The Double Doorway – more an appreciation than a review

Reviewed by
Capt Elmo Jayawardena
Elmojay1@gmail.com

The author Praveen Jayamanna was only 15 years old when he published ‘The Double Doorway’. That is just the beginning. The book went on to be short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize for 2019. Certainly, a laudable achievement for a teenage debutant author. Apart from all that let me categorically state that the book is good. It can certainly be enjoyed by all ages, which is what I felt when reading Praveen’s exciting and interesting novel. The Double Doorway can certainly hold its own in the Sri Lankan literary world, and maybe beyond.

Praveen writes simple excellent English and sails away from the unnecessary use of big words that are more for show than any worthy meaning. Reading Praveen made me think he is a ‘well-read’ young man who had enhanced his natural talent by being a voracious reader. I bet he hit the book trail as a kid and kept reading on over-drive till he wrote his own story and got it published. I give him full marks for his effort, for coming out of the cold and fighting to get his first book out at such a young age.

The story line of author Jayamanna’s maiden novel has been crafted well with the creation of interesting characters. The best among the cast is the super-efficient mystery-coated DJM. (Better read the book to figure out what this acronym means). Swashbuckling Blue Beard and Red Beard take the top billing in the drama when Jack the protagonist finds himself as a prisoner in Blue Beard’s ship. The pirate Captain’s arch enemy Red Beard chooses this very instant to attack Blue Beard and his buccaneers and Jack gets caught in the ‘Jolly Roger Boys’ crossfire. Yes, it’s not only Jack, but there is his little sister Mell too in the fray along with Tommy and Tom who had ended up in this little team. In the ship episode Praveen shows remarkable creative talent when he adds Jerry, the ship’s cabin boy to the story and makes his minor role attractive to the reader. Similar talent is displayed about a medical room in the ship when Jack accidently stumbles on it while the pirates are killing each other with musket and sword on the open deck.

Then the story shifts from ships to new-comer King Harrison and his castle. Here again Jack and his companions, Mell, Tom and Tommy are locked up in a dungeon. As for King Harry, he takes a leaf off the Emperor’s New Clothes syndrome to be invisible combining an intriguing anecdote to colour the narrative. Jack steals the show on practically every page, but Mell should have been given a more vibrant role than simply being an ‘also ran’ coming on stage merely to cry or sleep. But then, Jack’s two ‘comrades in adventure’ Tom and Tommy (rolled into one) amply compensate for little Mell’s insignificance in this interesting tale.

Praveen’s crowning glory is the ending of the story. This is where he plays the ‘Ace of Trumps’ that comes as a bolt from the blues. Undoubtedly the last section adds a lot of icing to the cake.

The book, apart from being an interesting read has a different dimension for the betterment of Sri Lankan literature. I have seen a lot of teenage writers who are interested in writing poetry or short stories and sometimes novels too. Sadly, their opportunities of competition are few and far between and chances of publishing are even more remote. Grey’s Elegy and ‘flowers born to blush unseen’ are about such misfortunes. I write my lines here to let these new-born authors and poets know that one of them did make it to where it matters. That is where Praveen’s short-listing at the Gratiaen becomes a beacon for others to follow and get encouraged to write more and more. Praveen’s achievement, I am sure, will be a tremendous encouragement for other ‘wanna-be young authors’ to get off the blocks and start their own story-telling. Author Praveen could be a Pied Piper for the rest of the youngsters to follow. Maybe the schools themselves would have tri-lingual writing competitions to give the novice a chance to compete and showcase his or her talent. Sri Lankan students need that window of opportunity for other Praveen Jayamanna types to come out of the woods. Of course, I certainly mean the females of the species too.

The book is published by Vijitha Yapa and is available in all major book shops. It is also marketed by Amazon for the international reader.

I close my comments by wishing the best to all the young people who are writing or making attempts to write. As for Praveen, I salute him for opening a ‘Different Door’ in Sri Lankan literature for other children to follow.