tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post228722097294641496..comments2023-12-16T05:23:25.816-08:00Comments on sri lankan books: Chucking the Dragon by Mark WildeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-88401934554424399202012-02-08T02:54:02.759-08:002012-02-08T02:54:02.759-08:00Just finished the book and I must say that the use...Just finished the book and I must say that the use of English is highly commendable but the use of words such as "ain't" is pretty unsuitable, based on Sri Lankan context. The author seems to be trying hard to portray himself as a sort of "rebel without a cause" and a modern day "Kurt Cobain". He just seems to be trying too hard to come off as a "Don't give a fuck, let the good times roll" sort of guy. I really do appreciate the in-depth review of this book. <br />All in all, I felt that the book lacked depth. But once again, the use of the English language was very good indeed. But the book kinda left me wondering whether I want my money back!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-22125638006641073162012-01-14T06:25:15.953-08:002012-01-14T06:25:15.953-08:00I hated this book to start with, loathed it. But a...I hated this book to start with, loathed it. But about halfway through I thought I'd figured it out. Perhaps this book was a brilliant satire on modern Sri Lankan life. Flailng into the 21st century, the country has abandoned it's rich history and clung to the coat-tails of western society, reciting pigeon English catch phrases, slogans and ideologies garishly and without shame. I assumed that 'Mark Wilde' had attempted to capture this by writing a book which contained almost no original ideas, dialogue, plot, character, themes, even character names. In fact if you want the short version of this book I would google "quotes+disillusionment" and you're get this book without all the enthusiastic adolescent graphic design. <br /><br />For shame Mark Wilde. The worst part was you had such a rich canvas - the premise of Chucking the Smoke was great; a Byron reading nihilist living in Colombo during the war - That's a great book already. Now you just need to learn how to write, instead of merely reference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-48592868457602634362011-06-06T03:33:50.890-07:002011-06-06T03:33:50.890-07:00Care to post an extract? One or two paragraphs, ju...Care to post an extract? One or two paragraphs, just to get a flavour of the writing?Palmyrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562734428137206296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-43327063893572637332011-04-16T02:17:21.133-07:002011-04-16T02:17:21.133-07:00well this year's gratiaen seems to be worse. s...well this year's gratiaen seems to be worse. suicide club was short listed? i couldn't get past the first para.<br /><br /><br />Btw, Wilde heavily quotes trainspotting and less than zero in the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-56863374469957128482011-03-03T00:40:14.836-08:002011-03-03T00:40:14.836-08:00I just read the book and I must say it is absolute...I just read the book and I must say it is absolutely fantastic. I think its a disgrace this book was left out of the Gratiaen awards because this book should have won it!<br /><br />Of all the "Sri Lit" books out in the past 10 years, there were two books that were completely different to the standard walauwa life, ethnic crisis, tsunami, war, abused women and human rights themes that our writers seem to focus on. One was "when life gives you lemons, make limoncello" and the other was "Chucking the dragon."<br /><br />Limoncello was written by a guy who lived overseas most of his life and worked as an english teacher and it basically takes the piss out of all the Italians. I thought it was absolutely hilarious. Chucking the Dragon was the other extreme with a gritty topic and was superbly written. For some reason I kept being reminded of the movie trainspotting when I was reading it.<br /><br />Whoever Mark Wilde, is, I think he should write more because he is an amazing talent. The mediocre writers who are media darlings like Ashok Ferry, Ameena Hussein and others should sit up and take notice because Mark Wilde is in a different league to all of them...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-22000735857241333472010-10-23T03:06:18.951-07:002010-10-23T03:06:18.951-07:00@Spaz: I don't think he considers any of these...@Spaz: I don't think he considers any of these things 'bad.' what he criticizes is limiting 'life' for these things only. and i didn't see when he said having a family is badAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-64478155066659756322010-09-29T20:43:18.884-07:002010-09-29T20:43:18.884-07:00WHat most drew my attention was the author's e...WHat most drew my attention was the author's evident disdain of the 'middle-classes' and his view that things like holding a job, amassing professional qualifications or having a family is categorised under 'middle-class activities'.Spaznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-56746915031796777182010-09-27T06:39:42.068-07:002010-09-27T06:39:42.068-07:00Damn, i have not seen this much comments on any bo...Damn, i have not seen this much comments on any book beforeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-20344519665912169932010-09-23T08:14:11.812-07:002010-09-23T08:14:11.812-07:00will check on stocks then... thanks.will check on stocks then... thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-79734415734098776722010-09-19T07:52:02.434-07:002010-09-19T07:52:02.434-07:00i think the book is available at barefooti think the book is available at barefootAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-76757854615014613222010-09-10T09:56:05.177-07:002010-09-10T09:56:05.177-07:00hi,
just discovered your blog, love it! where can...hi,<br /><br />just discovered your blog, love it! where can I buy this book? more to the point, where can i buy to stock at the barefoot bookshop?<br />it sounds wonderful.<br />thanks so much for the review.<br /><br />kind regards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-1231540221509966202010-09-05T00:51:25.029-07:002010-09-05T00:51:25.029-07:00I totally agree with the comment that the "So...I totally agree with the comment that the "Some situations are more suited to a Western landscape than here in Sri Lanka and the writing sounds squarely American"<br />IT was the first thing that came to my mind when reading the book.. but it sounds more British than American... Mark Wilde is obsessed with describing everything in dollars... he calls three wheelers "Tuk Tuks" now no Undergraduate of Sri Lankan will use the term TUK TUK .... and there are several other indications too ... <br />anyways the book is very radical ... one of the best novels to come from Sri Lanka .. <br /><br />AmareshAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-66920129371535330352010-08-09T01:24:42.893-07:002010-08-09T01:24:42.893-07:00I agree with you Abeeth. However, I highly doubt t...I agree with you Abeeth. However, I highly doubt that he wrote it based on his own experiences. I think that he may have got his information from several students and changed it up to make it appeal to the young, english-reading, westernized youth of Sri Lanka. The evidence for this are the quotations from popular songs and references to a load of pop culture. What does everyone else think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-41877462833096033052010-08-06T10:12:12.185-07:002010-08-06T10:12:12.185-07:00He didnt go to uni?...hmm, but reading his descrip...He didnt go to uni?...hmm, but reading his descriptions of the Uni it sounds more like Kelaniya than Colombo...any thoughts?<br /><br />AbeethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-65250295426454497132010-08-04T01:53:45.914-07:002010-08-04T01:53:45.914-07:00How on earth do you know that???How on earth do you know that???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-27051868394740402902010-08-01T20:33:30.961-07:002010-08-01T20:33:30.961-07:00I know his real name and who he is. He did go to A...I know his real name and who he is. He did go to Ananda. He never went to University, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-83213059960064754102010-07-19T20:17:36.727-07:002010-07-19T20:17:36.727-07:00What a compelling review! Even though there seems ...What a compelling review! Even though there seems to be much to criticize about this book, I am impatient to read this book to come to my own conclusion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-68104332492763796462010-07-13T01:18:15.514-07:002010-07-13T01:18:15.514-07:00"I would not be surprised if Mark Wilde the w..."I would not be surprised if Mark Wilde the writer turns out to be an ex-pat kid or an international school product" how would you explain his understanding of social issues and his pro JVP stance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-54994848603065302512010-07-11T06:14:04.814-07:002010-07-11T06:14:04.814-07:00I don't know, but apart from the way Sam dress...I don't know, but apart from the way Sam dresses it reminded me of the people at Colombo Uni when i was there. great layout and narration <br /><br />- AbeethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726429560999358758.post-31220344238533032682010-07-11T06:11:50.146-07:002010-07-11T06:11:50.146-07:00yeah, bought the book at the Gratiaen short list e...yeah, bought the book at the Gratiaen short list event.Shocked it was left out after reading it but hope it does well here and maybe abroad, coz it does have the capacity to connect with anyone anywhere, i think <br /><br />- JeevanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com