Blog tour: Song of the Sun God

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Welcome to the blog tour for Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chadran!

More about the book…

Nala and Rajan, a young couple, begin their married life in 1946, on the eve of Ceylon’s independence from Britain. Arranged in marriage, they learn to love each other and protect their growing family, against the backdrop of increasing ethnic tension.

As the country descends into a bloody civil war, Nala and Rajan must decide which path is best for their family; and live with the consequences of their mistakes.

Over time, Nala and Rajan teach their family why some parts of their history and heritage are worth holding onto; and why some parts and people have to be left behind.

Song of the Sun God spans three continents and three generations of a family that remains dedicated to its homeland, whilst learning to embrace its new home. Funny, warm and tender, we see Nala and Rajan’s family navigate war, migration, old loyalties and new beginnings, relying on the philosophy of their religion, their ancestors and each other.

More about the author…

Shankari Chandran was raised in Canberra, Australia.

She spent a decade in London, working as a lawyer in the social justice field.

She eventually returned home to Australia, where she now lives with her husband, four children and their cavoodle puppy, Benji.

She is the author of two other novels, The Barrier and Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, which won the 2023 Miles Franklin Award, Australia's most prestigious literary prize.

My impressions…

Since reading Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, Shankari Chadran stands for great, powerful storytelling, and this novel is a further example of this belief. The civil war in Sri Lanka – or Ceylon until 1972 – wasn’t entirely new to me thanks to her previous book, but I loved the opportunity to learn more. Throughout the pages there is a real sense of time and place, and the characters become alive and refuse to be forgotten. Of particular interest to me was the theme of migration, especially when it is out of necessity. What do you hold onto from your past? What do you embrace of your new reality? The conversations that this book could spark are endless.

Three words to describe it. Emotional. Inspiring. Delicate.

Do I like the cover? Yes, everything about it is gorgeous.

Have I read any other books by the same author? Yes, I read Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, which I highly recommend.

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