Wave

A Memoir

De: Sonali Deraniyagala

Narrado por: Hannah Curtis

One of The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year

On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. In this brave and searingly frank memoir, she describes those first horrifying moments and her long journey since. She has written an engrossing, unsentimental, beautifully poised account: as she struggles through the first months following the tragedy, furiously clenched against a reality that she cannot face and cannot deny; and then, over the ensuing years, as she emerges reluctantly, slowly allowing her memory to take her back through the rich and joyous life she’s mourning, from her family’s home in London, to the birth of her children, to the year she met her English husband at Cambridge, to her childhood in Colombo; all the while learning the difficult balance between the almost unbearable reminders of her loss and the need to keep her family, somehow, still alive within her.

Exquisite story of loss and acceptance

Beautifully written and moving story of a loss of a family, the darkness that follows, and the deep resilience of the human spirit to manage through. This book makes it on the list of the top 10 best books I've ever read. Dr. Sonali was one of my lecturers at SOAS and she inspired me then and continues to inspire me now. I couldn't stop crying in the end!

Survived

I liked hearing about London and Sri Lanka and the life they lived going back-and-forth between the continents. Probably because it’s so different from mine. I’d always question myself as to why I was the one who survived this tragedy and everybody else lost their life. I hope she has healed. I know that writing does that for you.

A delicate balance.

How do you tell a story like this without overwhelming your reader. Ms. Deraniyagala uses a delicate balance of uninhibited honesty and an innate wisdom of just how much to tell. She does not hide from the unfairness in the world, even when the unfairness come from her own actions. This was a beautifully authentic book to read.

Unremitting grief.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wave?

Although we all know it logically, Wave reminds us of how quickly life can change.

Immersive

This is a story of raw grief and resilience. From the moment it started I was immersed in the author’s life and experiences - when I would stop listening I would need a moment to come back into reality. Excellent audiobook- highly recommend.