Return to the Enchanted Island

Return to the Enchanted Island is the first Madagascan-authored novel I have had the opportunity to read so I was delighted to spot the work in this English language translation. The novel is a blend of Madagascan mythology and a coming of age story which centres on the experiences of Ietsy (Ietsé in the original French) as he struggles to find his place in the world. Unfortunately he is quite the 'spoilt rich boy' character so I rarely found it easy to feel much sympathy for him, but I enjoyed Ravaloson's engaging narrative style and the way in which the mythological stories interwove with Ietsy's life was nicely done.

Ietsy's family has, historically, always managed to back the 'right' side so the boy's claim to be 'protected by Gods and Ancestors' has a ring of truth about it in that his position of wealth and privilege now is a direct result of his forebears shrewd decision-making and prudence. Ravaloson contrasts Ietsy's luxurious home with the poverty surrounding the family's enclave, but doesn't have Ietsy put two and two together until quite late in the story which I found frustrating as a reader. I felt that if Ietsy had begun his redemption arc much sooner, it would have been more plausible. Ultimately though, I found it difficult to believe that his new-found caring attitude wasn't just another ploy. Return to the Enchanted Island is a fairly short novel that I read across a sunny afternoon. It did get confusing in places, particularly where the storyline jumps from Ietsy's past to his present, or from Ietsy himself to Madagascan mythology. However, overall, it was an enjoyable read and I loved learning about the island's creation myth, and the ways this people's story of themselves impacts on their everyday lives.