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Orphan Girl: The story of an abandoned child's tragic fate as a...
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Top positive review
Almost Unbelievable Horror
January 23, 2018
Orphan Girl by Indika Guruge has an arresting title and front cover. I assumed that the author was a non-western writer and looked forward to an account of life in orphanages and how children accommodated and changed as they grew up to an age when they would leave the orphanage. How would their experiences affect their post-orphanage life? How would they remember their experiences? This is not that book. This is a story of terrible tragedy, bravery, and an almost unbelievable tale of tolerance for pain and abuse. In the tradition of historical fiction, facts are presented which are indisputable. Fiction is created by the author as logical dialogue and character feelings are expressed that could not possibly be known by the author. Some dialogue might be backed up by interviews of friends, teachers, and substitute parents. Other dialogue must be created through author empathy. The author does an excellent job drawing the reader along a path leading to a terrible ending. I should have known better when I read the subtitle: “The story of an abandoned child's tragic fate as a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by a true story, In memory of Rizana Nafeek.” (loc 3-5).
Chapter one is a letter to Ramya from her birth parents telling her why they left her on the steps of an orphanage. Ramya has read the letter many times and dreams the event. She can see two people leaving a baby on the orphanage steps but cannot see the faces of her parents. Waking up to realize it is her eighteenth birthday, she joins some friends in a forbidden nighttime excursion outside the boundaries of the orphanage. She and her friends are caught, and we see the first instances of severe physical beatings that are the consequences of misbehavior.
Readers will see that life is not always bad in the Sri Lankan orphanage. There are visits from well-wishing donors, some of whom are looking for a child to adopt. There are gifts for all from the donors and special events, such as carnival-like parties that take place when donors show up. Ramya got lucky; a family wanted to adopt her. They couldn’t have children of their own and they liked Ramya’s demure, shy behavior. It seemed to be love at first sight between Jeevan and Shanika, an upper-middle-class family from Gampaha, and Ramya. After a short adoption processing period Ramya moved to a new home with luxuries she could barely believe; her own room and bathroom, clothes she did not have to share, and loving treatment from stepparents. Her only regret was leaving her life-long friends from the orphanage.
Things changed when the stepparents found a possible budding romantic relationship between Ramya and Hirushan, the family driver. There was another change when Shanika gave birth to a boy. The biological son received a lot more attention and Ramya changed status to become more of a maid. Shanika liked the idea of a housemaid and nursemaid. Ramya’s life changed. Her life changed much more drastically when Jeevan’s business began to fail. Looking for extra money, he found an agency that would employ Ramya in Saudi Arabia for a few months, all income to go to Jeevan and Shanika. Ramya accepted Jeevan’s assurance that the trip to Saudi Arabia was more of a tour and vacation with some part-time work added. Ramya would return to Sri Lanka soon.
Ramya set off for her trip to Saudi Arabia. It was her first time on an airplane. Every experience was new to her. Met by agents in Saudi Arabia, her passport was taken to be saved and given back on her return trip. Ramya was housed in co-ed crowded dormitories to wait for a work assignment. She received an assignment as a maid to a wealthy Saudi family. Instructions were given to her in Arabic, a language for which she had no knowledge. It was several days before she found anyone who could communicate with her at a survival language level. People always spoke harshly to her. Her terror was about to begin.
The reader is now at 75% of the novel. The author has done a great job creating empathy for the life of Ramya up to this point. After this, the novel is dark and rivals horror fiction. But evidence of its reality will be presented.
Grammarians may not be happy. There are grammar and phrasing errors that will stop the grammar-sensitive reader but there is no need for that. Mistakes are minor and even give an air of authenticity to a story set in the developing world. One of the reasons I chose to read this novel was the appearance of the words “Saudi Arabia.” I worked for one year in Riyadh and nothing in this account surprises me, it just saddens me that this type of thing goes on. Read international press accounts; this type of evil is still with us.
Chapter one is a letter to Ramya from her birth parents telling her why they left her on the steps of an orphanage. Ramya has read the letter many times and dreams the event. She can see two people leaving a baby on the orphanage steps but cannot see the faces of her parents. Waking up to realize it is her eighteenth birthday, she joins some friends in a forbidden nighttime excursion outside the boundaries of the orphanage. She and her friends are caught, and we see the first instances of severe physical beatings that are the consequences of misbehavior.
Readers will see that life is not always bad in the Sri Lankan orphanage. There are visits from well-wishing donors, some of whom are looking for a child to adopt. There are gifts for all from the donors and special events, such as carnival-like parties that take place when donors show up. Ramya got lucky; a family wanted to adopt her. They couldn’t have children of their own and they liked Ramya’s demure, shy behavior. It seemed to be love at first sight between Jeevan and Shanika, an upper-middle-class family from Gampaha, and Ramya. After a short adoption processing period Ramya moved to a new home with luxuries she could barely believe; her own room and bathroom, clothes she did not have to share, and loving treatment from stepparents. Her only regret was leaving her life-long friends from the orphanage.
Things changed when the stepparents found a possible budding romantic relationship between Ramya and Hirushan, the family driver. There was another change when Shanika gave birth to a boy. The biological son received a lot more attention and Ramya changed status to become more of a maid. Shanika liked the idea of a housemaid and nursemaid. Ramya’s life changed. Her life changed much more drastically when Jeevan’s business began to fail. Looking for extra money, he found an agency that would employ Ramya in Saudi Arabia for a few months, all income to go to Jeevan and Shanika. Ramya accepted Jeevan’s assurance that the trip to Saudi Arabia was more of a tour and vacation with some part-time work added. Ramya would return to Sri Lanka soon.
Ramya set off for her trip to Saudi Arabia. It was her first time on an airplane. Every experience was new to her. Met by agents in Saudi Arabia, her passport was taken to be saved and given back on her return trip. Ramya was housed in co-ed crowded dormitories to wait for a work assignment. She received an assignment as a maid to a wealthy Saudi family. Instructions were given to her in Arabic, a language for which she had no knowledge. It was several days before she found anyone who could communicate with her at a survival language level. People always spoke harshly to her. Her terror was about to begin.
The reader is now at 75% of the novel. The author has done a great job creating empathy for the life of Ramya up to this point. After this, the novel is dark and rivals horror fiction. But evidence of its reality will be presented.
Grammarians may not be happy. There are grammar and phrasing errors that will stop the grammar-sensitive reader but there is no need for that. Mistakes are minor and even give an air of authenticity to a story set in the developing world. One of the reasons I chose to read this novel was the appearance of the words “Saudi Arabia.” I worked for one year in Riyadh and nothing in this account surprises me, it just saddens me that this type of thing goes on. Read international press accounts; this type of evil is still with us.
6 people found this helpful
Top critical review
Hard to review but many errors & not the best writing job!
April 5, 2018
This is a difficult book to rate. The premise of the story was pretty good (I didn't know until I was through that it was a true story, although it kept sounding like one), but the writing was very elementary, and there were lots of grammatical mistakes, words omitted, spelling errors, etc. In other words, it wasn't easy to get through. On the other hand, I was drawn to it because of the locale & Arabic customs which I am so familiar with. It's very possible that the author being foreign has something to do with the writing, itself.
If I had known how it would end, I wouldn't have continued, so I really don't feel like I can recommend it.
If I had known how it would end, I wouldn't have continued, so I really don't feel like I can recommend it.
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January 23, 2018
Orphan Girl by Indika Guruge has an arresting title and front cover. I assumed that the author was a non-western writer and looked forward to an account of life in orphanages and how children accommodated and changed as they grew up to an age when they would leave the orphanage. How would their experiences affect their post-orphanage life? How would they remember their experiences? This is not that book. This is a story of terrible tragedy, bravery, and an almost unbelievable tale of tolerance for pain and abuse. In the tradition of historical fiction, facts are presented which are indisputable. Fiction is created by the author as logical dialogue and character feelings are expressed that could not possibly be known by the author. Some dialogue might be backed up by interviews of friends, teachers, and substitute parents. Other dialogue must be created through author empathy. The author does an excellent job drawing the reader along a path leading to a terrible ending. I should have known better when I read the subtitle: “The story of an abandoned child's tragic fate as a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by a true story, In memory of Rizana Nafeek.” (loc 3-5).
Chapter one is a letter to Ramya from her birth parents telling her why they left her on the steps of an orphanage. Ramya has read the letter many times and dreams the event. She can see two people leaving a baby on the orphanage steps but cannot see the faces of her parents. Waking up to realize it is her eighteenth birthday, she joins some friends in a forbidden nighttime excursion outside the boundaries of the orphanage. She and her friends are caught, and we see the first instances of severe physical beatings that are the consequences of misbehavior.
Readers will see that life is not always bad in the Sri Lankan orphanage. There are visits from well-wishing donors, some of whom are looking for a child to adopt. There are gifts for all from the donors and special events, such as carnival-like parties that take place when donors show up. Ramya got lucky; a family wanted to adopt her. They couldn’t have children of their own and they liked Ramya’s demure, shy behavior. It seemed to be love at first sight between Jeevan and Shanika, an upper-middle-class family from Gampaha, and Ramya. After a short adoption processing period Ramya moved to a new home with luxuries she could barely believe; her own room and bathroom, clothes she did not have to share, and loving treatment from stepparents. Her only regret was leaving her life-long friends from the orphanage.
Things changed when the stepparents found a possible budding romantic relationship between Ramya and Hirushan, the family driver. There was another change when Shanika gave birth to a boy. The biological son received a lot more attention and Ramya changed status to become more of a maid. Shanika liked the idea of a housemaid and nursemaid. Ramya’s life changed. Her life changed much more drastically when Jeevan’s business began to fail. Looking for extra money, he found an agency that would employ Ramya in Saudi Arabia for a few months, all income to go to Jeevan and Shanika. Ramya accepted Jeevan’s assurance that the trip to Saudi Arabia was more of a tour and vacation with some part-time work added. Ramya would return to Sri Lanka soon.
Ramya set off for her trip to Saudi Arabia. It was her first time on an airplane. Every experience was new to her. Met by agents in Saudi Arabia, her passport was taken to be saved and given back on her return trip. Ramya was housed in co-ed crowded dormitories to wait for a work assignment. She received an assignment as a maid to a wealthy Saudi family. Instructions were given to her in Arabic, a language for which she had no knowledge. It was several days before she found anyone who could communicate with her at a survival language level. People always spoke harshly to her. Her terror was about to begin.
The reader is now at 75% of the novel. The author has done a great job creating empathy for the life of Ramya up to this point. After this, the novel is dark and rivals horror fiction. But evidence of its reality will be presented.
Grammarians may not be happy. There are grammar and phrasing errors that will stop the grammar-sensitive reader but there is no need for that. Mistakes are minor and even give an air of authenticity to a story set in the developing world. One of the reasons I chose to read this novel was the appearance of the words “Saudi Arabia.” I worked for one year in Riyadh and nothing in this account surprises me, it just saddens me that this type of thing goes on. Read international press accounts; this type of evil is still with us.
Chapter one is a letter to Ramya from her birth parents telling her why they left her on the steps of an orphanage. Ramya has read the letter many times and dreams the event. She can see two people leaving a baby on the orphanage steps but cannot see the faces of her parents. Waking up to realize it is her eighteenth birthday, she joins some friends in a forbidden nighttime excursion outside the boundaries of the orphanage. She and her friends are caught, and we see the first instances of severe physical beatings that are the consequences of misbehavior.
Readers will see that life is not always bad in the Sri Lankan orphanage. There are visits from well-wishing donors, some of whom are looking for a child to adopt. There are gifts for all from the donors and special events, such as carnival-like parties that take place when donors show up. Ramya got lucky; a family wanted to adopt her. They couldn’t have children of their own and they liked Ramya’s demure, shy behavior. It seemed to be love at first sight between Jeevan and Shanika, an upper-middle-class family from Gampaha, and Ramya. After a short adoption processing period Ramya moved to a new home with luxuries she could barely believe; her own room and bathroom, clothes she did not have to share, and loving treatment from stepparents. Her only regret was leaving her life-long friends from the orphanage.
Things changed when the stepparents found a possible budding romantic relationship between Ramya and Hirushan, the family driver. There was another change when Shanika gave birth to a boy. The biological son received a lot more attention and Ramya changed status to become more of a maid. Shanika liked the idea of a housemaid and nursemaid. Ramya’s life changed. Her life changed much more drastically when Jeevan’s business began to fail. Looking for extra money, he found an agency that would employ Ramya in Saudi Arabia for a few months, all income to go to Jeevan and Shanika. Ramya accepted Jeevan’s assurance that the trip to Saudi Arabia was more of a tour and vacation with some part-time work added. Ramya would return to Sri Lanka soon.
Ramya set off for her trip to Saudi Arabia. It was her first time on an airplane. Every experience was new to her. Met by agents in Saudi Arabia, her passport was taken to be saved and given back on her return trip. Ramya was housed in co-ed crowded dormitories to wait for a work assignment. She received an assignment as a maid to a wealthy Saudi family. Instructions were given to her in Arabic, a language for which she had no knowledge. It was several days before she found anyone who could communicate with her at a survival language level. People always spoke harshly to her. Her terror was about to begin.
The reader is now at 75% of the novel. The author has done a great job creating empathy for the life of Ramya up to this point. After this, the novel is dark and rivals horror fiction. But evidence of its reality will be presented.
Grammarians may not be happy. There are grammar and phrasing errors that will stop the grammar-sensitive reader but there is no need for that. Mistakes are minor and even give an air of authenticity to a story set in the developing world. One of the reasons I chose to read this novel was the appearance of the words “Saudi Arabia.” I worked for one year in Riyadh and nothing in this account surprises me, it just saddens me that this type of thing goes on. Read international press accounts; this type of evil is still with us.
December 23, 2017
I had no idea that this book was based on a real life story when I began reading it. In the beginning, I noticed that there were many grammatical errors as well as incorrect English translations. The reason became more understandable when I got further into the book and realized that it was written by a Sri Lankan person. Then the mistakes didn't bother me anymore! I was so engrossed in Ramya's life story that I wanted to adopt her myself and give her all the happiness that she deserved!! I never expected the harsh, horrible and heartbreaking ending! I cried for a long time and realized the cruelty is still going on in 2017. When will it end?
December 28, 2017
Your book is one you get in your hands & can not put down. I would go in the other room, only to find
myself thinking of Rayma, I would be back reading the book. It was sad that she grew up in an orphanage.
I was so happy for her when she got adopted. Then everything changed. When her adopted Father sent her
to Saudi Arabia, I was saying out loud, don't go. She was such a good girl. I wanted to reach into the book &
take her out so I could adopt her. Give her a good home. Just writing this is so hard. I was crying for her so much.
I do not want to give the ending away.
All I can say is I am still thinking of her & what she went through all alone. I wanted someone to rescue her.
This is 2017, & there are still people out there like this. They can do what they did & not feel bad. I cried so
much, like I am now. Thinking of Rayma & how all she wanted was to be loved. This will stay with me.
myself thinking of Rayma, I would be back reading the book. It was sad that she grew up in an orphanage.
I was so happy for her when she got adopted. Then everything changed. When her adopted Father sent her
to Saudi Arabia, I was saying out loud, don't go. She was such a good girl. I wanted to reach into the book &
take her out so I could adopt her. Give her a good home. Just writing this is so hard. I was crying for her so much.
I do not want to give the ending away.
All I can say is I am still thinking of her & what she went through all alone. I wanted someone to rescue her.
This is 2017, & there are still people out there like this. They can do what they did & not feel bad. I cried so
much, like I am now. Thinking of Rayma & how all she wanted was to be loved. This will stay with me.
January 13, 2019
I found this story of a Sri Lankan orphan girl to be well-written, interesting, and in view of the sympathy we develop for the girl, depressing. We start out with life in the orphanage which is like one's worst memories of school, except there is never relief of going home. Girls bully each other, the adults are worn down by demands on their attention, and when the an attractive young couple shows interest in the narrator, a jealous classmate pours boiling water on her bed in the middle of the night- except that the protagonist and her best friend have exchanged bunks, and the best friend suffers a scarred face and diminished chances of ever being adopted. Our protagonist is taken into the family that has shown interest in her, but that relationship is ruined by her allowing the house boy to begin a sexual liaison with her, in the middle of which she is caught. Thereafter she is regarded as a servant rather than as a daughter. As the family develops economic hardship, the protagonist is sent to Saudi Arabia as a guest worker. She is told it will be for a month, but the term is something like 2 years. Her wages are sent to the family, while she has to cope with not knowing Arabic, working hard, and exploit by the chieftain who attempts to treat all the female servants as concubines. In the course of resisting, the protagonist gets herself arrested and eventually...
I found the story interesting and engrossing, but unsatisfactory in its resolution, or lack thereof. The last portion of the book seems to suggest that international pressure on the Suadi's would end the exploitation of guest workers, but there is no similar suggestion that orphanages or adoptive families or houseboys be reformed. Whereas a "Horatio Alger" approach would show how virtue (self-control) and intelligence would guide our heroine to being a positive person in a bad situation, our protagonist has trouble reading the handwriting on the wall. Yeah, the train should have stopped before it hit her, but then, she should have gotten herself off the tracks. It is a dangerous, unfair world, but the closing message seems to be that our protagonist was a helpless victim. I concede that is one of the threads that make up our world that deserves some attention.
I found the story interesting and engrossing, but unsatisfactory in its resolution, or lack thereof. The last portion of the book seems to suggest that international pressure on the Suadi's would end the exploitation of guest workers, but there is no similar suggestion that orphanages or adoptive families or houseboys be reformed. Whereas a "Horatio Alger" approach would show how virtue (self-control) and intelligence would guide our heroine to being a positive person in a bad situation, our protagonist has trouble reading the handwriting on the wall. Yeah, the train should have stopped before it hit her, but then, she should have gotten herself off the tracks. It is a dangerous, unfair world, but the closing message seems to be that our protagonist was a helpless victim. I concede that is one of the threads that make up our world that deserves some attention.
December 25, 2017
I read Orphan Girl in less than a day. I do recall the story from news coverage and was intrigued to see it as a work of fiction. The translation is rough (really rough) in some places. A few scenes seemed far fetched, but may be within the realm of possible given the cultural differences. As an adoptive mother, my heart breaks at the thought of the gross maltreatment of orphans. Overall, it was worth the few hours investment to read.
December 24, 2017
Guruge presents a telling story of a Sri Lankan teen caught in a tangled web of circumstance and bad luck her innocence struggles to comprehend. The translation helps put the reader there to better understand a world so very different than our own. Hope battles with despair as Ramya (Rizana's alias) searches for the good within people as life's walls tumble around her. This is a story that needed to be told.
My honest review was provided in exchange for a free copy.
My honest review was provided in exchange for a free copy.
April 5, 2018
This is a difficult book to rate. The premise of the story was pretty good (I didn't know until I was through that it was a true story, although it kept sounding like one), but the writing was very elementary, and there were lots of grammatical mistakes, words omitted, spelling errors, etc. In other words, it wasn't easy to get through. On the other hand, I was drawn to it because of the locale & Arabic customs which I am so familiar with. It's very possible that the author being foreign has something to do with the writing, itself.
If I had known how it would end, I wouldn't have continued, so I really don't feel like I can recommend it.
If I had known how it would end, I wouldn't have continued, so I really don't feel like I can recommend it.
November 19, 2017
Very tragic story. How an innocent girls dreams shatter. We should all be lucky and admire the life we have. Hope Ramya will be in a good place in her next life.
November 25, 2017
This is such a tragic story. After reading this story on wikipedia only i knew this was based on a true story. The author has done a great job. Highly reccomended.
January 19, 2018
This book is very sad, it's hard to believe these things really happen.
