Brotherless NightBrotherless Night
What it's about
Jaffna, 1981. Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor, but as civil war engulfs Sri Lanka, her four brothers are drawn one by one into the conflict, and she's recruited to treat wounded fighters of the Tamil Tigers. As the violence grows, Sashi must decide where her loyalties lie, and what she can live with.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction. It's a heartbreaking, morally serious novel about a family torn apart by war, and about what it costs to survive.
You'll love it if you liked
The Safekeep
The Nightingale
A Thousand Splendid SunsGood to know
It deals with war and violence directly, but it's told with restraint. Little knowledge of Sri Lanka's history is needed.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #48 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #91 of the 481 new books we rank
- #510 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Brotherless Night worth reading?
Yes. It won the Women's Prize for Fiction. It ranks #510 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Brotherless Night about?
Jaffna, 1981. Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor, but as civil war engulfs Sri Lanka, her four brothers are drawn one by one into the conflict, and she's recruited to treat wounded fighters of the Tamil Tigers. As the violence grows, Sashi must decide where her loyalties lie, and what she can live with.
How long does it take to read Brotherless Night?
About 9 hours (369 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Brotherless Night won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2024).
What should I read after Brotherless Night?
If you liked it, try The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.