entertainment π Novel's good intentions fall short
Rejimon Kuttappan's debut novel, 'The River of Grey Flowers,' struggles to build character stakes despite its serious themes. The story follows John Easow, a Dalit fisherman's son, who ends up in forced labor in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The narrative depicts brutal conditions, detailing targets and violence faced by workers. However, the author fails to deeply explore John's inner life, relying too much on factual events. Ultimately, the book is praised for its journalism but criticized as weak fiction.