Running in the Family (Vintage International) Paperback – 1 Jan. 1920

Entertaining, a little disjointed but then peoples' lives are. Valuable insight into life in Sri Lanka in the 20th century. I loved the story about the looting rebels demanding the author's airgun. Then they asked for a bat and ball to pay cricket in his garden.While travelling through Kegalle I wondered aloud whether we could find Michael Ondaartje's old home. My friends were enthusiastic and we managed to find it and speak to the new owners, now third generation owners. relationships with the Colonials were often dismissive and snobbish but some Sihala-British co-operations were great achievements.Though amusing and informative this is a sad story of a family slowly breaking up because of drink and gambling. It strength is in what Michael Ondaartje has not written, but you, as a reader know, how he and his brother managed to make new and successful lives in Canada.

Michael Ondaatje' s family is not run of the mill and neither is the prose or structure of this remarkable piece of writing. With humour and precision and a poetic understanding of people and the world he conjures up a society long gone yet still so vibrant in the memory. His father's outrageous and ultimately tragic life is recalled with love and affection that must, sometimes at least, have been hard to maintain in the face of the havoc he wrought. A wonderful piece of writing about a fascinating, talented family.

What an unusual life Michael has led and what an amazing family and his father especially. One wonders what might have happened has there been more help for an alcoholic of such addiction and what a waste of clearly a deeply troubled but talented man. However, although I enjoyed the book in itself as a sort of family biography would have liked to have learned what happened to his father after the second marriage and whether he was ever able to overcome his problems. I am glad I read the reviews as then knew what to expect as it is a different sort of book from his other work, and was therefore not disappointed expecting something other than a family history.

I admire Michael Ondaatje for his writing. I have just enjoyed reading Coming Through Slaughter and now being introduced to the wonderful way he tells his family history is just and invitation to read more from an excellent and interesting author! And I haven’t even come around to read The English Patient yet, but it is in the pipeline!

The stories were OK, but not gripping... went on to something else.

Having lived in Ceylon as a child, I found this book to be charming and fascinating as it filled in some of the background for me.There was a definite prejudice from the Colonial administrators towards the native peoples which as a child one did not know about so this lovely book opened my eyes to a reality that I had not known. I liked it very much, as I do all of Michael Ondaatje's books.

Could not put this down. What an incredible family. We feel we have lived Ondaatje's own mission to uncover their history in Sri Lanka.

I enjoyed the writing and nature descriptions in particular but couldn't keep track of the characters and the book for me didn't seem to flow and never captured me.

I’m travelling to Sri Lanka later this year and thank you for sharing your family with me. You gave me such a chance to learn about the country and your family and all I want to do is be there. Descriptively I’m so excited by the food, scenery, people, history.

Runs like a river.I would suggest this book to any level of readers who are into the enchantment of weaving stories. It’s a lot to know about Sri Lanka and loved the reading experience.

It is very well written - a masterpiece in description - and has humour as well. I had a bit of trouble keeping the family members in their right places and later referred to the Internet for further understanding.

Still wonderful reading it decades later for a second time, in Sri Lanka. But in what way is it a 'special edition'?

Absolutely delightful string of memoirs of Ondaatje's family. Unfortunately, interspersed with obscure poetic prose.

Ondaatje makes a history of his family's life in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) before leaving when he was a boy sound like a magical story set in a mysterious place. A delightful read!

came as described

Incredible

Great

.....and wanted to immerse myself in the culture.I now feel that I understand a bit of it.And had the pleasure of appreciating soo well written text.

Disjointed pieces of writing strung together. Michael writes beautifully, but though there were common threads, there was no coherent story.

Sono stato soddisfatto perché era la versione che mi interessava e utile agli studi di mia figlia che frequenta la scuola in India.

FINE FICTION

really funny and interesting considering it's from a canadian author... and a memoir. Hard to put down

Vivid descriptions of life in Ceylon before the insurgence and after. An intimate tale of the authors family secrets. Enjoy! A quick read.