Book - 45, Running in the Family

Running in the Family (1982)

by

Michael Ondaatje

Book Read: 22-23 December 2015

Note Written: 18 January 2016

'Running in the Family is a memoir/fictional account about the ancestors of Michael Ondaatje, at his birthplace, Sri Lanka. There is no specific pattern visible in this book - the accounts are chaotic, just like the people who are characters of these anecdotes. It is a fun read. It filled me with a kind of nostalgia towards Kerala, not so different in geography from Sri Lanka. These are stories found in and associated with most 'hometowns' as well, as local legends, featuring local characters from all our childhoods. 

Every place has its own unique stories to tell, unique people to remember. These could be relatives, friends, acquaintances, or people who are just flashes of memories for you. I have many such local legends/interesting characters around the places I grew up - Devasiappy, Keeran, Quintel Hamsa (about whom I've written here in Malayalam), Kunjettan etc. 

Michael Ondaatje's ancestor's and their friends lived in an interesting time in colonial Sri Lanka, and their history is more interesting because they don't identify with the natives much or the Britisher's for that matter. They are a completely mixed race with double lives - as locals but also outsiders. Identity is a weird thing and it is interesting to see how each person is different according to his birth and growing up circumstances. Will people behave or be different if they were born or brought up in another place or time? Or will their basic nature be same? I am going off topic I think. The book was fun - might read again. Do read, all of you.

PS: You can read another point of view of the book, written by my friend, here.