Book Review: The Teardrop Island

The Teardrop Island by Cherry Briggs is an entertaining, accessible book that will be of particular interest to readers largely unfamiliar with Sri Lanka. While living and working in the country as a teacher, Briggs (who is from England) stumbles upon the work of a Victorian writer and explorer, James Emerson Tennent. Beginning in Colombo -- the capital, she decides to follow in Tennent's footsteps and travel around the country. Throughout the course of the book, she covers quite a bit of ground.

From Galle to Trincomalee to Jaffna to the country's "Cultural Triangle" and more, the reader travels along with Briggs as she further familiarizes herself with the diverse nation. To her credit, she spends a fair amount of time in the war-torn north and east -- locations that less committed travelers might ignore, or visit only superficially.

Refreshingly, Briggs does not hesitate to speak or interact with Sri Lankans from all walks of life; she is a thoughtful, observant traveler who is always cognizant that she's a foreigner in a land far from home.

The book is a little over 300 pages and can be read quickly. Briggs is not an especially talented writer. She does, however, write succinctly and has obviously read a fair amount about the island. The book benefits from her above-average knowledge of Sri Lanka's culture and history. For first-time visitors to the country or others curious to learn about a complex, fascinating South Asian nation, The Teardrop Island may be a good place to start.

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