Lead Review (Sylvia by Maithreyi Karnoor)

• Book: Sylvia
• Location: Goa, Karnataka
• Author: Maithreyi Karnoor

Review Author: Tina Hartas

There are 2 parts to this short novel. In the first part Sylvia, a writer, makes an effort to connect with her Uncle Cajetan Pereira (otherwise known as Bhaubaab) who is looking for a property. What he finds is something that is so run down that extensive work is needed. He befriends his young neighbour, Lakshmi and their lives intertwine (at first over the process of catching a snake and learning the differences between the varieties!). Part 2 introduces further characters whose lives overlap, with appearances by Sylvia, the leitmotif characters of the title.

Whilst Bhaubaab is settling into his new house, Sylvia is in Karnataka and there she espies the baobab trees. These large trees represent longevity and solidity, standing in stark contrast to the lives that are described milling around, standing witness to generations of people, coming and going, living and dying.

The prose here is stand out, it is delicately put together and a pleasure to read.

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