37 pages • 1 hour read
Nayomi MunaweeraIsland of a Thousand Mirrors
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera is a novel centered on the Sri Lankan Civil War, narrated from the perspectives of Yasodhara, a Sinhala woman who emigrates to the United States with her family, and Saraswathi, a Tamil girl whose life is shattered by the conflict, leading her to join a militant group. Graphic depictions of violence, including sexual assault, are included.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera poignantly captures the Sri Lankan civil war's impact on two families from opposite sides. Munaweera's lyrical prose and vivid imagery are widely praised, but some critique the uneven pacing and character development. Nonetheless, the novel offers a compelling, emotional exploration of conflict and identity.
Who Should Read Island of a Thousand Mirrors?
Readers who appreciate deeply emotional narratives and intricate family sagas, as seen in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, will be drawn to Nayomi Munaweera's Island of a Thousand Mirrors. This novel offers a poignant exploration of Sri Lanka's civil war through evocative prose and rich cultural context.