|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Review : No escape by Thamali Jayasinghe A former student of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, Thamali Jayasinghe, the young authoress of 'No Escape' was an exceptional student with a talent for the arts. The winner of essay competitions at both regional and international levels, 'No Escape', her maiden effort at a novel was written after her London Ordinary Level Examinations and published in January 2005 on her 18th birthday. Spanning over a hundred pages, 'No Escape' is a short, yet gripping novel based upon a real life story. It is the story of Dinushi Peris whom we encounter as a pre-adolescent only to leave her as a grown young woman of 31 years, scarred by a life of immense hardship that the fate bestowed upon her. Dinushi, is a typical teenage girl coming from an average Sinhalese family, a strict father, a subservient mother and four siblings who live in a little village. Running through the paddy fields with her best friend Ruwani, discussing hair styles and giggling about 'boys', they go through the usual phases of a teenage girl. From finding out about puberty only after attaining it, to not understanding the changes taking place in their supple young bodies, they face life with knowledge garnered from snatches of conversation overheard and whispered behind closed doors. As Dinushi falls in love, for the first time, with the lower caste Sudath, she begins a relationship with him unknown to her parents, despite being assured of her parents' disapproval. When he cheats on her, she realises the extent of his lies, his devious ways and his misuse of her; instead of moving on she angers him by playing around with her best friend's love who likes her, only to end up with Sudath again and fall back into her old ways. As a result she not only loses her best friend but also herself. As she refuses to go to school at her lover's insistence and is sent away to a far away aunt. But she manages to escape and live together with him, an unacceptable prospect even in the big city. Having brought shame on her family members, the unwilling parents have no choice but to yield to their marriage. It is only after the wonderful first throes of marriage are over, that she sees the real face of Sudath with his drug abuse and dangerously violent outbursts at her over-imaginary escapades with other men. After many failed attempts, she manages to swallow her pride and successfully escape to her parents, only to come back to him again and get caught in the old cycle of abuse. When she finally cleans up her act and leaves him for good, she leaves the country in an attempt to rebuild her life from scratch. Moving on from Sri Lanka to the Middle East and to finally England, she manages to find a semblance of peace at her new home. Though never truly free from her nightmares and imaginary fears, she however never gives up on love entirely, continuing to hope that someday she will find the right man and perhaps start a family of her own. An inspiring story of puppy love gone wrong, it is written in very simple English and can be understood by even those with only a basic grasp of the language. The novel showcases the true nature of love and yet inspires us not to give up on it even if it causes us great pain. It shows us that we are responsible for our decisions and will have to face the consequences, whether good or bad. As she so aptly puts it, 'Love is a powerful emotion; But yet we are to blame, If love has ever tricked us To do things that bring us shame.' Written as a village girl's narrative, the story however is not without a few incongruities. The expressions used by the characters such as American slang terms, while maybe common place among the cosmopolitan teenagers, has no place in the vocabulary of teens living in a hamlet and who cannot speak English. Dinushi's infatuation with make-up and her expertise in its application is totally out of character with the unsophisticated girl that she is supposed to be. Also some of the events and places described, the characters' interaction with each other and the amenities available to them do not belong in the village described. Thamali Jayasinghe has to develop her writing and research skills more if she is to become an accomplished novelist. She certainly keeps the reader rivetted and turning the pages until the end by the power of her story. A young Catherine Cookson in the making, not because of her style of writing, jargon or mannerisms but in knowing how to spin a good yarn. Rikaza Hassan |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
