Vivienne Wildes

This book is definitely worth reading. I found myself researching events and certain names, including authors that the main character is reading in her book club. This research is helpful to better recall the Sri Lankan civil war — I was familiar with the story from western news, but as I now know it was not enough. I thank the author for providing an inside view from the eyes of a young woman medical student torn between her alliance with the Tiger's cause and her own struggle to be a medical doctor in these difficult times. It’s remarkable the struggles one comes to bear whilst attempting to become a caring physician in the midst of a war. The character’s endurance and introspective is remarkable! The narrative is captivating and personal, including her relationships with four brothers and her parents, close friends and other very important people in her life. The characters are well developed. The dialogue is well done and the issues raised — professional, personal, political — made me examine the many nuances, relationships, hardships, day-to-day living and, especially, the damage created by war. Recommend this book to read solo or as a group.