I'm reading a Sinhalese book in almost about 10 years, this is such a shame for me because I used to read them quite a bit as a kid. This book basically I couldn't stop reading, may be its because I'm living in Tokyo now or I am able to draw parallels with authors life circumstances ( 30's, single, unsure about the future). Its almost 80 years since this was written and things that he talks about haven't changed one bit. The experiences that he describes as a foreigner which he felt in Tokyo echo's to this day! The love story is apt for the 60s, how the author struggles between his insecurities and his affection is poetic. Come to think of it the Sinhalese man hasn't changed a bit in 80 years either because I aligned with those insecurities. The story didn't have a ending which is marveled over by many literature critics seemed but for me it felt odd like the author suddenly didn't want to write anymore as in it was too painful. Talking about things that have changed is the outlook toward Sri Lankans in Japan. The author describes almost as he was treated as a American while my experience is quite different on that matter. all in all great book and going to start on the part two as soon as possible.
As I pondered over this book , my first thought was in midst of its beautifully woven words , along it's lines , writer attempts to show the reader of "what could have been" rather than a "happily ever after" or a "tragedy" as most love stories tends to conclude. Instead we are left with a question mark , where writer questions himself if he should come into terms with his reality instead of living in a fantasy world.
From the first page to last page, I admired and was impressed by the flow with which the author එදිරිවීර සරච්චන්ද්ර wrote this amazing piece of work. Sometimes I could not help but wonder, if it was based on author's own personal memoir, of one beautiful time of his life, in a county where Sakura flowers bloomed, brimming with nighttime festivities , folklore Japanese dramas , coffee shops filling your ears with songs and a city that never sleeps. Not to forget electric trains and Trams.
Tokyo and Kyoto are the two cities, we travel along with the author , as he narrates, his love story that unravels, as you reach 1/3 of the book. Devondara san and Noriko san are the two main characters, and readers are taken through the journey of how their simple attraction towards each other matures into a relationship with many complexities and uncertainty.
I rather enjoyed the first part of their relationship, from the first time they attended a kabuki to how they haunted every known shushi place ,restaurants around Tokyo and strolling through its neon lit streets, Noriko, helps Devondara to blend into the Japanese culture, guiding him , keeping him company in his house where he lives alone. Both of them were holding on to their present moment and enjoying each others company, unfortunately as story unfolds ,it doesn't get any easier for them. We see that Devondara wants to move into another city, at the helm of their relationship, when it has grown more romantic and intimate, and both of them are torn apart by their feelings for each other, which they both keep to themselves, fighting a silent battle in their minds. This shows us how complex and uncertain our human minds are, when we are faced with deepest emotions.
Later , we see that , to the end of its page, both of them are simply trying to hold onto fleeting moments of happiness and their past good times.
In spite of how I would I have loved this book to turn out, I wholeheartedly believe this is great piece of literature, which explores the Japanese culture, while two minds in love tries to untangle their feelings and refuse to face a future that answers all their questions.
The time I read this for the first time was utterly wrong. I was a child and was not capable of getting anything out of it. Maybe that's why I couldn't recall this book much. I remember liking it for the different culture but as an adult, I saw a different picture.
I'm not sure why is this such a popular book, I'm not saying it's bad but I'm trying to figure out why is this one of the biggest romances around. I do like the laid back and suppressed romance, I don't know whether I can call it romance, I think I'd like to call it uncertainty. This whole book gave me the vibes of Vegetarian and Norwegian Woods. That deep rooted vagueness, the sense of bleakness and the floating abyss is all over this book. Both of them reminded me of children reaching out to fire but pulls out without the lick.
The book focuses on how humans tend to analyze and predict probabilities in life, and the complications attached to it. The book ending is a limbo which makes the story looks incomplete, but it is also a reminder on how humans would like to see an ending leading to a ‘certainty’. But since the book is not offering any certainty or closure at its ending, I re-read the first paragraph of the book which helped me to connect the ending to its beginning.
After reading this book I wondered if I should think deeply about this and write a review or forget that it was just a love story that happened in Japan. The author also does not directly say whether this is a real event or not. So if this is a true story, writing my review on this is an injustice to Prof. Sarachchandra. What I really liked was his description of Japan. Even after a devastating World War, Tokyo remains a beautiful city. But the author also does not forget to mention the bitter memories of the war. As early as the 1940s, Japan had electric trains and lovely cafes where a couple could enjoy coffee and music. I even question whether we as readers should justify Noriko or Devendro. I can imagine the disabled war veteran singing with an accordion in the temple. "If the Day of the Dead comes back soon - I can come back with the dead .. .. " Did the author call this book මලගිය ඇත්තෝ (or the Dead Ones), because they did not get the love and life they hoped for, and they live like dead people?
A story of uncertainty, regrets, nostalgia and cultural bonds rather than the underlying romance; a tale that flows effortlessly and woven together beautifully nonetheless. The story, characterization and social commentary are products of their time that show their age some sixty years later, but the struggle the protagonist goes through and his tale of woe is a timeless take on love that is classically bittersweet. The author is a masterful painter with words, and his descriptions of 1950s Japan as well as each and every character are able to build a word that feels lived-in, that makes the reader immediately invested-in as well.
This is a story about two lovers. Very heart touching story. This was written in boy's POV. If you read this you must read "Malawunge Aurudu da". It was written in girl's POV. This is a tragedy.