Mosquito
Costa First Novel Award 2007 Shortlist
Judges: "A compelling story set in war torn Sri Lanka - poignant, exquisitely told and a captivating view of unusual love and survival."
When author Theo Samarajeeva returns to his native Sri Lanka he is in search of inspiration in the lush landscape of a beautiful but increasingly war-torn land. Soon the widower finds friendship with a budding artist, sixteen - year - old Nulani. Gradually, love blossoms between them - only to be torn apart when tensions in the troubled country erupt into violence.
How will they survive the terrible consequences? And what will the grief and horror they have endured mean for those around them?
"Heart-rending ... readers of this powerful novel cannot fail to be moved" Christopher Ondaatje, SPECTATOR
"BEAUTIFUL ... An engaging and thought-provoking novel."
"Mosquito lyrically captures a country drenched in both incomparable beauty and the stink of hatred" GUARDIAN
"Mosquito shimmers with evocative prose but it also resonates with the darkness of men's cruelty." THE COURIER MAIL (Australia)
"Lovely, vividly described" THE TIMES
"A beautiful novel" SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
"This is a debut novel by an established Sri Lankan artist, whose visual skills are reflected in the vivid word sketches of characters and landscapes." Alision Brice NEW BOOKS MAGAZINE
Bone China
Aloysius's news had not come as a surprise. Grace had always known that one day they would have to leave the valley where she had been born. There had been too many rumours, too many hints dropped by the British planters during the past few months. It had all pointed to this. So much of their own land had gradually been sold off. British taxes, unrest amongst the workers and general mismanagement of the estates had all played a part. her drunken husband had merely speeded things up.
Grace de Silver, wife of the shiftless but calming Aloysius, has five children and a crumbling marriage. Her oldest son, Jacob, wants desperately to go to England. Thornton, the most beautiful of all the children, and his mothers favourite, dreams of becoming a poet. Alicia wants to be a concert pianist. Only Frieda has no ambition except to remain close to her family. But civil unrest is stirring in Sri Lanka and Christopher, the youngest and the rebel of the family, is caught up in the tragedy that follows.
"Told with intelligence and grace, Bone China is a compassionate tale of an anguished spirit with an irrepressible quest for assimilation. Perhaps this single, slender volume of expression will get the author the acceptance she deserves." Christopher Ondaatje TELEGRAPH
"One of those rich, nourishing family sagas that seizes the imagination.…Tearne carries her story triumphantly into the present." Kate Saunders TIMES
"Tearne’s evocative descriptions of landscapes, cities, wildlife and weather carry the novel through its geographical shifts." Katherine Hibbart TLS
"I found myself emotionally identifying with the characters and enjoying the family drama. It was a book that made me laugh and cry." Ed Wright THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD