“In a feat of epic vision, Karen Connelly uses her every art to tell the urgent story of what the New York Times calls ‘Myanmar, arguably the most repressive regime in the world.’ The suspense never relents. Hope is small, but it lives, strengthened by this powerful book.” —Maxine Hong Kingston
Spiegel & Grau’s Mike Mezzo and author Karen Connelly chat about writing style and the inspiration behind The Lizard Cage.
Beautifully written and taking us into an exotic land, Karen Connelly’s debut novel The Lizard Cage is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit.
During a meditation, Teza reflects on the following Buddhist principles: Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekkha. These are the Four Divine Abidings. Love. Compassion. Joy in the good fortune of others. Equanimity. How are these principles depicted in the novel, and in what way do they help Teza cope with his imprisonment? Does he always succeed in living by these principles? How does he impart them to Little Brother?
How do Teza’s experiences inside the Lizard Cage represent the larger political turmoil in Burma (now Myanmar)? Despite the inhuman conditions, does hope still reside inside the prison?
“Words are like the ants. They work their way through the thickest walls, eating through bricks and feeding off the very silence intended to stifle them.” How is the irrepressibility of truth evident in The Lizard Cage? What parallels can you draw from other civil rights conflicts in the world?
“In a feat of epic vision, Karen Connelly uses her every art to tell the urgent story of what the New York Times calls ‘Myanmar, arguably the most repressive regime in the world.’ The suspense never relents. Hope is small, but it lives, strengthened by this powerful book.” —Maxine Hong Kingston
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