3 out of 4 stars
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A Forgotten Survivor by Robin D. Harris is a fiction novel set during the tragic events that took place on the Indonesian coast on December 26th, 2004. It follows the story of Lorna “Lola” Lauren, a British fashion buyer working in Sri Lanka at the time of the disaster. After surviving against all the odds, she and her colleague Shey emerge from the wreckage willing to find their missing co-worker Ama. Along the way, they will discover that there are much more dangerous things than nature itself. From theft to physical violence and sexual assault, the pair will have to overcome dangerous obstacles to achieve their mission in the midst of a society and a situation where women will be more vulnerable than ever.
The author, a vocal gender equality campaigner who was visiting Sri Lanka at the time of the disaster, describes the harrowing and harsh reality faced by women and children left at the mercy of a society that does little to protect them amid such an exasperating environment. Mr. Harris narrates his story in the first person of the present time, putting the readers in the protagonist's shoes and making them go through an authentic odyssey. The author makes use of a broad and vivid descriptive language, focusing on particular details such as sounds and smells to paint a truly atrocious and maddening world.
Of course, this does not come without its disadvantages. At times, the number of details and descriptions can become overwhelming and even distracting. On the other hand, this particular approach limits the characterization work of the protagonist and the rest of the characters beyond their actions and reactions to the environment that surrounds them. It took me a long time to be able to decipher Lola and the motives behind some questionable choices she makes throughout the story. Fortunately, the almost impeccable editing work helps overcome some of these drawbacks in a way that the narrative flows according to the rhythm of the plot.
Despite its weaknesses, this is one of those books that deserves to be read. It is substantial to build a collective awareness around this type of social problems that affect those who are most vulnerable, in this case, both women and children. The story is up to the circumstances, and it deals with the subject in question with the seriousness and professionalism it deserves. The conclusion is quite satisfactory despite it was hard for me to cope with the fact that Lola and Shey did not come across a single man who was genuinely interested in aiding them out of some personal interest or longing.
To be consistent with what I have stated so far, including the problems that arise with the author's use of descriptive language, I think that the most appropriate thing for me is to give this book 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to those who want to know more about what the survivors of the Indonesian earthquake had to go through after the disaster. At the same time, I recommend it to readers of historical fiction novels, survival dramas, and even those who enjoy mystery thrillers.
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A Forgotten Survivor
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