Standstill

The art of evading my problems across three continents

De: Sashi Perera

Narrado por: Sashi Perera

After cancelling a destination wedding in Sri Lanka at the eleventh hour, most people would take a moment to regroup. Not Sashi - insisting she's unfazed, she plunges into working with international refugee organisations around the world. Those sleepless nights are for reflecting on chaotic romances, work stress and transient lifestyles, right?

After one too many messy experiences, Sashi must accept that life is at a standstill. She returns to Australia where her reality stinks. But that just might be where she needs to be.

From online comedy sensation Sashi Perera, Standstill is a memoir of reluctant self-discovery by a person forced towards a mirror kicking and screaming, finally looking in and saying, Oh shit. It's for anyone who's lost their identity, relationship or place in the world and hesitated every step along the journey to get them back.

©2025 Sashi Perera (P)2025 Penguin Random House Australia Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

'Brilliant, vulnerable and hilarious. Sashi Perera has given us a comedy, a tragedy, a memoir, a polemic and an instruction manual on self-forgiveness. I laughed and cried, often at the same time.' SHANKARI CHANDRAN

'This book is chaos. This book is laughter and love. This book is a friend. Give it to someone who struggles, to someone you love, someone who needs to forgive themselves. Give it to you. I adored it.' FREDRIK BACKMAN

'This book isn't just funny (which, obviously) - it's also a deep dive into identity and belonging. Even when she's in a hectic shame spiral, completely adrift (which, let's be honest, happens a lot, Sashi), she's still relentlessly searching for meaning in a world that sometimes feels like it's lost its own. Bloody impressive. I loved every page. It's brilliant.' EM RUSCIANO

Amazing storytelling

Felt like sitting in a bar exchanging tales with someone who has not just amazing stories but a deep understanding of the workings of the immigration system. Funny, thought-provoking and an amazing unravelling of the author’s journeys around the world and back to herself.

Incredible story and narration!

Sashi’s takes on Sri Lankan culture and nuances were so spot on and so witty. I loved the sprinkling in and accurate pronunciation of Sinhala words! Her incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate portrayal of refugee struggles and global conflicts was moving and educational. It was the exact book I needed in my current stage of life, and I recommend it to anyone who is navigating significant life transitions and milestones while feeling out of sync with others around you. I also loved her honest and thoughtful narration of her experiences with therapy and using what she learned/ discovered to navigate complex family dynamics and her own feelings of guilt/ loneliness/ grief. Several parts made me laugh, which I expected having seen clips of her stand up comedy. Unexpectedly, I also found myself moved to tears by some parts of her story. Excited to read more by Sashi whenever she processes and writes more about her journey.

Great Book Despite Hatred of Sausage Dogs

This book was awesome. It was a very funny story about a person dealing with a breakup and trying to get their life together and find out what they want. You will also end up learning a lot more about the systems refugees actually go through. The one mark against this book is the author’s pathological hatred of sausage dogs that bleeds through almost every page.

Captivating, Inspiring, and Forthright

It's hard not to binge this book as Sashi recounts her adventures across 4 continents working to help those with world working against them while meeting new friends, engaging in some light debauchery, and doing the work to make her own life better. The author is an excellent narrator. Strongly recommend!

Honest, refreshing, hilarious!

A Sri Lankan woman spilling the details of her love life and career challenges? Where have you been all my life, Sashi Perera? Sashi shares the details of her personal journey with a refreshing intimacy that made me laugh, cringe, and feel seen. As a huge fan of her standup, and a victim of ‘browndaries’, this book was everything I’d hoped for, and politically informative to boot!

Great read

I enjoyed listening to Standstill - a story about resilience. It was particularly interesting that she discussed the plight of refugees and refugee settlement as a parallel to her life was falling apart. Her compassion for the world’s most vulnerable people while her life was imploding touched my heart.

A Guide to Figuring Life Out (In A Slightly Chaotic & Messy Way)

Sashi Perera’s “Standstill” hit me right in the heart. So many moments resonated with me—from feeling like you never belong anywhere, to navigating the expectations of Sri Lankan parents (and that feeling of letting them down when your life doesn’t follow the script they imagined) to the hilarious, sometimes painful journey of kissing frog after frog (nay toad after toad) before finally finding Prince Charming. Her storytelling is witty, vulnerable, and deeply relatable. I found myself nodding, laughing, and even tearing up at times because it felt like she was telling pieces of my own story (minus all that running around in Sub Saharan Africa). And then there’s Warren, if you’ve ever had a Warren in your life (and sadly I have), you’ll understand why I was cheering for his downfall. Warren... laissez-le se cogner sur chaque coin de chaque table du monde, pour toujours. But I digress so if you want a book that makes you feel seen, understood, and thoroughly entertained, Standstill is it! Sashi Perera you’ve given us a gem.