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DRAMA A journey to find the protagonist’s roots makes for some light reading. KASTURI RAMANATHAN

Title: The Lake of Dreams

Author: Kim Edwards

Publisher: Penguin

Price: Rs. 399

One’s ancestors leave behind a colossal history that is told and retold down generations. Here is a young girl who returns to her native land ten years hence and unravels her lineage. Without much ado, she begins her journey — taking us back in time. There are many segments of the book that switch between flashes of the past and present.

Telling tales

Lucy Jarrett travels all around the world. It has been ten years since she lost her traditional identity. She marries and continues on with life. But, suddenly, feeling lonely she knocks on the doors of her childhood — returning to the Lake of Dreams. She goes on to tell us of her proud ancestry. Written in the first person by a woman — it elucidates very indirectly the evolution of womanhood across two centuries. It even explores the nuances with a small touch of self realisation that suddenly hits the protagonist. She finds it hard to believe that the others have gotten on with life, while she is stuck and cornered. Past relationships within her family, current situations and forced decisions merge to tell the story of her roots with tinges of mystery, crime and thrill.

There is that suspense that is continued all through the book, though it does drag in a few places. Sometimes, confusions arise over who is who while Lucy discovers newer members in her family tree. Yet, this book proves worthy for some light reading filled with questions that are answered with a personal touch which brings in the history of both a fictitious town and all the families that it was home to.

Kasturi Ramanathan is a II Year B.Com. Professional Student at Christ University, Bangalore

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