Not Quite Paradise

An American Sojourn in Sri Lanka

De: Adele Barker

Narrado por: Adele Barker

A chronicle of life on the resplendent island. Adele Barker and her son, Noah, settled into the central highlands of Sri Lanka for an 18-month sojourn, immersing themselves in the customs, cultures, and landscapes of the island: its elephants, birds, and monkeys; its hot curries and sweet mangoes; the cacophony of its markets; the resonant evening chants from its temples. They hear stories of the island's colorful past and its 25-year civil war between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil Tigers.

When, having returned home to Tucson, Barker awakes on December 26, 2004, to see televised images of the island's southern shore disappearing into the ocean, she decides she must go back. Traveling from the southernmost coasts to the farthest outposts of the Tamil north, she witnesses the ravages of the tsunami that killed 48,000 Sri Lankans in the space of 20 minutes, and reports from the ground on the triumphs and failures of relief efforts. Combining the immediacy of memoir and the vividness of travelogue with the insight of the best reportage, Not Quite Paradise chronicles life in a place few have ever visited. The book is published by Beacon Press.

©2010 Adele Barker (P)2011 Adele Barker

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Rich in the tales of Sri Lanka under colonial British rule as well as coverage of the current civil war, Barker's memoir is an enlightening and captivating read." ( Booklist)

A great education

This was a very heartfelt book that set out to divulge the different factions that have been warring for years on this fantastic island.It also delves into the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated the island.I find myself compelled to want to travel to this country,but think I would simply avoid the north and its myriad of problems.The preserve in the southwest where birds and numerous rare tree species really seemed like a fantastic place to go.

The author really does her best to try and penetrate the complexities of Asian society.I live in China and have studied the language in depth,but often still feel I am on the outside after nearly three years of living here.I felt like she was able to really know the people there better because they were fluent in English.

Informative, evocative, captivating

Adele Barker’s book painted a broad picture of the history, culture, politics and civil war of this
almost paradise that I feel I have almost visited
thanks to her excellent writing and reading. What a reporter.

Wonderful history lesson plus fish out of water story

A sincere and in-depth account of Sri Lanka’s civil war and effects of the 2004 tsunami as learned by the author from her personal relationships with Lankans during her year as a professor plus subsequent return after 2004! Author reads the book herself—entirely heartfelt, she was so engaged in the culture...
highly recommend!