Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Satirical Fiction / Literary Fiction

Book Review:
Acts of Faith is a sharp, witty, and deeply unsettling novel from Rajiva Wijesinha, a writer who is unafraid to confront the darkest aspects of Sri Lankan society. Set against the backdrop of the 1983 race riots, the novel uses satire to expose the hypocrisy, violence, and corruption that pervade the political and social fabric of the country.

Wijesinha's targets are many: the state's encouragement of violence, the manipulation of the media, the persistence of class and caste rivalries, and the pervasive influence of family structures on personal and political behavior. His prose is lively and engaging, with a ''racy humour'' that keeps the reader entertained even as it delivers a bitter critique. The novel is a coherent and powerful indictment of the aberrations it depicts.

The author is a seasoned literary figure whose earlier work, Servants, won the Gratiaen Prize. In Acts of Faith, he demonstrates his mastery of the satirical form. The novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the society they inhabit.

This book is highly recommended for readers interested in Sri Lankan fiction, political satire, and novels that grapple with the complexities of contemporary Asian societies.