The background to this book is a sad and little known historical event of Jews interned on Mauritius in 1940, including a group of 299 Czechs refused permission to enter Palestine.The story is about two young boys, Raj, the last surviving son of an abusive sugar plantation worker then working at the internment camp and David one of the detainees. It is the story of a friendship which transcends differences in religion, culture and language and harsh circumstances. The book opens with an elderly Raj visiting David's grave, so we know that David died aged ten in 1945 and that Raj survived. The rest of the story is told as Raj remembers it: his brothers' deaths, the family's move from the sugar plantation to the camp, his meeting with David in December 1944 and the events of the following months.I enjoyed the writing style, the descriptions of Mauritius and the slow pace, and thought Raj's voice, both as a child and as an elderly man remembering, felt realistic. I enjoyed reading it. The story is a little weak and predictable, so I gave it four stars, not five, but it is a sad and charming little story. This debut novel from Nathacha Appanah is beyond unbelievable! Her prose is exquisite and I consider myself so blessed to have discovered this novel. The story of the Jews during WWII, arriving in Mauritius after having been turned away from Palestine (due to not having the necessary documents) was a history lesson for me. What turns a history lesson into an unforgettable tale, is the way the story is told by the little Mauritian boy, Raj who has your heart in tatters throughout! I will never understand how writers can write such words on a piece of paper that can have us readers writhing and grimacing and wanting to reach out and help. In a film it is visual but when a writer can do that with mere words, that's a God given talent and one that should be treasured by us all! Do yourselves a favour and enrich your reading experience with this novel!
Do You like book Le Dernier Frère (2008)?
This little novel packs quite a punch exploring the topic of what it means to be a brother
—Sam
Quiet and lyrical. Beautifully written and terribly sad.
—Megan
