{"id":1659,"date":"2023-09-17T13:47:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T02:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/?page_id=1659"},"modified":"2026-01-05T17:52:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T07:52:55","slug":"recommended-books-and-published-reviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/?page_id=1659","title":{"rendered":"Recommended Books and Published Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Chai Wallah<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0by <a class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tim-van-Es\/e\/B0F1KPW49S\/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1\">Tim van Es <\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">review<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2869\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-192x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-192x300.jpeg 192w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-654x1024.jpeg 654w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-96x150.jpeg 96w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-768x1202.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-981x1536.jpeg 981w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-300x470.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295-850x1330.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3295.jpeg 1035w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A moving and absorbing story that follows four credible and engaging characters from different backgrounds and walks of life, each motivated by an aim that seems out of reach. The Chaiwallah connects them in a mysterious and positive way. The reader is with them through their struggles, disappointments, moments of anticipation and optimism. Each character faces almost insurmountable challenges. The\u00a0 Chaiwallah encourages even the worst of them to find their true calling and turn their lives around. Mumbai is vividly depicted and so evocative that, having spent time there, I felt as if I was back there among the characters who I came to know intimately. The author skilfully brings this narrative to life and draws the reader in to every scene. A thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable read.<\/p>\n<p>published on Amazon and Goodreads<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\"><br \/>\nIn <em><strong>The Shadow of Legends<\/strong><\/em> by <strong>Sujata Sankranti<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2762\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3196-196x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3196-196x300.jpeg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3196-98x150.jpeg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3196-300x460.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3196.jpeg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2770\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-196x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-196x300.jpeg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-669x1024.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-98x150.jpeg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-768x1176.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-1003x1536.jpeg 1003w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-300x459.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105-850x1301.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_3105.jpeg 1043w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rupa Publications India<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.in\/Shadow-Legends-Sujata-Sankranti\/dp\/812911822X\">Kindle Amazon India<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Shadow-Legends-Sujata-Sankranti-ebook\/dp\/B015A9TLJG\">Kindle Amazon Australia\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"leftCol\">\n<div id=\"desktop-below-image-block\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"desktop-below-image-block\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"desktop-below-image-block\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"desktop-below-image-block\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"9dng5r-b0n1ms-coz45r-rmtid\" data-cel-widget=\"desktop-below-image-block\">\n<div class=\"a-section a-spacing-small sample-buttons-container-reflowable\">\n<div id=\"litbDesktop\" class=\"sample-button celwidget\" data-csa-c-id=\"ccvu1o-o1vg2g-gxx85x-qm58e4\" data-cel-widget=\"litbDesktop\">\n<div id=\"litbDesktop_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"litbDesktop\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"litbDesktop\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"litbDesktop_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"5yp3gx-6zitf2-567btq-i7rezx\" data-cel-widget=\"litbDesktop_feature_div\">\n<div id=\"ebooksReadSample\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small\"><span id=\"ebooksReadSampleButton\" class=\"a-button a-button-span12 a-button-base litb-on-click\"><span class=\"a-button-inner\"><button id=\"ebooksReadSampleButton-announce\" class=\"a-button-text a-text-center\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"read-sample-button-text\">Read sample<\/span><\/button><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"followTheAuthor_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"followTheAuthor\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"followTheAuthor\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"followTheAuthor_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"zcilm5-udnm4-h5mvpd-n1937c\" data-cel-widget=\"followTheAuthor_feature_div\">\n<div class=\"celwidget c-f\" data-csa-op-log-render=\"\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"DsUnknown\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"DsUnknown-3\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-painter=\"follow-the-author-card-cards\" data-csa-c-id=\"tmfmf7-m227x-1srxja-9cykr9\" data-cel-widget=\"follow-the-author-card_DetailPage_2\">\n<div id=\"CardInstanceg06VO73lZGqoXQYmx4fi7g\" data-card-metrics-id=\"follow-the-author-card_DetailPage_2\" data-acp-tracking=\"{}\" data-mix-claimed=\"true\">\n<div class=\"a-row a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-medium\">\n<div class=\"a-column a-span4 _follow-the-author-card_style_authorNameColumn__1YFry\"><a class=\"a-size-base a-link-normal a-text-normal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Sujata-Sankranti\/e\/B001ICMI4K\/ref=aufs_dp_fta_an_dsk\"><span class=\"a-truncate\" data-a-word-break=\"normal\" data-a-max-rows=\"2\" data-a-overflow-marker=\"&amp;hellip;\" data-a-recalculate=\"false\" data-a-updated=\"true\"><span class=\"a-truncate-full a-offscreen\">Sujata Sankranti<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-column a-span5 followButtonColumn a-span-last\" data-authorasin=\"B001ICMI4K\" data-reftag=\"aufs_dp_fta_dsk\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"centerCol\" class=\"centerColumn \">\n<div id=\"centerAttributesColumns\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"centerAttributesColumns\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"centerAttributesColumns\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"centerAttributesColumns\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"6asc8p-pxh4td-wqgsf7-u9ewiw\" data-cel-widget=\"centerAttributesColumns\">\n<div id=\"centerAttributesLeftColumn\">\n<div id=\"reviewFeatureGroup\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"reviewFeatureGroup\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"reviewFeatureGroup\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"reviewFeatureGroup\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"rid86u-gb7an9-6uak6j-lg79ue\" data-cel-widget=\"reviewFeatureGroup\">\n<table class=\"a-normal a-spacing-mini\" style=\"width: 31.272154%; height: 24px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td class=\"a-span4\" style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<div id=\"averageCustomerReviews\" data-asin=\"B015A9TLJG\" data-ref=\"dpx_acr_pop_\"><span class=\"a-declarative\" data-action=\"acrStarsLink-click-metrics\" data-acrstarslink-click-metrics=\"{}\"><span id=\"acrPopover\" class=\"reviewCountTextLinkedHistogram noUnderline\" title=\"5.0 out of 5 stars\"><a class=\"a-popover-trigger a-declarative mvt-cm-cr-review-stars-mini-popover\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"a-size-small a-color-base\" aria-hidden=\"true\">5.0 <\/span><i class=\"a-icon a-icon-star-mini a-star-mini-5 mvt-cm-cr-review-stars-mini\"><span class=\"a-icon-alt\">5.0 out of 5 stars<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/span><span id=\"acrCustomerReviewText\" class=\"a-size-small\" aria-label=\"3 reviews\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bookDescription_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"bookDescription\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"bookDescription\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"bookDescription_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"nfm8s6-az2tjs-vgj83m-pw0gnj\" data-cel-widget=\"bookDescription_feature_div\">\n<div class=\"a-expander-collapsed-height a-row a-expander-container a-spacing-base a-expander-partial-collapse-container\" data-a-expander-name=\"book_description_expander\" data-a-expander-collapsed-height=\"280\">\n<div class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content\" data-expanded=\"false\"><em><strong>In the Shadow of Legends<\/strong><\/em> is the disquieting saga of a family, in particular, the women, sucked into the vortex of ruthless ideological warfare spanning two nations, India and the erstwhile Soviet union. This is a fiction novel. The novel bears witness to a blazing history from Tipu Sultan&#8217;s violent region, through the dreadful Conscience League-ridden years, to the romantic pre-Perestroika Soviet experience.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Kattuvalli, a sleepy, peace loving small town, nestled in coastal Kerala wakes up to a gruesome murder in which all the male members of the Shastri clan have been axed to death in a mindless terrorist attack. In the Shadow of Legends is the disquieting saga of a family, in particular, the women, sucked into the vortex of a ruthless ideological warfare spanning two nations, India and the erstwhile Soviet Union. Through Swati, the novel bears witness to a blazing history from Tipu Sultan&#8217;s violent reign, through the dreadful Conscience League ridden years, to the traumatic pre Perestroika Soviet experience. Scarred by the brutal family legacy, Swati flees to Russia, to Misha, the breakaway son of Russian intellectuals. The narrative follows the shy flowering of love between them under repressive circumstances, wrought by the secret machinations of an indifferent and devouring system. Notwithstanding the chastening fractious burden of history and politics, ultimately, Swati&#8217;s story is a story of survival, the courageous tale of the spirit that refuses to buckle under the weight of the tidal wave of conflicting ideologies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>In the Shadow of Legends<\/strong> <\/em>by <strong>Sujata Sankranti Review 5 Stars<\/strong><br \/>\nThrough skilfully created characters, this absorbing novel artfully explores existential ideas and questions about individual versus communal aspirations, the existence of an afterlife, living in harmony, acceptance, the impact of politics, love and loss, and family dynamics. Against a background spanning two nations, in which history and the past underpin the present, the characters must make peace and embrace the future. Though at times they struggle, the strong characters are capable of surviving while carrying the weight of the brutal actions of their forbears as they forge ahead with courage of mind and spirit to a future of hope. I was swept away by this engrossing saga by a formidable yet empathetic author.<br \/>\nDr Sharon Rundle.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sujata Sankranti<\/strong> was born in Mavelikkara, a small town, located in the scenic Alappuzha District in India s southern state, Kerala. Hailing from a family of writers, scholars and artists, she was exposed to the richness of a cultural heritage that was an integral constituent of her formative years. After graduating from the University of Delhi, she joined the department of English in Sri Venkateswara College. She was the all round winner of the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the year, 1998. Sankranti has published a volume of short stories entitled The Warp and the Weft and other Stories that includes the prize-winning story.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Aversion<\/em> by<\/span><\/strong><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0Dr Devika Brendon<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">book review in <strong><em>Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/em> (UK) May-June 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2380\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1507-186x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1507-186x300.jpeg 186w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1507-93x150.jpeg 93w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1507-300x485.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_1507.jpeg 543w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-2382\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2522-232x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2522-232x300.jpeg 232w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2522-116x150.jpeg 116w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2522-300x388.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2522.jpeg 742w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #931ab8;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a style=\"color: #931ab8;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Elephants With Headlights<\/em><\/a> by Bem Le Hunte<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1811\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-101x150.jpg 101w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-768x1140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-1035x1536.jpg 1035w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-1379x2048.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-300x445.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4-850x1262.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp4.jpg 1471w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1810\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-101x150.jpg 101w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-768x1139.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-1035x1536.jpg 1035w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-1380x2048.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-300x445.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3-850x1261.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp3.jpg 1472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #931ab8;\"><a style=\"color: #931ab8;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/bem-le-hunte-discusses-spiritual-realism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Interview with Bem Le Hunte in Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #931ab8;\"><strong>Bem Le Hunte discusses Spiritual Realism<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1808\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-694x1024.jpg 694w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-102x150.jpg 102w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-768x1133.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-1041x1536.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-1388x2048.jpg 1388w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-300x443.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1-850x1254.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp1.jpg 1471w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1809\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-663x1024.jpg 663w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-97x150.jpg 97w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-768x1187.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-994x1536.jpg 994w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-1325x2048.jpg 1325w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-300x464.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2-850x1314.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Confluence-Feb2024Bemp2.jpg 1413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>Chai Time in Cinnamon Gardens<\/em> and <em>Song of the Sun God<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong>by Shankari Chandra<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin Award for Literature (Australia)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1660 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-670x1024.jpg 670w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-768x1175.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-300x459.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml-850x1300.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Chai-sml.jpg 903w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1665 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Sun-God-copy-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Sun-God-copy-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Sun-God-copy-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Sun-God-copy-300x459.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Front-Cover-Sun-God-copy.jpg 418w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Feb-March-2024-issue.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and <em>Song of the Sun God\u2013 In Conversation with Shakari Chandra<\/em> in <em>Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><em>Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens<\/em> &#8211; Book Review in Confluence South Asia Perspectives<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Daisy and Woolf<\/em> by Michelle Cahill<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1661 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daisy-and-Woolf-MC-Cover-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daisy-and-Woolf-MC-Cover-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daisy-and-Woolf-MC-Cover-97x150.jpg 97w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daisy-and-Woolf-MC-Cover-300x464.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daisy-and-Woolf-MC-Cover.jpg 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>Michelle Cahill<\/strong>\u2019s book <strong><em>Daisy and Woolf<\/em><\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">d<\/span><\/span>raws readers into a fascinating aspect of Virginia Woolf\u2019s work. The premise is brilliant, the execution remarkable and aspects of the characters in <strong><em>Mrs Dalloway<\/em><\/strong> are explored in a unique and innovative way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">After re-reading <em>Mrs Dalloway<\/em>, which I hadn\u2019t read for a few years and loved as much as ever, I began reading <em>Daisy and Woolf.<\/em> Cahill\u2019s layered and captivating post-modern novel is gripping from the first paragraph. Cahill\u2019s writing has a pleasing rhythm, the narrative sweeps up the reader and transports them to other times and places, such as England, India, and Europe in the 1920s, and a long tragic voyage between Calcutta and London. Letters play an important part in the narrative. Cahill\u2019s novel opens with the narrator Mina receiving a letter from her recently deceased mother. The relationship between Daisy Simmons and Peter Walsh is revealed through their personal correspondence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The structure of intertwined narratives reveals the stories of two Anglo-Indian women \u2013 Mina is an author who is travelling while researching and writing a post-colonial novel to satisfy her curiosity about Woolf\u2019s minor character Daisy Simmons, who is described by Woolf as \u201cdark and charming\u201d and in Mina\u2019s opinion \u201ccuts a lonely figure in the novel\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The character of Peter Walsh in <em>Mrs Dalloway<\/em> has always seemed faintly repulsive to me, though I am fascinated by him and his strange ways. He is an intriguing character and his unusual and scandalous relationship with the elusive Daisy Simmons adds to his quirkiness. We know from Woolf\u2019s novel that Daisy has left her husband and son in India to meet Peter in England and seek a divorce in order to be with him. We soon realise Peter is still infatuated and obsessed by Clarissa Dalloway who once rejected his proposal of marriage. His idea of marriage to Daisy seems idealised, based on his imagination rather than reality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">In the contemporary strand of Cahill\u2019s narrative author Mina, who is grieving her mother\u2019s death, is the mother of a teenaged son. She thinks deeply about her family, her research, of the despair she feels as she tries to capture elusive and reluctant characters. This literary device allows a glimpse into the mind of Mina as she researches the characters of Woolf\u2019s novel while writing her own narrative. The reader is privy to the author Mina\u2019s inner thoughts through stream of consciousness, a style for which Woolf is famous. As Mina\u2019s ideas percolate, the character of Daisy Simmons emerges and becomes much more substantial. Her life, her struggles, her opinions, her feelings and her fondest hopes and dreams are now the focus of Mina\u2019s narrative. We see how these elements are transformed by tragedy, reality, and that singular English obsession with a brutally delineating class system \u2013 who belongs and who doesn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Cahill\u2019s novel works on several levels. The contemporary voice of Mina and the letters written by Woolf\u2019s character Daisy draw readers into disparate and diverse narratives about relationships that may or may not exist in the interstices of time and space. Daisy\u2019s perspective of Peter Walsh gives an alternative portrayal from that of Clarissa. He behaves differently in Daisy\u2019s company, seeming less agitated. In a letter to Daisy, Peter writes that he has: \u201cNo reason to hide among the vegetables, like a rough, bronze statue in the moonlight. No need to feel clenched to break down and weep. No ridiculous scenes, no melodramas! The tears we shed after parting in Calcutta were tears of joy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">In addition to a great read, this is a rigorously researched literary work, enhanced by Cahill\u2019s intuitive development of the characters and the depth of her knowledge and understanding of Woolf\u2019s writing. Cahill\u2019s re-imagining of Daisy Simmons reveals an underlying racism in Woolf\u2019s novel. She brings into focus how this racism made women of colour invisible and insignificant, their needs sublimated to serve the British ruling class. \u201cIn Virginia Woolf\u2019s London Clarissa\u2019s Englishness dominates, and others like Daisy Simmons are marked, a shadow devoured in the Imperial closet\u201d From a barely delineated character, a fantasy in the mind of Peter Walsh\u2019s memories of his time in India, Daisy emerges in Cahill\u2019s novel as a substantial complex character with desires, aims and emotions every bit as strong as those of English women.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">I don\u2019t want to give away any spoilers, I will simply say that in the end Daisy\u2019s situation is inevitable despite the reader wishing her a more favourable outcome as Cahill\u2019s novel concludes. Daisy is a woman of her time, class, and position. Nonetheless in her own way, Daisy has made peace with herself. With limited choices, she has chosen to be her own mistress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">It is not necessary to read Woolf\u2019s novel to enjoy <em>Daisy and Woolf<\/em> though those who have may view Woolf\u2019s work in another light. I am full of admiration for Cahill\u2019s novel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Michelle Cahill is an Australian novelist and poet of Indian heritage who lives in Sydney.\u00a0\u00a0Her debut collection of stories,\u00a0<em>Letter to Pessoa<\/em>\u00a0(Giramondo) was awarded the NSW Premier&#8217;s Literary Award for New Writing. She has been awarded grants from the Australia Council, the Copyright Agency Limited, her prizes include\u00a0the KWS Hilary Mantel International Short Story Prize, shortlisting in the\u00a0<em>ABR\u00a0<\/em>Elizabeth Jolley Prize and the ABR Peter Porter Poetry Prize.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><em>Daisy and Woolf<\/em> is published by Hachette Australia (2002) and Hachette UK. It is available at Hatchette Australia and UK, selected book shops and at Amazon Au and UK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Dr Sharon Rundle is a professional member of the Institute of Professional Editors, and Chair of the University of Technology Sydney Alumni Writers\u2019 Network. She has co-edited several anthologies of short fiction and edited books, literary magazines, and journals. Her stories, essays and articles have been published world-wide in books, anthologies, magazines, websites, and broadcast on radio. Sharon encourages international people-to-people literary links.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\">Review in\u00a0<a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Confluence February 2023 Issue \u2013 Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Feb-March-2024-issue.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>The Colony of Shadows<\/em> by Bikram Sharma<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1662 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312-667x1024.jpg 667w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312-300x460.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/9789393701312.jpg 762w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>The Colony of Shadows by Bikram Sharma<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">is a compelling read that takes us into other dimensions and spaces. The characters drew me into the story. The novel is well-paced, and the build-up of tension is palpable. I was hooked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">As a writer and editor, I&#8217;m full of admiration. The alternating voices of the characters allow for multiple viewpoints which broaden the narrative. The perspective and voice of Poppy a dog is a brilliant device. The passages from Poppy&#8217;s point of view put me in mind of Virginia Woolf&#8217;s &#8220;Flush&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Sharma\u2019s writing is rhythmic and flowing, so that the reader is carried along in its wake. I very much enjoyed the originality, the premise, the characters, and the way in which their lives intertwine and affect each other. Time and space are ephemeral, the concept of life, death, afterlife, and the arrow of time are questioned by the young Varun who, in his profound grief and confusion, is caught up in a malleable dynamical space where past and present collide. I am not giving away too much of the storyline here to avoid spoilers. As the narrative progresses, undercurrents, secrets, and ulterior motives are revealed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The paranormal passages in the Colony of Shadows are skilfully written so the reader can easily suspend disbelief and entertain the possibility of the nether region of the afterlife. I don&#8217;t know if this happens to other readers but in my imagination, I saw the present of the story in colour but the colony of shadows in monochrome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">A great read. Highly recommended\u00a0 Sharon Rundle\u00a0 20\/10\/2022\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">#TheColonyOfShadows<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Darkinjung lands, waters, and seas, on which I work and live, paying respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9; font-size: 12pt;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book Review in C<em>onfluence 20th Anniversary Special Issue<\/em> December 2022 \u2013 Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>Between Two Worlds<\/em> by Gwen Bitti<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1663 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BITTI-BetweenTwoWorlds-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BITTI-BetweenTwoWorlds-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BITTI-BetweenTwoWorlds-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BITTI-BetweenTwoWorlds-300x460.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BITTI-BetweenTwoWorlds.jpg 417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>G<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\">wen Bitti\u2019s memoir <em>Between Two Worlds\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>has a quest and a mystery at its core. It is a journey of self-discovery set in India and in Australia, which explores Anglo-Indian culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The narrative takes the reader between two worlds, into a troubled past and a mystery. Keen observations and conversations from the past impinge on and affect parallel stories in the author\u2019s present life. Born in Calcutta, India, with a caul enveloping her face, her arrival is disconcerting for the family and other people present. The caul becomes an important motif in this narrative, not only because it\u2019s a rare occurrence but also because it brings in metaphysical and preternatural aspects to the narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u00a0\u201cAs if in Catholic Communion, she [her mother] raised up the gold box that she held. \u2018Dr Nag lifted the membrane for me to see. It is inside this box and is the size of a lady&#8217;s handkerchief. With his chest puffed-up, he carefully placed the membrane on a nearby table, that was lined with a sterile cloth and identified it as a \u201cCaul\u201d and said that you were a special girl to be born with it \u2026 This child is going to be very lucky. She will never want, but life will not always be easy for her. She will have extrasensory ability to see beyond the ordinary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Readers are given an insight into what it means to have visions, premonitions, a sixth sense and second sight. The hierarchy, bureaucracy, and mysterious workings of India almost drive the author to distraction but her strong belief in India and her right to be recognised as Indian in the country of her birth keep her striving for this recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The reader is transported as the author arrives in Kolkata and travels through India. The author\u2019s deep insight and evocative authentic recreation of these scenes immerse the reader in the story as Bitti captures the essence of the paradox that is India. The benefits of yoga are explored, as it is unusual for Anglo-Indians but a boon for the author who is a regular practitioner and teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Gwen meets a friend Diana whom she stays with in Kolkata, and a past neighbour from her childhood, Melvyn. Melvyn has an excellent memory and helps Gwen revive scenes from the past, including a terrible memory of being trapped in a water tank.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Unexpectedly, scenes of violence, insurgency, fear, and secrecy emerge which are palpable and contrast vividly with the comfortable lifestyle, and the privilege and status of Bitti\u2019s family. These experiences continue to play on her mind and induce a fear of repercussions now that she is back in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u201cThe police car is parallel to the car that I am travelling in. A policeman motions to the driver to pull over. I pray to be invisible. The police car pulls in at the nearest curb and my driver pulls up behind it. The driver turns to me and says, \u2018Ma\u2019am.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">I startle and jump a little out of my seat. The blood in my head is pumping with the terror of being thrown into the back of a police car and taken to the authorities to be questioned about my father. I compose myself, \u2018Yes, Driver.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The author\u2019s quest for formal, official recognition of her status as a citizen of India sets off sensory triggers which bring up sharply focussed episodes from her past as she re-lives her experiences of her childhood there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Gwen Bitti has an engaging style with a distinct narrative voice and rhythm. The prose is accomplished and has great clarity. The storyline is exciting, unique, and revelatory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The striking book cover catches the eye and depicts the author\u2019s caul box, passports and photos against a vivid background.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">I strongly recommend this book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><strong>Gwen Bitti<\/strong>\u00a0 lives in Sydney, Australia. She was born in Kolkata, ( formerly Calcutta) India She has had short stories, haiku and tanka published. In 2020 her short story, New Life in Kolkata was selected for an online publication in Agathokakological Aussie Summer. She is a businesswoman, yoga teacher, meditation facilitator and former lecturer for the International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA). In 2010, together with three other people, Gwen contributed to building a three-storey yoga\/community centre in Rimbik, India, as a thank you gift to her birthland. She has served her local community since the early 80s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Published by Ginninderra Press, 2023.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">ISBN: 9781761095375<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Available on Amazon <span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Between-Two-Worlds-Gwen-Bitti-ebook\/dp\/B0C2S3B9MD\">https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Between-Two-Worlds-Gwen-Bitti-ebook\/dp\/B0C2S3B9MD<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">And Apple Books <a href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/au\/book\/between-two-worlds\/id6447923222\">https:\/\/books.apple.com\/au\/book\/between-two-worlds\/id6447923222<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><strong>Dr Sharon Rundle <\/strong>Institute of Professional Editors. Chair, University of Technology Sydney Alumni Writers\u2019 Network. Co-editor of several published anthologies of short fiction. Her stories, essays and articles appear in books, anthologies, journals, magazines, and have been broadcast on radio. She has taught at universities and presented conference papers in Australia, the UK and India. Sharon was a finalist in the Indian Business and Community Awards 2023. She encourages international people to people links while nurturing new writing<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\">.\u00a0\u00a0 <a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\">https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #811eba;\"><a style=\"color: #811eba;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book Review in<em> Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/em>, November-December, 2023<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #811eba;\"><a style=\"color: #811eba;\" href=\"https:\/\/constantreader.com.au\/p\/between-two-worlds-2613870?barcode=9781761095375\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constant Reader Review<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\">The Lyrebird&#8217;s Cry<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"> by Samantha Sirimanne Hyde<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1664 size-medium\" style=\"color: initial;\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2-850x606.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/The-Lyrebirds-Cry-Book-Cover2.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #8628c9;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><em>The Lyrebird\u2019s Cry<\/em> <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">begins with the protagonist Jagath\u2019s plight at front and centre. The argument at the beginning of the first chapter sets the tone and reveals his father\u2019s palpable rage that threatens Jagath\u2019s future. Jagath\u2019s loss of control of his life, and his feelings of helplessness in the face of his father\u2019s rigid determination are palpable. His mother loads him with guilt and a sense of ingratitude. Jagath is forced to meet his prospective wife Sepalika and her family before his arranged marriage. This throws Jagath\u2019s life into turmoil and Ryan his great love back in Australia feels rejected. Jagath has a great deal at stake. Will he take the \u2018easy\u2019 path of pretence and not \u2018rock the boat\u2019 \u2013 or will he be true to himself and others, notwithstanding the price he will have to pay? The plot is a page-turner and leads the reader into a narrative with many more problems and conflicts to come.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">As Jagath\u2019s life unravels, the reader is immersed in the scenes, with aromas, tastes, textures and sounds complementing the vivid visual descriptions. The descriptive passages are poetic. Sirimanne Hyde\u2019s skill at narrative withholding keeps the tension and suspense going. Jagath must face his demons, overcome obstacles, and challenge the status quo. In the process, he learns that his parents (and grandparents) have family secrets and the family name may not be as polished as they portray in public. Sepalika, too, has secret friendships and relationships. Her \u2018make-over\u2019 makes the reader realise that she is much more than the unhappy, uncooperative character that she appears in the beginning of the story. Ryan represents forbidden love, he provides a foil for Jagath, and he creates the desire for change. Additional characters are diverse and represent various attitudes, outlooks and perspectives. These contrasting views give depth to the narrative, as various aspects of human behaviour are revealed and discussed between them. Even Saeed appears like a parable to emphasise what is at risk and at stake for characters like Jagath who rely on visas and permanent residency to remain in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">Three core threads run through the narrative: Jagath\u2019s dilemma and finding a solution to the mistake he has made; Ryan and Jagath\u2019s star-crossed love; and the teachings of the Buddha.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">The teachings of the Buddha, and the meetings with a monk work extremely well. Through his Buddhist practice Jagath becomes stronger within himself, better able to face the world \u2013 and eventually to deal with it in a way that relieves everyone of their burdens \u2013 except, perhaps, his parents. Jagath realises the repercussions of his actions and through his spiritual, internal struggle reassesses his need to project an exterior image of coping and managing life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">\u201cOutside the wind had picked up creating rustling sounds through the surrounding eucalypts. Somewhere close-by, numerous birds tweeted. Jagath sensed that Yohan was staring at him but when he glanced across, his friend had his eyes firmly focussed on the ground in front of him. When the sermon concluded, the two men bowed down in reverence and took their leave. As Jagath got up from his seat, the monk smiled and encouraged him to consider visiting the monastery again to which Jagath nodded, replying that he would definitely try to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">These threads intertwine and the impact they have on each other clearly shows the causes and effects of events and interactions. Each thread leads towards a resolution or closure of some kind. The wisdom of the teachings of Buddha and the <em>Dhammapada<\/em> reverberates through the pages and resonates with readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">By the end of the story, there have been remarkable and significant changes for the characters. Not all is neatly resolved, particularly with his family in Sri Lanka (as with real life), but the story ends on a note of optimism. It feels right and will strike chords with many readers. One of the illusions of writing a work of fiction, is to make the reader think that this story may or may not have happened \u2013 but it could have! Sirimanne Hyde\u2019s novel carries that illusion beautifully.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Samantha Sirimanne Hyde was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and now lives in Sydney, Australia. She holds a M.A. in Creative Writing from Macquarie University, has co-authored a selection of poetry (<em>Paper Boats<\/em>) and published a collection of twenty short stories called\u00a0<em>The Villawood Express &amp; other stories.\u00a0<\/em>Her short fiction, free verse, haiku, tanka and other Japanese genre poetic forms have appeared in Australian and overseas publications.\u00a0<em>The Lyrebird\u2019s Cry\u00a0<\/em>is her debut novel.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\">ISBN: 9780645538601 Cover image: Kyle Neo Design\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Available from Amazon\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Lyrebirds-Cry-Samantha-Sirimanne-Hyde\/dp\/0645538604\">https:\/\/www.amazon.com.au\/Lyrebirds-Cry-Samantha-Sirimanne-Hyde\/dp\/0645538604<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Dr Sharon Rundle <\/strong>Institute of Professional Editors. Chair, University of Technology Sydney Alumni Writers\u2019 Network. Co-editor of several published anthologies of short fiction. Her stories, essays and articles appear in books, anthologies, journals, magazines, and have been broadcast on radio. She has taught at universities and presented conference papers in Australia, the UK and India. Sharon was a finalist in the Indian Business and Community Awards 2023. She encourages international people to people links while nurturing new writing.\u00a0\u00a0 <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\">https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book Review in <em>Confluence South Asian Perspectives,<\/em> November-December, 2023<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>One Bright Moon<\/em> by Andrew Kwong<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1669 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/x293-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/x293-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/x293-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/x293.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>CONFLUENCE 05\/01\/2020<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>MAY 2020 17<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>Book review<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong>ANDREW KWONG \u2018<em>ONE BRIGHT MOON<\/em>\u2019<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Reviewed by Sharon Rundle<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u201cOne Bright Moon\u201d is a first book by Australian author and General Medical Practitioner Dr Andrew Kwong, who narrates the story of his childhood in Shiqi, China, during the regime of Chairman Mao. The gruelling and often terrifying historical and personal events experienced by the author, his family and friends are told in vivid and illuminating detail through the voice of a child.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Kwong is an intelligent narrator who portrays his experiences in a way that results in a significant and compelling memoir. The narrative voice of the young Kwong guides the reader through the turbulent ideological changes taking place in communist China between 1950 and 1968. As he grows into a young man, his outlook continually injects optimism into the narrative.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The book is divided into four parts, a prologue and an epilogue. Occasionally events are reprised in a new way that directly shows their effect on the family. \u2018Sojourners\u2019 who left for the USA or Australia\u2014the New Golden Mountain\u2014in the years covered by the prologue\u2014are strongly encouraged to send vital foreign currency to families still in China who depend on it.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Kwong skilfully uses understatement in his memoir, the prose is never overwrought. Nonetheless, the full horror that he confronts is keenly apparent. Descriptions of the landscapes are evocative, poetic and the sense of place is strongest when it is imbued with humour and poignancy through the sensory and emotional perspective of the author.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u2018Within days, five families moved in, and our house became as busy as Come Happiness Road at lunch hour. We children were curious of the strangers in our once-peaceful home, and we didn\u2019t know what to do, so we stopped playing and quietly watched the chaos set in.\u2019<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Shocking scenes of the effect of famine, executions, detentions and denouncements are tempered by gentle scenes of a loving family struggling to survive. As former teachers and intellectuals, Kwong\u2019s parents are denounced as \u2018bad elements\u2019 and their possessions are confiscated. All they have to offer their children is their unconditional love, resilience and unfailing hope.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u2018But the hushed news that many people had starved to death was too hard for us children to comprehend. There were also stories of people eating the flesh of those who\u2019d died\u2014and, later, of abducted young children\u2026 Death was the man shot at Pig Head Hill, his body spurting blood in every direction, slumping, writhing and then not moving.\u2019<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Kwong\u2019s education was reduced to learning Communist Party propaganda and taking part in Party directed projects, such as \u2018smashing rocks and breaking bricks\u2019 collecting \u2018waste metal\u2019, and eradicating \u2018the sparrows, flies, mosquitoes and rats [which] were known as the Four Pests\u2019, as one of a \u2018sea of little soldiers in khaki ready to conquer the bad world\u2019. His success in later years is a tribute to his determination and dedication to furthering his studies.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Notwithstanding the oppressive authoritarian rules, the children found joy at every opportunity. The Dragon Boat races, which \u2018took us away momentarily, from the misery of the famine\u2019, for example, and flying fighting kites.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">\u2018The little children on the ground screamed, their faces upturned to keep their gaze on our warrior. I pulled and spun in hard at the same time, sending Red Star into a slicing dive, catching its pursuer at the jugular. Crisp and Clean. I felt it cut right through our helpless enemy\u2019s line. Ah-dong, Earring and Yui-Hoi were already off the wall, running after the drifting blue kite. A whole bunch of children followed behind them, screaming and screeching with great joy.\u2019<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The narrative moves back and forth in time as Kwong weaves in stories of his family, forefathers and ancestors that broaden out the narrative. For example, that of his father (Baba), who was sentenced to imprisonment in Heilonjiang.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">The final Part set in Australia shows how Kwong adapts to his adopted homeland and fulfils his long-held goal of studying medicine. Never one to rest on his laurels, Kwong accepts every challenge that confronts him. He doggedly pursues his aim of a medical degree, despite his yearning to see his family in Shiqi again and his concern for their welfare.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">These later chapters set in Australia are not as vividly portrayed as those set in China and Hong Kong, although there are certainly memorable moments. Nonetheless, \u201cOne Bright Moon\u201d is a gripping, true story of courage, persistence and eventually escape against incredible odds. Highly recommended.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; color: #8628c9;\">Publisher: HarperCollins Australia https:\/\/www.harpercollins.com.au\/9781460712399\/one-bright-moon\/<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Dr Sharon Rundle is an editor, reviewer and writer who co-edits anthologies. Her latest collection: \u201cGlass Walls: stories of tolerance and intolerance from the Indian subcontinent and Australia\u201d; (Orient BlackSwan, 2019). She is Editor for the Society of Women Writers NSW.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Review in May 2020 issue \u2013 <em>Confluence South Asian Perspectives<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><a style=\"color: #8628c9;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teaching.com.au\/product\/HAC8625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Teaching.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/confluence.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>My Van Gogh<\/em> by<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Chandani Lokug\u00e9<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1671 \" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-680x1024.jpg 680w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-768x1157.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-1019x1536.jpg 1019w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-1359x2048.jpg 1359w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-300x452.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-850x1281.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/MVG-Cover-image-scaled.jpg 1699w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/>\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1674 \" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-680x1024.jpg 680w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-768x1156.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-1020x1536.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-1361x2048.jpg 1361w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-300x452.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence-850x1279.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/My-Van-Gogh-Review-Confluence.jpg 1451w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>Bogans<\/em> by Channa Wickremesekera<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1670 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-671x1024.jpg 671w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-768x1171.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-1007x1536.jpg 1007w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-1343x2048.jpg 1343w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-300x458.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2-850x1296.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANSFrontcover2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/>\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1675 \" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-788x1024.jpg 788w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-115x150.jpg 115w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-768x998.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-1182x1536.jpg 1182w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-300x390.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence-850x1105.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BOGANS-Wickremesekera-Review-Confuence.jpg 1484w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #8628c9;\"><strong><em>Tracks<\/em> by Channa Wickremesekera<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1676 \" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-824x1024.jpg 824w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-121x150.jpg 121w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-768x954.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-1237x1536.jpg 1237w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-300x373.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC-850x1056.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Tracks-Review-Ceylon-Today-2022_04_30-03_08_49-UTC.jpg 1541w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><em>\u00a0Walls<\/em> <\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>by Channa Wickremesekera<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1677 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-249x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-849x1024.jpg 849w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-124x150.jpg 124w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-768x927.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-1273x1536.jpg 1273w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-300x362.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review-850x1026.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Walls-Wickremeseker-Review.jpg 1545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8628c9;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Saffron and Silk<\/em> by Ann Benjamin in<\/span> <em>Transnational Literature<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1679\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Cover-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Cover-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Cover-98x150.jpg 98w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Cover-300x459.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Cover.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px\" \/> \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1678\" src=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"275\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-673x1024.jpg 673w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-768x1168.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-1010x1536.jpg 1010w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-1347x2048.jpg 1347w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-300x456.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature-850x1293.jpg 850w, https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Saffron-and-Silk-Benjamin-review-Transnational-literature.jpg 1436w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Darkinjung lands, waters, and seas, on which I work and live, paying respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chai Wallah\u00a0by Tim van Es review A moving and absorbing story that follows four credible and engaging characters from different backgrounds and walks of life, each motivated by an aim that seems out of reach. The Chaiwallah connects them in a mysterious and positive way. The reader is with them through their struggles, disappointments,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1659","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1659"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2870,"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1659\/revisions\/2870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharonrundle.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}