Elephant Complex - A Beautiful New Travel Book on Sri Lanka
 

There is a beautiful new travel book on Sri Lanka written by an Englishman

Elephant Complex by John Gimlette

I really enjoyed reading the book and don't say that just because John is a friend and I am also featured by name in the book having helped John out with some of his travel plans and making key contacts in Sri Lanka etc. I am not very good at writing expert book reviews but will sum it up by saying that John has a keen eye for details and subtle cultural nuances. I learnt many things about my own country especially some of the interesting historical facts which have obviously been thoroughly well researched and condensed skillfully to fit it into the scope of this book. John dissects Sri Lanka's guts wide open but does it with just the right touch of light heartedness to make the book not too serious but also not trivialize serious issues prevalent in Sri Lanka. I think many Fodorites will enjoy reading this and it will greatly enhance the experience of any traveller visiting this country.

For more expert reviews I will point you to

Ceylon Today - http://www.ceylontoday.lk/thumb/epaper-images/54559.jpg

The Spectator - http://new.spectator.co.uk/2015/10/s...dark-interior/

Enjoy!

Thanks. We are contemplating a trip here.

Thanks Mohammed, do you think I can buy this at the airport in Sri Lanka? I arrive on Friday and would like to read it.

Availability in Colombo is still limited, I heard the one book store in town Sarasavi Bookshop had them. I doubt you will find it at the airport. I visited the famous Barefoot bookshop in Colombo last weekend and was surprised that even they still did not have it.

Where are you coming from? It is available on Amazon in UK. It seems the USA launch is only next year!

I checked a few other places and found the book is available at "Chapters Bookshop" in Colombo.... http://www.chapters.lk/

Availability of the book seems to be scarce, ven Amazon UK seem to run out of copies!

Thanks Mohammed. I'm glad I read the reviews you supplied as I too, like the reviewer, would have thought it focused specifically on elephants! Which would be interesting mind you (having observed them at Udawalawe), but as a metaphor, even more so. I'll have to see if the book is available here in Australia yet or keep an eye out for when it is.