Tales in Colour and Other Stories

by Kunzang Choden

What are the new realities that confront Bhutanese women today? What challenges do they face when their tradition-bound close-knit family life is suddenly replaced by the anonymity of an urban existence?

These deceptively simple stories uncover both the complexity and irony of women’s lives in contemporary Bhutan. They show how ordinary lives, choices and experiences are both remarkable and poignant. In “I am a Small Person”, a despised woman uses her femininity as a means to control a man; the young girl in “I won’t ask Mother” suddenly feels empowered and confident when she makes a decision without consulting her mother. All the stories take place in rural settings, to which creeping urbanization brings gradual change, and tensions surface between the new and the old, or the traditional and the modern. For many rural women, being able to connect to the city and all its perceived glamour and power is a very real aspiration and one that is sensitively dealt with in stories like “Look at her Belly Button”, and “The Photograph”.

Kunzang Choden is one of Bhutan’s leading writers. Her novel The Circle of Karma has been translated into many languages and was shortlisted for the Elle Prix des Lectrices award.

Genres: Short Stories, Asia, Fiction, Female Authors, Feminism

145 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Kunzang Choden was born in 1952, in the year of the dragon, in Bumthang, Central Bhutan. She spent her early childhood in Bhutan but went to India (Darjeeling) for her primary and secondary education. She has a BA Honours in Psychology from Indraprastha College in Delhi and a BA in Sociology from the University of Nebraska, USA.

She has worked as a teacher and later for the UNDP in Bhutan. From 1990 onwards, Kunzang has been writing on Bhutanese oral traditions, folklore and women. She lives in Thimphu Bhutan with her husband and continues to research and document Bhutan's oral traditions.

Reviews

[Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly good collection of short stories about the lives of women in contemporary, mostly rural Bhutan, by a Bhutanese author, whose own life I wanted to read more about after the all-too-brief introduction detailing her own culture shock as a young girl in an Indian boarding school and her observations of the way women’s lives have changed in Bhutan, often becoming less independent under the influence of foreign culture.

The quality of the book was unexpected to me because, first, I bounced off the author’s novel awhile back (I may now give it another chance), and second, the publishers really let the author down here. The punctuation is bad and there are some grammatical mistakes. It’s unfortunate, though understandable, that this lack of professional copyediting has led some to conclude that the author lacks literary talent, when other indications are to the contrary. The thirteen stories are well-structured and engaging, getting the reader quickly invested in the characters’ lives.

As a cultural document this is fascinating, illuminating various aspects of ordinary life in Bhutan. The stories range from optimistic (a young woman who alternates between visiting her brother in the city, where she adopts the life of an urban sophisticate, and returning to the country to muck out sheds for her mother) to tragic (a dwarf who is shunned by most of her family and community until her death). There’s a strong sense of community life: in one story no one will turn in the village thief because everyone is interdependent, while another, about a single mother whose hard work gets her son through school and allows him to achieve a comfortable life for them both, feels not quite triumphant because it’s framed by the villagers left behind, who experience their success only by viewing photographs.

But the stories are still focused on individual choices and lives; many of the protagonists are poor single mothers, either giving birth outside of marriage, or providing for their families after leaving or being left by their husbands. It is certainly a more dynamic view of individual and family life than Western stereotypes about Asian farmers would lead you to expect. It’s mostly a realistic collection, but there is room for fancy too, as in one story about a misunderstanding between a woman and a mouse.

I finished through this collection quickly, was engaged by the stories, found the characters believable and sympathetic, and enjoyed the strong sense of place and learning about Bhutan. It’s a shame the publishers didn’t do their part; with a bit of polish and a strong publishing house behind it, this could be a real literary success.

[*Tau* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading around the world - BHUTAN

For a very long time Bhutan has been protected from outside influences.
The country was closed off from turism until 1974 and tv and internet were banned until 1999.

In this short story bundle Kunzang Choden gives us a glimpse of both Bhutanese traditional culture and changes in society.
To emphasize the contrast between the old and new world, she compares the rural and urban life.
And every time she does this from a female point of view. All her main characters are resilient girls or women.

The country and most media both try to show a very rosy picture of Bhutan.
It is said to be one of the happiest countries in the world.
Furthermore it claims that women have the same rights as men. But are they really treated equally?
Kunzang Choden's stories already give us a hint that they often aren't, especially in rural environments.
Officially, there's no overt gender discrimination as women in Bhutan enjoy more social freedom and equality compared with women in the region. But when you dig a little further, there are interesting sources of information on this matter which show a more nuanced picture. One of those sources is The Druk Journal, a Bhutanese journal of thoughts and ideas. If you want to read their article about women in Bhutan, you can head over to this overview and click on the last subject 'Women in Bhutan: the Gender Discussion' (you can also access the text in pdf-form here, but then the references aren't mentioned).

With 'Tales in Colour and other stories' the first English writing female author of Bhutan Kunzang Choden gives us an interesting insight into the actual daily life of women in her country. Therefore this book is worth 3,5* to 4*.
Unfortunately, the many linguistic errors made the reading experience quite laborious from time to time. That's why the overall rating is rounded down to 3*. A good editorial review is highly recommended as it would really help to focus the reader's attention to the stories. And those are certainly worth to be spread internationally, so that everyone gets a taste of the real Bhutan!

If you want to learn more fascinating facts about Bhutan or if you want to watch some interesting movies about this country or an interview with author Kunzang Choden, you're always welcome to check out my blog article Land of the Thunder Dragon.

The stories included in this book are:
1. The woman who lost her senses
2. I won't ask mother
3. The advisor
4. These things happen
5. Look at her belly button
6. I am like this
7. Who will water my chili
8. The photographs
9. Mother of a thief
10. I am a small person
11. The mouse in the house
12. A letter and a note
13. Tales in colour


In 2022 I'm reading (at least) one short story a day.
You can discover more about it here.
The stories in this book were #4 till #16.

February 2022 was when I decided to take on the challenge to read at least one book of every country in the world (and one of every state of the USA too).
First I'm going to see how far I get by reading bundles of short stories.
After that (or in the meanwhile) I'll also add novels and novellas to my reading pile.
To see which countries I already visited, click here.

[giada · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading around the world one book at a time 2024: bhutan

This collection of short stories is rooted in the reality of a small kingdom, following moments in the lives of the women of Bhutan.

The protagonists are usually the common people of the villages in their day to day life: they talk about how people deal with alcoholism, poverty, and how the stark contrast of class between city and country life shapes society. In fact, the myth of urban life creeps in and creates a deep well in the lives of women trying to uphold traditional values in a society that is constantly moving towards the economic boom of technological progress.

As much as I appreciate the idea behind the collection and the continued efforts of the author of promoting oral folklore of Bhutan, especially by putting women’s stories in the forefront, I wasn’t a great fan of the prose, thus finding it a bit difficult to engage with the stories.

Maybe I should have paced myself better, but I still appreciated it enough to round the rating up to a full three stars.

[Chelsea Mcgill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories by a female Bhutanese writer gives the reader access to a culture they would never otherwise be able to see: village life in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The small kingdom perched in the mountains between India and China is famous for being one of the happiest countries in the world, but because of government rules restricting tourists and mandating a $200 USD/day minimum fee for all foreign tourists, it is notoriously difficult to travel in. Kunzang Choden's stories provide a much less expensive way to explore the Kingdom of Bhutan.

"The Woman who Lost her Senses"
In the village, traditional healers practice the Bon religion, a pre-Buddhist tradition that is frowned upon by the Buddhist monks. The healers channel the energy of a deity that is specific to each person, and they need to be taught how to do this properly (by someone with the same deity) or else they go mad. This story tells of a woman who was never taught and displays symptoms of this god-created madness.

"I Won't Ask Mother"
Yeshimo quit school at a very early age to take care of her ill mother and her three brothers. She envies them for being able to get an education and to have prospects in life, and wishes that she could learn more.

"The Advisor"
A woman rejected by her husband becomes the village busybody, giving everyone unsolicited advice- and continues to stick around even after she has died.

"These Things Happen"
Tensions arise between neighboring families when one of the girls is impregnated by a visiting official and blames her boyfriend, who lives next door.

"Look At Her Belly Button"
Tsewang Doma has been spending time in Thimphu with her brother and sister-in-law, escaping from the dull village life to go shopping and watch Hindi movies. She notices that the Hindi movie heroines have their belly buttons pierced, and she decides to stop at nothing before she gets one too.


"I Am Like This"
Lemo was once a highly admired singer and dancer. But now in her old age, she has become a drunk. In this story her daughter must take care of her when she gets drunk at a cremation ceremony.

"Who Will Water My Chili"
When Tamo falls ill with a mysterious illness, her mother and father grudgingly take care of their wayward daughter. Constantly needing reassurance that she will not die, Tamo plans what she will do when she is well again.

"The Photographs"
A single mother scrimped and saved to send her son to the best modern schools and colleges, leading to a government job in the city - and photos that she proudly shows to all of her friends in the village.

"Mother of a Thief"
From a young age, a woman encourages her son to steal things as long as he doesn't get caught. As he grows up, he continues to be the village thief, but for the sake of village harmony no one punishes him.

"I Am A Small Person"
As she is dying, a hunchbacked, deformed dwarf woman remembers the hardships of her life in the village and mourns her inability to have a child.

"The Mouse In The House"
A woman and a mouse live together in uncomfortable harmony. But then one day the constant nibbling and mess become too much for the woman and she decides to set a trap.

"A Letter and a Note"
After leaving her two years ago, Lhamo's husband writes a letter asking that she join him in Thimphu with the children. Knowing his philandering ways, she is hesitant, but eventually she joins him for the sake of the children. But how long will he be able to control his baser instincts?

"Tales in Colour"
The master dyer of the village, an old woman, explains how to get good colors to the younger women and tells stories to educate them in the old ways. But she's getting old and her memory is not what it used to be, and eventually she forgets how to practice her life's craft.

Ethnographic tales

These stories are not masterpieces of literary writing. They are readable and interesting, but their appeal comes from the ethnographic information they convey rather than the writing itself. This information allows the reader to have some insight into life in rural Bhutan, which because of its closed nature is nearly impossible for foreigners to access in person.

Read the rest on my blog: http://thegloballycurious.blogspot.co...

[Harry Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about everyday life for women in rural Bhutan, touching on alcoholism, illness, infidelity, the lure of the city, age… universal themes, really, and simple stories, but very well told and with a strong sense of place.

[Linda Leaming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, funny, honest. These stories are a real insiders view of a fascinating and complex place, but they have universal appeal. I loved this book.

[Mª João Monteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Bhutanese women have always enjoyed a comparatively favourable status on a regional context as they have never suffered many of the gender based prejudices and discriminations endured by their sisters in the South Asian Region. We are now at a crucial stage in our transition and we must not let go of our hold on our traditional archetypes of strong and independent women. »
Após esta citação inicial, vamos contactar com o modo de vida no Butão em onze contos. Uns são mais interessantes do que outros, mas todos me falaram de uma realidade completamente diferente da minha.
No primeiro conto, a narradora conta-nos o impacto que teve, aos nove anos, quando em Delhi, no colégio de freiras para onde tinha ido estudar, uma das madres pôs em causa o seu nome face ao do pai, porque o seu último nome era igual ao primeiro do pai e isso não fazia sentido... Ora, explica a narradora/autora, no Butão os nomes não têm género, não se herda o nome do pai/família e as mulheres herdam as terras da mãe. Depois disto, vamos lendo contos onde o trabalho árduo e o sofrimento das mulheres são visíveis, sem que, no entanto, haja uma diferença por serem mulheres, a vida é que é mesmo dura.
Nos diversos contos, são narrados episódios mais ou menos longos da vida de algumas mulheres, destacando aspetos diversos, como a religião e o que ela pode favorecer ou prejudicar, o contraste da vida rural e a urbana, o modo de vida das novas gerações.
Os meus contos preferidos foram «Look at her belly bottom» e «Tales in colours». O primeiro fala de uma jovem mulher que ajuda na pior função que a mãe tem e já não tem forças para exercer: a recolha do estrume dos seus currais e o seu transporte para os campos para ser usado como fertilizante. Destaca-se a dureza do trabalho, o quanto lhe custa, mas como custaria mais à mãe sem quem ela «não se imagina a viver». Tsewng Doma, a jovem (e os nomes não me ficaram minimamente na memória), tem outra faceta na sua vida: vai, periodicamente, visitar a irmã e o cunhado à cidade de Thimpu, a capital. Aí, ela descobriu como era fácil a vida numa casa com dois quartos, água canalizada (não ter de ir para a fila buscar água e carregá-la!) e eletricidade. DEscobre a televisão e algumas vaidades femininas: tratar da pele e do cabelo, pintar as unhas e, por último, colocar um piercing no umbigo, como viu na tv! Esta última ação torna-a especial na sua aldeia e confere-lhe uma autoestima e satisfação que a ajudam na árdua vida rural. Gostei imenso!
O outro conto fala-nos de Tsheringmo, uma experiente colorista de lã, ensina os seus segredos a Kencho e Rinchem Dolma, de forma a que este conhecimento não se perca. Entre as técnicas e os materiais usados para tingir a lã, são também transmitidas lendas e superstições. Quando a idade traz a demência e o esquecimento à velha artesã, as antigas aprendizas, agora mulheres experientes, tratam dela e acarinham-na, mesmo ela não conseguindo discernir as suas identidades. A solidariedade feminina é uma constante na maioria dos contos.
Para além das duras tarefas rurais e a algumas condições de vida a que, no mínimo, chamaríamos primitivas, também há destaque de alguns hábitos sociais, como alguma tolerância para as relações amorosas e infidelidades (mais para os homens, mas também para as mulheres, que têm filhos fora do casamento e não são olhadas de lado). Muito interessante o contacto com este país tão distante e diferente. A leitura em inglês é sempre mais lenta, para mim, e tenho muitas dúvidas sobre a validade da pontuação quase ausente nas histórias.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kunzang Choden has produced a nuanced, touching and insightful collection of stories with all her principal characters being Bhutanese women. Her introduction was one of my favourites, even though it isn’t listed as a story unto itself. Bhutan has relatively good laws around gender equity in terms of inheritance and equality under law, with some interesting matriarchal practices. But the lived reality of women is often different from what the law states. None of the story heroes feel like victims, despite their sometimes unfair circumstances - their grit and resilience shines in these sensitive stories. Loved the author’s work!
Next edition will benefit from proofreading and corrections.

[shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4
This is an excellent collection of short stories centered around the daily lives of Bhutanese women living in the rural outskirts of Thimpu. Strong communal ties are the running strand between these stories, alongside strong women, who act as glue, keeping homes together, bellies full, children in school, spirits at bay, and themselves entertained.

Choden notes in the introduction to Tales that women in Bhutan possess freedoms not always available to South Asian women. These freedoms (e.g., single motherhood without exile/death, lack of forced marriage, right to work, land ownership) allowed the women to occupy central roles in their own lives, and in many of these narratives the men are largely absent or relatively egalitarian partners to their wives. These freedoms, of course, are not absolute and do come with their own sets of issues, but allow a heightened sense of lightheartedness and dignity to pervade the women’s narratives— save for the story of a woman with dwarfism, Wangmo, which I thought was a careful and tragic look at ableism and its intersections, how it allows members of even such a close community to fall through the cracks. On a technical level: there are some minor print errors, misspellings, and punctuation omissions that an editor should’ve caught. Favorites: The Advisor, I Am A Small Person.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - the stories collected here aren't exciting, really, in any way. They're just quiet and observant and finely polished, and most of all they're domestic. All of them are about women living in small communities in Bhutan, and even though I've never been to Bhutan and don't know a thing about it (aside from the Gross National Happiness measurement) the stories are just instantly relatable. And they're of such everyday things - the mother getting photos from her son, who's off getting an education overseas. The irritation felt when there's a mouse infestation in the house and a terribly lazy cat. Passing on fabric techniques and stories and getting older, losing memories. Getting stuck with the household chores while other family members are off doing more interesting things. Getting a belly button ring. And, my particular favourite, "I am Like This," which tells of the particular embarrassment felt when one's mother gets drunk at a funeral.

I write short stories myself; it's easy to make them appealing when they're about exciting things. Making small stories appealing is much harder. It relies so heavily on characterisation, and the characterisation here is absolutely spot on.

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice and interesting collection of short stories which have feminine main characters and deals with women's condition in Bhutan and broader Asian region. It especially focuses on rural and traditionalist societies with occasional brief shift towards urban and modern societies. But the urban and modern ideas are mainly to provide a contrast for the rural and traditional values which are highly appreciated.

I have learnt a lot about the Bhutanese traditional society and about the role of women in their culture. It is one of the important things I am always appreciating when I am finding books from smaller literatures around the globe.

[Lik C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book in preparation for an upcoming trip to Bhutan. It’s a collection of stories of different women from rural Bhutan. Most of these women’s sentiments are not new – dreaming of life outside the village, falling in love, tolerating the husband’s infidelity, raising children, and caring for their parents. The themes may not be new, but they did enlighten me on life and culture in Bhutan, a mysterious place for me, shrouded in mountains and tales in colour.

[Anna Ruth FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth reading to see the lives of some women from rural Bhutan. Behind the scenes of " the happiest nation on earth", residents grapple with issues that plague most societies: alcoholism, parental abandonment, food insecurity, theft. There are happy moments too: a woman who finds a unique souvenir from her time in the capital, the kindness of nieces and neighbors, and the sense of belonging.

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of short stories to finish (!) my AtW challenge (Bhutan). The well-written stories provide interesting insights into what it means to be a woman in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

[Anu Menon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while traveling in Bhutan. I really enjoyed the insights into the lives of ordinary women. Unlike reviewers from a couple of years ago, I did not see any blatant typos or grammatical errors. It's well written and easy to read.

[Yusra]

reading around the world challenge, and this was my pick for : BHUTAN.
this is definitely one of the best short story collections i have ever read - it was so interesting and insightful, and i genuinely learnt a lot about bhutan and bhutanese customs from a range of perspectives.

[Rosamund · Rating 4 out of 5]

My appreciation of these short stories grew more from the content than the style. They are simply told but extraordinary in revealing the lives of Bhutanese village women.

[Mrudula Govindaraju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection. A surprising gem.

[Mary Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bhutan

[Anushree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, full of folklore and oral tales, documenting lives of women in poverty and disease. I am glad I got hold of this one.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply told stories about lives of women in Bhutan.

[Spiegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice, relatable short stories.

[Sim Sima · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little window into Bhutan and its culture.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting look into the lives of women in Bhutan.

[Serendipity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales in Colour is a collection of short stories by Kunzang Choden, a Bhutanese woman writer. While not literary masterpieces they were solid, readable and enjoyable. The majority focussed on women characters, often from rural areas and show how the increased influence from urban areas has altered their lives. But the importance of traditional ways remains and is seen in one story about healers and another about a master dyer. The strength of women as single mothers was a theme in several of the stories. I also noticed the emphasis on community- the villagers who wouldn’t report a thief because he was one of them, the communal pride in a village boy who found educational and then career success in the big city. Most of the stories were realistic but one - a dispute between a woman and a mouse - was more whimsical in nature and had the air of a folk tale. The introduction should not be skipped. It’s got fascinating insights on naming conventions in Bhutan and how they reflect women’s traditional role in society as individuals, not as adjuncts to men.

While one book can’t be expected to cover everything, this slim volume provided more than a quick peek into Bhutanese society. I’m certainly glad I read it.

[Annamari Laaksonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kunzang Choden is probably the most well known Bhutanese writer. She was the first Bhutanese woman to publish in English and her most famous book is The Circle of Karma (2005). As I cannot find this book, I decide to read her book Tales in Colour and Other Stories (2009), which is a collection of 13 short stories primarily focusing on the role of women in a traditional Bhutanese society. These are universal stories, with themes that include shattered dreams and unfulfilling lives, humiliation, inequality and a life not lived. 

It is essentially a feminist book denouncing the misogynist traditions and values of the Bhutanese society that cuts girls’ wings, values boys’ education above girls’ and forces women into a very small space where they cannot succeed on any front. It is about letting one’s dreams go while still dreaming big and the sacrifices women have to make.

Many of the stories focus on single mothers and the sacrifices they face, many abandoned by their husbands. Most stories are about women in villages under the watchful eye and constant gossiping of the community. Communities where true friendships and mutual support are rare. The first story is about the author herself and the background of her name. There is a strong sense of place and duty. These are engaging, captivating stories with vivid, real, believable characters. It is an intriguing, pleasing read.

I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the stories themselves a lot. I felt they really exposed what life in Bhutan as a woman was like, especially in modern-day Bhutan, as it, like many other places, is trying to assimilate "modern ways" carefully into the existing traditions, albeit sometimes losing traditions along the way.

One major downfall of this book, however, is its typos and other errors of English usage ("its" for "it's", inconsistencies in spacing). At first it seemed quaint and endearing, but by the end of the book, it just came across as distracting and unprofessional.

[Fahima · Rating 3 out of 5]

A colorful insight to the culture and lifestyle of rural Bhutanese women and their gradual evolution and adaptation to the modern/westernizing culture. Each story elaborately detailed, makes it easy to empathize with the character.

Favorite quote : " I had neither the language nor the maturity to tell her that in my culture that is not the case, and she had neither the patience nor the wisdom to accept something that was different"

[Guneet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the stories. Each story has a different flavour.
The best part is that these stories are from rural Bhutan. The description of countryside with its tales of single mothers surviving to feed their children is a rare peep.
Simple short stories of young girls in rural Bhutan. 4 stars!! :)

[Pamela Patrick]

Loved it :-)