Serendib (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "I didn't invite him..." (more)
Key Phrases: saffron dot, stamp man, Sri Lanka, Peace Corps, Father Nimal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Peace Corps volunteer Jim Toner relates the story of his 74-year-old Irish-Catholic father's unexpected visit to Sri Lanka in Serendib. Conservative, retired judge John Toner had never been outside America; his experiences during his month on the beautiful but impoverished, civil war-torn island are wryly observed through his son's eyes as the older man gradually learns to adapt to alien surroundings and customs while forming a bond with a son he never really knew. This book is effective not only as a touching memoir but as an illumination of a complex and fascinating culture.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Serendib is winning and moving. More than the epic paternal story, Jim Toner's book becomes a cross-cultural tale in which a son comes to understand his own heritage against the backdrop of a strange land. It vividly portrays the mythic journey we all must take and the cultural journey we all should take—a very fine book."--Steven Harvey, author of Bound for Shady Grove

"Serendib is a compelling and urgent memoir. The writing is stunning, the characters fascinating and memorable, the locale of war-torn Sri Lanka, exotic. This is a story full of love, innocence, and spirituality. Very little contemporary literature possesses such sweet power."--Sue William Silverman, author of Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You

"Serendib is filled with scenes that both lay bare and redefine the relationship between father and son. . . . Because of this, and because of Toner's insightful prose, Serendib is an impressive first book."--Fourth Genre

"Peace Corps volunteer Jim Toner relates the story of his 74-year-old Irish-Catholic father's unexpected visit to Sri Lanka in Serendib. Conservative, retired judge John Toner had never been outside America; his experiences during his month on the beautiful but impoverished, civil war-torn island are wryly observed through his son's eyes. . . . This book is effective not only as a touching memoir but as an illumination of a complex and fascinating culture."--Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press; First Printing, First Edition edition (March 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820322695
• ISBN-13: 978-0820322698
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #529,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful read, April 24, 2001

By A Customer

I picked up "Serendib" thinking it looked interesting, and couldn't put it down. A powerful story of father/son relationships, this book made me laugh, and broght me to tears. I'll buy a copy for all my brothers, and then buy some more for friends. It's a must-read for any sibling from a large family who wants to know how to navigate the crowded road of parent and child relationships. Not to mention a fabulous peek into life in Sri Lanka.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An uplifting read!, March 28, 2001

By	"[e-mail]" (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This simple little book contains such power within! It deals with the journey of learning to love our parents, and the courage that it takes to process our relationships with our parents. Mr. Toner accepted the gift of a visit from his father to Sri Lanka as an opportunity, and in doing so Toner inspires the reader to examine the conflicts in one's own life as gifts. Through the shared adventures and lessons Toner learns to appreciate things about his father--especially the unknown talents and strengths and views--and in doing so Toner finds the healing power of love. The writing will warm you!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars moved, August 22, 2001

By A Customer

A writer I once knew told me about the importance of honesty in one's writing. Here in this book there is a beautiful and simple honesty which allows us to enter into the skin of the author and to see through his eyes. After reading it, I feel that I've been to Sri Lanka and gotton to know the author intimately. A beautiful, giving spirit shines through so that it is easier to return to an American world and bring a little bit of Sri Lanka and a little of Jim Toner back to it.