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Incantations and Other Stories
The stories in this collection are set in the early eighties, and Anjana Appachana wonderfully captures the raw, vibrant energy and optimism of a time when we drank chai for thirty paise, and twenty thousand rupees spent on ‘gifts’ for the boy’s side was an enormous amount of money for middle-class Indians. Her characters strain for a place beyond the boundaries of a prescribed way of life in urban middle a hapless college student gets gated a few days before her appointment for an abortion; a disgruntled clerk philosophises gloomily about his place in the scheme of things; a young girl, against all odds, decides to keep her sister’s deep, dark secret. By turns warm, gullible, arrogant and bigoted, Appachana’s characters live their lives amid contradictions and double standards, superstitions and impossible dreams, but ultimately usurp their familiar landscape and imbue it with an idiosyncratic vision.
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First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Anjana Appachana
4 books20 followersAnjana Appachana is a novelist of Indian origin who lives in the United States. She has written a book of short stories titled Incantations and a novel titled Listening Now.
Anjana Appachana was born in India of Coorg (Karnataka) origin and educated at Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Pennsylvania State University.
Her first book Incantations and Other Stories was published in England by Virago in 1991 and in the US by Rutgers University Press in 1992. The book was reissued in India by Penguin in 2006. The stories in it are set in the early eighties in India. One of her short stories titled "Sharmaji" was included in Mirrorwork: Fifty Years of Indian Writing, a collection edited by Salman Rushdie and Elizabeth West.
Appachana received the O. Henry Festival Prize and a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in the US. Her first novel and second book is titled Listening Now, and was published by Random House in 1997. In it, six women tell the story of two lovers, Padma and Karan, spanning sixteen years. The novel is set in Bangalore, Delhi and Lucknow.
Speaking about the perception of women writing in India, she has said "Writing is not deemed legitimate work by anyone. They assume that it can be put aside for anything and everything -- for housework, for house guests, for cooking... Now tell me, how many people who work outside the house do you know who would take time off from their work to cook a meal or do groceries or laundry or look after house guests? None, right?...That's because they work outside the house and because they have a regular income which apparently legitimizes their work." In the same interview, Appachana adds that a writer's life is comparatively more comfortable in America than in India.
She lives in Tempe, Arizona, and has a young daughter.
(from Wikipedia)
Anjana Appachana was born in India of Coorg (Karnataka) origin and educated at Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Pennsylvania State University.
Her first book Incantations and Other Stories was published in England by Virago in 1991 and in the US by Rutgers University Press in 1992. The book was reissued in India by Penguin in 2006. The stories in it are set in the early eighties in India. One of her short stories titled "Sharmaji" was included in Mirrorwork: Fifty Years of Indian Writing, a collection edited by Salman Rushdie and Elizabeth West.
Appachana received the O. Henry Festival Prize and a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in the US. Her first novel and second book is titled Listening Now, and was published by Random House in 1997. In it, six women tell the story of two lovers, Padma and Karan, spanning sixteen years. The novel is set in Bangalore, Delhi and Lucknow.
Speaking about the perception of women writing in India, she has said "Writing is not deemed legitimate work by anyone. They assume that it can be put aside for anything and everything -- for housework, for house guests, for cooking... Now tell me, how many people who work outside the house do you know who would take time off from their work to cook a meal or do groceries or laundry or look after house guests? None, right?...That's because they work outside the house and because they have a regular income which apparently legitimizes their work." In the same interview, Appachana adds that a writer's life is comparatively more comfortable in America than in India.
She lives in Tempe, Arizona, and has a young daughter.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 6, 2017
This is wonderful. I already want to read it again. "When Anklets Tinkle" was my favourite story.
April 5, 2009
I really liked this book...
The style of writing though same for most of the stories in this collection is very evocative and lucid.The author effortlessly gets under the skin of the protagonist of each short story.It was amazing.I am really looking forward to reading her next novel.
The style of writing though same for most of the stories in this collection is very evocative and lucid.The author effortlessly gets under the skin of the protagonist of each short story.It was amazing.I am really looking forward to reading her next novel.
July 23, 2021
// Incantations by Anjana Appachana
Incantations was originally published in 1991 and the stories are set around that time or in the 80s. Anjana Appachana writes boldly, each of her her story hitting home. Out of the eight stories in the book, six revolve around women and all of them ended up being my favourite. It's surprising how Appachana wrote about unconventional women back when patriarchy was strongly present in most of the Indian families. The women in her stories are unforgiving, fallen, independent and opinionated. The two remaining stories are about the same middle-class man who struggles to keep up with his job. Appachana writes about women like us or of those we may know and perhaps this is why they all become relatable as one reads it. Her writing flows like a river, graceful and brimming with emotions. This book which I had never heard of before ultimately turned out to be my favourite short story collection till date.
By the time I finished reading the second chapter, I was well aware that this was no ordinary book. Although I did enjoy all the stories, two of them ended up being my favourite. In 'Bahu', we see a newly married woman struggling to breathe in a very suffocating environment. Neither her husband nor her in-laws care much about her desires and so she decides to take the matters into her own hands. The other story is of a woman who has been wronged but the emotional trauma of it is forced upon her sister. Appachana writes both of them very intricately, going into the details and in that process forges a bond between us and the characters. It's impossible not to delve upon these stories, few of them more relatable than the others. Women, have always been crushed under the wants of men and to write so boldly about the wrongness of it in the early 90s is a commendable thing to do.
Incantations is the sort of book that'll stay with you long after you've read it.
I highly recommend this.
Incantations was originally published in 1991 and the stories are set around that time or in the 80s. Anjana Appachana writes boldly, each of her her story hitting home. Out of the eight stories in the book, six revolve around women and all of them ended up being my favourite. It's surprising how Appachana wrote about unconventional women back when patriarchy was strongly present in most of the Indian families. The women in her stories are unforgiving, fallen, independent and opinionated. The two remaining stories are about the same middle-class man who struggles to keep up with his job. Appachana writes about women like us or of those we may know and perhaps this is why they all become relatable as one reads it. Her writing flows like a river, graceful and brimming with emotions. This book which I had never heard of before ultimately turned out to be my favourite short story collection till date.
By the time I finished reading the second chapter, I was well aware that this was no ordinary book. Although I did enjoy all the stories, two of them ended up being my favourite. In 'Bahu', we see a newly married woman struggling to breathe in a very suffocating environment. Neither her husband nor her in-laws care much about her desires and so she decides to take the matters into her own hands. The other story is of a woman who has been wronged but the emotional trauma of it is forced upon her sister. Appachana writes both of them very intricately, going into the details and in that process forges a bond between us and the characters. It's impossible not to delve upon these stories, few of them more relatable than the others. Women, have always been crushed under the wants of men and to write so boldly about the wrongness of it in the early 90s is a commendable thing to do.
Incantations is the sort of book that'll stay with you long after you've read it.
I highly recommend this.
September 14, 2015
C'est plus un 4,5 en ce qui me concerne. Première découverte avec cette auteure et j'ai été charmée. Les récits sont écrits avec beaucoup de simplicité mais aussi de lucidité. On y découvre une Inde coincée entre traditions et désire de changements, souvent incarnés par les conflits de générations. C'est aussi une séries de critiques attribuer à la place des femmes dans la société et les difficultés pour qu'elles puissent être prises en compte, entendues, respectées. J'ai beaucoup aimé, je l'ai dévoré en un journée.
September 23, 2012
It is not as good as Listening Now, but one of the novel's great virtues is the multiplicity of viewpoints; short stories have other strengths. Many of the same thematic preoccupations.
July 10, 2021
This book came as a huge surprise for me as I thought it was a collection of tales with a take on modern life. The stories, according to the blurb, are set in the early eighties. Yet, some of the stories have characters, especially the females, who could very well be from the present era.
"Incantations and Other Stories" by Anjana Appachana comprises 8 well-knit stories with characters who "...live their lives amid contradictions and double standards, superstitions and impossible dreams...".
In 'My Only Gods', the narrator is a 25 year old woman recollecting her days,as a four year old, spent with her mother in her maternal grandparents' home. She remembers some incidents with vivid clarity like how she was highly possessive about her mother much to the consternation of all the people who met her. Throwing tantrums was the main characteristic of the stubborn four year old.
"Bahu" exposes the trials and tribulations of a working woman who has to juggle various roles in her marital home, as a wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt. She feels stifled within the four walls of her home where she has no freedom to do whatever she wants and not a minute's rest. In spite of all that she does, she falls short of their expectations.
In "Sharmaji", a senior clerk shirks his office duties and indulges in idle chit-chat in the office canteen persuading the other employees to relax and join him.
"The Prophecy" is about two girls, one of whom is pregnant, who slip out of their hostel to meet an astrologer who is well-known for his accurate predictions. The pregnant girl is desperate to get answers for what her future holds for her. When she finally decides to do what she has planned, the hostel has different plans for her.
In "When Anklets Tinkle", the Srivastavas are on the lookout for the right tenant, preferably a Madrasi, for their barsati. When a tall, dark man just like Lord Krishna comes looking for accommodation, little do they know how this man is going to be a part of their lives.
On the eve of her sister's wedding, a young girl of 12 is privy to a shocking piece of information in "Incantations". From then on, the little girl is forced to be the confidante of her sister whenever she comes home. Slowly but surely, this weighs down heavily on her and she grows up traumatised by all the secrets she has to keep.
We have yet another story with our senior clerk Sharmaji as the protagonist in "Sharmaji and the Diwali Sweets". In this, the union committee decides to quit working as a protest against the management in their decision to give only half a kilogram sweets for Diwali.
In "Her Mother", one reads a long account about a mother's rants and complaints about her daughter who has gone abroad for higher studies.
I loved all the eight stories in this book, but some more than the others. My favourites were the ones which had feisty, opinionated protagonists like the ones in "Bahu", "When Anklets Tinkle" and "Her Mother". Though the title story was a bit disturbing, I really liked it for what it portrayed. A young girl who had to carry the burden of secrets one after another was something which I found overwhelming. "Bahu" and "Her Mother" can be all too familiar because it is as if the author has taken a phase from the lives of married women and mothers who experience the empty nest syndrome.
When you come to think of the patriarchal times in which these stories were set, it is quite amazing. That we can have female protagonists like this in the '80s is inconceivable. All the stories have an easy, conversational tone and the characters are people whom we encounter in our daily lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would want to have a light, quick, fulfilling read. It's a good book for anyone who wants to start reading in English too.
Rating: 5/5
"Incantations and Other Stories" by Anjana Appachana comprises 8 well-knit stories with characters who "...live their lives amid contradictions and double standards, superstitions and impossible dreams...".
In 'My Only Gods', the narrator is a 25 year old woman recollecting her days,as a four year old, spent with her mother in her maternal grandparents' home. She remembers some incidents with vivid clarity like how she was highly possessive about her mother much to the consternation of all the people who met her. Throwing tantrums was the main characteristic of the stubborn four year old.
"Bahu" exposes the trials and tribulations of a working woman who has to juggle various roles in her marital home, as a wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt. She feels stifled within the four walls of her home where she has no freedom to do whatever she wants and not a minute's rest. In spite of all that she does, she falls short of their expectations.
In "Sharmaji", a senior clerk shirks his office duties and indulges in idle chit-chat in the office canteen persuading the other employees to relax and join him.
"The Prophecy" is about two girls, one of whom is pregnant, who slip out of their hostel to meet an astrologer who is well-known for his accurate predictions. The pregnant girl is desperate to get answers for what her future holds for her. When she finally decides to do what she has planned, the hostel has different plans for her.
In "When Anklets Tinkle", the Srivastavas are on the lookout for the right tenant, preferably a Madrasi, for their barsati. When a tall, dark man just like Lord Krishna comes looking for accommodation, little do they know how this man is going to be a part of their lives.
On the eve of her sister's wedding, a young girl of 12 is privy to a shocking piece of information in "Incantations". From then on, the little girl is forced to be the confidante of her sister whenever she comes home. Slowly but surely, this weighs down heavily on her and she grows up traumatised by all the secrets she has to keep.
We have yet another story with our senior clerk Sharmaji as the protagonist in "Sharmaji and the Diwali Sweets". In this, the union committee decides to quit working as a protest against the management in their decision to give only half a kilogram sweets for Diwali.
In "Her Mother", one reads a long account about a mother's rants and complaints about her daughter who has gone abroad for higher studies.
I loved all the eight stories in this book, but some more than the others. My favourites were the ones which had feisty, opinionated protagonists like the ones in "Bahu", "When Anklets Tinkle" and "Her Mother". Though the title story was a bit disturbing, I really liked it for what it portrayed. A young girl who had to carry the burden of secrets one after another was something which I found overwhelming. "Bahu" and "Her Mother" can be all too familiar because it is as if the author has taken a phase from the lives of married women and mothers who experience the empty nest syndrome.
When you come to think of the patriarchal times in which these stories were set, it is quite amazing. That we can have female protagonists like this in the '80s is inconceivable. All the stories have an easy, conversational tone and the characters are people whom we encounter in our daily lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would want to have a light, quick, fulfilling read. It's a good book for anyone who wants to start reading in English too.
Rating: 5/5
March 19, 2024
A great collection of short stories, mainly focusing on gender and women's social issues in India. I thought that Appachana wrote with an interesting mix of emotionality and restraint, but I couldn't get into the style of it as much as I wanted to.
April 2, 2015
I particularly enjoyed My Only Gods, When anklets Tinkle & The Sharmaji stories. I feel like I should give Her Mother & Incantations another read, however.
June 3, 2022
3,5/5
Recueil de 8 nouvelles explorants les relations familiales indiennes.
Parfois comiques, parfois tragiques, parfois les deux à la fois (et de manière très intelligente), on se plonge au coeurs de familles tourmentées, explorant les sentiments d'amour, de haine, de deuil, de peur, de force, ou encore de trahison.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ma lecture, même si j'ai le sentiment que j'oublierais rapidement une bonne partie du contenu de ce livre.
Recueil de 8 nouvelles explorants les relations familiales indiennes.
Parfois comiques, parfois tragiques, parfois les deux à la fois (et de manière très intelligente), on se plonge au coeurs de familles tourmentées, explorant les sentiments d'amour, de haine, de deuil, de peur, de force, ou encore de trahison.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ma lecture, même si j'ai le sentiment que j'oublierais rapidement une bonne partie du contenu de ce livre.
February 2, 2023
3.5 ⭐
The plots of most of the stories themselves aren't radical or new, but they're narrated in a uniquely engaging style, coupled with some touching and deep moments that take you by surprise. While the stories are set in the '80s and '90s, they would apply largely to today's Indian society as well, which makes it a very real read; whether it is the bureaucracy over chai-beedi or the moral policing and judgement, some things never change.
The plots of most of the stories themselves aren't radical or new, but they're narrated in a uniquely engaging style, coupled with some touching and deep moments that take you by surprise. While the stories are set in the '80s and '90s, they would apply largely to today's Indian society as well, which makes it a very real read; whether it is the bureaucracy over chai-beedi or the moral policing and judgement, some things never change.
December 9, 2021
Discovering what it means to be woman as an Indian. What marriage means, true story of the living of an Indian wife, because she doesn’t get to be more than that.
Through pressure, culture and society boundaries.
Through pressure, culture and society boundaries.
January 6, 2022
The stories struck me as very conventional: problems of Indian marriages and in-law families; suicide due to marriage problems; bureaucrats who try to beat the system. These situations are frustrating, but not unusual in Indian fiction.
May 27, 2020
A good collection of short stories about modern India, its ideological conflicts and anxieties.
December 25, 2024
I re-read this collection this year and found it still so relevant and engaging. The title story is so devastating, can shake up anyone!
March 13, 2017
3 words review :
feeling :
word to the author :
Quote :
feeling :
word to the author :
Quote :
June 9, 2016
Plusieurs nouvelles focus sur la condition des femmes en Inde. Tantôt triste, pleine d'espoir de liberté ou bouleversantes. Ce recueil fait réfléchir quand à la situation du pays entre tradition et modernité
September 11, 2018
Recueil de nouvelles indiennes, donne un aperçu de la culture indienne.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews