Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)
Genre: Sri Lankan Literature, Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Anthology

Book Review:
''Write to Reconcile: An Anthology'' is a powerful, moving, and essential collection of writings from Sri Lankan authors about the country's civil war and its aftermath. This unique anthology brings together short stories, poems, memoirs, and novel excerpts that grapple with the complexities of identity, conflict, and healing.

The book features a wonderfully diverse range of voices and perspectives. Contributors explore the impact of war on ordinary people—those who don't make history but are swept along by it. The stories include a Sinhalese woman recalling Tamil tenants in her parents' Kandy home, a Muslim man facing prejudice and brutality, a daughter dealing with her father during the bombing of Jaffna, a group of schoolgirls clashing over the national flag, and a ''rehabilitated'' LTTE female cadre navigating post-war life.

This anthology is important reading for anyone with an interest in Sri Lanka today. It offers a nuanced, human, and deeply affecting portrait of a nation coming to terms with its past and seeking a path toward reconciliation. A must-read for those who want to understand Sri Lanka beyond the headlines.