A novel means a new way of doing a story. If you go back the origins of a novel, 'Clarissa' - that's not a novel; it's just a bunch of letters. But it isn't! Because it's organised in a particular way! A novel is what you make of it. Romesh Gunesekera backbunchclarissa share on social
When I was growing up, I don't think I knew any other child who had been out of Sri Lanka. Romesh Gunesekera childgrowknow Change image and share on social
'Commonwealth' is not a word I ever used growing up in Colombo. There, in the late 1950s, it would have meant little more than New Zealand lamb and Anchor butter at the cold stores. Romesh Gunesekera 1950sanchorbutter Change image and share on social
The old idea that you grow wiser as you get older, and you learn from your elders, is actually completely wrong. Romesh Gunesekera completelyeldergrow Change image and share on social
Writing is incredibly important to me as a way of handling the world, understanding how it works. Romesh Gunesekera handleimportantincredibly Change image and share on social
Who controls the present controls the past. There's a power structure, if you like, between the present and the past and the future, and that's what I'm interested in. Romesh Gunesekera controlfutureinterest Change image and share on social
Sure, cricket on a beach on the isle of Jura is different from a Test match in a stadium in Galle, 6000 miles away, despite the sea air. Romesh Gunesekera airbeachcricket Change image and share on social
At 16, I started reading trashy stuff, anything slightly naughty and risque. Romesh Gunesekera naughtyreadrisque Change image and share on social
With 'Noontide Toll', I wanted to cater to a single story but also collectively more than a single story. Romesh Gunesekera catercollectivelynoontide Change image and share on social
Most childhoods are full of anxiety, but that tends to get smoothed over, so you have a sense of nostalgia. Romesh Gunesekera anxietychildhoodfull Change image and share on social
