![]() Book Name: Colpetty people Author: Ashok Ferrey Genre: Humor Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link A collection of short stories by Ashok Ferrey set primarily in Sri Lanka and UK detailing the lives of different households and the odd scenarios they find themselves in. A number of the stories seems to be drawn on the authors own eclectic experiences he's had. The stories are very loosely connected and while each is very different, there is something familiar in it which many as Sri Lankans can relate to, from experiences at Sri Lankan funerals, parents concerns of unmarried children and migrants surviving in an unfamiliar environment. The humor at times is very subtle and has a throwaway quality to it and the writing style has a certain flair to it which makes it entertaining to read. Some of the stories were hits and misses and at times it was unclear what the time period of the stories were. However overall if your looking for a casual and quick read, would recommend it. Favourite Quotes
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![]() Key Details Title: Yakada Yaka (The Burgher Trilogy, Book 2) Writer: Carl Muller Year of Publication: 1994 Goodreads - Link "It is universally known that the railway is a watering hole for the mentally deficient" - Carl Muller on the railways in early 20th Century Ceylon Yakada Yaka which literally means "Iron Demon" is the name given by the locals to the loud coal-fired trains that belched black smoke as they wound their way around 20th Century Ceylon. The book is a continuation of Carl Muller's Burgher Trilogy and compared to the first Novel in the Series 'The Jam Fruit Tree' (Click for the Review), the novel is more narrow in its focus and deals almost exclusively with the Burgher communities experience as part of the Ceylon Railway Service where they primarily served as engine drivers. The experience of such communities tends to be neglected by other histories detailing the experiences of the Burgher Community where they nevertheless made a significant contribution to the development of the plantation economy in Ceylon where crops such as tea gained world fame during the British era. Carl Muller whose own father was a Railway driver probably drew on alot from his own experiences growing up as part of the railway community which lends the novel a particularly authentic feel to it. " A man who did not take kindly to discipline. A vastly lovable man, true, but a pain in the ass to pompous authority" - On the character of Sonnaboy Von Bloss The novel primarily follows the exploits of Sonnaboy Von Bloss as he staggers from the footplate from one train engine to another and details his experience as a railway driver. Sonnaboy's hot headed nature which is quick to take offense and who prefers to resolve situations with his fists involves a significant part of the humour of the novel. From blackening the British Club Gala anniversary by releasing a volcano of smoke while driving a wood-fueled train to beating up 'Mr. Ceylon'who was badgering him for a fight, the novel is packed with many such humourous incidents. However, the novel goes beyond this archetype of Sonnaboy that was built up in the first book and the story reveals the sentimental and emotional side of Sonnaboy where he is devastated by the accidental loss of lives that occur which is part an parcel being an engine driver. Throughout the novel, we also meet a cast of Burgher railway drivers that are equally colourful as Sonnaboy and add colour to the novel. The railway attracted personalities Like Dickie Byrd who fell upon a Pentecostal meeting like Satan due to the Cacophony of sound it was creating as it was adjacent to the railway bungalow thus disturbing his rest. Other colourful characters include the food connoisseur Van Der Smaught pilfering and eating a human heart which was bound for the general hospital in Colombo thinking it was ox-heart and even Von Haght who was hailed as a model Burgher, in a moment of annoyance told the M.P from Vavuniya to go and put a J-U-M-P "asking Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Rita, Saint Sebastian,Saint John, Saint Christopher,... can do miracles if want no? So i told them. This is last warning. If you won't stop the rain out you go! Took the cane and beat them also. - The Eccentric Mavis Kelaart and her collection of religious statues The novel is also interspersed with humourous moments such as the above which highlights life amongst the Burghers in Colombo and also touches on the trials and tribulations of Beryl's Sonnaboy's wife as she brings up their ever expanding brood of boys and girls. Like the first novel, Yakada Yaka also touches on some serious issues taking place at the time. In the post World War I period, the rising Nationalism amongst the Singhalese and Tamil Communities is touched upon. The Burgher's while staying out of the political discourse of the time increasingly came into contact with the other communities. In the case of the railway's while the Burgher's were content with their lot of being engine Drivers more Singhalese and Tamils with the benefit of English Education were jockeying for administrative roles within the railway which put them at times at loggerheads with the Burghers. The novel exploits these situations superbly for comedic effect which is well illustrated from the following extract from Sonnaboy's letter to Mr. Gonpala, the Sinhalese C.M.E explaining that the train was delayed due to Buffaloes. "..Buffaloes know the times of the normal trains so they stay in the jungle or on the side of the railway line. But the train I was driving was a special. Buffaloes don't know about the specials. ...The railway pays me to drive the engine. Who is going to pay me to get down and drive wild buffaloes? if you think that I am going to get down and chase wild buffaloes you are a bigger buffalo than the buffaloes on the line." If you enjoyed the first novel, it's well worth picking this up for a second helping of life in Colonial Ceylon. ![]() Quick Facts Title: Jam Fruit Tree (Book #1 of the Burgher trilogy) Author: Carl Muller Genre: Historical Fiction, Humor Publication year: 1993 Further Details - Good Reads "They accepted Centuries ago, that Sri Lanka was their land. There was never any thought that they could, if things got bad, pack and hide back to Holland or to wherever they could trace back to. They were at home and where else could they 'put a party' and enjoy life as much as home?" Carl Muller on the Burghers of Sri Lanka The First Book in the Burgher Trilogy is also one of Carl Muller's most famous work which describes the adventures and misadventures of the Von Bloss's and their extended families and friends. The writer himself refers to the novel as a work of "Faction"; a work of fiction that sails very close to the fact and is believed to have partly been inspired by the authors own life. The book describes the tumultuous lives of the Von Bloss family and their many extended family and friends through the period set in a time of transition in Sri Lanka. Like the Jam Fruit Tree that grows in the Von Bloss's garden, the Burgher's depicted in the novel are a hardy, fertile lot who like the tree cannot be tamed but nevertheless bear sweet fruit. In very vivid prose, key events of their lives including a Burgher funeral, Wedding, Christmas Party among many others in a very evocative way. The process of making the Christmas Cake ahead of the Christmas Season is particularly visceral and reveals the talent of the author. "Heaven, it seemed to him, was operating some sort of a laundering service." "That Viva making noises as if someone smashing his toes with rice-pounder. getting salvation, it seems. Lamb is washing his soul. Must be paining like Hell." As highlighted above, the key strength of the books humor lies in the prose of the book which is heavily interjected with heavy use of Sri Lankan Idioms and Vernacular phrases, swear words that is distinctly Sri Lankan. As the novel primarily depicts the life of working class Burghers, some of the language is somewhat more pedestrian to reflect this, but nevertheless enhances the humor of the novel. Apart from the humor in the language itself, the novel also describes some hilarious situations like the government agents futile attempt to take away Sonnaboy's furniture in Kadugannawa. But the book isn't all humor as it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the time such as Colourism, racism and patriarchy to put it more mildly. The language at times becomes quite crass and direct, possibly to contrast these issues with the more colourful descriptions used in the rest of the novel. While not as grim as Carl Muller's other work 'Colombo' which is far more bleak, the novel nevertheless does not shy away from highlighting these issues. The novel is set during the early 20th century during the British Colonial period and the author manages to bring to life in vivid prose the facets of life in Colombo at the turn of the Century. The novel describes facets of life at that time including schools, Universities, the origin of road names etc. that continue to endure today and which lends the novel its authenticity Carl Muller also praises the amazing tolerance of the burgher community. In the words of the author "Sri Lankan Burghers are as Strident as the most Strident Sinhala Native and in a sense most wholly embraces the Island mentality of 'Eat, drink and be Merry'. The author attributes the peaceful coexistence the Burghers have managed to maintain while integrating with the fabric of Sri Lankan culture to their ability to fit in no matter the circumstances. The author laments the ethnic conflict and the situation that has forced many Burghers to reluctantly leave their homeland. Overall anyone looking for a somewhat exaggerated glimpse into the past and as to what life was like in colonial Colombo should check out this novel. ![]() "Mr Peters would rise on stepping-stones of his dead self to higher things, and while never soaring into the class which devours curried lobster and smiles after it, might yet prove himself a devil of a fellow among the mutton cutlets." - Ashe Marson pleased about how his employer has taken to his exercise regime Something Fresh is P.G Wodeouses's first foray into the world of Blandings Castle. Anyone thats familiar with the authors other work such as Jeeves and Wooster would immediately recognise the wordplay, colourful descriptions and ridiculous scenarios the reader finds the colourful and endearing characters to be in. Something fresh does not disappoint with a cast of memorable characters such as Lord Emsworth, The Hon. Freddie Threepwood, The Efficient Baxter and Beach the Butler. The charm of P.G Wodehouse books lies in his description of a vanishing (and exotic world to most readers) world where the reader has the reassaurance that the worst thing that can happen to a character is getting entangled in breach of promise cases, insufferable sons and Stolen Scarabs from the Cheops 4th Dynasty. It's incredible how the author managed to juggle so many characters in a convoluted plot that like Ashe's The adventure of Gridle Quayle the detective is resolved most satisfactorily. The mix of colourful characters, ridiculous plots and beautiful wordplay is what makes the world of Blandings an excellent choice for some light bed time reading. Favourite Quotes "The scared cat proceeded on her journey upstairs, while Freddie, touching the stairs at intervals, went on down" - Freddie falling down the stairs "It is the saddest spectacle in the world, that of the crowd collected by a "Wanted" advertisement.. they are so palatably not wanted by any purpose whatsoever" - Ashe dismayed by the crowd that has responded to Mr. peter's advertisement for a "Capable man" "Perhaps the greatest hardship in being an invalid is the fact that people come to see you and keep your spirits up. The Hon. Freddie Threepwood suffered extremely from this." "Freddie, swelling himself out like an embarassed frog and gulping had uttered that memorable speech beginning "I say, you know, its like this, don't you know,' and ending, 'What I mean is, will you marry me, what?' - Freddie's eloquent proposal to Aline Peter's Book details Something Fresh - Goodreads World of Blandings - Goodreads |
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