Brotherless Night – V V Ganeshananthan

READ FOR WOMEN’S PRIZE

Sashi is a 16-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil with aspirations to be a doctor. Even when civil unrest ensues and her four brothers are caught up in the violence, Sashi still finds a way to help people, at great risk to herself.

I met the first terrorist I knew when he was deciding to become one.

● [Trigger warning: Discusses sexual violence]. Some writers seem to keep the reader at arm’s length and we observe the story that has been created for us. Other authors throw open the front door and warmly invite us into their worlds. Brotherless Night is the latter and the result is both overwhelming and adrenaline-filled. I genuinely feel privileged to have read this very special novel which has approached a terrifying civil war with such strength and nuance.

I would also like to acknowledge the way the author has written about sexual assault. Many authors seem to write these scenes for their own gratification, revelling in the imagined experience of being a sexual violence survivor. VV Ganeshananthan instead conveys the trauma and unrelenting aftermath of sexual violence in war with sensitivity and compassion. – Suzy

● What I came away with after reading Brotherless Night was a deeper understanding of the complexities of civil war. The media often report fractions as good or bad, but Brotherless Night showed me how everyday people get involved because they are desperate to stand up for their families, their communities and their culture. I felt strongly for all the characters and understood the trajectory of their decision making, both rightly and wrongly – though some actions where heartbreaking and difficult to fathom.

V V Ganeshanathan has put all this into a text that is layered, nuanced, plot-filled, character driven and most importantly historically accurate. It’s phenomenal that she can put so much into one story, in a clear concise way. There are many characters but I was never confused about who was who, what their political position was, who their family was and how they had suffered. What’s more the author was respectful of characters’ (and therefore real people’s) trauma, and used restraint and empathy in conveying tragedy. – Rachel

Published 2023
Random House
348 pages