Lovely memories of Seychelles bygone…
Rosie your book awakened so many lovely memories of Seychelles bygone. You have a special gift and you have given this warm feeling to so many Seychellois scattered all over the world. If I can say, you are a REAL ambassador at large. Thank you for a great book which I want my daughters to read.
You are a born writer…
What can I say to give justice to ‘Echoes from the Oasis’… Your descriptions of situations – people – feelings – history – religion and the interweaving of the characters are brilliant… I have found the book so interesting all the while marvelling how you’ve done it. The twists and turns of the plot, leaving the thought at the end – Is Louis alive… and the continuance of the story is so clever. You are a born writer and I would love to go now to the Seychelles, sounds so beautiful… Congratulations and all good wishes for Echoes undoubted success.
Loved it!
I love this book, despite its heavy emphasis of the Catholic faith… I would recommend it and look forward to the next book by this author.
I relived my childhood…
If you are a Seychellois like me and feeling homesick, read Rosie’s book… She did a wonderful job describing our islands especially Beau-Vallon, one of my favourite beaches in Seychelles. For a moment there, I relived my childhood and could feel myself connecting to nature on our tropical islands. Thanks Rosie! Good luck with your next book.
Five Stars
A book that describes the beauty of Seychelles’ culture and its people. Great to know about the history of Seychelles. The characters in this story were showing true love against all negative situations.
A resounding homage to Mother Nature…
Having just finished reading this author’s offering into this exceedingly competitive world of communicating her love of places, people and ideas via an historical format… I was pleased to have ‘Echoes from the Oasis’ meet all of my expectations. With a resounding homage to Mother Nature, Ms Tirant’s beloved characters and the unfolding of their lives on this beautiful island setting of the Seychelles was so vividly brought to life via a strong, colourful, descriptive writing and the smooth interjection of historical facts. If you are a fan of island life, nature’s pure beauty, history, strong and identifiable characters and, beautiful writing that flows and ebbs and combines such heartfelt detail and Love… I would highly recommend ‘Echoes from the Oasis’ to you.
Echoes from the Oasis a keeper on my shelf…
Rosie (the author) tells a beautifully historic, charming and heart wrenching tale that takes place in her native Seychelles… The research, descriptions, character development, and just overall beautiful writing make ‘Echoes from the Oasis’ a keeper on my shelf.
Five Stars
Loved the characters… Strongly recommend.
A very sensual and emotional novel…
This is a very sensual and emotional novel. It is well written and descriptive. Although I have not been on that island, by reading the book I can imagine how it looks and feels to be there… As to the story – it will definitely make you feel the things the heroine has felt… Recommend !
Five Stars
Lovely easy read. Love story and hardship of a young Catholic girl in the exotic islands of Seychelles. Descriptions of the places bring back many memories of my childhood growing up in those islands. Would recommend to all who loves a good read and love stories.
Excellent Read
Rosie, I thoroughly enjoyed your book and I saw a lot of myself in Anna, aside from sharing the same surname. It took me back to my birthplace of Glacis where I grew up with my big family of 8 siblings. My father was also a plantation owner and he too grew everything you mentioned on Mr Du Barre’s plantation. I loved the way you described everyone and everything in detail and it evoked so many childhood memories. I couldn’t wait to turn the pages and some I even re-read to my husband who isn’t a Seychellois. Thank you and congratulations on making so many Seychellois people proud of you and I cannot wait for the next one.
Just Awesome!!
Just Awesome! Human behavioural changes will overcome you for the better in both Body and Soul.
Left me wanting to read the next one . . .From the first pages Echoes grabbed my attention. The little details of island living really made one feel they were in it. You will fall in love with the characters and want to know their life’s journey. I can’t wait until the next one comes out!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book and I am looking forward to the sequel . . . What happens to the heroine? It was especially fascinating for me as my grandparents lived there from 1910 to 1918. Between late 1914 and early 1918 my grandmother was alone with three children due to World War One. It painted a picture of life there.
Can’t wait for the next book, what a beautiful story!
Copies of “Echoes from the Oasis” should be in every local library, and in every bookshop. Rosie is a role model for our young generations. We need more local authors.
A woman who finds herself caught up in a forbidden love affair while also succeeding in breaking the traditional role . . . – on April 29, 2016“I was addicted to this treasure of a novel from page one. The history, the sights, the smells, the cuisine and the culture were described in such captivating and transparent language that I almost felt that I was there again . . .
This story is as real as it gets in terms of describing the importance of class hierarchies, family relationships and expectations and even business goals and disagreements . . .
The protagonist of this historical romance is a young woman named Anna Savy. A woman who finds herself caught up in a forbidden love affair while also succeeding in breaking the traditional role of a single white female by establishing for herself an accomplished career as a nurse . . .
Love, faith, goodness, loyalty, hate, betrayal, evil and superstition combine to take the reader on an extraordinary adventure of the highs and lows of mankind’s journey through life . . .
In terms of the nation of Seychelles in the early twentieth century, we are given an historically accurate view of a country in the early stages of modern development, struggling for survival and having to face the reality of a world at war . . .
You do not have to be a Seychellois to enjoy this book and garner meaningful insights from it. It challenges all humanity to consider if pride and social norms should come before love and forgiveness ? Is faith in God fickle and double minded ? Can hope conquer despair ? It is with great anticipation that I await the sequel to Echoes from the Oasis “.
A.R Tirant captures the essence of Seychelles from her earliest years and spins her yarn through her heroine. Her Seychelles experience comes not from the limited view of a ‘tourist’ to this idyllic archipelago, but from generations of being Seychellois. The thread transports her readers back more than a hundred years and weaves a tale of gripping sequences, breathless escapes, harrowing episodes, passion, love and great joy. It’s a real page turner wherein all may not be lost as the reader reaches the final page and wants to turn another. . .
In my search, this week, for some reading material I came across the novel at caption advertised on Amazon.
Unsure if I would be interested I opted for the limited free version. Immediately thereafter I purchased the full copy and amazingly I was intrigued with the beautiful storyline.
Needless to say I absolutely enjoyed this book, in particular, for me, there was an interesting historical similarity in the life and mixed cultures of the Seychelles and that as existed decades ago in Trinidad. So relatable.
I will, soon, re-read as I think I may have missed some of the details in my anxiety to get to the end.
Too, I will in due course obtain a hard copy as a personal library addition while I wait for the next in the series.
Thanks and congratulations to the Author who incidentally I had the pleasure of a brief communication. What a gracious woman. Continued success.
I cannot thank you enough for your novel “Echoes from the Oasis”, an insightful look into the history of our beautiful islands.
You have brought out really realistic characters notably, the heroine Anna, “ a passionate nature loving and rebellious young woman” in an era where women had to respect the rules of society installed by men!! There is certainly between Anna and I an osmosis… We understand each other!!!
Your novel has judiciously brought out the struggles of a young nation to survival, a struggle between the beauty of nature and its limitations… Between life and death, love and hatred.
I sincerely hope that your novel will be in all the schools of Seychelles so that the young generations will learn about the struggles of their forefathers to build this nation. So that our people will understand and learn to appreciate what has been achieved throughout the years and especially for us women and our present status in society.
Seychelles is today a matriarchal society, far from Anna’s world, where women tend to be the ones to run businesses and are also very present in politics!
I cannot wait for your next Novel.
This book was absolutely brilliant!! It’s not the usual genre of book that I read but it was recommended by a friend and I was not disappointed. Reading this book I was transported to a far away land where I learned so much of the culture and struggles of the people on this beautiful island. I found this book to be so engaging, not only for the historical / factual content but for the totally addictive storyline too. I had many a late night while reading this book because I simply could not put it down. To read about the lives of people in the Seychelles at this time was incredibly humbling, more so because I have family connections to this and surrounding islands. This book truly made me appreciate my heritage.
I am eagerly awaiting the second book as I cannot wait to find out what happens! Don’t worry, no spoiler alerts required here!! Rosie, you are an inspiration and I’m so pleased to not only see your book in print but to have read it and thoroughly enjoyed it too. Absolutely brilliant, thank you.
I would highly recommend this book.
Echoes from the Oasis is a historical fiction novel set in the Republic of Seychelles in the early 1900s. For those of you who are not familiar with the country (I must admit I had no geographical knowledge of the area until reading this book), the Republic of Seychelles is 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, more than 1,000 east of Southeast Africa. The climate is tropical and the inhabitants are descendants of British and French colonists and African slaves.
The author herself was born in the Seychelles in the 1950s. She crafts an intriguing story of her home country, weaving in the gorgeous scenery and the customs and beliefs of the inhabitants. The story begins with Anna, a teenage girl who breaks social custom and becomes a nurse. Anna meets a young man, Louis, who is a member of the wealthy Du Barre family. Anna and Louis fall in love – even consummating their love — which is considered taboo in the strict Catholic society on the island. The couple plans to marry but a shipwreck and other complications wrench the them apart. Do Anna and Louis ever find each other again?
I enjoyed this historical romance, particularly the fact that the plotline was really unique. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about new locations and accurate depictions of historical eras.
From the minute I started reading the book, I did not want to put it down. Beautiful, well written, captured the essence of the islands. It took me back to my childhood days which made me nostalgic as well as confirmed and made me relive what was once told to me by my elders. A must to be read by any Seychellois descendants. Well done Rosie Tirant
In Echoes from the Oasis, Rosie Tirant skilfully take us on a journey back in time to share the love, trial and tribulations of our forbearers. Her descriptive talent give credence to her plot, animate her characters and transport us into the unfolding drama of a young woman during Colonial and pre-tourism Seychelles. It is a rare and pleasant experience to read a novel where the places, people and even the smell are familiar. This novel merits its excellent reviews and deserves a place in the records of our past.
Just finished and absolutely love this beautiful, gripping, well written and historically sound story. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
Very nice to read. A good book about Seychelles Island. This historical novel contains a very beautiful love story. The Author described with beautiful words throughout the story.
Tremendously enjoyed this book cannot wait for the next series… I now live in Seychelles and it was lovely reading about the old traditions.. very sad story … please hurry with the next instalment. Would recommend to any reader especially Josephine Cox fans.
Amazing love story!!! The story has romance, rival, revenge, love, marriage and culture.The beauty of Seychelles described in the book has inspired me to visit this beautiful Island. What touched me the most is, how a women manages and learn in every movement of her life about the society, family, status and her priority in life. I was waiting throughout the novel, when can I find Luis alive? and alas I have to wait for the second novel… to see whether Louis is alive? and How Catherine will face her part of life in this enormous world?. Every incident written in this novel is breath taking and I would encourage all readers to read this novel and surly will enjoy. God Bless the author Rosie Tirant.
Pure escapism! The book took me back to another world, where life in Seychelles was purer and people simpler. The author, managed to capture the beauty of the island and one can actually visualize Seychelles in a bygone era. I could relate to so many little anecdotes going on in the different families. The book made me smile, and I was at pains to put in down. What a beautiful Xmas present it was and I can only thank Rosie for giving me so much joy over four days. I highly recommend the book as a gift to those who have known the Seychelles, those who never came back, and those who still live there and enjoying its eternal beauty.
Thoroughly enjoyable. A change from my usual crime thrillers but this did not disappoint…..witchcraft, violence, passion, just a different setting from my usual ‘modern day’ settings. Definitely ticked all the right boxes and written with such feeling about a place close to the author’s heart. I would recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though I spent more time sobbing during my reading about Anna and Louis, I am still happy that their love endured. Anna still has her baby daughter to love and reminds her of the passion she shared with Louis. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Not only did this book transport me back to the bygone days of Seychelles, it is also a gripping story that had me hooked from the start and I didn’t want it to end. Well done.
This is an engaging, insightful novel set in the beautiful islands of the Seychelles in the 19th century. It is very well written, based on the author’s own experiences and beautifully descriptive. I look forward to reading a follow-on story.
I loved this book from the word go. It paints a wonderful picture of the Seychelles with its colour, scents from the many spices of the Island. I was drawn by Anna’s story, how she lived, her family, the very culture. She was an inspiring character who was so young but passionate about her beliefs. When she commits herself to something she hold steadfast and tries with all her might to make it work. She is a fighter, but is hard for her with all the closely knit catholic community and circumstances in her life that were conspiring against her.
This book is well written and I enjoyed it very much. Do read it you will not be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next book to be written.
This unstoppable book is a must have and must read by all mature middle age Seychellois. It throws us back at the turn of the nineteenth century exploring the history, culture, and the practice of the way things were back then. There are all types of events that would broaden everyone’s horizons and knowledge, some of which we would be familiar with and the rest that we could have been completely oblivious to.
The writing boasts incredible characters, fantastic locations, and wonderful adventures which are all tokens of the authors commitment to their research but also their own natural charm. As previously mentioned, this is not suitable for children as the backgrounds contain extremely adult themes such as bereavement, violence, love, exaggeration and expectations.
The story simply could not have been told any better than an native and I can honestly say I enjoyed living throughout it as a witness, even if at times I felt so immersed I was finishing the sentences before my eyes could meet the end of them. It’s so much more than literature. It’s one of the first of its kind and a wake up call to the nation. Do yourself a favour and buy a copy today, because people telling you what they think they know is one thing, but reading the story for yourself is another.
Anna’s life and character stays with you after reading her story… it leaves you wanting to know what challenges are waiting for her, and your imagination works overtime to create the next book… it will be worth the wait! This book has a believable storyline and characters . Anna is transformed from a young girl with responsibilty for her siblings weighing heavily on her shoulders – to a free-thinking, sensuous young women with ambition and passion. She experiences the unacceptable shackles of a religious culture that seems to be inextricably embedded in its community.
The vivid and descriptive story-telling reminds me of Katherine Cookson novels set in Northumberland, England – but the Seychelles is a world away from there… it’s a magical place and ‘Echoes from the Oasis’ transports you to Anna’s island, to Anna’s world and you stay there ’til the last page, and beyond…
I loved this book. It is an interesting mix of history , romance and much more. I learned so much about the Seychelles, that if I could I would be on the next plane! Wonderful in depth writing that really does transport you to the lives of Anna and her family.
You can feel every emotion played out by the characters in the story and this gripped me all the way to the end of the book. I hope the author has completed the second book as I really want to see want happens next!.
Well done A.R.Tirant
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