The Way We Are is a collection of stories set in and around Darjeeling. Exploring dark themes like murder, sibling torture, death, and horror, and featuring a gamut of interesting, relatable characters, these stories offer a mirror into the lives of people from Darjeeling and the issues they face.

I have seldom come across a short story collection where almost every story gripped me, and this is one of them. The strength of the stories stems from the intriguing, relatable characters that Ms. Lindblom has managed to create. I could resonate with the main character in all the stories—be it the lonely Diwakar in “In That Building by the Woods”, the innocent Kalsang bullied by her evil sister in “In Her Shadow”, or a brave Trishna trying to cope with her brother’s loss in “Atonement”. I could feel for these characters and found myself rooting for them.

I loved the variety in the stories. Each was completely different from the other, and the pacing was spot on, ensuring that my interest never waned. Having said that, I did notice minor plot holes in a couple of the stories—which would have been mitigated by the addition of a few lines here and there—one story was a bit too filmy for my liking, and the incorporation of the horror element—although well done throughout—became a tad predictable after a few stories.

Another thing I loved about this book is how Ms. Lindblom has beautifully incorporated the Gorkhaland movement—and its impact on the people of Darjeeling—into some stories. The stories “Monsters of Men” and “The Night of the Storm” are a testament to that fact. And the best part is that the movement continues in the background without hampering the characters’ growth and, in fact, even contributing to their development.

The language is excellent, garnished by an ample dose of luscious wordplay and unique metaphors and similes. The descriptions are vivid, diverse, and beautifully done, and I relished every one of them. I did notice a few punctuation errors here and there, and I informed Ms. Lindblom about them. She assured me she was already aware of them, and they would be fixed in the next version.

Overall, The Way We Are is an exceptional collection of short stories that I would highly recommend to all types of readers.

4.2 stars from my side.