Cinnamon Gardens by Shyam Selvadurai
Set among the upper classes in the gracious, repressive world of 1920s Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Cinnamon Gardens tells the brilliantly intertwined stories of two extraordinary characters. Annalukshmi is a strong-willed young woman whose family is intent upon arranging a proper marriage for her, forcing her to question whether the independence she craves will doom her to a life without love and companionship. Her uncle Balendran, respectably married, struggles to suppress his secret desire for men. The sudden arrival of a former lover, however, threatens to destroy his carefully constructed world. Both Annalukshmi and Balendran must determine if it is possible to pursue personal happiness without compromising the happiness of others. And both must draw on hidden reserves to resist the pressures of society and, even more crushing, the expectations they have placed on themselves. This masterfully plotted novel takes us beneath the polished veneer of fragrant gardens and manners to reveal a world of splintered families, forbidden emotions, and lives destroyed by prejudice. With its sensuous atmosphere, richly drawn characters, and astonishing ability to conjure time and place, Cinnamon Gardens is a riveting novel that speaks of the issues readers grapple with today, while evoking the great historical works of fiction they love. Selvadurai's critically acclaimed first novel, Funny Boy, was hailed as first rate fiction from a brilliant writer whose next book cannot arrive here quickly enough (Kirkus Reviews). Now, Cinnamon Gardens--an unforgettable tale of history, family, love, and destiny--confirms Selvadurai's promise as one of the most distinctive and talented novelists from a new generation.
Selvadurai, Shyam: - Shyam Selvadurai was born in 1965 in Sri Lanka. Funny Boy, his first novel, was published in 1994. It won the prestigious Lambda Literary Award and was named a Notable Book by the American Library Association. Cinnamon Gardens, his second novel, was published in 1998 and was shortlisted for the Trillium Award. Shyam is the editor of an anthology, Story-Wallah: A Celebration of South Asian Fiction, and the author of a novel for young adults, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, which was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award and is the winner of the Lambda Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award and Silver Winner in the Young Adult Category of ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times and Time Magazine. His novel, The Hungry Ghosts, was shortlisted for Canada's prestigious Governor General's Award for Fiction and longlisted for the DSC South Asia Literature Prize. He is working on a comprehensive anthology of Sri Lankan literature.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780786864737 |
| ISBN 10 | 0786864737 |
| Title | Cinnamon Gardens |
| Author | Shyam Selvadurai |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Publisher | Hyperion Books |
| Year published | 1999-07-14 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |