Review: Banks of the River Thillai

Rajes Bala, Banks of the River Thillai (The Conrad Press 2021)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59079655-the-banks-of-the-river-thillai?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RccIYH7pp2&rank=1

We follow the lives of the girls, Gowri, Saratha and Buvana, three cousins, as they blossom into womanhood under the strict, matriarchal thumb of Grandma.
Grandma is determined to uphold Tamil traditions and wants nothing more than to get the girls married off to boys from good families.
But the girls have other plans.
However, events in the outside world transform the village. The River Thillai floods its banks, causing widespread devastation, and the Sinhalese army perpetrates ethnic cleansing, killing young men and raping girls. As the villagers are drawn into the political struggle for Tamil rights, personal tensions arise between the leaders of two prominent clans. The men’s hostility permanently impacts the girls’ lives. Grandma’s plans for her three granddaughters go tragically awry.
This novel is most certainly a must read for all Tamils, but also non-Tamils will adore it. It paints a gorgeous picture of a bygone era and a lifestyle which no longer exists. I was thrilled to learn all the lovely details about Tamil culture.
It’s beautifully written, poignantly describing the beauty of the village and the river. You can almost taste the coconut prawn curry and smell the incense wafting from Ganesh’s temple down the sunset-coloured lane. The characters are absolutely fantastic, and there are numerous hilariously funny scenes.