An experimental debut novel, Sylvia by Kannada translator and poet Maithreyi Karnoor is a story within many stories. Both a novel and a collection of short stories, it takes the reader to a journey of discovering common humanity roots and the human relationships in general.
From the first part - focused on an individual story, following Sylvia, her uncle Bhaubaab and his neighbour, Lakshmi - to the nine distinct stories from the second part, a full picture of life, in all his manifestations which is displayed in the front of the reader´s eyes.
The village life can be projected as a microcosm allowing us to have a look into life pace and rhythms themselves. Experimental in form, Sylvia has a highly poetic substance, that invites the reader not only to a philosophical journey, but to a a literary quest for the character Sylvia herself, particularly in the second part, where her presence is not necessarily obvious.
I would definitely want to read some of the poetry by Karnoor as well, but until then, many of the ideas exposed in Sylvia will stay with me for a significant amount of time.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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