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Song of the Sun God

By: Shankari Chandran
Narrated by: Shabana Azeez
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Summary

Nala and Rajan, a young couple, begin their married life in 1946, on the eve of Ceylon's independence from Britain. Arranged in marriage, they learn to love each other and protect their growing family, against the backdrop of increasing ethnic tension. As the country descends into a bloody civil war, Nala and Rajan must decide which path is best for their family; and live with the consequences of their mistakes.

Over time, Nala and Rajan teach their family why some parts of their history and heritage are worth holding onto; and why some parts and people have to be left behind. Song of the Sun God spans three continents and three generations of a family that remains dedicated to its homeland, whilst learning to embrace its new home.

Funny at times, warm and tender at others, we see Nala and Rajan's family navigate war, migration, old loyalties and new beginnings, relying on the philosophy of their religion, their ancestors and each other. Song of the Sun God is about the wisdom, mistakes and sacrifices of our past that enable us to live more freely in the future. It is about finding home and forgiving family.

'Shabana Azeez is a soft-voiced narrator for this family epic set amid the transformation of Ceylon from a British colony into the nation of Sri Lanka. She delivers in rich detail the love story and dilemmas facing Nala and Rajan, two young people who become parents at a turbulent time in their emerging nation. Azeez inspires affection and sympathy from listeners, who may be unfamiliar with this history. For fans of international literature, this is a wonderful listening experience. Azeez takes listeners from the lives of parents Nala and Rajan to the lives of their children and even their grandchildren as the consequences of not-so-simple decisions echo down the generations. Azeez has listeners hanging on every word.' AudioFile

©2022 Shankari Chandran (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd and Ultimo Press
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I enjoyed the descriptive techniques and storyline,so much so I went on to buy the book as well!

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Beautiful and heart breaking

Shankari Chandran’s gift of story telling touched the deepest part of me.The story spanning generations rings true and will resound with anyone touched by war and forced migration . It is beautifully written and narrated. It helps the reader to understand a lot of what happened in Sri Lanka, the true havoc that war brings. I particularly liked the philosophy of the Baghdad Gita and the stories from the Mahabharata that are weaved into the story. I could picture so many of the characters. It is a wonderful book.

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Beautiful

Loved the stories taking us through multi generations, migrations and identity. I'm a child of parents who fled Sri Lanka in the 80s, and have heard numerous stories of suffering and survival. However, Shankari Chandran's storytelling engulfed me into the lives of Nala's family and it felt like I was there. It felt so healing listening to a shared experience. Our lives are so similar yet so unique. Thank you for this story Shankari Chandran!

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