Resumo de In The Shadow Of The Tamarind Tree

Although Matthew S Friedman has chosen a Sri Lankan palette
of colours and background to paint his word pictures In the
Shadow of the Tamarind Tree, this story could have easily
been set anywhere. It could have been set in any city, town
or village, anywhere in the world where people live, think
and feel, and still the value of the theme would remain
unchanged; the message touching, inspirational and
powerful. People are people whether they live in Auckland,
Berlin, Culcutta, New York, London, Paris or in
Anuradhagama, a village somewhere in Sri Lanka, where this
story takes place. And their feelings are subtle and
fragile; their tragedies frighteningly personal and
isolating.

Tore, a seventy two year old man sits grieving under the
Tamarind tree, facing the ocean, devastated by the loss of
his wife. Lyla, a little child whose small brother has
died joins him on the bench. Tore is shunning the world,
his friends who approach him and his daughter who shows
concern. From morning till evening he sits under the
Tamarind, too apathetic to turn the pages of his favourite
poetry book or to walk to the edge of the shore to feel the
soothing waves upon his feet.

Can anything take him out of himself, one wonders. What
could he be feeling? What guilt and dark sorrow is he
hiding in his silent lonely heart? We learn that he never
shed a tear for his wife. And he tells Lyla, of course,
after much insistence and persistence from the little girl,
that ?Whatever purpose I once had has long passed. I am old
and used up ? empty inside. For me, I am waiting for death
to come ? and when it does, it will be welcomed like a dear
friend.?

How familiar that would sound to many a caring soul. We
have heard loved ones say this and felt helpless. This
story, partly real, partly magical and mythical, with
elements of nature and folklore woven in, is about the way
simple human contact can heal wounds, both within us and in
another person?s heart.

And it is about hope and rejuvenation; about living and
savouring every moment; about discovering the miracle of
life, again and yet again, regardless of age. The book,
though it is only 108 pages long, is a deep mine where each
page and paragraph could confront you with yet another gem;
another moment of truth. Here?s an example:

Little Lyla is impatient about tasting the Tamarind fruit.
Why not have it now, is her question. Tore says: ?The world
is always rushing everything. All is perfect at the time
that it is. There are moments in life when one should wait
and truly savour the best that this earth has to offer.
When it comes to the fruit on this tree, the first ripe pod
to fall to the ground is the best. So I wait.?

The story is also about overcoming prejudices, confronting
our inner fears and believing that goodness, love and
gentleness can come into each and every heart, if only we
take a risk and give it the chance.

This is the eighth book published by the author. Except for
a minor point on the terminology about Kabaragoyas (monitor
lizards), many of which appear in the story, all I can say
of the book are positive. It makes you think; makes you sit
up and ask whether you have made any mistakes; and whether
it is not too late to change that. It gives you the
courage, and ample reason to change, if you want to change.
It reinforces your faith in human goodness, especially if
you have been used to doubting its existence. It reminds
you the Power of One ? what a great difference a single
person can make in another?s life; and reminds you that the
same applies to you too.

As the last word, a great book for the young and the old,
valuable to give as a gift, even to those who are not much
into reading. They will eenjoy this, both for the story and
the easy-to-read style!

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