Title: The Boat People
Author: Sharon Bala
First published January 9, 2018
401 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780771024290 (ISBN10: 0771024290)
Rating: 3.99
Overview
Following in the footsteps of literary powerhouses like Khaled Hosseini and Chris Cleave, Sharon Bala’s The Boat People is a stunning work of fiction that tells the tale of a group of refugees who make the treacherous journey across the ocean to Canada, only to face a new set of challenges. Mahindan, a young father who has survived the brutal civil war in Sri Lanka, believes that he and his son can finally start afresh in their new home.
However, upon arrival, they are instead thrown into a detention center, accused of terrorism and threatened with deportation. As the tension builds and the interrogations become more intense, Mahindan begins to fear that the sacrifices he made to escape Sri Lanka now pose a risk to his and his son’s chances of asylum.
The story is told through the eyes of Mahindan, his lawyer Priya, and the adjudicator Grace, all of whom bring a unique perspective to this timely and deeply compassionate novel. The Boat People is a must-read for anyone seeking a greater understanding of the current refugee crisis and the complex issues surrounding it.
About the Author
Imagine being stranded on a rock in the frigid North Atlantic. That’s where you’ll find author Sharon Bala, in need of a tropical escape in the form of mangoes.
Bala’s debut novel, The Boat People, was released in early 2018 by McClelland & Stewart and Doubleday US. The manuscript had already earned her the Percy Janes First Novel Award in May 2015 and was a finalist for the Fresh Fish Award in October of the same year.
In 2017, Bala’s talent was recognized once again when she won the Journey Prize and had another story included in the anthology’s long list. Her work has also been featured in various publications including Hazlitt, Grain, and Prism international, as well as anthologies like Racket: New Writing From Newfoundland.
When she’s not writing, Bala swaps stories with members of the Port Authority writing group in the cozy confines of a Memorial University store room. In previous lives, she’s worked in PR and event planning, and even spent a brief stint as a British housewife.
But these days, she makes her living with words, offering her services for articles, essays, competitions, readings, manuscript evaluations, and editorial assistance.
Bala’s journey began in Dubai, where she was born, before moving to the 905 area code in Canada, and eventually settling in St. John’s, Newfoundland with her husband, mathematician Tom Baird.
Editoral Review
The Boat People by Sharon Bala is a riveting and eye-opening novel that delves into the complex themes of identity, humanity, and belonging. Published on January 9, 2018, the book has made a significant impact in the literary scene and beyond, with its timely and thought-provoking commentary on the global refugee crisis.
Sharon Bala, the author, is a Canadian writer of Sri Lankan origin. As an immigrant herself, she brings a unique perspective to the narrative, exploring the experiences of three different characters – Mahindan, a former Tamil Tiger soldier seeking asylum in Canada after the Sri Lankan civil war, Priya, a young lawyer representing Mahindan’s case, and Grace, an adjudicator tasked with deciding whether Mahindan can stay in the country.
Through their stories, Bala raises poignant questions about justice, empathy, and morality, inviting readers to challenge their preconceived notions and confront the harsh realities faced by refugees around the world. The plot of The Boat People is based on a true event that occurred in 2010, when a group of Sri Lankan refugees landed on the shores of British Columbia, Canada.
Bala takes this incident as a starting point and weaves a richly textured and emotionally charged narrative that moves seamlessly between the past and the present. The flashbacks to Mahindan’s life in Sri Lanka, where he witnesses unspeakable violence and loss, are particularly powerful, highlighting the strength of Bala’s prose and her ability to evoke a sense of empathy in the reader.
The setting of the novel is divided between Sri Lanka and Canada, creating a stark contrast between the two worlds and underscoring the challenges faced by refugees as they navigate unfamiliar territory. The characterization is also impressive, with Mahindan, Priya, and Grace portrayed as fully-realized and nuanced individuals grappling with their own demons and biases.
The conflicts that arise between them reflect the larger societal tensions and underscore the complexity of the refugee issue. Thematically, The Boat People is an ambitious novel that tackles weighty subjects with depth and nuance.
Bala confronts issues around colonialism, racism, and political violence head-on, but also imbues the novel with a sense of hope and resilience. The book’s relevance has only grown with time, as the refugee crisis continues to capture headlines and spark passionate debates worldwide.
While the book has garnered much critical acclaim and deservedly so, it is not without its flaws. The pacing, at times, can be slow, and some readers may find the courtroom drama tedious.
Additionally, the characters’ voices occasionally blur, making it hard to distinguish their perspectives. However, these are minor criticisms in the grand scheme of things, and don’t detract from the overall quality of the book.
In conclusion, The Boat People is an exceptional novel that deserves the attention and praise it has received. It is a moving and insightful meditation on the refugee experience, told with grace and sensitivity by an author who understands both the pain and the promise of immigration.
For readers seeking a thought-provoking and engrossing read, The Boat People is a must-read. It is also a book that should be read widely, given its relevance to current events and its potential to inspire empathy, understanding, and action.
The Washington Post gives The Boat People a well-deserved 9/10 rating.
