Much like its front cover, The Elephant in the Room by Jill Campbell-Mason is a colorful story of Ella and Warren’s trip to Indonesia after meeting Asta and Henry on a cruise ship, who invited them to stay at their home in Jakarta. This is more than just a fascinating travel adventure story. It sheds light on the dynamic culture and social differences of those living in Indonesia.

Keen to prepare for the upcoming trip, they meet with Aunt Clara to probe her memories for any tips she may have on relating to a foreign culture without causing offense. Upon arriving, the couple soon discovers that Aunt Clara’s tales of the southeast were not exaggerated and the country is more exotic and fascinating than any fiction tale, complete with wild elephants that still barge into villages uninvited and infrastructure that is essentially non-existent.

Blink for a second, and you will be lost. This story moves quickly. The writing style is highly complex, loaded with figurative expressions and phrases that are utilized to tell the story of multiple characters across various periods of time. This technique works well to incorporate historical context and picks up on key issues of racism, religion, discrimination, power, and poverty. However, Campbell-Mason’s tone fluctuates often and can be read as somewhere in the middle of past and present, which can be difficult to follow. The inclusions of so many characters also create barriers to a deeper connection.

As the title suggests understanding the role of elephants is key to understanding the underlying lessons of this narrative; how an individual’s actions can alter the trajectory of a nation or their courage to bring down tyranny and criminality can create harmony and reunite the community. They represent human life and the values within humanity.

The Elephant in the Room by Jill Campbell-Mason is a fantastic woman’s adventure novel addressing prejudice towards some of the most marginalized groups in society. The juxtaposition of the two couples worked well to provide a two-lens approach to understanding Indonesian culture and faith – it will leave you with great conversation starters!

Pages: 421 | ASIN : B0B7F1G5HW