An excellent bit of writing!! Very descriptive of life in Sri Lanka! It takes you to the scene of the stories! It is very thought provoking, and grabbed my attention from the time I started reading it. I couldn't put it down till I was done. The stories are full very detailed, and yet very simple and comprehensible.It is as good as The Reef. I would recommend it for anyone.

The stories in Monkfish Moon are in some ways typical short stories - most of them have no definite ending. But they are really immersive to read and once you start you'll find the book hard to put down. Coming from Sri Lanka, the island the author bases most of the stories in, I think the book paints a pretty realistic and poignant picture of the country and it's people. The stories are sad, thought-provoking, sometimes even downright uplifting, but are always full of color and detail. True, some people may find the book a bit boring, but they just don't have any patience or appreciation for atmosphere. Read this book even if you have no knowledge of Sri Lanka, you'll probably enjoy it.

Romesh Gunesekera's debut novel "Reef" is a poignantly observed tale of lost innocence, human courage and determination, and of the deep cultural divide separating the Western educated intelligentia and natives of post-colonial Sri Lanka. The humble servant boy, Triton, is steeped in old world values but hero worships the intellect of his marine geologist employer, Mr Salgado. Both fail to come to terms with the political issues of the day. Triton is too busy keeping house and entertaining Mr Salgado's friends to care. His employer spends his time astral travelling and nursing his many esoteric concerns while impressing his girlfriend, Nili, with his hospitality. Ironically, it is the humble Triton who shows more strength of character and resourcefulness than any of the educated lot. The outcome of Mr Salgado's affair with Nili is reflective of the tension generated by an evolving value system. "Reef" is both subtle and lyrical in its appeal and Gunesekera rewards us with an ending that is both heartwarming and uplifting. It is an impressive debut by Gunesekera and not surprisingly shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Highly recommended.

This short novel has so many dimensions that it is hard to say where to start. It is a beautiful description of the growing up from a shy boy to a confident professional of Triton, the servant. It has as a background the change in the Sri Lankan society and the decay of the ruling class. Through Mr Salando, Nili and his friends we get a good view on the differences between East and West. To see the 70's hippie, going to India to seek whatever it is, suddenly turn up as a very destructive force in the Eastern cultural fabric is quite hilarious. Above all, it is a beautiful story, told in a very poetical way and never failing to make the reader feel part of it.. Finally, the scenes in London are, again, painted with a beautifully fine brush. I will on my visits to London never again look at an Asian shopkeeper or restaurant owner in the same way....

This glimpse of post colonial Sri Lanka as seen through theeyes of Mister Salgado's manservant, Triton, is reminiscent of Remainsof the Day. Remarkably original (and hilarious) descriptions of eating and drinking Sri Lankan style highlight this ultimately poignant story of a revolution run amok.

This novel follows the lives of various Sri Lankan ex-pats in England and their intertwined family histories back home. While occasionally these types of novels strike a cord and manage to relate the cultural uniqueness of their country into our developed world context, this novel seemed to focus on a few spectacularly boring people and how they turned in and in on each other. My overwhelming emotion looking back on the book is disinterest. As far as I could figure, the characters could come from anywhere on the planet and be anywhere on the plant, and I will continue my search to get the feeling for Sri Lanka in some other book.

The Book is very well written as are all Romesh Gunasekera's works, but it was a litle complex!!I was a little disappointed, by the conmplexity and the way the story was not properly blended!!