Arizona Journalist Publishes Engaging Literary Novel
A MAIDEN’S PRAYER: A FAMILY STORY SET IN 1970s SRI LANKA is the title of Srianthi Perera’s entertaining debut novel. The story is immensely nostalgic to Sri Lankans who lived through that time. It can also be a wonderful way for their children, growing up in the Australian culture, to understand the issues and traditions that shaped their elders.
The story features affluent bachelor Berty Rajakaruna, who refuses to conform to the traditional methods of finding a wife and faces unexpected consequences. It is narrated with much humor by his precocious niece Tamara de Silva.
As with many middle-class Sri Lankan families of the day, the family is steeped in astrology and superstition and holds rigorous ideas on individual roles and behavior. Such beliefs plunge them into comical situations and unexpected consequences.
The family is particularly keen to tie the knot on his behalf because of his inheritance. Berty’s great-great-grandfather was a Mudaliyar under British colonial rule. He owned a magnificent house and property in Panadura, which rightfully belongs to Berty, but it is being unfairly occupied by his sister.
The family believes that marriage, and the production of an heir, will legitimize Berty’s claim to the property and will restore family pride.
Tamara de Silva is a feisty 12-year-old. Like her uncle, she questions the traditional rituals that govern their lives, and rebels against them. When Tamara attains age, she must suddenly adhere to acceptable “ladylike behavior.”
But the week that changed Tamara’s life is nothing compared to what lies ahead for Berty and the family.
A MAIDEN’S PRAYER’s many themes include astrology, coming-of-age traditions, Buddhism and the turbulent political climate of 1970s Sri Lanka.
Srianthi evokes her childhood memories of Bishop’s College, and opens a window to a culture that is foreign to the Western world.
A resident of Arizona, USA, Srianthi has enjoyed a successful career in journalism in Sri Lanka, the Sultanate of Oman, Canada and the USA.
Details: https://tinyurl.com/a-maidens-prayer
Website: srianthiperera.com
Write to her at evocativejourneys@gmail.com
Five-star Reviews on Amazon.com:
KPR – Beautiful Story Telling!
“A Maiden’s Prayer”, Srianthi Perera’s debut novel, is set up against the backdrop of Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s 1970s regime, in Sri Lanka. Srianthi threads many facets of that time through the eyes of an adolescent Tamara de Silva (an aspiring writer herself) into a detailed, witty, insightful, nostalgic story that will transport those of you of Sri Lankan origins, back in time and space for an immersive experience. Even if you did not experience 1970’s Sri Lanka, Srianthi’s spell binding story telling will make you feel like you were part of Tamara’s family. I highly recommend “A Maiden’s Prayer”.
RD – Wonderful journey into a very meaningful intriguing world
I just finished reading A Maiden’s Prayer.
It is a wonderfully written book that took me to another world—a world I could relate to having grown up in the same subcontinent.
The relationships and traditions were so heartwarming—the beauty of life as it is with its honesty and flaws yet the strong fabric of love and family made me realize again what is truly important in life.
This book left me thinking and feeling deeply.
I would definitely recommend it.
It is a gem in this world of meaningless frivolities.
- Pié – A Delightful Debut
Srianthi Perera’s enticingly woven debut novel throws open the shutters to a 1970s Sri Lankan community, aiming a witty and enlightening beam on a country and a people in transition. She does it with sharp insights and a splash of healthy irreverence that delights and educates throughout. This reader came away with a strong sense of warmth for the extended family and its culture at the heart of the story, and in particular for Tamara, the narrating voice, who is navigating the confusing path from childhood to womanhood. It is a worthwhile read that will make you laugh and cry, and most importantly, appreciate the range of emotion common to all who call themselves human.
