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Gleanings
Gertrude De Livera showcases a wide spectrum of relationships
Among the Lankan writers in English coming from the female sex is a
freelance journalist with an academic background. Her second book of
short stories titled Spectrum is available from the author at Sripathi,
123 / 1 Galle Road, Dehiwela South. The book contains 23 short stories.
What I am going to do is to give the readers capsule reviews of each
of the stories without undertaking exhaustive analysis.
The Tsunami or the Angry Sea: It could have been written in a concise
manner so that the impact would have been great. The first part of the
story gives details that are not essential to build up the tempo in the
plot. It has a surprise ending much welcomed.
Out of the mud a lotus blooms: What discourages the reader continue
reading her story is that the writer has a tendency to repeat things; a
tighter editing could have made it more interesting. The contemporary
short story- long or short- is more or less like a poem. If only the
writer could avoid elucidation of events and leave it to the imagination
of the reader it would have been fine.
The Perfect Match: Except for the fact that the focus of the story is
disturbed by the inclusion of not so relevant details, this is fine
satire on the upper middle class Lankan families that are neither here
nor there in getting the grip of contemporary realities.
The Polished Dream was over: This is a beautiful story with apt
decryptions and shows the ironies of life with a turn at the end.
Student days in London: As in the rest of the stories there are
patches of careless writing (which could have been proofread and
edited), in this story as well. The O'Leary technique is found in this
story as well.
The Only Way: The writer also writes about the proletarian and
justifies the action of the two characters narrated.
That far away Greenland: Though the story enlists sympathy towards
Geraldine, the main character, the widow in the story, there seems to be
contradiction in the narrative. First we are told that "she had to be a
'provider' for her two children and do the duties of a mother as well.
She also had to attend to her old mother ad to her needs" But on page 43
she says "being childless herself Geraldine grew to be fond of Sujith"
The author seems to have rushed to print her book without checking for
caress and obvious errors.
When he was the victim: The author in her stories is concerned with
the glaring class differences in the society. A mason's son craves for
middle class showiness and resorts to stealing from not only from his
employer but also his own father. If in an earlier story she indirectly
justifies stealing in this story she gets the father punish and banish
his child.
The Devil Mask: Unprejudiced readers would agree that when we say
Lankan it includes all communities. I was happy that the writer has
introduced a few characters belonging to the Thamil community in the
story even though her stance may be her own. The opening is vivid to
suit the atmosphere. In the third paragraph you find 'lesson female' not
corrected. The writer' sense of what is right and hr observation on
middle class sensibilities come through well in this story.
A question of money: This is an unusual story in that a landowner's
daughter falling in love with a labourer - love transuding barriers.
Though socially unrealistic, it is possible that love could conquer all.
But the story doesn't end in 'happy ever after'. I liked the story
because the writer things of lovers going above the class confines.
The Decline of Kanda -Uda Walauwa: The writer has a wide range of
observations and familiarity in social issues is more evident in this
story of the fall of a feudal system.
The Empty Necklace Case: There is some confusion. Who is Mohan and
who is Mahesan? Here too carelessness in editing has occurred. A
mother's hurt feelings are drawn in this story.
Like dust to be trampled upon: This is a nice 'Lankanish' story as it
depicts the attitudes of people belonging to different classes and the
awareness of the younger generation not to be servile anymore of 'uppish
'and alienated people. But the expressions of the writer seem to be much
desired. Care for meticulous craft is lacking as in some other stories.
Was asking a crime: This is also a story that talks about the
peculiar kind of values that prevail in high society. A domestic servant
in an upper class home takes the table upside down in her encounters.
The writer selects her stories from the lives of all class of Lankan
people, which is good. I think somebody like Prof Manique Gunasekera or
the British Council author of Lankan English should analyze the
stylistics of the writer
His own heart: The locale is different here-the university .It's
about guilt of two students -male and female -over the death of a fellow
girl student. It's imaginative
The arranged marriage: This is a bold and amusing story of marital
surprises. Read it yourself. How an .arraigned marriage went wrong is
suggested at the end of the story.
The Estate: This is a fascinating story with a dash of eroticism. A
faithful moor, a bachelor in late forties is introduced. The writer
introduces a wide range of experiences and depiction in her stories.
This story is well written.
No longer a cog in the wheels: This is also a stimulating story of a
lascivious village belle, married with four children. She deserts her
unemployed sick husband and works as a domestic help in the city. She
has an illicit affair with the Master of the house.
Her last dive: The first half of the story of a comparison of some
aspects of western and estern wayof living. But in the second there e is
hurried narration causing a little confusion to the reader. It could
have been written. better.
Gertrude De Livera chose to write in English but her stories of the
lifestyles of Lankan Sinhala rural and urban people sound good and
realistic although the structure, grammar, punctuation, relevance and
the like could have been revised before sending the script to the
printer. The rustic Sinhala idiom comes right in many places in her
stories.
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