Review of Mrs Geddes and other stories

[Jorge Leon Salazar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mrs Geddes and other stories" by Saman Mahanama Dissanayake.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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In Mrs. Geddes and other stories, Saman Mahanama Dissanayake presents a collection of thirteen short stories. Without exception, all of them are entertaining and contain a brief plot with a denouement that makes you ponder. The first story that gives the book its name begins when the protagonist receives an email informing him of the death of Mrs. Geddes. She was one of his teachers at his primary school in Sri Lanka and tried to impact her students positively. This story highlights a man's appreciation for his primary school teacher to the point that he promised to hold her hand on her deathbed. Did he fulfill that promise? Another outstanding tale is "Blind Love," which poses an impossible love story between the daughter of a member of a separatist group and a soldier. He spared her and her father's lives. This story conveys a lesson about hatred, forgiveness, injustices in wars, and realizing who the good and the bad are.

The writing style is engaging since it is direct and colloquial. After the characters are introduced, the narrative generates expectations about the development of the plot. It is like when someone is going to tell you gossip or intriguing news. Several stories are narrated from a third-person perspective and the rest in the first-person. In the latter, the narrator is the protagonist, so the reader can assume the facts are anecdotes from the author. In this way, one can follow each plotline more vividly. In any case, the stories are based on his experiences, though fictional. The stories take place in Sri Lanka or Australia, which is the country where the author was born and the one he immigrated, respectively. This context serves to learn some aspects of these countries and understand a little about the way Sri Lankans think on various matters. The customs and traditions of Sri Lankans and the lifestyle of those who have immigrated to Australia are elements emphasized in some stories.

The book addresses thought-provoking topics like emigration, loyalty, love, political struggles, modernization, and preserving the roots and traditions of your origin country, among others. The approach to the themes sometimes includes thoughtful and intriguing critiques. For example, the story "Red Comrade" questioned the political stance of the militants of the parties. Likewise, "The Bet" denounced the manipulation of political leaders toward their followers.

The story I liked the most was “Humanitarian” since it included a surprising twist and an unexpected ending. It made me reflect on the contradictions of fighting for a cause and the injustices that may occur along the way. Usually, the stories have a satirical nuance manifested in the behavior of some characters. In addition, the stories convey reflective messages unbiased toward a point of view. On the contrary, they are open to the interpretation of the readers. This aspect was what I liked the most about this work.

There was nothing I disliked about this book since all the short stories were fascinating and profound. However, I have to mention editing as a feature to improve. The book requires a new round of proofreading since I spotted some misspelled words and punctuation details. Although most were minor, they cannot be overlooked, given the amount.

I enjoyed every one of these tales. I think the author is a gifted storyteller with a captivating writing style. It is a pity to deduct a star for the editing details. In summary, I award Mrs. Geddes and other stories four out of five stars. I recommend this book to those who like short stories that tackle thoughtful and controversial subjects. Also, those interested in learning about Sri Lanka and Australia will find this book attractive.

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Mrs Geddes and other stories
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[Amy Luman]

I am glad that you enjoyed reading this collection, but short stories do not really interest me. I am especially unimpressed because you found so many errors.

[Chrystal Oaks]

This book of short stories centered around Sri Lanka and Australia sounds like they provide varied points-of-view that are thought-provoking. Great review!

[Tshepsyt]

I love short stories and it seems like these were totally up my alley. Short stories will always have a special place in my heart as that's where I started. I enjoyed your review.

[Mtsweni Nelsy]

Saman Mahanama Dissanayake's collection of short stories, as you described, sounds captivating. It's wonderful to know that each story is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, leaving readers with a sense of pondering. I love how your review beautifully highlights the emotional depth of several stories, such as the protagonist's promise to his primary school teacher and the impossible love story in "Blind Love." Thanks for the review.

[Nwansimdi Mercy Someze]

In Mrs. Geddes and other stories, Saman Mahanama Dissanayake presents a collection of thirteen short stories. Without exception, all of them are entertaining and contain a brief plot with a denouement that makes you ponder. The first story that gives the book its name begins when the protagonist receives an email informing him of the death of Mrs. Geddes. She was one of his teachers at his primary school in Sri Lanka and tried to impact her students positively. This story highlights a man's appreciation for his primary school teacher to the point that he promised to hold her hand on her deathbed. Did he fulfill that promise? Another outstanding tale is "Blind Love," which poses an impossible love story between the daughter of a member of a separatist group and a soldier. He spared her and her father's lives. This story conveys a lesson about hatred, forgiveness, injustices in wars, and realizing who the good and the bad are.