Life Unmuted

  It seems my mind won’t stop echoing the books I’ve read. Hence, I thought of unmuting the ripples of thought that originated after reading the shortest Sinhala novel I’ve come across— May Mara Prasangaya by Mahinda Prasad Masimbula.  The story is narrated in the first person point of view, and I later learned that it was based on true events that the author experienced in the late '90s in Demodara. What touched me most was the writer’s ability to  convert regular daily incidents, which would have been mundane in one's mind, into stunning, remarkable moments that left a lasting impact on the reader.  He achieves this through the character Saminda Athulasiri, who has a unique perspective on life. Through Saminda’s eyes, the author breathes life into inanimate objects and connects the reader with the beauty of the world. As the author mentions at the end of the book, his worldview and use of language were profoundly shaped by the brief time he spent with Saminda. Sam...

I just finished reading the famous book Iti Pahan by the well-renowned Sri Lankan author Ms. Sumitra Rahubadda. The book was first published in 1994, and to sum up its popularity, the book has not only been reprinted seven more times since, but it was also adapted into a teledrama in the late '90s. I read the book after getting a recommendation from one of my friends in 2024, which is evidence of the undying popularity of Iti Pahan even after 30 years. However, my attempt is not to review or criticize this famous book, but to evaluate the main character according to my perception. Without a doubt, the author has managed to shaken me with this character. "Desi Susan Rathuwithana," or "Some," is presented as an honest character who always speaks her mind, but beyond that it is hard to find redeeming qualities in her.  After reading the book, Some left me conflicted, and I found myself questioning what I was meant to feel about her. Was she meant to be a character ...