The compact book is a whirlwind of emotion and personal adventure, with much insight that might slip by on first reading. The disparate worlds and cultures seem too close, often enough blending into one another. The political milieu of the characters is like a brooding presence, especially in the later stories, coming to the fore only in a couple. This is good, else we might be treated to a harrowing series of tales about the minutiae of oppression. The collection is a portent of good things to come from a promising author.
Note: The collection grew out of an earlier short story by Mary Anne Mohanraj, not included here, titled "Season Of Marriage"
Also, the author is on a book tour, and I hope to meet her, and report back, soon.
Article comments
1 - Bryan McKay
Aaman - this is one of the best literary reviews I've ever seen on this site. This book sounds absolutely fascinating. I'm minoring in Post-Colonial Studies in my undergraduate program, so it feels all the more relevant (to me, at least). I'll have to check it out. Thanks for bringing this to our attention! It's really good to see post-colonial and diaspora authors making their way into the literary mainstream in America. Sometimes compelling art is the best way to bridge cultural divides (I think I wrote a paper about something very similar last year, now that I think about it...)
2 - Aaman
Wow - thanks for the compliment. Diaspora writing is all about leaving and arriving, and the space between.
In one sense, American writing is diaspora writing too, except that you seem to have become post-post-colonialists.
Enjoy the book - and support blogcritics
3 - BobBuilder
Sounds like a good book - but very complicated - why not write a simple novel?
4 - DrPat
Some people like onions, with layers of intense flavor. Some people prefer bananas instead, Bob. Since it's an open buffet, let's agree that onions and bananas both have a place on the table.
Great review, Aaman!
5 - harold bergsma
Aaman Lamba, how wonderful it is to read a book review and be smiling at the wonderful images used and the scintillating prose. Wonderful review! I shall purchase Bodies in Motion for my "diasporic" collection.
There may be only a few of us gora-log left around who remember the Partition vividly. It was my privilidge to grow up and live in pre-partition India in such exotic places as Taxila, Sialkot, Ludhiana, Mussoorie and without knowing it, absorbing the sustenance of language and culture from 'Mother India'. Then to return as an adult to those same places to work, particularly in Pakistan; Lahore, Taxila, Dehra Ishmael Khan etc. took a personal re-arrangement both linguistic and cultural. Later, travelling in Sri Lanka I was again struck with the unhappy "seeds of conflicts... and raging feuds." The bomb blast near the Galface Hotel had just occured. Presently in Pakistan new seeds of conflict are occuring with different forces, but equally tragic.
Thanks for your review. I would be honored to have you review-- One Way to Pakistan -- my latest literary work, a story of ..." where Muslim and Christian are all too human. Using images of three abductions, he weaves a tale which is engaging and passionately written.." E. Jarchow.