvon Foundation for writing.
His first novel, Reef, was published in 1994 and was short-listed as a finalist for the Booker Prize, as well as for the Guardian Fiction Prize. In the USA he was nominated for a New Voice Award.
Before that, in 1992 his first collection of stories, Monkfish Moon, was one of the first titles in Granta’s venture into book publishing. It was shortlisted for several prizes and named a New York Times Notable Book for 1993.
In 1998, he received the inaugural BBC Asia Award for Achievement in Writing & Literature for his novel The Sandglass. The previous year he was awarded one of the prestigious Italian literary prizes: the Premio Mondello Five Continents. In 1995 he won the Yorkshire Post Best First Work Award in Britain.
His third novel, Heaven’s Edge, a dystopian novel set in the near future was published by Bloomsbury in 2002.
Four years later Bloomsbury also published The Match hailed as one of the first novels in which cricket was celebrated, and a forerunner of the many cricket-related novels that have followed.
In 2008, a collection of his Madeira stories were published in a bilingual edition to celebrate its 500th anniversary of the founding of Funchal in Madeira.
His most recent novel is Suncatcher. His other books are Noontide Toll, a collection of linked stories, and the historical novel The Prisoner of Paradise.
Romesh Gunesekera is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has also received a National Honour in Sri Lanka.
He has been a judge for a number of literary prizes including the Caine Prize for African Writing, the David Cohen Literature Prize and the Forward Prize for Poetry. He has been a Guest Director at the Cheltenham Festival, an Associate Tutor at Goldsmiths College and on the Board of the Arvon Foundation for writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 17, 2022
Such a well written book with similar vibes somewhere in between the addicting prose of Jhumpa Lahiri and André Aciman.
More of a character driven book with very realistic characters, this is a story told from the perspective of a growing up teenager who’s life is taking turns they cannot understand enough about. With adults who are confusing and strict for no particular reasons and a relationship/friendship that’s almost wobbly and indifferent, the character struggles with their caring nature and emotions hanging amidst people not actually seeing or feeling any of them.
There are some dialogues and scenarios which some readers might feel uncomfortable regarding gender, the wild life and family matters.
I feel the story deals mainly with growing up, broken families and complicated relationships, wildlife (hunt or protect) as well as characters representing people who are adverse to changes. There are so many parts which are open for discussion.
I would say this book isn’t for everyone. However, for those who enjoy relatable realistic writing and characters, this book might surprise you out of nowhere like how it just did to me!
More of a character driven book with very realistic characters, this is a story told from the perspective of a growing up teenager who’s life is taking turns they cannot understand enough about. With adults who are confusing and strict for no particular reasons and a relationship/friendship that’s almost wobbly and indifferent, the character struggles with their caring nature and emotions hanging amidst people not actually seeing or feeling any of them.
There are some dialogues and scenarios which some readers might feel uncomfortable regarding gender, the wild life and family matters.
I feel the story deals mainly with growing up, broken families and complicated relationships, wildlife (hunt or protect) as well as characters representing people who are adverse to changes. There are so many parts which are open for discussion.
I would say this book isn’t for everyone. However, for those who enjoy relatable realistic writing and characters, this book might surprise you out of nowhere like how it just did to me!
December 21, 2019
The book reflects the social and political atmosphere of 1960s Ceylon (now Srilanka ). We witness the Coming-of-age with a young boy , Kairo, who has to take responsibilities beyond his age. Kairo's life change when he met Jay. Jay is just like the opposite pole of a magnet. Kairo starts to follow Jay everywhere and never wants to leave him .
My thoughts.
First I must admire the writing of the author . The plot first feels quite slow but gradually the book started to engraft me. Creating of the characters with different characteristics also admirable . The characters are teenage boys and the problems of this age and the current situation of the plot has been blended. Use of native words and phrases have made the more acceptable, and they make us all feel connected with the soil .
My thoughts.
First I must admire the writing of the author . The plot first feels quite slow but gradually the book started to engraft me. Creating of the characters with different characteristics also admirable . The characters are teenage boys and the problems of this age and the current situation of the plot has been blended. Use of native words and phrases have made the more acceptable, and they make us all feel connected with the soil .
January 31, 2020
Kairo, born in a working-class family in the 1960’s Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) meets Jay, a boy who seeks adventure and thrill to cover up his hate for his rich, influential and stubborn father and his loathing for his sensitive mother. In the present scenario, Ceylon battles a political crisis, a perfect time for young minds such as Kairo and Jay to explore the streets. As Ceylon’s landscape changes gradually through the story so do Kairo’s perspective of things and what starts as a casual but fascinating friendship grows into an eye-opening and tragic experience.
In this coming of age novel, Gunasekara brings the unstable political scenes to the doorsteps of these two families. While Kairo’s parents spend their days complaining about the religious right and the incompetent left, Jay’s family isn’t bothered by this. They while away their days worrying about which businesses to invest in and the problems associated with such an establishment. Jay’s family is visibly dysfunctional and dangerously carefree whereas Kairo’s father tries to pass his days by betting on horse races between his outbursts while his mother focusses on her job on the radio while worrying about her only son’s future.
Gunesekera discusses the shifting landscape in Ceylon with a precision that shows his familiarity with its history and geography. He highlights the native wildlife through Jay’s passion for fishes and birds while vividly describing the lush countryside through their bicycle rides and other escapades.
With his fluid narration, it becomes easy to form a bond with these characters, especially on an emotional level. His writing is graceful especially when things hit rock-bottom. It is evocative and alluring to the point that one feels helpless as the events unfold the way they do. Kairo’s maturity comes from a series of unfortunate events, Jay rebels his way through life, Jay’s mother’s unraveling is slow and painful. Similarly, these characts that are a product of Gunesekera’s imaginative mind, leave behind a profound sense of loss after a brief spark of sunshine. The story reminded me of ‘The Kite Runner’, the latter being heavier and a bit more intricate.
Guneshekera makes the dark times in Sri Lanka’s history accessible through these characters and what better way to learn about a country than through a tale that is fragile and feels like a hug full of longing for the lost times.
In this coming of age novel, Gunasekara brings the unstable political scenes to the doorsteps of these two families. While Kairo’s parents spend their days complaining about the religious right and the incompetent left, Jay’s family isn’t bothered by this. They while away their days worrying about which businesses to invest in and the problems associated with such an establishment. Jay’s family is visibly dysfunctional and dangerously carefree whereas Kairo’s father tries to pass his days by betting on horse races between his outbursts while his mother focusses on her job on the radio while worrying about her only son’s future.
Gunesekera discusses the shifting landscape in Ceylon with a precision that shows his familiarity with its history and geography. He highlights the native wildlife through Jay’s passion for fishes and birds while vividly describing the lush countryside through their bicycle rides and other escapades.
With his fluid narration, it becomes easy to form a bond with these characters, especially on an emotional level. His writing is graceful especially when things hit rock-bottom. It is evocative and alluring to the point that one feels helpless as the events unfold the way they do. Kairo’s maturity comes from a series of unfortunate events, Jay rebels his way through life, Jay’s mother’s unraveling is slow and painful. Similarly, these characts that are a product of Gunesekera’s imaginative mind, leave behind a profound sense of loss after a brief spark of sunshine. The story reminded me of ‘The Kite Runner’, the latter being heavier and a bit more intricate.
Guneshekera makes the dark times in Sri Lanka’s history accessible through these characters and what better way to learn about a country than through a tale that is fragile and feels like a hug full of longing for the lost times.
November 27, 2019
HOW COME I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AUTHOR?! I HAVE CERTAINLY MISSED A LOT. There are some authors whose work you would love instantly and die to read everything else by them. Romesh is that author to me. This book was beautiful in every way possible. He has depicted the imbalance of the social structure and hierarchy through the lives of two friends from two different backgrounds and their perspectives towards wild life and pretty much everything mundane around them. HOW CAN SOMEONE WRITE THAT IRONICALLY BEAUTIFUL? Ceylon is in the times of economic development and reform, and that's when our protagonist, Kairo meats a sun-catcher who would later become his friend named Jay who thinks 'there is no life without wildlife' and kinda obsessed with them. The story then takes place almost around those two.
And did I mention it? Damn! the setting was too beautiful to be true. I have always loved and wanted to visit Ceylon, but I have never read any book that described that place, hence, this book was a treat to my senses. Kairo is only a school student but he can understand about the differences in privileges and decode prejudices way better than we all could. This book is a work of art and mind blowing things. It is also a tale of friendship, love, loss, relationships, politics and what it feels like to be living in a country that is undergoing a change of capitalism.
I would slide into each of your dms if I could to make you pick this book up. Absolutely worthy and I highly recommend it.
And did I mention it? Damn! the setting was too beautiful to be true. I have always loved and wanted to visit Ceylon, but I have never read any book that described that place, hence, this book was a treat to my senses. Kairo is only a school student but he can understand about the differences in privileges and decode prejudices way better than we all could. This book is a work of art and mind blowing things. It is also a tale of friendship, love, loss, relationships, politics and what it feels like to be living in a country that is undergoing a change of capitalism.
I would slide into each of your dms if I could to make you pick this book up. Absolutely worthy and I highly recommend it.
December 15, 2019
I make an effort to read internationally. I believe it’s important to sample global literary perspectives and it makes one a well rounded reader. So that was the main appeal of this book for me, its Sri Lankan setting. The story itself is a fairly prototypical bildungsroman set during a turbulent time to emphasize and highlight the dramatic events of a six month friendship between two boys from very different social strata. The main character is a kid from an average family, with pragmatical mother and political minded socialist father, who wants nothing more than to disappear into the world of fiction, but then he meets Jay, a slightly older teen from a wealthy family, a rebel, an aspiring naturalist and an all around exciting guy to know. Their friendship develops rapidly and has that certain intensity that only friendships of youth can maintain. All around them there’s political unrest in then Ceylon as the country struggles to shed its colonial past and become something other, something new, there’s turmoil within their individual families too. But the boys have magic on their side, the invincible summer of fun…until it’s too late. So yes, there’s the juxtaposition of social classes, meditations on duty and privilege, fun and recklessness and all the things that might make you think. The writing is lovely, Sri Lanka really comes to life in these pages, the jungle in all its verdant splendor, the streets under the boys’ sandals, all that. And yet, somehow I didn’t really connect with the story emotionally, so for me the appreciation of the book was almost strictly intellectual. It was also quite disappointing tom learn that the author messed around with the actual historical events to accommodate the story, because a. I love learning things about the world and this then wasn’t all that education and b. the story didn’t really require the fudging of event timelines, it was flexible enough of a narrative to be instead woven around the actual historical facts. So it worked as a day to day glimpse into the life in a far away country in a bygone era, it represented the zeitgeist, but didn’t really give you a very good idea of the historical context of it all. Then again, it did motivate me to read up about Sri Lanka online, so it did turned out to be educational that way. The book read easily and quickly and the language alone might be worth your time. Thanks Netgalley.
April 29, 2022
"Maybe like the way we dream of the future, we also dream up the past, smoothing all the edges for the sake of our present longings"
Romesh Gunasekara's coming of age book set in 1960s Srilanka is a slow burn affair that indulges itself too much with sentences that hang around without saying much. The book did not need a political setting, nor did it need so many episodes - for it's basic plot of making sense of a loved one actions.
Kairo's young world changes the day he meets the rebel bourgeoise teenager Jay who behaves much older than his age. Drawn through the curiosity about birds, Kairo becomes Jay's sidekick as they start by capturing a sunbeam, building aviaries and shooting crows. Their worlds are poles apart with a left leaning dad on one side to a car collecting uncle on the other side. Andd yet, through the innocence of Kairo, we see the world and the author keeps giving you nudges around what is wrong with it.
The episodes sort of become forced and there are some developments that you don't see them coming at all (and didn't have to). The focus changes from being about the kids making sense of the adult world to making the adult world a simple affair as compared to their dramas. We have the boys shooting birds, fishing and fish trapping and cruel role playing shooting at targets. There is also a tenderness of finding birds and being curious.
I could not guess what the author was going for but what I found was a sudden escalation in the magnitude of the book that had nothing to do with the political environment. And that made the book tough to digest - circumstances thrust upon by an all powerful author. The other characters be it the fathers on either side of the political climate, uncle Elvin, the mothers who are opposites play very subdued role.
The sun-catcher let's it drop - your attention and a plot with so much potential.
Romesh Gunasekara's coming of age book set in 1960s Srilanka is a slow burn affair that indulges itself too much with sentences that hang around without saying much. The book did not need a political setting, nor did it need so many episodes - for it's basic plot of making sense of a loved one actions.
Kairo's young world changes the day he meets the rebel bourgeoise teenager Jay who behaves much older than his age. Drawn through the curiosity about birds, Kairo becomes Jay's sidekick as they start by capturing a sunbeam, building aviaries and shooting crows. Their worlds are poles apart with a left leaning dad on one side to a car collecting uncle on the other side. Andd yet, through the innocence of Kairo, we see the world and the author keeps giving you nudges around what is wrong with it.
The episodes sort of become forced and there are some developments that you don't see them coming at all (and didn't have to). The focus changes from being about the kids making sense of the adult world to making the adult world a simple affair as compared to their dramas. We have the boys shooting birds, fishing and fish trapping and cruel role playing shooting at targets. There is also a tenderness of finding birds and being curious.
I could not guess what the author was going for but what I found was a sudden escalation in the magnitude of the book that had nothing to do with the political environment. And that made the book tough to digest - circumstances thrust upon by an all powerful author. The other characters be it the fathers on either side of the political climate, uncle Elvin, the mothers who are opposites play very subdued role.
The sun-catcher let's it drop - your attention and a plot with so much potential.
November 19, 2019
What happens when the young have to cope with the weight of the adult world around them: a world that is additionally being fractured by the push and pull of a political change that shows authoritarian control? This is the essence of this coming of age story set in Ceylon in 1964,narrated by Kairo whose life cannot be counted as anything remarkable till he meets an on the edge Jay who is his complete opposite in terms of temperament and family background.
Jay is flamboyance personified with the advantage of a few years over Kairo and he personifies a near about adult to Kairo even though the later senses the fault lines and near cracks in his idol friend. Jay serves as Kairo’s guide into the chaos of an adult world that is fraught given the political situation in Sri Lanka.
The backdrop of Sri Lanka in 1964 is not so much for the historical perspective for the author does mention that he has taken a few liberties with the chronology of certain events but it tells enough to the readers,specifically when it comes to the identity politics that will rear up later between the Sinhalese and the Tamil population and the seeds of polarization in the way political systems and institutions set about playing divisive politics.
The adult and pre adult world are juxtaposed through the two sets of parents and Jay and Kairo in a way that is part inevitably world weary and filled with a tinge of anguish over the loss of innocence. Pick this book if you love coming of age novels.
Jay is flamboyance personified with the advantage of a few years over Kairo and he personifies a near about adult to Kairo even though the later senses the fault lines and near cracks in his idol friend. Jay serves as Kairo’s guide into the chaos of an adult world that is fraught given the political situation in Sri Lanka.
The backdrop of Sri Lanka in 1964 is not so much for the historical perspective for the author does mention that he has taken a few liberties with the chronology of certain events but it tells enough to the readers,specifically when it comes to the identity politics that will rear up later between the Sinhalese and the Tamil population and the seeds of polarization in the way political systems and institutions set about playing divisive politics.
The adult and pre adult world are juxtaposed through the two sets of parents and Jay and Kairo in a way that is part inevitably world weary and filled with a tinge of anguish over the loss of innocence. Pick this book if you love coming of age novels.
June 10, 2020
Gunesekera’s evocative novel opens with the protagonist, Kairo, freewheeling on the dusty tarmac on a hot, sticky afternoon in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Kairo's life takes an unexpected turn, as soon as he meets Jay, an intrepid adventurer and budding naturalist, from a wealthy family. As Kairo gets to know Jay, he is drawn into the world of class, privilege, and eccentricities. A classic bildungsroman that explores the fragile social class boundaries in a multifaith postcolonial Sri Lanka.
Gunesekera's prose is exquisite. His visual descriptive skills bring to life the dazzling Sri Lankan wilderness; and his metaphoric language in particular is among the best I have ever read. Even literal language assumes a beauty through his craft: “I was convinced that we were more than what we seemed: that we were boys whose bodies were dross, whose bodies would one day be discarded”. Furthermore, beneath the ebbs of the sumptuous language, Romesh's prose echoes Arundhati Roy's nostalgic lament for lost innocence and Forster's social class fixation.
Achingly beautiful, with a sense of a lost world, Suncatcher is a poignant coming-of-age story that deftly captures the uncertainty of an adolescent life, an elegy to lost youth and dreams in a nation on the brink of change.
Gunesekera's prose is exquisite. His visual descriptive skills bring to life the dazzling Sri Lankan wilderness; and his metaphoric language in particular is among the best I have ever read. Even literal language assumes a beauty through his craft: “I was convinced that we were more than what we seemed: that we were boys whose bodies were dross, whose bodies would one day be discarded”. Furthermore, beneath the ebbs of the sumptuous language, Romesh's prose echoes Arundhati Roy's nostalgic lament for lost innocence and Forster's social class fixation.
Achingly beautiful, with a sense of a lost world, Suncatcher is a poignant coming-of-age story that deftly captures the uncertainty of an adolescent life, an elegy to lost youth and dreams in a nation on the brink of change.
March 6, 2020
One of the best books I read in the recent times, especially written by South Asian writers. The langue is rich and gripping. Romesh uses his usual dry humor throughout the book keep the heart of the story pumping. His ability in depicting the situations vividly allows the reader see every single event cinematic. I simply l0ved the book.
November 20, 2019
This was my first Gunesekera book and by god! Am I a fan now! Suncatcher was a beautiful and poignant coming-of-age novel or a bildungsroman, as we lit grads like to put it.
The story is set in the 1960s Ceylon, erstwhile Sri Lanka, and it is a time of great political change all around. The reverberations of these political happenings resonate throughout the book and control how the adults act or what they say. At the center, we have the protagonist Kairo, a pretty much normal guy whose life takes for an exciting turn when he meets the worldly and confident Jay.
For all his dreams and hopes, Jay reminded me of Fitzgerald’s famous character Jay Gatsby. Jay is a boy whose personality greatly mesmerizes and influences Kairo. Jay comes off as an idealistic visionary, a talented naturalist and a rebel. There are many layers to his personality however, as the story progresses, we learn more about him. However, as Jay seems to be oblivious to the unstable situation all around him, Kairo seems to be a more emphatic and emotionally intelligent boy who takes stock of the things going on around him, although at the time he may not understand their significance.
Jay and Kairo as a pair, seem to be a juxtaposition of two vastly different worlds. Kairo belongs to the bourgeoisie, whereas Jay can be said to belong to the ‘landed gentry’, for lack of a better term.
Another character who was very interesting was Uncle Elvin. If Jay reminds me of Jay Gatsby because of his visionary ways, Elvin seems to embody Rhett Butler in his manner of living. I do not know why but I somehow saw Clark Gable, more specifically his persona as Rhett Butler as Elvin. – which is full of fast cars, girls and his landed ways.
As for the writing, the language is descriptive and so wholesome! The author has been able to well portray the thinking of youngsters burgeoning on their pre-adult years – there is a sense of rivalry that seems to be present, the need to be the leader and to dominate, etc. The use of the native words adds a very original flavor to the book.
One of the important themes that I could figure was that of illusion. Be it the adults or Jay himself, everyone seems to be deliberately altering the way he or she perceives reality. Moreover, an entire section on the construction of the cage and the way how Jay perceives it towards the end is also reminiscent of the way the system has caged the people. Society, class, economic situation, language, etc are all dividing lines.
I absolutely loved this book and I hope I can pick up more from the author’s milieu. I rate it 5/5 stars.
The story is set in the 1960s Ceylon, erstwhile Sri Lanka, and it is a time of great political change all around. The reverberations of these political happenings resonate throughout the book and control how the adults act or what they say. At the center, we have the protagonist Kairo, a pretty much normal guy whose life takes for an exciting turn when he meets the worldly and confident Jay.
For all his dreams and hopes, Jay reminded me of Fitzgerald’s famous character Jay Gatsby. Jay is a boy whose personality greatly mesmerizes and influences Kairo. Jay comes off as an idealistic visionary, a talented naturalist and a rebel. There are many layers to his personality however, as the story progresses, we learn more about him. However, as Jay seems to be oblivious to the unstable situation all around him, Kairo seems to be a more emphatic and emotionally intelligent boy who takes stock of the things going on around him, although at the time he may not understand their significance.
Jay and Kairo as a pair, seem to be a juxtaposition of two vastly different worlds. Kairo belongs to the bourgeoisie, whereas Jay can be said to belong to the ‘landed gentry’, for lack of a better term.
Another character who was very interesting was Uncle Elvin. If Jay reminds me of Jay Gatsby because of his visionary ways, Elvin seems to embody Rhett Butler in his manner of living. I do not know why but I somehow saw Clark Gable, more specifically his persona as Rhett Butler as Elvin. – which is full of fast cars, girls and his landed ways.
As for the writing, the language is descriptive and so wholesome! The author has been able to well portray the thinking of youngsters burgeoning on their pre-adult years – there is a sense of rivalry that seems to be present, the need to be the leader and to dominate, etc. The use of the native words adds a very original flavor to the book.
One of the important themes that I could figure was that of illusion. Be it the adults or Jay himself, everyone seems to be deliberately altering the way he or she perceives reality. Moreover, an entire section on the construction of the cage and the way how Jay perceives it towards the end is also reminiscent of the way the system has caged the people. Society, class, economic situation, language, etc are all dividing lines.
I absolutely loved this book and I hope I can pick up more from the author’s milieu. I rate it 5/5 stars.
March 31, 2020
Suncatcher is a coming-of-age novel set in 1964 Ceylon (now Srilanka). It's about the friendship between Jay and Kairo at a time of political unrest which gave them both the perfect opportunity to explore the streets and their youth.
☀️
There were both pros and cons to the book. Firstly, the writing was so beautiful and vivid that it made me feel like I was there with the characters travelling through the picturesque and charming city.
Secondly, the author also wrote well fleshed out characters; although we don't discover all the aspects of who they are, it feels like you're connected to them because of all the other details which made the ending to me more impactful.
It was so descriptive that the book played out like a movie behind my eyes the whole time.
☀️
The cons were that since the book was set in a time before I was born, I didn't exactly know what the characters were talking about in some parts; political history plays an important part in the book and it felt like there were a lot of terms that I had to go google while I was reading. I wish there was an appendix at the end that I could refer to or more of a background was given.
Also, I was unsure as to where the book was heading the whole time. I could explain what was happening as I was reading it but was unsure as to what end.
☀️
For me, 60% of the appeal of the book was the writing. Nonetheless, it was definitely an experience reading it & it's also the first book I've read by a Srilankan author.
One of the author's books has also been shortlisted for the Booker prize in the past and this book has only proven to me that he writes very eloquently so I'll definitely be picking up his other books at some point.
☀️
I also watched an interview of his that made me realize that this book relies a lot on time and memory. In the book, he has reminisced on his experience as a child in the country and relied on it. Going to reiterate here that I'm incredibly impressed with his writing. Just fantastic, almost poetic.
☀️
There were both pros and cons to the book. Firstly, the writing was so beautiful and vivid that it made me feel like I was there with the characters travelling through the picturesque and charming city.
Secondly, the author also wrote well fleshed out characters; although we don't discover all the aspects of who they are, it feels like you're connected to them because of all the other details which made the ending to me more impactful.
It was so descriptive that the book played out like a movie behind my eyes the whole time.
☀️
The cons were that since the book was set in a time before I was born, I didn't exactly know what the characters were talking about in some parts; political history plays an important part in the book and it felt like there were a lot of terms that I had to go google while I was reading. I wish there was an appendix at the end that I could refer to or more of a background was given.
Also, I was unsure as to where the book was heading the whole time. I could explain what was happening as I was reading it but was unsure as to what end.
☀️
For me, 60% of the appeal of the book was the writing. Nonetheless, it was definitely an experience reading it & it's also the first book I've read by a Srilankan author.
One of the author's books has also been shortlisted for the Booker prize in the past and this book has only proven to me that he writes very eloquently so I'll definitely be picking up his other books at some point.
☀️
I also watched an interview of his that made me realize that this book relies a lot on time and memory. In the book, he has reminisced on his experience as a child in the country and relied on it. Going to reiterate here that I'm incredibly impressed with his writing. Just fantastic, almost poetic.
November 28, 2019
There are books that stay with you even after years of reading it. And for me, "Suncatcher by Romesh Gunesekera" is going to be on that list. While I was reading this book, I was constantly thinking about The Kite Runner because of the warmth it had and a whole range of emotions throughout the book.
The book is based in Ceylan, Srilanka which is on the brink of change. It's a coming of age story, narrated by Kairo who is more like an observer of the lives of people around him. The day he met Jay, his life took a turn and started to revolve around Jay. He would follow him around, would do what he does, he would become possessive and feel insecure about Jay. He just wasn't ready to share him with anyone.
I felt connected to Kairo and his emotions, his struggles were relatable and I was engrossed in the story with only his point of view. Though, I would have loved to read Jay's narrative because his end of the story is completely different. He has matured before his age, he is unique in his own way, he's a rebel and a visionary. It's so fascinating to see a young boy who on the one hand has lost all hope and on the other hand, he won't give up.
Talking of characters, my favorites were Niromi and Kairo's mom. Both of them had small parts but they ended up leaving an impact on me. Gerry was another character in the book on whom I wasn't primarily invested on but thank you to Fathima for giving me a whole new perspective on this.
Romesh's writing is extraordinary and alluring which leaves an impact with every page that you turn and you would be engrossed in every character and their story. At the point of political change, he has shown POV's of two sets of parents and how they deal with it and how it eventually affects their kids knowingly or unknowingly. I would definitely recommend this book and if you are a The Kite Runner fan, you'll love it. I have become a fan of his work and will definitely be going to read more of his books.
The book is based in Ceylan, Srilanka which is on the brink of change. It's a coming of age story, narrated by Kairo who is more like an observer of the lives of people around him. The day he met Jay, his life took a turn and started to revolve around Jay. He would follow him around, would do what he does, he would become possessive and feel insecure about Jay. He just wasn't ready to share him with anyone.
I felt connected to Kairo and his emotions, his struggles were relatable and I was engrossed in the story with only his point of view. Though, I would have loved to read Jay's narrative because his end of the story is completely different. He has matured before his age, he is unique in his own way, he's a rebel and a visionary. It's so fascinating to see a young boy who on the one hand has lost all hope and on the other hand, he won't give up.
Talking of characters, my favorites were Niromi and Kairo's mom. Both of them had small parts but they ended up leaving an impact on me. Gerry was another character in the book on whom I wasn't primarily invested on but thank you to Fathima for giving me a whole new perspective on this.
Romesh's writing is extraordinary and alluring which leaves an impact with every page that you turn and you would be engrossed in every character and their story. At the point of political change, he has shown POV's of two sets of parents and how they deal with it and how it eventually affects their kids knowingly or unknowingly. I would definitely recommend this book and if you are a The Kite Runner fan, you'll love it. I have become a fan of his work and will definitely be going to read more of his books.
April 12, 2020
This is a beautifully written novel about Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka) in the 1960's at a time of political unrest. There are school closures and constant uncertainty around the government, which all hit close to home and made the reading experience that much more palpable. We follow Kairo, who comes from a working class family, and his new friend Jay who comes from a very privileged upbringing. This story is about complex relationships, friendship and class dynamics which was all done very well by the author. If you're looking for a touch of historical fiction plus a coming of age story this is for you. I am intrigued to read more by this Man Booker prize shortlisted author.
Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy!
Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy!
November 19, 2021
I thought this short novel was among the most boring I’ve read. It just never moved forward and the metaphors were too heavy handed. The dialogue was clunky and unnatural. It worked that as a child, the protagonist overheard but little understood the adult conversation about politics. It was pre-civil war Ceylon and understanding the sociopolitical factors that interested me but it was too cumbersome and never quite got there.
July 16, 2022
I happened to read this book just as the current crisis in Sri Lanka moved towards the pinnacle of political turmoil. It surely added an extra shade to the story of Jay and Kairo. Political decisions of mid-sixties colouring the history of the island state all the way through the atrocities of the war to a tourist paradise and an economic collapse today. It gave me a new perspective on the history and development of Sri Lanka as an independent state.
As a bird lover I would have given this one 5 stars, but one character in the book came way too short for me - Niromi. I would have liked to know more about her and the circumstances she lived in.
As a bird lover I would have given this one 5 stars, but one character in the book came way too short for me - Niromi. I would have liked to know more about her and the circumstances she lived in.
August 5, 2021
DNF, @ 108 pages.
I kept trying but I guess it's just not for me.
I did like the author's writing style but I couldn't connect to the characters. I didn't understand Kairo's motivations and I felt that the cultural representations were superficial.
I kept trying but I guess it's just not for me.
I did like the author's writing style but I couldn't connect to the characters. I didn't understand Kairo's motivations and I felt that the cultural representations were superficial.
May 26, 2023
Very average. Narrated through the mind of a child, Gunesekera conveyed a child’s CV ongg F union - by confusing the reader. The attempt to portray political turmoil through a child just made a whole world seem dull, and the ‘tragic’ events just weren’t. V disappointing.
November 13, 2025
Kids, nature, politics and vibes I enjoyed it a lot!
April 7, 2020
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Romesh Gunesekera, and The New Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this work of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of Suncatcher: A Novel. It is a visit to another world very well pictured, and a book you cannot put down.
Suncatcher is a coming of ago tale covering a generation of youngsters caught in the political mess that was 1964 in the land that would become Sri Lanka. Jay is the teenaged son and nephew of British plantation owner brothers and oldest of our youthful trio, an instinctive naturalist, blossoming rebel, and bird lover. The teller of our tale is Kairo, 9 or 10 years old. Kairo loves his bike and his comic books, and his best friend is the owner of the used book store in town. Both of his parents work, his father with the Labour Department and his independent mother with Radio Ceylon. With no school that autumn, and his parents always at work, Kairo is in need of distraction which Jay is more than ready to furnish. And we also feel the growing pains of Channah and Gerry and lovely Niromi.
Formerly a British crown colony, Ceylon gained its independence in 1950, becoming a member of the Colombo Plan. There were several battles for Ceylon control over the 1950s and it was, in the summer of 1964, a world on the cusp of even more change. A power play by Bandaranaike succeeded formed a coalition Trotskyist government with the LSSP. Land and companies were seized by the government 'Normal', life was not. In 1964 there was essentially no police or political entities, schools did not start that fall, there was no common language. Things would remain in flux until the early 1970s when Ceylon became a Republic within the Commonwealth of Nations and assumed the name, Sri Lanka.
Publish 03.17.2020
Reviewed on March 22, 2020, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, and Barnes&Noble. Not available for review on BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
Suncatcher is a coming of ago tale covering a generation of youngsters caught in the political mess that was 1964 in the land that would become Sri Lanka. Jay is the teenaged son and nephew of British plantation owner brothers and oldest of our youthful trio, an instinctive naturalist, blossoming rebel, and bird lover. The teller of our tale is Kairo, 9 or 10 years old. Kairo loves his bike and his comic books, and his best friend is the owner of the used book store in town. Both of his parents work, his father with the Labour Department and his independent mother with Radio Ceylon. With no school that autumn, and his parents always at work, Kairo is in need of distraction which Jay is more than ready to furnish. And we also feel the growing pains of Channah and Gerry and lovely Niromi.
Formerly a British crown colony, Ceylon gained its independence in 1950, becoming a member of the Colombo Plan. There were several battles for Ceylon control over the 1950s and it was, in the summer of 1964, a world on the cusp of even more change. A power play by Bandaranaike succeeded formed a coalition Trotskyist government with the LSSP. Land and companies were seized by the government 'Normal', life was not. In 1964 there was essentially no police or political entities, schools did not start that fall, there was no common language. Things would remain in flux until the early 1970s when Ceylon became a Republic within the Commonwealth of Nations and assumed the name, Sri Lanka.
Publish 03.17.2020
Reviewed on March 22, 2020, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, and Barnes&Noble. Not available for review on BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
May 19, 2020
NO SPOILERS
This is the first book written by Romesh Gunesekera which I have read and I am pretty certain I will be reading more, if not all.
I enjoy books set in a different culture from my own so the blurb for this appealed to me, although coming of age novels are usually “not my thing”…but this book is very much my thing.
“One day you’re just playing in the sand, and then suddenly everything looks so different”
In 1964 Ceylon, a time of great change for the country and its people, Kairo meets Jay, an older boy who he sees a worldly, bold, all he hopes to become. He sees a way of living very different from his own, some aspects of which he is in awe, some which he finds disturbing.
Written in the first person from Kairo’s perspective, it is not full of tedious teenage angst and bewilderment but without sentimentality, Gunesekera gently and relentlessly tells the story (and what a wonderful story teller he is!) of Kairo’s transformation over six months from boy to young man; his near infatuation with Jay, the small jealousies, perceived betrayals, excitements, growing awareness all develop through utterly believable events.
The characters are very clear, very individual and while Gunesekera describes them a little, their actions and words, they way they are treated by others, tell us all and more we need to know about them. The author’s/Kairo’s style is easy to read but not simple; there is beautiful prose in places and quick fire dialogue in others. There is not one superfluous word, and every word is precisely the right word. Can you tell I rather like this chap? If literary contemporary fiction, intelligent yet relaxed writing is what you seek, then seek no further.
A recurring observation is how the past reaches far into the future. “The future feeds on the past”…something perhaps we all should bear in mind.
This is the first book written by Romesh Gunesekera which I have read and I am pretty certain I will be reading more, if not all.
I enjoy books set in a different culture from my own so the blurb for this appealed to me, although coming of age novels are usually “not my thing”…but this book is very much my thing.
“One day you’re just playing in the sand, and then suddenly everything looks so different”
In 1964 Ceylon, a time of great change for the country and its people, Kairo meets Jay, an older boy who he sees a worldly, bold, all he hopes to become. He sees a way of living very different from his own, some aspects of which he is in awe, some which he finds disturbing.
Written in the first person from Kairo’s perspective, it is not full of tedious teenage angst and bewilderment but without sentimentality, Gunesekera gently and relentlessly tells the story (and what a wonderful story teller he is!) of Kairo’s transformation over six months from boy to young man; his near infatuation with Jay, the small jealousies, perceived betrayals, excitements, growing awareness all develop through utterly believable events.
The characters are very clear, very individual and while Gunesekera describes them a little, their actions and words, they way they are treated by others, tell us all and more we need to know about them. The author’s/Kairo’s style is easy to read but not simple; there is beautiful prose in places and quick fire dialogue in others. There is not one superfluous word, and every word is precisely the right word. Can you tell I rather like this chap? If literary contemporary fiction, intelligent yet relaxed writing is what you seek, then seek no further.
A recurring observation is how the past reaches far into the future. “The future feeds on the past”…something perhaps we all should bear in mind.
December 6, 2019
Title - Suncatcher
Author - Romesh Gunesekara
Genre - Coming of Age Historical Fiction
So this is my first venture with a book based in Sri Lanka and I must say this was pretty impressive. Most of the coming of age books that I have come across these days had been revolving around fantasy but hardly I have come across books that even revolves around the political turmoil in the country and Suncatcher is one of them.
'Suncatcher' by Romesh Gunesekara is a story of bonding and friendship between two young boys Jay and Kairo during the year 1964 when Sri Lanka was under troubled times. The two of them are as different from one another as Chalk and Cheese and yet are bonded with each other as glue and paper. Jay, a born naturalist loves birds and fishes and dreams of a natural home for the birds across the country. Kairo, an introvert kid, has his life changed and his thoughts expanded when he meets Jay. This coming of age story talks about their evolving friendship and how their equation varies as the time goes by.
Talking about the book, this book is poignant and explores the human emotions in so many varieties. We see a range of characters from one being revolutionary to another being socialist to someone who is extrovert and the jealousy inducing hormones, we get to see it all. This book did start off giving me a Darius is not great vibe, but as we read further, we are pulled into the beautiful world by the author who had once been shortlisted for Man Booker Prize as well.
So, would I recommend this book? If you haven't realised it by now with the review, here is my answer in just three words. Go for it.
Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5 stars out of 5)
Book in Few Words - Thought Provoking and Brilliant
Author - Romesh Gunesekara
Genre - Coming of Age Historical Fiction
So this is my first venture with a book based in Sri Lanka and I must say this was pretty impressive. Most of the coming of age books that I have come across these days had been revolving around fantasy but hardly I have come across books that even revolves around the political turmoil in the country and Suncatcher is one of them.
'Suncatcher' by Romesh Gunesekara is a story of bonding and friendship between two young boys Jay and Kairo during the year 1964 when Sri Lanka was under troubled times. The two of them are as different from one another as Chalk and Cheese and yet are bonded with each other as glue and paper. Jay, a born naturalist loves birds and fishes and dreams of a natural home for the birds across the country. Kairo, an introvert kid, has his life changed and his thoughts expanded when he meets Jay. This coming of age story talks about their evolving friendship and how their equation varies as the time goes by.
Talking about the book, this book is poignant and explores the human emotions in so many varieties. We see a range of characters from one being revolutionary to another being socialist to someone who is extrovert and the jealousy inducing hormones, we get to see it all. This book did start off giving me a Darius is not great vibe, but as we read further, we are pulled into the beautiful world by the author who had once been shortlisted for Man Booker Prize as well.
So, would I recommend this book? If you haven't realised it by now with the review, here is my answer in just three words. Go for it.
Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5 stars out of 5)
Book in Few Words - Thought Provoking and Brilliant
January 26, 2020
I thank The New Press and NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
I've read three of this author's other books. And with this one, I'm feeling mixed. There's a certain sense of suffocation and/or intimacy (the latter feels like the helplessness of adolescence when all/much feels possible yet removed or delayed).
Two boys become friends during a time of turmoil in Sri Lanka. Both sets of parents have different political stances, reflecting the various fractions. And each parent in each family has differing or opposing philosophies from the spouse. The tensions within families add to the push and pull that Kairo, in particular feels as he navigates his friendship with Jay. Kairo longs for something...within himself, with others--it's unclear. Jay, in contrast, is lunging to and fro, propelling himself almost without thought or much of it.
That overall closed-in feeling adds to the context of tension. For instance, there are various scenes where minute actions almost burst with a particular charge but significantly constrained or constricted. They mirror the various birds and wild life that Jay maintains in his various homemade cages. During several scenes when the adults are talking about various political or social issues, I recalled "My Dinner with Andre" -- there's something deep, perhaps elusive and then perhaps fleeting.
As the story progresses, there is a sense of inevitability. And yet the conclusion feels incomplete. It lacks some type of resolution or even a kind of internal satisfaction. Instead, I'm left with a fatalist feeling that I moved only inches.
I've read three of this author's other books. And with this one, I'm feeling mixed. There's a certain sense of suffocation and/or intimacy (the latter feels like the helplessness of adolescence when all/much feels possible yet removed or delayed).
Two boys become friends during a time of turmoil in Sri Lanka. Both sets of parents have different political stances, reflecting the various fractions. And each parent in each family has differing or opposing philosophies from the spouse. The tensions within families add to the push and pull that Kairo, in particular feels as he navigates his friendship with Jay. Kairo longs for something...within himself, with others--it's unclear. Jay, in contrast, is lunging to and fro, propelling himself almost without thought or much of it.
That overall closed-in feeling adds to the context of tension. For instance, there are various scenes where minute actions almost burst with a particular charge but significantly constrained or constricted. They mirror the various birds and wild life that Jay maintains in his various homemade cages. During several scenes when the adults are talking about various political or social issues, I recalled "My Dinner with Andre" -- there's something deep, perhaps elusive and then perhaps fleeting.
As the story progresses, there is a sense of inevitability. And yet the conclusion feels incomplete. It lacks some type of resolution or even a kind of internal satisfaction. Instead, I'm left with a fatalist feeling that I moved only inches.
March 26, 2020
This book really impressed me. I went in having not heard of the author before, and therefore not having any concrete expectations, and I'm glad for that as it kept my mind open to the developments in the book. Suncatcher is the story of two young men growing up in Sri Lanka, told by the hindsight perspective of one of them during his adulthood. He references this fact often - what he wish he knew, or what he later recognizes now that he is retelling the events as they occured. The book often makes the use of multiple languages without translating the words, but they are so thoughtfully wrapped in the broader folds of the story that rather than distract, they add to the flavor of the writing. The book starts off slow and winding, and in the beginning it was hard for me to tell where the book's plot was going. The language is so beautiful and engrossing, though, that it hooked me and kept me going. I love how real this story is, portraying the thoughts and mistakes of development and society through the lens of a young man. I'm so glad I stuck with the book and would recommend it to anyone looking to expand their horizons and read about a different world from their own. The book truly feels like an experience, a journey. I'll be reading this author again.
May 18, 2020
Suncatcher is a beautifully written story about a friendship that develops in Ceylon during an uncertain and changing political climate. Kairo meets a boy called Jay and they become fast friends. Kairo is absolutely enamored by Jay and his world revolves around him. Gunesekera did a great job of portraying class differences and political prejudices through the eyes of a young narrator through observations while mixing in the opinions of the boys’ parents. Enjoyable read, I just couldn’t get the parallels from the Great Gatsby out of my head while reading.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2020
Colombo, Ceylon (as it was then called) in 1964. The narrative and structure are comfortingly straightforward. So are the echoes of Gatsby and Brideshead. None of that diminishes the extent to which I fell into this story of adolescence and the way that the world has of crashing in. And why is it that boys who love nature nonetheless have a need to trap it and put it into cages or tanks? Several details caught my eye: the protagonist's father, a Trotskyist and a civil servant, who also likes a bet on English horse-racing, and gives his class-analysis of current events at the breakfast table, seeing no contradiction in the fact that his first language is the colonial one, and he's unwilling to learn Sinhalese. The protagonist's mother, rising through the ranks of broadcast presenters, speaking also in English to countless thousands across SE Asia. And the colonial names for the roads, still there today. Not to mention the cars... Maybe it isn't all as straightforward as it first appeared.
January 30, 2020
Author Romesh Guneshekera has beautifully crafted a book that explores the wildness of young boys. The concept of hero-worship is delectably shown through Kairo, who is ready to follow Jay wherever he can. Even Kairo and Jay's personalities contradict each other so much. I loved reading the tidbits of their characteristics. While Jay is a fearless young boy ready to explore the world even if it risks his life and others', Kairo is the eager follower of Jay, ready to learn new things just to impress his older friend, but one with a clear conscience and empathy.
There are some books which are beautiful yet does make you feel about it. Suncatcher is one such book for me. Even though it managed to tug at my heart, it failed to enrapture me. I felt the book was a bit too stretched. I had been waiting for some crucial development from the very beginning, but even after 300 pages or the book didn't show anything interesting. In this part I was a bit disappointed with the book.
Read more at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
There are some books which are beautiful yet does make you feel about it. Suncatcher is one such book for me. Even though it managed to tug at my heart, it failed to enrapture me. I felt the book was a bit too stretched. I had been waiting for some crucial development from the very beginning, but even after 300 pages or the book didn't show anything interesting. In this part I was a bit disappointed with the book.
Read more at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
February 13, 2021
A light bildungsroman set in Sri Lanka, Romesh Gunesekera tells a story of a young boy growing up in Colombo in 1964. The narration is beautifully rendered by the author - though I am not sure if Sri Lankan teenagers at the time would've communicated in highfalutin English vocabularies among themselves. A similar issue of children having an over mature voice also held me back a bit when I was reading the excellently written Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli. Contrariwise, Deepa Anappara, who also happens to be the reviewer of this book for nytimes, was able to tackle the same hurdle sublimely in her book Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line.
December 17, 2019
I received this as an E-ARC via Netgalley. A big thank you to them, and to the publishers, The New Press. All opinions are my own
I found myself being very confused when reading this story as I couldn't put my finger on what the story itself was about. Not sure if this is a case of the translation of Gunesekera's book or that the story itself just didn't fit with me and what I expected from the description, which was describing a coming-of-age story. I couldn't really concentrate on the story itself because of my initial confusion on WHAT the story wanted to tell me.
I really wanted to like the novel - it did sound like it would be right up my alley with the coming-of-age, finding oneself sort of plot - but like stated, it was rather confusing instead.
I found myself being very confused when reading this story as I couldn't put my finger on what the story itself was about. Not sure if this is a case of the translation of Gunesekera's book or that the story itself just didn't fit with me and what I expected from the description, which was describing a coming-of-age story. I couldn't really concentrate on the story itself because of my initial confusion on WHAT the story wanted to tell me.
I really wanted to like the novel - it did sound like it would be right up my alley with the coming-of-age, finding oneself sort of plot - but like stated, it was rather confusing instead.
January 5, 2020
This tale of friendship and coming-of-age is set in Ceylon in 1964 just before the looming political upheaval which will change the country for ever. Signs of the coming disruption are everywhere, but young Kairo is more concerned with his burgeoning friendship with the slightly older and more privileged Jay, a relationship which will change his own life for ever just as profoundly as the political situation. It’s a tender and insightful tale, which captures the fragility of the boys’ relationship, although I sometimes found their exploits – racing cars, building aviaries - didn’t really engage me. I was more interested in the political aspects of the novel but these are not really the focus but simply the background. I enjoyed the book but didn’t find it particularly compelling.
April 27, 2020
There's something Tim-Winton-esque about this novel. It has the same Winton issue with ending too- but when it gets going its astonishing. Detailed review to follow.
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