Sugar: An Ethnographic Novel

Three strangers in Suva, Fiji, are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about development and its darker side when a brutal murder causes their worlds to collide. Sugar is an intimate portrayal of grief, friendship, and culture clash that will prompt new ways of thinking about the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2024
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

In the bustling capital of Fiji, Suva, a tropical cyclone looms, casting a shadow over the city's vibrant streets. Among the bustling cityscape, three strangers find themselves living worlds apart. Hannah, a young Australian expat, volunteers at a local health organization while leading a carefree life filled with house parties and weekend getaways. Isikeli, a teenager from the informal settlement, has given up on his childhood dream of playing rugby and now cares for his diabetic grandmother. Rishika, an Indo-Fijian historian, has put her career on hold after getting married, only to discover that her once compassionate husband has become increasingly estranged. Their paths cross when a brutal murder causes their worlds to collide, forcing them to search for answers. Along the way, they are each forced to confront uncomfortable truths about development, its darker side, and their place within it. Based on extensive long-term research and personal experiences, this captivating ethnographic novel sheds light on the hidden ways global inequality and violence manifest in the developing world. With keen observations and a heartfelt narrative, Sugar is an intimate portrayal of grief, friendship, and culture clash that will inspire new perspectives on the world.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487554972