Got as present from a friend :)

Remarks at the launch by Nazhat Shameem, barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Fiji:

"This is a story of a family left without a mother, left to the tragedies of poverty, ignorance and desperation after her suicide. The book tells the story of an excited and hopeful Savitri, from a poor but happy farming family, married off into a life of sacrifice, contempt and patriarchy. It is the story of an unhappy marriage, and a family driven by incomprehension about the brutal and uncaring character of Taji, the man Savitri married with so much hope, and with whom she lived with so much disappointment and pain.

This is not a happy story. It is not meant to be. It is a story that rarely gets told, so caught up are we with the fantasia of Bollywood, and the apparently respectable way of life of the people of Fiji."

This book came as a present from a friend and was meant to help me out for the 666 challenge. The story is very bleak and tells of the different kinds of suffering one poor family of Fiji goes through, from the wedding of the parents, over the mother's suicide, the incestuous relationship within the circle of the bereaved, the taboo of homosexuality, the abuse of women in general, the exploitation of the weak and dependent to the death of the violent firstborn son.

Within the storylines there is no space for hope, only violence and desperation, sadness and self-abandonment.

As there is no mention of a translator, I guess the author wrote the book in English. It is obvious that this isn't his first language, as there are quite a few grammatical errors in the text. While this sometimes even fits the story of the people and creates a certain tone, the spelling errors can only be seen as an unfortunate oversight of the publishing house. Regrettably, there were enough to distract from the content at times.

Still I recommend this book, as it offers a glimpse into the world of those "regarded as weak" and outcast in the Fiji society.

Will be travelling as ring soon!

Participants so far:

Pandamao (intl.)
chawoso (intl.)
okyrhoe
DubaiReader (intl.)
book-a-neer (Aus/NZ)
Edwardstreet (intl.)
...
...
and back to me :)

on its way

the book has arrived 2 days ago

it is a sad Story - following the poor fate of the children and mother in this family.

reist nun weiter zu chawoso

Just arrived. Thank you for shipping!

It's only a small book, but I have to try again about three times.

On its way to Greece.

Arrived in Athens.
Thanks Andrasthe for including me in the ring, and also to chawoso for posting the book (plus the extra goodies!) to me.

Update 10 Jan 2014 -> No response from DubaiReader and I have contacted book-a-neer next.

On its way by post to book-a-neer. Enjoy!

This book has travelled a long way from Greece and is now in Australia.

This was quite a depressing book. I don't understand how the family could let these things happen. This is the 3rd book I've read that's set in the islands and it seems to me that there is a common theme to these books. In all three of them, the women/girls were disadvantaged because of the customs and practices of their country. It is sad to read about these things.

Compelling reading if you don't mind the grammatical mistakes which, surprisingly, didn't get edited by the publisher.


Off to Edwardstreet who's next in line.

a letter box surprise thank you- as there is no one else in this ring, Please can I keep until January for the 2015 666 challenge ( I have completed the challenge for this year)

released to assist a friend with the 666 challenge

Short-term loan from EdwardStreet to help me finish the 666 Challenge for 2014, to be returned for her to read at her start of the 2015 666 Challenge. My deadline is 31.12.2014 so it will be heading back to ES before then.

As others have said this is a depressing book. It is a story that has to be told, and retold until some elements of humanity and dignity are woven into the Fijian psyche.

The remarks by Nazhat Shameen at the book launch, as written herein by Andrasthe perfectly sum up the deeds in the book.

I'll return the book to EdwardStreet directly. Thank ES for assisting my trudge to the end of this year's 666 Challenge. Only 4 still to go. Should make it by 31.12.14

Passing to Edwardstreet this evening. Sorry it has taken so long to be passed across.

Passed onto me at our monthly Wellington meetup.

Passed onto me at our monthly Wellington meetup will read and return to Andrasthe

An all too common story read for the 666 challenge. Incest, violence, poverty.
To be returned to Andrasthe

Returning as soon as address received