G1146 Book Review of The Road to URBINO by Roma TEARNE
Author: Roma Tearne
ISBN: 9781910709481
Publisher: Gallic
Type of book: Sri Lanka, England, Italy, 1990s?-2017? Art, relationships, painting, barrister, dreams, immigration, living in Italy, Pierro della Francesca, unrequited love, Sri Lankan male/ British female, perception
Year it was published: 2012, 2020
Summary:
A story of obsession, love and art set in Tuscany, Sri Lanka and London. Ras, a Sri Lankan who fled his country as a child following the violent death of his mother and his father's disappearance, has committed a crime. Dogged by his past and unable to come to terms with the killing of his mother, he struggles to make a new life for himself in the UK. Alex has loved Dee since he was 19 but failed to realise that it was a love he wouldn't find again. After Dee's marriage, he too struggles to build a meaningful life for himself. But when Ras' and Alex's lives connect, each man takes a new path culminating for Ras in the theft of a della Franceso painting, while Alex comes ever closer to Dee through tragedy in her life. Beautifully written, with a strong narrative, The Road to Urbino is the story of two very different men and their love for the women in their lives, set against the backdrop of the heartbreaking horrors of the long-running conflict in Sri Lanka.
Characters:
Main characters include Alex, Ras, Elizabeth as well as Lola, Delia and Charles. Alex is an only son born in a wealthy family who at first seems to care very little for anything and everything. Somehow he is afraid to grow up and face responsibility, very often living and dedicating his life to Delias happiness. ( Some of the things Alex has done are shocking, one being lack of compassion for his paramour in teen years.) Ras is a talented but poor painter who came from Sri Lanka who is wholly dedicated to his daughter Lola and to his circumstances. Like Alex, he definitely possesses an inordinate amount of charisma. Elizabeth is a lawyer/barrister assigned to Ras and becomes drawn to him. Lola is both an angel an a devil in one person who refuses to accept both of her sides and denies them as well. ( Ras portrays her as an angel while Alex as a devil.) She is calculating and knows the right buttons to push. Delia is Alex's paramour who is haunted by her family background and only desires to live an ordinary and fulfilling life. Charles becomes Delias husband and beyond art cares for little about Delias desires.
Theme:
There are no simple answers to our actions
Plot:
The story is written in first person narrative, although both men, Alex and Gas address Elizabeth and therefore it's hard to say if it's first or second person narrative. The story is also divided into five parts, and each part belongs to either Alex or Ras. ( Despite Alex's insensitivities and lack of understanding towards some certain issues, I think I found him equally fascinating.) There is definitely mystery in there, and it's a study of psychology more than anything. It's also addictive and sentences are pure beauty to behold.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Roma Tearne is a Sri Lankan-born, Oxford based artist, filmmaker and writer. She trained as a painter, completing her MA at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford. Her debut novel, Mosquito, was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa First Novel Prize and 2008 LA Times First Fiction Award./ Brixton Beach was a TV Book Club Best Read and The Swimmer was longlisted for the Orange Prize in 2011 and Asian Man Booker in 2012.
Opinion:
Clearly, Roma TEARNE is another author to watch out for in my list. I have previously had a chance to read her wonderful novel, The Last PIER last year, which I still remember as beautiful, atmospheric and memorable. While The Road to URBINO isn't as cerebral or emotional THE LAST PIER, it seems to tackle the genre of mystery and psychology mixed with immigration and art, and it has definitely earned a special place in my heart: because this story tackles heartbreak, immigration and obsession with classical art. This is a story a bit close to my heart, and just like The Last PIER, I learned a lot from reading this fascinating tale. For one, I am guilty of admitting that I had almost zero knowledge about Sri Lanka and it's history. ( from reading a book by another author that takes place there, I know it was called Ceylon...) i also loved the characters in the pages, both good and bad, and enjoyed being in Italy with them. I also am of opinion that the author truly shines in this novel.
This was given to me for a review
5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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