Tab Article
Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Short Stories / Poetry / Literary Fiction
Book Review:
That Silence Deep is a powerful and evocative collection from Punyakante Wijenaike, one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated literary figures. This book, which includes both short stories and poetry, explores the many facets of silence—the silence that grows between people, the silence that follows trauma, and the deep, resonant silence of solitude.
Wijenaike's writing is marked by its emotional depth and its ability to capture the complexities of human relationships. In stories like ''A Gilded Cage,'' silence becomes a cement wall between a couple; in ''Facing the Sunset,'' stark reality confronts a woman in the quiet of the night; and in ''The Sacrifice,'' the blast of a bomb shatters the silence of meditation. The accompanying poems further deepen the exploration of this theme, offering moments of reflection and insight.
The author's literary credentials are exceptional—she has won the State Literary Award, the Commonwealth Prize, and the Gratiaen Prize—and this collection demonstrates why she is held in such high regard. Her prose is precise and powerful, and her poetry is lyrical and moving.
This book is highly recommended for readers of literary fiction, short stories, and poetry. It is a testament to the power of silence and the art of storytelling.
