Sunil Nair’s When All The Lights Are Stripped Away is an intricately written coming-of-age story about a young Indian man growing up in contemporary Malaysia. …[It] is a captivating read with some beautiful descriptions of Malaysian places, politics and family life and a wonderful first novel.
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal
“Great debut. [The] author offers stunning sentences, captivating turns of phrase, and energetic lines – all in his first novel. …When All the Lights Are Stripped Away was easy to like and hard to fault. It is written with remarkable grace and the sure-footed ease of an accomplished writer. …Overall, [it] is a compelling read, encased in a nice cover. …I look forward to [the author’s] next outing with much anticipation.”
“Absorbing from the first sentence, it is easy to get immersed by the interesting characters and situations that Anil encounters as a young man…For his first attempt at a novel, London-based Nair has done an admirable job. Written in a breezy, charming manner When The Lights Are Stripped Away is a tale that has the ability to get under your skin…Nair’s novel gives a breath of fresh air to Malaysian literature and has the ability to put Malaysia on the world literary map. Where All The Lights Are Stripped Away is a sensuous and rewarding read.”
“We live in interesting times as the nation clamours for change. Likewise, in every chapter, the book shows us the changing landscapes the main characters go through, like a history book, and how the changes affects their lives, relationships and careers.
Against this backdrop, what remains stable, like most heart-warming fiction, is the strength of human relationships of the various characters.”
“A winning attempt for a first book. The author tangles us in a web of the joys and hardships of a feudalistic Malayalee family institution, shattered by revelations and misfortunes. Nair’s protagonist, Anil, displays depth of character, constructed through vivid and lyrical description and nuances of ‘Malaysianism’. Other character development, those of Acha and Amma, are layered with the complexities of human nature and culture.”
Expatriate Lifestyle
Sunil Nair 