Cinnamon Gardens (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780786864737)

Set among the upper classes in the gracious, repressive world of 1920s Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Cinnamon Gardens tells the brilliantly intertwined stories of two extraordinary characters. Annalukshmi is a strong-willed young woman whose family is intent upon arranging a proper marriage for her, forcing her to question whether the independence she craves will doom her to a life without love and companionship. Her uncle Balendran, respectably married, struggles to suppress his secret desire for men. The sudden arrival of a former lover, however, threatens to destroy his carefully constructed world. Both Annalukshmi and Balendran must determine if it is possible to pursue personal happiness without compromising the happiness of others. And both must draw on hidden reserves to resist the pressures of society and, even more crushing, the expectations they have placed on themselves. This masterfully plotted novel takes us beneath the polished veneer of fragrant gardens and manners to reveal a world of splintered families, forbidden emotions, and lives destroyed by prejudice. With its sensuous atmosphere, richly drawn characters, and astonishing ability to conjure time and place, Cinnamon Gardens is a riveting novel that speaks of the issues readers grapple with today, while evoking the great historical works of fiction they love. Selvadurai's critically acclaimed first novel, Funny Boy, was hailed as "first rate fiction from a brilliant writer whose next book cannot arrive here quickly enough" (Kirkus Reviews). Now, Cinnamon Gardens--an unforgettable tale of history, family, love, and destiny--confirms Selvadurai's promise as one of the most distinctive and talented novelists from a new generation.

Author: Shyam Selvadurai
ISBN-10: 0786864737
ISBN-13: 9780786864737
Publisher: Hachette Books
Language: English
Published: 07/14/1999
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.38lbs
Size: 9.57h x 6.43w x 1.22d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 05/15/1999 pg. 1643
Kirkus Reviews 05/15/1999 pg. 749
Ingram Advance 07/01/1999 pg. 40
Publishers Weekly 06/14/1999 pg. 48
Library Journal 07/01/1999 pg. 136
New York Times 07/25/1999 pg. 16
Entertainment Weekly 08/13/1999 pg. 71
School Library Journal 03/01/2000 pg. 265