Serendipity from a different world

By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

Ashok Ferrey's maiden novel `Serendipity' is written in a bizarre narrative style which the author describes as a non-linear narrative. The plot lased with satire shifts from London to Sri Lanka touching on the lives of Sri Lankan diaspora, at times ridiculing the system of International Schools in Colombo. Amidst parties, chaotic relationship between Piyumi and Marek, election campaign commences. The story principally meanders through upper middle class circles and social life. However, the novel is without mistakes in grammar but blemished syntax. The author has apparently not paid any attention to literary theory or portraying characters. One of the chief weaknesses of `Serendipity' is that lack of description and over reliance on dialogues.

Author Ashok Ferrey

It seems that the novel is a kind of an unfathomable riddle for readers. In terms of literary theory and depiction of characters, the book scrawls and stands nowhere. For instance, the language is not impressive and the author has not been able to come out of his rather monotonous style of writing.

However, it is an important book in terms of studying the standards of Sri Lankan writings in English. The author's purpose of writing the book is unclear since none of the characters has been evolved to a logical conclusion and the story leads to nowhere. However, the book is a story from a different world. Though the book is readable, the author has failed to maintain the contextual clarity.

One of the significant aspects of Ashok Ferrey's writing is that he has an innate ability to create humour out of commonplace situations. This is amply present in the book. For instance, the entire issue of dividing the Serendipity, ancestral home of Piyumi has been turned into a series of humorous incidents. The motive behind Marek's voluntary painting of the walls of the Serendipity is turned out to be only to have sex with Piyumi.

In this genre, Ashok Ferrey is, perhaps, the best Sri Lankan writer in English. His ability to create humorous situations is peerless. He is also the pioneer in this tradition in contemporary Sri Lankan fiction in English.

Ashok Ferrey, the author of two Gratiaen shortlisted books, `Colpetty People' and `The Good Little Ceylonese Girl', has just released this long-awaited debut novel called `Serendipity'. Here are excerpts of an interview with the author:

Q: Your new book came out on December 5. It went into a second print before Christmas. Is this a record by Sri Lankan standards particularly for English fiction by Sri Lankan authors in English?

A: It's been three years since I last brought out a book. As a writer, you're always nervous when you put out something new. People's expectations are that much higher. Will it be good? Will it be rubbish? Will people use it to wrap up the dog meat? I hope at least they have the decency to read it before it gets to the dog.

Q: Do you consider this book a radical departure from your previous ones?

A: Yes and no. I don't think a writer is able to change his style that much even if he wants to. In my case, the so-called wit is the heavy cross I've always had to bear. People naturally think that if you're humorous you must be an idiot. I'm dealing with a much more serious theme here . . . at one time I even considered writing under a different name" keeping one step ahead of the reading public! But you know, this is Sri Lanka, they would have found me out - you don't fool people that easily. This book is a departure in that I'm dealing with a problem for which there are no clear-cut answers. Many people think they have the answers. I'm sad to say I'm not one of them.

Q: Are you really dealing with it serious issues in the novel? You seem like a dog sniffing a bone, circling round it, never actually biting it!

A: Oh, there's that dog again! I guess this is my way of dealing with it. We in Sri Lanka are such a disparate (and desperate) bunch of people" so many different races, religions, classes, all packed tightly together, all living in and out of each others' pockets.

There's no way we would all have the same opinion on any issue, let alone big, serious issues. People talk of Europe or America being full of different nationalities and opinions, but actually, European or American views are very much more homogeneous than ours here. It's a huge weakness in this society here" it's what makes us such an ungovernable, quarrelsome lot! In the book I express many different points of view and leave you to make your choice. It's a sort of mirror. You will see in it what you want to.

Q: I would say that one of the weaknesses of this book is that none of your characters is very likeable. You can't really empathize with any of them. There's no clear protagonist, no hero!

A: If your best friend commits murder you will naturally think he's been framed. If your worst enemy builds a cancer hospital you will naturally think he's doing it for personal gain and glory.

In other words, your individual assumptions about other people are only a reflection of your particular take on life. How accurate is this? It seems to me we spend our lives desperately seeking heroes. We find them in politicians. We find them in golfers called Tiger Woods. Then we're crushed to discover they're not the paragons we thought they were. In my book there are no heroes. The characters all have fatal flaws. Sadly, that makes them very un-loveable.

Q: Is this your particular take on life?

A: Yes. Probably go to prove what a miserable old cuss I am underneath all this supposed wit and humour! One day I've promised myself I'll write a book where the goodies are all noble and poor but thoroughly good and the baddies all rich and privileged but thoroughly bad. Then it won't be an Ashok Ferrey book, will it?

Q: In spite of it all, Serendipity is an incredibly funny book!

A: I'm afraid the novel is set deep in Ashok Ferrey territory. Full of wonderful weirdos. But you know what? We all know people who have these characteristics "the madness is very real, we all have to live through it here in Sri Lanka. In fact we're so used to it, we don't remark on it any more. I challenge anyone to tell me their life is more `normal' than this, that the events in the book are unrealistic.

Q: Your novel is broken up into many little different bits. It's very frenzied, there's too much going on. Is there a reason for this?

A: I suppose I could easily have written a linear novel, events going from A to B, moving inexorably towards an inevitable conclusion. What you have instead is a mosaic of shimmering glittery bits, which may not mean much when you're up close reading the book, but will hopefully mean something when you put it down and step back.

Don't forget the title, serendipity. The events in the book have certain randomness to them. For me life has always had this zigzag, haphazard quality. Somewhere in the book I've called it "the fish in the tsunami, floating free, skimming waves, flying from crest to crest in a streak of diagonal silver."

Q: You also have bombs, elections, even an election candidate called Fonseca. Is this premeditated?

A: Ha! The book was written well over a year ago. In Sri Lanka when you write you always have a problem with names, the moment you choose a name everyone naturally thinks you are writing about them.

I searched high and low for names that were neutral enough, ones that had no associations with anyone known. I chose the innocuous, then unknown, name of Fonseca. Boy oh boy!

Q: You're known for reading dramatized humorous passages from your books. Will you be doing the same this time?

A: I love reading out loud. It seems to me the entire character of the words, their precise shapes and meanings change subtly depending on how you read them.

Almost the whole of this book was written as a performance piece! I'll be reading from it for the first time at the Hi book club on Wednesday, January 20, and then at the GLF on Friday, January 29 at Closenberg Hotel.

Q: Finally, how has the book been received?

A: You'll have to go to the kennels to find out. So far all I've heard is woof!