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Samanth Subramanian

This Divided Island: Stories from the Sri Lankan War Hardcover

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Language:

English
Publisher

Penguin Books Limited
ISBN-10

0670086037
ISBN-13

978-0670086030
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Product details

Language: : English
ISBN-10 : 0670086037
ISBN-13 : 978-0670086030
Item Weight : 1.04 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #8,480,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
102 ratings

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5 star		63%
4 star		25%
3 star		4%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Jeffrey Huntington

Personal and grim.

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2016

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This is a calm and deliberate account of the seemingly endless war between Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims in Sri Lanka, from the point of view of the victims. The author is an Indian Hindu, but makes a serious effort to be impartial, which few books on this sad subject do. There's plenty of blame to go around. It certainly doesn't tell you everything you would want to know about the international politics of ethnic cleansing, genocide, massive invasions by refugees, and related subjects which are still with us in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. (And maybe soon in Russia.) The personal biographies of the participants are depressing and this is a grim book.

3 people found this helpful

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Anke B.

Very informative

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2019

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I read this book after having traveled for almost 5 months through Sri Lanka, including the North and the East, meeting many wonderful people, knowing a civil war happened, but not many of the details. I found this book well worth the read and it shocked me how little I knew and understood what people went through. I found it well balanced describing the fanatics on both sides and the atrocities committed on both sides and the many people who just wanted to live their lives in peace but instead lived through unspeakable horrors. I wish Sri Lanka a long desired peace.

One person found this helpful

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Anonymous

Painfully verbose

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019

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One of the most painfully verbose books I have ever struggled to complete. Mr. Subramanian seems compelled to make his sentences as nauseating superfluous as possible, for no other purpose than to appear “smart” and “literary.” It is difficult if not impossible to stumble through his unnecessarily placed adjectives and metaphors to reach the kernel of why I assume you bought this book: to understand the role of the War in Sri Lankan society. I had high hopes for this book, but was instead greatly disappointed. Your time and money will be better spent on a different book, in my opinion.

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Alan

An heart-rending book to be read by every Indian urgently

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2014

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This is a good book that brings the grim details of post-war Sri Lanka. Also it makes an attempt to trace the origins of tamil conflict. It has taken in all the stake holders' views with painstaking work. It is objective and provides a dispassionate view of the Tamil leaders as well as governmental actions. Worth reading for someone who wants to know the truth about this island nation.

What has been left out, perhaps deliberately, is the role India played in the whole conflict. The opinions of the people in SL about India's role is never discussed. This omission is strange and unexpected from such a well-researched author.

As it does not attempt to do a political advocacy of either philosophy, the credibility factor becomes strong because as you go along you come to understand that the author wishes not to render a painted version of the truth. He presents the truth as it is

3 people found this helpful

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Mike King

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2016

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This is a really amazing book, for several reasons. First, it documents a horrible civil war that went on for decades, pretty much out of sight of most of the rest of the world. Secondly, it is extremely well written. Thirdly, the author somehow makes the events personally meaningful, even though he was not reporting on the war as it was happening. I was engaged from page 1 until the end. So thank you, Samanth, for an important history lesson and for the intimate look at your own empathy, courage, and persistence.

One person found this helpful

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Subbu S.Venkatraman

This is a timely and superbly-researched book on the aftermath ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2015

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This is a timely and superbly-researched book on the aftermath of the Sinhalese victory over the Tigers. An extremely balanced account of the atrocities committed by either side, and the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire. The Buddhist and Tamil extremists are both scrutinized objectively and presented as the true unthinking and callous "believers" that they were and are. Kudos to Samanth who has also managed to inject humour to lift the gloom wherever appropriate, unlike the other famous chronicler of Asian events and attitudes, Pankaj Mishra.

One person found this helpful

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Elias Baumgarten

Excellent background on the Sri Lankan civil war

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2016

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Excellent account of the different sides in the Sri Lankan civil war. Fair and balanced. I read this book when I was in Sri Lanka and found it very helpful. I wish I had read it before going. I would have extended my stay to be able to visit Jaffna and get a better sense of the Tamil position.

One person found this helpful

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Divsa

Great Read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019

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Me and my fiance were in Sri Lanka for a month and read this wonderful book. My background was from the north and felt that this book gave an excellent perspective of both sides of the war. Worth the read!!

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Top reviews from other countries

observer100

Highly recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2019

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I am not an expert on this topic, but this is an outstandingly well-written and well-conceived book. Balanced accounts of such complex conflicts are immensely difficult to create but comparing with extensive Channel 4 television reports in the UK it seems to me that Subramanian has made as creditable and humane an attempt as can be expected of any human being.
The Sri Lanka conflicts should be more widely known and are full of lessons relevant to mass conflict, mass killing and the paranoid ruthlessness of the leaders who thrive by them.

Christopher Rickleton

An excellent accompaniment to a trip to Sri Lanka and good ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2016

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An excellent accompaniment to a trip to Sri Lanka and good context for the thousands of Buddhist shrines that stud the country's roadsides that might otherwise seem appealing features. Reading Subramanian's book is a useful reminder that war can be waged in even the most peaceful-seeming religion's name, not that this excuses the excessive cruelty of the Tamil Tigers which is thoroughly documented throughout.

If I have one criticism of the book it is a long-winded section on banged out cars in Jaffna, which although a good metaphor for the war, was ponderous and difficult to get through. The book as a whole is thoughtful but high-tempo journey through modern Sri Lanka, more often that not in a tuk-tuk, with some excellent and adventurous prose to embellish fine and balanced reporting.

It is also worth noting that Subramanian's heritage as a Tamil from neighbouring India does nothing to obscure his objectivity while adding a vital layer of understanding and access to the people that sustained the heaviest losses in a horrendous conflict.

6 people found this helpful

C E C Marsh

Excellent account of the terrible civil war

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2018

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Excellent account of the terrible civil war. I have just returned from the country and Kandy is in lock-down with all day curfews....... repeating the pages of this book all over again. My heart bleeds for the citizens who are just trying to live with our conflict.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Visiting Sri Lanka for the first time, this book helped to provide some much needed context to this rich and complex island.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2019

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Beautifully and thoughtfully written. Painful and terrifying stories have been captured and delivered with complete tenderness on all sides of this conflict.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Having said that there were moments of great writing and clearly he has an eye for his ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2017

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Solid reporting but sometimes lapses into self indulgence. Clearly he invested much time in hearing stories but it still felt it lacked the journalistic revelations that this country badly needs. Having said that there were moments of great writing and clearly he has an eye for his subject matter.