Apr
15
In Wave, Sonali Deraniyagala chronicles the events and aftermath of the Sri Lankan tsunami that killed her parents, her husband, and her two young sons. They had all been staying at a beach hotel together on December 26, 2004, when they were swept up in the water. Only Deraniyagal survived.
It sounds horrifically sad, doesn’t it? It is, of course, but maybe not quite in the way you’d expect. Deraniyagala describes her early months of grief and confusion with such unflinching, precise style it takes you somewhere deep inside her experience. You’re not standing on the outskirts wringing your hands at the unspeakable tragedy that’s occurred, you’re immersed in it, somewhere beyond the tears.
Cheryl Strayed has a great review of Wave in which she writes, I didn’t feel as if I was going to cry while reading “Wave.” I felt as if my heart might stop. Yes.
It seems like the first chapter, focused on the actual events of the tsunami and her surreal rescue, would be the hardest to read, but it’s about halfway through, when Deraniyagala emerges somewhat from the muffling shock and suicidal despair and begins to process her losses, when her writing became so powerful — her guilt, her helpless rage, her raw pain — I had to keep putting the book down. Read a page, put it down. Breathe. Repeat.
I don’t have the ability, really, to tell you about the beauty of how Deraniyagala slowly allows herself to stop repressing the memories of her family and, bit by bit, breathes vivid new life into what was. She does it so exquisitely each page fairly resonates with the galloping footsteps of her children. The sizzle and pop of her husband cooking mustard seeds for dhal. Her old life rendered in fullness, while never stepping back from that yawning abyss of its absence.
Towards the end, she writes,
Seven years on, and their absence has expanded. Just as our life would have in this time, it has swelled. So this is a new sadness, I think. For I want them as they would be now. I want to be in our life. Seven years on, it is distilled, my loss. For I am not whirling any more. I am no longer cradled by shock. And I fear. Is this truth now too potent for me to hold? If I keep it close, will I tumble? At times I don’t know. But I have learned that I can only recover myself when I keep them near.
There is no mawkish sentimentality in Wave, no reminders to hug your children, savor every moment, or embrace the comforting notion of a divine plan. It’s honest and vivid and intimate, a great suffering and a slow healing, somehow a nightmare and a gorgeous dream all at once.
It’s unforgettable. If you get a chance, read it.
Comments
-
My product review site:
[
Ordered. You have never steered me wrong with a book or a product. Thanks for the great tips!
I heard the author’s interview on NPR when the book was first published and I have wanted to read it ever since. I have yet to feel reinforced enough to take it on though. Just thinking about the enormity of her loss takes my breath away. I am about 3/4 of the way through The Goldfinch and I absolutely love it. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Wow. I just finished reading the excerpt on Amazon and caught myself holding my breath several times. Added it to my cart immediately.
I highly recommend _The Disappearance: A Primer of Loss_ by Geneviève Jurgensen. It’s another utterly non-sentimental book about sudden loss and grief that has to be read slowly, carefully, and with breaks between passages.
I got this via an e-loan from our library and read it yesterday. (I read the bulk of it during lunch break at work and had to close my office door to hide my tears.) It is amazing that this woman is still alive, honestly, let alone able to write with such clarity and love. Thank you for sharing the recommendation.
I normally love your recommendations, and I am sure that this is a lovely book – but I just can’t. I mean, I teared up reading your entry about Riley and Dylan and the case of the smashed finger. Thanks out of whack postpartum hormones!
What a tremendous loss.
Thanks for introducing me to Cheryl Strayed’s book Tiny, Beautiful Things. I also read Wild as well as the Best American Essays 2013, which she edited. All of them were great. I’ll get on the list for this at the library. I love when you share what you’re reading.
I’m sure it’s a lovely book, but I teared up reading your description so I don’t know if I can manage it.
I can tell you right now I will never read Wave – I am just not into intense books about loss, no matter how well-written and beautiful. I am the sort of person who sits by the pool and a hot day and reads a bit of schlock set in the winter, then am surprised I’m not surrounded by snow when I finally look up. In other words, I submerge myself to the point of folly.
On the other hand, I see you’ve got “The Rosie Project” on your sidebar and wanted to take a moment to highly recommend it for my fellow lovers of lighthearted book fare. It has the distinction of being the only book ever that my mother, my husband and I all utterly LOVED, and my husband hardly ever reads anything but graphic novels and my mom has a propensity for weightier subjects (think Angela’s Ashes or Fall On Your Knees).
Ahh, thanks for the recommendation. I will proceed with caution as I’m having heart palpitations just THINKING about the subject.
I noticed you read and loved The Goldfinch (and who hasn’t?!). I read The Secret History when it was first released and loved it, but never could get into her second novel The Little Friend. Well, I just finished it and oh my god, I loved it. I’m a sucker for a sassy, spunky 12 year old main character and this girl Harriet is amazing. I loved her and I highly recommend the book. It took me a bit to get into it, but once you settle into the rhythm you’ll be dreaming about these characters as well.
I’ve had this book saved, but suspended, in my library hold queue since it first came out. The subject matter is so intense that I’ve been waiting for the right time to read it. It’s good to know that there’s more to it than simply tragedy and pain.
I’m sure it is a lovely book but I started crying in my office just thinking about it. Perhaps someday when I have a few days to sob in privacy I will download it!
Immediately after reading your review I purchased this book from Amazon and as soon as it arrived I began reading it. Your review is spectacular – the book was exactly as you said, heart-stopping. It was engaging, amazing and insightful. A fabulous book well worth my time. Thanks for the recommendation!
I read – and loved – it too. I was initially reluctant to read it because I have the delicate emotional sensitivity of a newborn bunny but I’m so glad I did. What has stayed with me is the way she beautifully captured the bizarrely irrational, unpredictably stumbling nature of grief.
I ordered this book and finished it in one day, usually reading it while I was nursing, rocking, or holding my 3 month old as he slept. I am not a super emotional and do not cry easy, but feeling my baby’s warm breaths on my chest while reading about her loss made me tear up so many times. Beautifully written book. Thankyou for the recommendation.
Therefore if you plant lots of saplings in Minecraft, it
is possible to expect the full grown forest in a few days.
But now many guys satisfy the Minecraft lags when playing Minecraft offline.
good point
A book you should read: Wave, by Sonali Deraniyagala : All & Sundry
ecqwzhqcme http://www.g9l1ornmafd06dlk6416p92wo21430n9s.org/
[url=http://www.g9l1ornmafd06dlk6416p92wo21430n9s.org/]uecqwzhqcme[/url]
aecqwzhqcme
アグ バック ハワイ
ナイキ バスケットシューズ ジョーダン
コンバース おすすめ 女性
クロエ 下着 アウトレット
ヴィトン カタログ ハンカチ
ディオールバッグコピー格安
トリーバーチ 偽者
miumiu 財布 ハワイ限定 ねこチャーム
ラルフローレン ベビー服 アウトレット
グッチ gucci アニマル 小銭入れ
小さい スカーフ 結び方 男
コーチ ピンク チェック リュック
ugg ビーサン 洗う
ニューバランスtシャツ青山
カルティエ 給料
ディンバーランドデッキシューズの手入れ
http://molenyc.com/themes/emus/3eLImtFmE9.html
said maduro, venezuela has yet to contact snowden, but he is willing to talk with snowdon
Christian Louboutin clearance
Fairly affordable offer for the many of us, they simply in shape the funds.
wa-ltd
However, the ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” recent early freeze disrupted the normalprogression ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” of fall foliage, and many leaves ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” are still on trees inthe Missoula Valley.As a result, leaf collection will be delayed for at least ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” one weekand then begin according to the schedule below. The schedule willremain the same; areas that are not visited during their scheduledtimes will be moved to the end of the leaf ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” collection season.We learn about their interpersonal relationships, dreams, and goals. The archival and contemporary footage is breathtaking. The troupe risks injury and worse in such daring ” http://www.sebainstal.ro/product.asp” outdoor stunts as a thrilling dance piece performed over the Thames on London’s iconic Ferris wheel, the London Eye.
Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this subject for a while and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the supply?
New York Islanders iPhone 6 Cases Traditional Camo
Ralph Lauren UK Polo Ralph Lauren UK Outlet Polo UK Ralph Lauren UK Outlet Online
サンローラン ゼロハリバートン
他們需要的是一個明確的目的，堅實的計劃，並正確執行。
lv 包包
51十億一個TTM收入。
coach outlet
chloe 通販 財布
ロエベ 2014
オークリー ゴーグル レンズ 比較
ケイトスペード ペン
エルメス 財布 メンズ 新品
ヴィトン ネヴァーフル 発売
エルメス エブリン 歴史
セリーヌ 中古 クラッチ mt
サマンサタバサ 福袋 通販 安い
ugg キッズ 22.5
グッチ ブレスレット 寄付 英語
オークリー カスタム ビームス
ディオール 店舗 銀座
miumiu 財布 イタリア 価格
グッチ 安い 通販 激安
トリーバーチ エスパドリーユ 激安
サマンサ no.7
フェンディ 店舗 静岡
コーチ 時計 ベルト 交換
ウェディングドレス レンタル 価格 相場
プラダ ポーチ 定価 bb
In march, more than 20 teams of wuxi tourist, where less than two hours to have been robbed, leading the bridge of the nose was broken
クロムハーツ コピー 販売 line
リーバイス 646 シルエット
オロビアンコ タイムオラ オラクラシカ
トリーバーチ ブーツ レディース
asics バッシュ 白
ヴェルサーチ ファッション 30代
シャネルj12
A book you should read: Wave, by Sonali Deraniyagala : All & Sundry
フェンディ 安く
ダンヒル タバコ 感想
Thank you pertaining to spreading that wonderful content on your internet site. I noticed it on the internet. I may check back again whenever you publish additional aricles.
ray ban tienda edinburgh
de várias atrocidades percebidos, incluindo crueldade com os animais, a venda de alimentos não saudáveis, tendo como alvo crianças em anúncios e contribuindo para a destruição das florestas tropicais.
bolsas louis vuitton
At this time it sounds like Drupal is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
ロンシャン 黄色財布
アシックス オンライン
バレンシアガ 赤坂