A review of ‘The Shark Binder A novel that combines historical detail with a moving personal story

• It’s a groundbreaking work in that no Lankan writer to my knowledge has previously combined a tale of young love set against a particular historical period so successfully
• The author excels in portraying Genevieve’s internal struggles and her evolving relationship with Raju, offering readers a nuanced exploration of love, loss, and redemption. The writing is lush and evocative, drawing readers into the world of early 20th-century Ceylon with its rich descriptions and emotional depth

‘The Shark Binder’, a compelling novel written by veteran writer and journalist Gamini Akmeemana, is set against the backdrop of the post-World War I world and colonial Ceylon. It follows the journey of Genevieve, a young French woman who seeks solace and purpose in the coastal town of Puttalam after the horrors of war in France. 
The narrative delves deeply into Genevieve’s quest for healing, contrasting her personal anguish with the broader themes of colonialism, cultural clash, and the search for identity. Her return to Asia is a poignant attempt to escape the horrors of war and the disillusionment she feels with life in France and Western materialism. Ceylon, with its stark contrasts of tradition and modernity, becomes both a sanctuary and a new haven for Genevieve’s emotions and quest for inner peace. 

Gamini Akmeemana is a past winner of the Gratiaen Prize

Her interactions with the local inhabitants, including Raju, a pearl diver, highlight the intertwined connections and tensions between colonial figures and native communities. 

The author excels in portraying Genevieve’s internal struggles and her evolving relationship with Raju, offering readers a nuanced exploration of love, loss, and redemption. The writing is lush and evocative, drawing readers into the world of early 20th-century Ceylon with its rich descriptions and emotional depth.  In part, this is due to painstaking research into the period – though liberties have been taken artistically, placing the last pearl fishery in the 1920s though the enterprise concluded long before that. The locations and the hustle and bustle of a pearl town that comes into life on a desolate stretch of sandy soil are brought vividly into life with considerable descriptive skills.

It’s a groundbreaking work in that no Lankan writer to my knowledge has previously combined a tale of young love set against a particular historical period so successfully

But it’s in delving into the love relationship between Genevieve and Raju that the author shows his mettle as a novelist. Gamini Akmeemana won the Gratiaen Prize with his first novel many years ago.

The Shark Binder is a literary novel, and not written for the formula-driven market. It’s not a fictionalised Blue Lagoon and cannot be easily compartmentalised into today’s favourite, overcrowded publishing genres such as young adult fiction. This is a story for all ages about interracial love, two people meeting in an unlikely place quite by accident, discovering that there is a void within themselves which can only be filled by the other party. But they must swim against very strong currents indeed.

It’s not quite rich girl meets poor boy – though Raju the pearl diver is poor, Genevieve is hardly rich. But her racial identity puts her socially above him in that colonial setting. It is here that the author really shows his writing skills, without running into cliches, and getting himself or his characters blown up in this socio-cultural minefield.
Overall, ‘The Shark Binder’ is a beautifully crafted novel that combines historical detail with a moving personal story, providing insights into both the period and the human condition. It is a thoughtful and engaging read for those interested in historical fiction, the complexities of cross-cultural experiences, and a compelling love story. 
(The book is now available at Barefoot. It should also be available at Sarasavi Bookshop soon. The book can be ordered directly from Neptune Publications, Malabe - 077-7381335).