Romesh Gunesekera launches ‘Suncatcher’

Saturday, 1 February 2020 01:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Romesh Gunasekara

The British Council Colombo was delighted to host in its Library the launch of Romesh Gunesekera’s latest book ‘Suncatcher’ at an event attended by literature lovers, library members and friends on Tuesday 28 January.

Gunesekera read from his work, an enthralling and poignant coming-of-age novel about complicated friendships and the role it plays in influencing a young dreamer to sudden awakenings to the realities of the world.

Growing up both here in Sri Lanka and in the Philippines, and now a citizen of the United Kingdom, Romesh Gunesekera is the popular author of ‘Monkfish Moon,’ ‘The Sandglass,’ ‘The Match,’ ‘Noontide Toll,’ and the Booker Prize shortlisted author of ‘Reef’.

‘Suncatcher’ addresses the promises of privilege and the uncertainty of life. It is endlessly funny in its story and uses prose as its writing form. It mesmerisingly charts the loss of childish innocence and reminds us of our own recurring search for love, consolation and happiness, bringing the lives of these colourful and exciting characters in relation to the story of our own lives.

Set in the early sixties it takes us back in time when Ceylon was not yet Sri Lanka. It was a time of constant change where boys were impatient to be men, impatient to see the world with new eyes, impatient to lose their innocence in their search for wealth and prosperity in the midst of tumult and despair.

‘Suncatcher’ is widely acclaimed by the Financial Times, the Scotsman, The Sunday Times London, Publisher’s Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, The Guardian and many more renowned critiques.

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara