Jessy Scaria's Review
Being currently engaged in the process of translating into English Junaith Aboobaker's Malayalam novel, Ponon Gombe, I started reading his latest book in English, "Seven Days in Linchward Barn", with a sense of curiosity. And on finishing, my respect for this bilingual author has shot up quite a few notches.
He has written a politically and historically relevant novella not just in flowing English that is pleasing to read, but also in Jamaican patois, that imparts a better sense of authenticity to the whole story, so much so that I almost feel that my role as a translator for his Malayalam works is redundant. :-)
As in his Malayalam novels, Junaith has uniquely woven historical facts into the intricate web of the fantasy of modernity and the reality of disparate discrimination, oppression and injustice in our societies into this sweet and sour short sojourn of a young Jamaican to his dream 'Mother Country', England. A gripping read!
The chameleon on the cover intrigues. A tribute to colour. And its impact. The racism to colour. And man's unending quest to change colours to integrate - the unchanging dull colour underneath notwithstanding.
In this era of declining multi-lingual writers, Junaith is a great promise, and an author to watch out for. Proud to be a part of his creativity.
Available in the Amazon Kindle store:
Amazon.co.uk: https://amzn.to/3g11F3x
Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/3arA8a0
Amazon.in: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08FYP8NLF
