I had the pleasure of reading Dipinto ‘di Blu during a stormy weekend in Manila. I was stranded at home so I thought of picking up a collection of stories about a life that is still being lived across different countries. The author is currently retired in Manila, but her travels have made her a free spirit who knows how to celebrate the simple and the mundane. And so, as the rain continued to pour during that weekend, I found myself lost in Ms. Abeyratne’s stories. I instantly felt sunnier.
The author has the gift of storytelling. She was able to make me appreciate all her memories. Her lyrical narration was able to take me from her homeland of Sri Lanka to the Soviet relic that is Tajikistan. I was fascinated by her multicultural background, and her openness to different traditions and practices have endeared me to her. As a writer myself, I enjoy reading about cultural traditions which are different from my own. I also appreciate the way Ms. Abeyratne sees my hometown of Manila and how she made it her very own. From her roller coaster journey with her former househelp Gloria to drinking wine overlooking billboards in our city, she is able to weave stories that resonate with a global audience. She surely resonated with me.
My favorite story was about the author’s audience with Padre Pio when he was still alive. As a devotee of the saint, I was amazed by her experience. Sure, the author and I may be from different parts of the world, but we share the same home. I share her reverence for Padre Pio. And like her, I also feel my best when I am in a cropped top.
Ms. Abeyratne has written a book for her granddaughters, but I personally feel like it was also written for me. It is a book filled with universally appealing stories about a soul that sings.
Dipinto ‘di Blu is now available at the Central Books website.