Those I Have Lost
After an idyllic childhood in Madras, Rosie is uprooted at age ten when her Amma dies, leaving her Pa, a reclusive academic, completely bereft. He reluctantly agrees that Rosie can go to live on a Ceylonese tea plantation with Aunt Silvia (Amma’s best friend), Uncle Henry, and their three sons. She grows to love her newfound brothers but sometimes finds their behaviour enigmatic and their motivations unclear. Despite her aunt’s and uncle’s discouragement, her close friendship with Usha, daughter of the Tamil head housekeeper, becomes the only truly valuable thing in Rosie’s life. A betrayal forces Usha to move away, but the friendship remains, despite long lapses in communication. World War II brings the Japanese invasion of Malaya, and all three boys go off to war, and for all the snobbery exhibited by their white parents, they seem cursed. Then Pa disappears, making her wonder what home really is.
This coming-of-age novel, set between 1933 and 1946, is entrancing, the settings beautifully described, and the author’s words evoke all the vibrant beauty and aromas one would expect of tropical countries. Without overdramatising, unexpected twists and turns unfold, and there’s always another slow reveal just beyond the next page. The relationships are heartfelt, especially Rosie’s friendship with Usha, which comes about because her parents taught her about equality and love for all her fellow human beings. There is joy, sadness, misunderstandings and some poignant reunions, and I loved the way the prologue worked its way seamlessly into the story. Those I Have Lost echoes with strong themes of family, love and belonging, with a fitting conclusion I didn’t anticipate.
