Author: Chandra Prasad
Title: Damselfly
One word: fantastic! I have absolutely loved
this book from the very beginning. The setting is that of Lord of the Flies,
only with a fresh, contemporary cut. A group of teens, forming the fencing team
of the private school Drake Rosemond, find themselves stranded on an island
after a plane crash. The small island is mostly covered by the thick vegetation
of a jungle, an overwhelming environment to which the youths must adapt
quickly, just as they must immediately deal with the loss of some of their
companions. Thanks to Mel, a capable and pragmatic young woman, having
extensive knowledge about plants and natural things, they manage to settle down
to an acceptable routine, while finding their way around the island, hoping
they will soon be rescued. Nonetheless, help doesn’t come; instead they are
faced with a new problem: they are not alone on the island, and whoever lives
there wants them out without delay. As time goes by, difficulties and fear
bring out each person’s true personality, for good and for bad. Some find they
perfectly fit with this new, wild environment, others find a purpose in their
life. This does not apply to Mel and Sam though, they have someone to get back
to, and they can see beyond the idyll of the moment. The relationships between
the members of the group have already been put to the test many times, on the
long run things could degenerate dangerously as the balances of power switch
rapidly.
This book is a perfect balance of pace and
exploration of the circumstances and behaviours of the characters. Details of
each person’s history trickle throughout the narration, forming a background
allowing the reader to understand the character’s actions. However, you can
also perceive how each youth evolves from that background, drawing on the new
circumstances to bring out aspects of their personality that their former
situation had not allowed to emerge. The author makes a truly masterly job out of
portraying her characters; with fairness and realism she shows both the
positive qualities and the hidden dark corners in the souls of all her
protagonists. They are so well depicted that the whole of mankind is reflected
in them. I personally found myself very close to Sam’s personality, I even
found myself loathing the way some among the characters behave, but then I
stopped to think. I asked myself whether I was so sure I would have been able
to stick to all of my convictions so strongly and unyieldingly in such a
situation. I couldn’t give myself an answer, so I came to the conclusion that
most of us contain most of the good and bad shown by each of those youths, and
until you’re tested you can only hope you’ll be able to remain the righteous
person you are in your usual circumstances. Yes, I do believe there are
personalities more inclined to compassion and others to selfishness. I do
believe the concepts of justice, right and wrong, remain the same even in
extreme conditions. What can be debated, instead, is whether most of us would
still be able to elaborate those concepts keeping the same coordinates that
guide us in daily life.
This book offers plenty of food for thoughts on
many issues, including the hypocrisy hidden behind many ordinary conventions,
and how even the best of people can be superficial or naive in certain
instances. This novel would be a great choice for an open discussion at the
library. Also, the narration is gritty but never gruesome, and when it is
delicate, it is never quixotic.
Great style, very well written and rich in
content.
