The Splintered Face: Tsunami Poems [Hardcover]

Indran Amirthanayagam (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1931236836 | ISBN-13: 978-1931236836 | Publication Date: December 24, 2007

Compelling poems by a Sri Lankan writer, author of ELEPHANTS OF RECKONING. It chronicles the plight of tsunami survivors in Amirthanayagam's homeland.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"These poems both about those who died in, and those who survived, the tsunami of 2004 memorialize with anger and beauty one of the most devastating tragedies of our time." --Jaime Manrique

About the Author

Amirthanayagam's first book, THE ELEPHANTS OF RECKONING, won the 1994 Paterson Prize for Poetry. He was born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), currently lives in Vancouver, Canada, and is a member of the United States Foreign Service. Besides his three other books, he has published essays in THE NEW YORK TIMES, EL NORTE, REFORMA, and the DAILY NEWS of Sri Lanka. His poems have been published in such prestigious magazines as GRAND STREET, THE KENYON REVIEW, THE MASSACHUSETTS REVIEW, BOMB, THE LITERARY REVIEW, NIGHT, HANGING LOOSE, and others.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 103 pages
• Publisher: Hanging Loose Press (December 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931236836
• ISBN-13: 978-1931236836
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,576,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healing From Destruction, January 12, 2008

By 

Eva Day (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Splintered Face: Tsunami Poems (Hardcover)

Indran Amirthanayagam grew up with poetry. The son of a Sri Lankan diplomat, he begins his book with a poem his father wrote, a poem that touches on the dichotomy in nature: of beauty and harshness. Though much of the world watched the aftermath of the tsunami in horror from their televisions, Amirthanayagam felt his own personal tragedy in hearing the stories of destruction in his birthplace. The sorrow that was left in the wake of this 2004 event shattered countries, communities, families, individuals. In this book of poetry, Amirthanayagam presents not only those voices, but his own resonant voice, in an effort to heal from this tragedy. He is meticulous in word choice and line breaks. The images he uses are lyrical, concise. Even if you have never been to Sri Lanka, you are transported to an island that leaves you hungry for more. To know this culture that sits down by the waterside to eat "mangoes and pittu, a spicy /poll sambol." The final poem, "Coming Together," unites his readers in the global goal of healing. Though the tsunami has long left the headlines, there is a continued need for support and rebuilding. Amirthanayagam generously promises to donate a portion of proceeds to tsunami relief. If you purchase one book of poetry this year, let it be The Splintered Face.