Title: The Watch
Author: Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya
Publisher: Vintage
Publication Date: May/June 2012
Pages: 312
Format: Paperback
Genre: Literary
Source: ARC via Dymocks Giveaway
Following a desperate night-long battle, a group of beleaguered soldiers in an isolated base in Kandahar are faced with a lone woman demanding the return of her brother’s body. Is she a spy, a black widow, a lunatic, or is she what she claims to be: a grieving young sister intent on burying her brother according to local rites? Single-minded in her mission, she refuses to move from her spot on the field in full view of every soldier in the stark outpost. Her presence quickly proves dangerous as the camp’s tense, claustrophobic atmosphere comes to a boil when the men begin arguing about what to do next. (Goodreads Synopsis)
This was a very interesting piece. I loved the way the Antigone story was transposed into a modern situation and the background of the war in Afghanistan seemed very fitting.
The lack of speech punctuation irritated me at first, but soon I got used to it. I did like the way the story was told through the viewpoints of several different characters; it added extra layers of meaning and let you see things from all perspectives.
This is a compelling tale and is presented perfectly with good pacing and plenty of emotional depth. I would definitely be keen to read more works by this author.
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