“Amma is like a forced look into a mirror to understand how silence can harm, unspoken words can breed misunderstanding and an inability to reassure the next generation can fester brokenness.”
Three generations – Josephina, Sithara then Annie. From Singapore to Sri Lanka then onto ’80s winter Invercargill and finally rest and resolve in Melbourne.
A journey across cultures and finding a homely place of belonging – each woman must make sense of violence inflicted and trans-generational pain. A dear, vulnerable son, brother and uncle in Suri brings the golden thread that pulls this challenging tale together.
Amma brought out a wrestle with the pages – an assault on decent senses and the horrors of innocent people harmed. There are more questions than answers that leaves you thinking long after the last page is turned. To say ‘why’ doesn’t suffice, but you are reminded that we are all in need of that which is familiar to us, a safe harbour and ultimately the bonds of kinship to withstand – to bend not break.
If you are a fan of Christy Lefteri then this is a genuine comparison.
Moa Press Hachette New Zealand.