Book Review: Wave – Memoir of Life After Tsunami by Sonali Deraniyagala

Wave – Memoir of Life After Tsunami by Sonali Deraniyagala

The 2004 tsunami, which devastated coastal regions of Sri Lanka and claimed thousands of lives, has been the subject of many accounts, articles, and books. Yet, one of the most poignant and personal reflections on this catastrophe is Wave, the memoir by Sonali Deraniyagala. In this heartbreaking narrative, she recounts not only the overwhelming tragedy of the disaster but also the unbearable grief that followed; grief that saw her lose her husband, two sons, and both her parents in a matter of moments.

Sonali, a London-based economics lecturer, had travelled with her family to Sri Lanka for the Christmas holidays in 2004. On December 26, they were staying at a seaside resort on the southern coast when the tsunami struck. In an instant, her entire world was shattered. Her husband, Steve, her two young sons, Vikram and Malli, and her parents were all swept away by the violent waves. Sonali, miraculously, was the only survivor.

In the early chapters of Wave, Sonali details the profound shock and disbelief she felt as she struggled to accept that her loved ones had vanished without a trace. The book paints a raw picture of the emotional toll she experienced in the days following the tragedy, particularly her mental anguish as she grappled with her survival. After being rescued and brought to Colombo, she was placed in the care of relatives, but the darkness of depression consumed her. Sonali writes with brutal honesty about her emotional descent, describing how she contemplated suicide and even attempted self-harm in a desperate attempt to escape the unbearable pain. She turned to alcohol, sleeping pills, and other means to numb the fury and despair burning within her.

Her loved ones, fearing for her safety, went to great lengths to protect her, hiding sharp objects and taking turns to watch over her. But the anguish seemed endless, and for months, she could not escape the suffocating weight of loss. It took two years before Sonali could bring herself to return to London. Slowly, through sheer force of will, she began to rebuild her life, but the scars of the tsunami’s destruction remained deeply etched in her soul.

Wave is not an easy book to read. It is a searing account of personal loss, trauma, and the long, painful journey toward healing. Sonali’s eloquent writing captures the sheer terror of the disaster and the aftermath with such emotional honesty that it is impossible not to feel her pain as your own. The book is not merely about the tsunami; it is a meditation on grief, resilience, and the fragility of life.

In some ways, Sonali’s story echoes that of Patachara, a figure from ancient Buddhist texts who similarly lost her family and was driven to the brink of madness. Reading Wave, one realises that such tragedies are not confined to myth or the distant past—they can strike at any time, at any place.

For anyone who has ever wondered about the human cost of natural disasters, or for those seeking to understand the depths of grief and the possibility of recovery, this memoir is a must-read. It is an unforgettable account of loss and survival, a tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.