Brotherless Night

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, racism, and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What aspects of Sashi’s perspective on the Sri Lankan civil war most challenged or changed your understanding of people who live through extended conflicts?

2. The novel spans almost three decades of history, showing multiple phases of violence and fleeting periods of hope. Which moments in the story affected you most deeply?

3. How does Brotherless Night compare to other novels about civil wars such as Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost, which also explores the Sri Lankan conflict through the lens of human rights documentation?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Sashi struggles with the concept of home throughout the novel, ultimately finding herself “safe and free and never home” in New York (306). What does home mean to you?

2. The novel portrays various responses to trauma through characters like Sashi, Aran, and Seelan. Which character’s coping mechanism resonated most with you and why?

3. When have your own family relationships been tested during periods of significant disagreement or crisis?