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Another Man's Wife and Other Stories
NINE NUANCED STORIES THAT EXPLORE THE THEMES OF DESIRE, INTIMACY AND LOVE...
A contractor at a dam site develops so obsessive a desire for a tribal woman that he brings home and holds captive another man's wife; a kathak dancer trapped in a marriage of convenience redefines notions of fidelity; an accidental step into an occupied bathroom changes a Delhi servant boy's life forever; a young married couple beleaguered by infertility desperately tries to reignite the romance and passion of their honeymoon on a houseboat in Kashmir...
Set across India, each of the stories in this collection unerringly locates the defiant undercurrent of individual expression in people shackled by societal norms.
A contractor at a dam site develops so obsessive a desire for a tribal woman that he brings home and holds captive another man's wife; a kathak dancer trapped in a marriage of convenience redefines notions of fidelity; an accidental step into an occupied bathroom changes a Delhi servant boy's life forever; a young married couple beleaguered by infertility desperately tries to reignite the romance and passion of their honeymoon on a houseboat in Kashmir...
Set across India, each of the stories in this collection unerringly locates the defiant undercurrent of individual expression in people shackled by societal norms.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
21 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Manjul Bajaj
14 books125 followersManjul Bajaj is a writer from India. She graduated in Economics from Delhi University and then did a Masters in Rural Management and another in Environmental Science. For much of her adult life she worked in the field of rural development. India's seemingly sleepy villages, its seething beneath the surface small towns, the wisdom and courage of ordinary people living unimaginably difficult lives, the diversity, the complexity, the sheer depth of the Indian subcontinent's many traditions, rituals, philosophies and ways of life, its music, literature, crafts and performing arts, its varied languages - all of these fascinate her, as do the many conflicts and contradictions that arise as the country grows and modernizes. Through her fiction she attempts to explore and understand the beauty and confusion of India, and what being a modern person belonging to this very ancient civilization and culture entails.
She lives in Goa with her husband.
She lives in Goa with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 6, 2014
I bought this book online having not heard (can't remember) much about the author or her earlier novel.
And before I write about what I liked about this collection of short stories, I would like to say that we have another elite entrant into the list of exemplary authors of Indian Origin in English.
If I were to phrase in a sentence how I would describe her writing, I would say Manjul Bajaj brings out a unique style which combines the poetic descriptive narrative of a Salman Rushdie or Vikram Seth with the sensual touch found in parts of Sidney Sheldon novels.
As the back cover claims each of these nine stories revolve around human desire, emotions, intimacy and love and they are as different from one another as chalk from cheese.
I cannot express well and do justice to the wonderful art and clarity of character and surroundings she brings into each of her stories. She makes a definite connect with the reader through one or more of her characters across the stories. May be not with the full character all through but most certainly how the characters react to situations and their thoughts.
Try this for example from the story "Lottery Ticket" where the young Shreya is torn between her desire to pursue higher studies of her choice in a prestigious institute abroad or settle back to the mundane life working at a coffee shop as her family cannot afford to pay for her dreams.
As she contemplates her decision Manjul writes wonderfully "Getting the Life you liked. Or Liking the Life you'd got. Those were the only two roads to adulthood, everything else was childishness".
There are 9 stories in this set and ofcourse the best of them is aptly used as the title of the book as well. But about that later.
She manages to describe the beauty of Kashmir and its lakes with the honeymooners enjoying the serene surroundings with equal ease as she quickly jumps to describe the turmoil that sadly put the tourist industry and other related jobs out of reach and how this impacts the livelihood of the locals while weaving in wonderfully the Punjabi-Tamil couple who fall in love and out of it without realizing it themselves - in "Under a Moonlit Sky"
In "Crossed Borders" she wonderfully takes us on a journey of a character who accidentally becomes a murderer and having come a long way to take on a new name and identity is finding his own peace with life when it is suddenly disturbed by someone who tries to exploit his past into their personal gain. But when a sudden incident can turn one into a murderer can another act set things right and bring things back to normal? Recommend you to read it to find out
I loved the way without referring to it even once she has described how superstitious/blind beliefs have turned some of us into monsters by indulging in heinous crimes such as female infanticide and by the same blind beliefs a woman in danger is saved by circumstances - in "The Birthmark"
"Another Man's Wife" is certainly the longest and the best of the 9 stories and for me it was a wonderful journey into the smart and very sharp thinking mind of a village lass who has learned the ways of the world by living in the rough in the forests and how at every obstacle in her life (or opportunity) she falls back on the learning taught to her by her grandfather to take decisions that though shocking at times, always make her grow in strength as a character and appreciation by the reader.
How she unknowingly turns around the mundane family life of a builder by herself sacrificing 6 months of her life to help her family earn its place in the harsh world and food for her little children, is as disturbing to read as it is intriguing.
Even the characters that have very little word space in the story still live in your memories for the way they have been handled and well narrated.
Makes a great read this!!!
And before I write about what I liked about this collection of short stories, I would like to say that we have another elite entrant into the list of exemplary authors of Indian Origin in English.
If I were to phrase in a sentence how I would describe her writing, I would say Manjul Bajaj brings out a unique style which combines the poetic descriptive narrative of a Salman Rushdie or Vikram Seth with the sensual touch found in parts of Sidney Sheldon novels.
As the back cover claims each of these nine stories revolve around human desire, emotions, intimacy and love and they are as different from one another as chalk from cheese.
I cannot express well and do justice to the wonderful art and clarity of character and surroundings she brings into each of her stories. She makes a definite connect with the reader through one or more of her characters across the stories. May be not with the full character all through but most certainly how the characters react to situations and their thoughts.
Try this for example from the story "Lottery Ticket" where the young Shreya is torn between her desire to pursue higher studies of her choice in a prestigious institute abroad or settle back to the mundane life working at a coffee shop as her family cannot afford to pay for her dreams.
As she contemplates her decision Manjul writes wonderfully "Getting the Life you liked. Or Liking the Life you'd got. Those were the only two roads to adulthood, everything else was childishness".
There are 9 stories in this set and ofcourse the best of them is aptly used as the title of the book as well. But about that later.
She manages to describe the beauty of Kashmir and its lakes with the honeymooners enjoying the serene surroundings with equal ease as she quickly jumps to describe the turmoil that sadly put the tourist industry and other related jobs out of reach and how this impacts the livelihood of the locals while weaving in wonderfully the Punjabi-Tamil couple who fall in love and out of it without realizing it themselves - in "Under a Moonlit Sky"
In "Crossed Borders" she wonderfully takes us on a journey of a character who accidentally becomes a murderer and having come a long way to take on a new name and identity is finding his own peace with life when it is suddenly disturbed by someone who tries to exploit his past into their personal gain. But when a sudden incident can turn one into a murderer can another act set things right and bring things back to normal? Recommend you to read it to find out
I loved the way without referring to it even once she has described how superstitious/blind beliefs have turned some of us into monsters by indulging in heinous crimes such as female infanticide and by the same blind beliefs a woman in danger is saved by circumstances - in "The Birthmark"
"Another Man's Wife" is certainly the longest and the best of the 9 stories and for me it was a wonderful journey into the smart and very sharp thinking mind of a village lass who has learned the ways of the world by living in the rough in the forests and how at every obstacle in her life (or opportunity) she falls back on the learning taught to her by her grandfather to take decisions that though shocking at times, always make her grow in strength as a character and appreciation by the reader.
How she unknowingly turns around the mundane family life of a builder by herself sacrificing 6 months of her life to help her family earn its place in the harsh world and food for her little children, is as disturbing to read as it is intriguing.
Even the characters that have very little word space in the story still live in your memories for the way they have been handled and well narrated.
Makes a great read this!!!
September 12, 2012
To my utter surprise, I found myself glued to a work of ‘mere’ fiction. I read the book from beginning to end without break because I kept waiting for that next one sentence nugget that the author kept producing every few pages. This author's intensity is exceeded only by her incisiveness and her perceptive observation of the human condition.
This author also excels in capturing the emotional essence to be found at that point of impact between love, lust, sexual passion and power equations in relationships. Either that, or I am a dirty old obsessive man hiding my shame in high fluted pseudo aestheticism!
I reccomend it to everyone.
This author also excels in capturing the emotional essence to be found at that point of impact between love, lust, sexual passion and power equations in relationships. Either that, or I am a dirty old obsessive man hiding my shame in high fluted pseudo aestheticism!
I reccomend it to everyone.
March 22, 2014
This is the first time I have read one of Manjul Bajaj's books, and it was a delightful revelation - the stories captured my imagination and led me to new territory.
The language is fluid and the author's voice is so natural one barely notices it, as though she were talking to one; unlike many Indian authors who come across as a bit stilted or self-conscious.
I'm amazed also at the breadth and depth of her knowledge of a vast range of subjects and the ease with which it interweaves and enriches her stories. Lovely complexity and detail both in the characters and in the backdrops. The stories all reached into my head and gave it a slight twist. One can't merrily skim past. But neither do they sink one into a dark place. Really, like reality seen reflected in a window pane - it seems a bit sharper, more distinct than the real view behind one's shoulder.
The language is fluid and the author's voice is so natural one barely notices it, as though she were talking to one; unlike many Indian authors who come across as a bit stilted or self-conscious.
I'm amazed also at the breadth and depth of her knowledge of a vast range of subjects and the ease with which it interweaves and enriches her stories. Lovely complexity and detail both in the characters and in the backdrops. The stories all reached into my head and gave it a slight twist. One can't merrily skim past. But neither do they sink one into a dark place. Really, like reality seen reflected in a window pane - it seems a bit sharper, more distinct than the real view behind one's shoulder.
April 5, 2013
Stories well told
It’s not every day that you come across a book with the first line- “Ammi, you are a whore!” The line instantly reminded me of an author of great courage, Vladimir Nabokov, whose novel Lolita’s first line read ‘Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins’. Another Man’s Wife is Manjul Bajaj’s second book, and first published collection of short stories. Her confidence as a writer shines through its pages.
The collection has 8 short stories and a last long story (which could easily qualify as a novella). The stories are set in different parts of India, and gives us a glimpse of people who live there and the spaces they inhabit- a barsati where a married kathak dancer’s former lover lives between nights of passionate love, a newsprint with a report of an absconding criminal, an Omni van filled with the prayers of an aging mother-in-law, framed photographs of a celebrated jazz singer, chikankari embroidered white and soft colored fabrics, an old bungalow wrapped up as a diwali gift, rooms with cameras in a shikara in Dal lake, the dark mind of a young man contemplating murdering his grandmother and the sweet sweat of a tribal girl who is ready to become another man’s wife; spaces where stories worth telling are born.
Bajaj’s strength lies in the way she selects her themes for her stories and how she makes them believable. Her style is easy and deliberate, and her research thorough. You can feel your mouth water when she talks about exotic mangoes “Kotihur…Ranipasand…those are mangoes so delicate…a connoisseur eats them at the exact moment of its ripening, knowing the moment with a touch, a glance” or when she enamors you by talking about the language of chikankari “of butis, motifs of elephants, fishes, birds and lotuses…created with a delicate parting of the wrap and weft of the muslin to reveal a finely patterned mesh…some (women) did the outlining, others the filling and shadow work…a duppatta or sari passed through many hands before it was complete”. Through many of her stories – Ripe Mangoes, The Birthmark, Under the moonlit sky, Another Man’s Wife- Bajaj shows us the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, and how they are finding cracks in the walls built around them to, in smalls ways and big, live life on their own terms.
Another Man’s Wife is a sincere and well crafted book. And Bajaj as a writer is gifted with sensitivity and restraint. And one can see that the time she spent on her mother’s knees, listening to her stories, was time well spent
It’s not every day that you come across a book with the first line- “Ammi, you are a whore!” The line instantly reminded me of an author of great courage, Vladimir Nabokov, whose novel Lolita’s first line read ‘Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins’. Another Man’s Wife is Manjul Bajaj’s second book, and first published collection of short stories. Her confidence as a writer shines through its pages.
The collection has 8 short stories and a last long story (which could easily qualify as a novella). The stories are set in different parts of India, and gives us a glimpse of people who live there and the spaces they inhabit- a barsati where a married kathak dancer’s former lover lives between nights of passionate love, a newsprint with a report of an absconding criminal, an Omni van filled with the prayers of an aging mother-in-law, framed photographs of a celebrated jazz singer, chikankari embroidered white and soft colored fabrics, an old bungalow wrapped up as a diwali gift, rooms with cameras in a shikara in Dal lake, the dark mind of a young man contemplating murdering his grandmother and the sweet sweat of a tribal girl who is ready to become another man’s wife; spaces where stories worth telling are born.
Bajaj’s strength lies in the way she selects her themes for her stories and how she makes them believable. Her style is easy and deliberate, and her research thorough. You can feel your mouth water when she talks about exotic mangoes “Kotihur…Ranipasand…those are mangoes so delicate…a connoisseur eats them at the exact moment of its ripening, knowing the moment with a touch, a glance” or when she enamors you by talking about the language of chikankari “of butis, motifs of elephants, fishes, birds and lotuses…created with a delicate parting of the wrap and weft of the muslin to reveal a finely patterned mesh…some (women) did the outlining, others the filling and shadow work…a duppatta or sari passed through many hands before it was complete”. Through many of her stories – Ripe Mangoes, The Birthmark, Under the moonlit sky, Another Man’s Wife- Bajaj shows us the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, and how they are finding cracks in the walls built around them to, in smalls ways and big, live life on their own terms.
Another Man’s Wife is a sincere and well crafted book. And Bajaj as a writer is gifted with sensitivity and restraint. And one can see that the time she spent on her mother’s knees, listening to her stories, was time well spent
October 22, 2012
Manjul blazes her own trail bringing us stories of displacement and the politics of livelihood from non-metro India. Her language and characters expand our understanding of the human condition. The nine stories make for an absorbing read.
August 10, 2019
I read this is in one sitting. Unable to get enough of the worlds woven so beautifully that you forget where you are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading story after story of strong female characters in complex situations. I will think of them long after today.
July 5, 2021
I had forgotten the experience of reading a book while looking at darkening clouds from
time to time - Phoenix doesn’t offer much opportunity of that - but that's how I finished this book, seating in my daughter's gym class, on a rare rainy day. I regret not having more time to read it all at one go, for this book can, and should, be read cover to cover.
First the craft. amidst the recent light commercial reads that have been flooding my inbox, I found an author of craft after quite some time - someone who doesn't skimp to paint a character, but yet, does it with brevity. Also, I found most of the stories to be of an apt length and the author manages to immerse the readers into visceral experiences but doesn't let them lose interest by going too long.
Some stories start with a bang - that’s probably the only thing I didn’t like too much as I felt that to be unnecessary in the otherwise deft, subtle yet powerful storytelling. But every story ends perfectly. Exactly as stories should. Telling the right things but not everything. This book is exactly what I needed to read to remind myself of the art and craft of endings.
Second, the characters - more than the stories, or the plots, the characters are what makes this book. Unabashed strength of the female characters is portrayed with no apologies - not that there should be, but the issue is, more often than not, there is. Even in the audacious op-eds on a woman’s understanding of her sexuality - there’s so much explanation, so much justification - fighting too hard almost. Here, the characters exist as who they are as if there’s no other way of being.
Smarts is the fourth feature. I haven’t read other Manjul Bajaj books before, but from now on, this is what I will read to learn. She is the whip that lands soft yet hard. So many lines in the book are quote-worthy (paraphrasing some):
There should be a rule against letting lovers marry
A girl is never born alone but with two twin sisters
Quickie on cocaine
The only crime is getting caught
Marriage is a division of labor, he had the problem and I went to therapy
But the best thing is, the book deals with the most pertinent and ponderous of subjects, and sad things happen in the stories, but strangely, these are not sad stories. There's no hint of melancholy.
So to summarize, an excellent, smart, beautiful read. I found myself in every story - one way or another - and I am sure everyone will too.
time to time - Phoenix doesn’t offer much opportunity of that - but that's how I finished this book, seating in my daughter's gym class, on a rare rainy day. I regret not having more time to read it all at one go, for this book can, and should, be read cover to cover.
First the craft. amidst the recent light commercial reads that have been flooding my inbox, I found an author of craft after quite some time - someone who doesn't skimp to paint a character, but yet, does it with brevity. Also, I found most of the stories to be of an apt length and the author manages to immerse the readers into visceral experiences but doesn't let them lose interest by going too long.
Some stories start with a bang - that’s probably the only thing I didn’t like too much as I felt that to be unnecessary in the otherwise deft, subtle yet powerful storytelling. But every story ends perfectly. Exactly as stories should. Telling the right things but not everything. This book is exactly what I needed to read to remind myself of the art and craft of endings.
Second, the characters - more than the stories, or the plots, the characters are what makes this book. Unabashed strength of the female characters is portrayed with no apologies - not that there should be, but the issue is, more often than not, there is. Even in the audacious op-eds on a woman’s understanding of her sexuality - there’s so much explanation, so much justification - fighting too hard almost. Here, the characters exist as who they are as if there’s no other way of being.
Smarts is the fourth feature. I haven’t read other Manjul Bajaj books before, but from now on, this is what I will read to learn. She is the whip that lands soft yet hard. So many lines in the book are quote-worthy (paraphrasing some):
There should be a rule against letting lovers marry
A girl is never born alone but with two twin sisters
Quickie on cocaine
The only crime is getting caught
Marriage is a division of labor, he had the problem and I went to therapy
But the best thing is, the book deals with the most pertinent and ponderous of subjects, and sad things happen in the stories, but strangely, these are not sad stories. There's no hint of melancholy.
So to summarize, an excellent, smart, beautiful read. I found myself in every story - one way or another - and I am sure everyone will too.
January 25, 2019
With an eye catching title such as this, it's almost expected that this book would delve into a world that most of us can hardly imagine. Despite its scandalous title, most of stories listed had nothing to do with marriage and social mores. Instead it showcases a different side of Indian life and it's complicated lifestyles that media neglects to address.
These are not glamorous lives, with happy endings and lives lived with purpose. Some of these stories gave no ending or satisfying resolution. My favorite story is the first story- about a jaded wife , living a satisfying yet scandalous lifestyle why her children. The title story, also quite enjoyable, is the last one in the book. It is a bit depressing but I could understand why it is such a strong story.
These are not glamorous lives, with happy endings and lives lived with purpose. Some of these stories gave no ending or satisfying resolution. My favorite story is the first story- about a jaded wife , living a satisfying yet scandalous lifestyle why her children. The title story, also quite enjoyable, is the last one in the book. It is a bit depressing but I could understand why it is such a strong story.
February 28, 2014
With an interesting mix of themes and clever plots, ‘Another Man’s Wife’ is a vivid medley of prose fiction that I enjoyed immensely.
Stark in its appeal, the opening story, ‘Ripe Mangoes’, deals with the primal urge of a young Muslim woman, who is trapped with an older man, to be loved. Her journey to seek love, her legitimate desire, turns her into a scheming mother whose identity blurs when she is challenged by her own daughter.
Readers invest into characters as they read and they subconsciously side with a few. I loved ‘Crossed Border’ but the twist in the tail didn’t go down very well with me.
‘Birthmark’ has a good social message. I was truly moved, though I thought a linear narrative would have worked better.
I found ‘Me and Sammy Fernandez’ interesting too, particularly the relationship of Cory with her father-in-law.
The narrative of ‘Marrying Nusrat’ rambled. The story of a woman’s cooperative in a village near Lucknow felt mundane, somewhat labored. The reason, perhaps, was its fattened up prose.
‘A Deepavali Gift’ is a delicate inquiry where roots of an individual are delightfully juxtaposed with unfamiliar acceptance. I found this story of giving, and moving on, very powerful indeed.
‘Under the Moonlit Sky’ has a muddle in-between that had set up obvious expectations about where the story was headed. But in the end, the story ran downhill along an altogether different course, as it climaxed, I thought, rather decadently.
In ‘The Lottery’ faith and reality collide to reveal the dark side of taking small family decisions.
‘Another Man’s Wife, balances desire and dissent through the lives of a displaced tribal family who have to learn fast to survive. The character of the tribal woman Kuheli is both bold and vulnerable in equal measure.
Overall, a good collection of short prose fiction. Highly recommended.
Stark in its appeal, the opening story, ‘Ripe Mangoes’, deals with the primal urge of a young Muslim woman, who is trapped with an older man, to be loved. Her journey to seek love, her legitimate desire, turns her into a scheming mother whose identity blurs when she is challenged by her own daughter.
Readers invest into characters as they read and they subconsciously side with a few. I loved ‘Crossed Border’ but the twist in the tail didn’t go down very well with me.
‘Birthmark’ has a good social message. I was truly moved, though I thought a linear narrative would have worked better.
I found ‘Me and Sammy Fernandez’ interesting too, particularly the relationship of Cory with her father-in-law.
The narrative of ‘Marrying Nusrat’ rambled. The story of a woman’s cooperative in a village near Lucknow felt mundane, somewhat labored. The reason, perhaps, was its fattened up prose.
‘A Deepavali Gift’ is a delicate inquiry where roots of an individual are delightfully juxtaposed with unfamiliar acceptance. I found this story of giving, and moving on, very powerful indeed.
‘Under the Moonlit Sky’ has a muddle in-between that had set up obvious expectations about where the story was headed. But in the end, the story ran downhill along an altogether different course, as it climaxed, I thought, rather decadently.
In ‘The Lottery’ faith and reality collide to reveal the dark side of taking small family decisions.
‘Another Man’s Wife, balances desire and dissent through the lives of a displaced tribal family who have to learn fast to survive. The character of the tribal woman Kuheli is both bold and vulnerable in equal measure.
Overall, a good collection of short prose fiction. Highly recommended.
August 24, 2015
Loved it so much, from start to finish this book was brilliant! Such wonderful writing and every single story was so special!
April 18, 2018
"So, you're back."
I was only seated across the room from my wife. Had been for the past hour. But she was right. I had been far, far away, lost in a magical world woven from words.
A world where I laughed and cried, suffered and celebrated, hoped and failed alongside a tribal woman named Kuheli, the protagonist of "Another Man's Wife" Manjul Bajaj's title story in a lovely anthology.
Just last week, I mused about what makes for good writing... and came up with this:
The words reach out from the pages to softly envelop you in a soothing embrace, gently coax you into the tale they're telling you. And you step along, willing, even eager. Soon you realize the silken bonds have turned into steel wires that hold you prisoner, unable, even reluctant to escape.
When, at last, you manage - or, more likely, are rudely shaken into - the real world outside it, you're startled. You blink uncertainly, like a man locked inside a dark room might when he opens the door to the sunlight. For a few lovely, dazed moments, you're lost in that delightful twilight zone between the story and your life.
And then, with a shake of your head to clear your thoughts, you return to the world.
That's when you know you've been reading a good book.
"Another Man's Wife" is a good book. A very good book. I stumbled across it by accident, from a recommendation on a book lovers' group by Amogha Reddappa who called it "probably the most underrated book ever."
A short story must grab attention in the first 2 or 3 sentences. The collection of stories in Another Man's Wife and Other Stories is among the finest examples of this rule in action.
I mean, who can resist a first story ("Ripe Mangoes") that begins with Samina telling her mother: "Ammi, you are a whore!"
It then evolves into brilliant storytelling, delving deep into tangled relationships spawned by circumstance and choice, and culminating in a mother's lament... "She will not believe me if I tell her love is all anyone ever needs."
The next story ("Crossed Borders") is a lovely exposition of the vagaries of fate and destiny that lead a person's life in unpredictable directions, causing impulsive actions taken in the heat of a moment to govern the future chain of events.
As Bahadur ruminates, "We are mere actors in our lives, the script is written by destiny." You find yourself taking a deep dive along with the hero, living his fears and anxieties, hoping fervently that he gets a break, rejoicing in his final reprieve.
Each story in this amazing collection is different.
Except for one thing. They are all captivating, fascinating.
"The Birthmark" sensitively addresses a social quirk. "Marrying Nusrat" tackles a different problem of growing up, tracing the progress of Karim, a villager who becomes urbanized - and transformed. "A Deepavali Gift" is a touching short tale of an aunt's role in her niece Sarita's future.
"Me and Sammy Fernandez" is about love and its perversion. As our heroine Cory puts it: "However much you might love someone you simply can't feel self-worth on their behalf. In that regard, each person is truly alone."
"Under a Moonlit Sky" powerfully brings out the impact of the passage of time, through a narrative of four people across twelve eventful years, starting with the first blush of romance through to a more cynical, pragmatic and practical time beyond it.
"Lottery Ticket" takes a simple situation and weaves it into a delightful exploration on the pre-ordained nature of our existences. It reveals many home truths that we'd live a lifetime to learn. About doctors. About growing up. About being adults. And tackling a random universe.
I loved, too, the analogy: "A well-worn marriage was like a shop-soiled currency note. It's only fault was that it had been in circulation for too long."
Dotted all through these lovely stories are some wise, deep truths that still delight me.
Like "Years don't age a man - experiences do that."
And: "One should only commit those indiscretions whose consequences one can live with, if found out."
Or: "Like a shawl of the finest pashmima, only wisdom's warmth must be felt, not its weight."
And: "To survive, they had to change completely, but if they changed, then what exactly would survive?"
I've never tried to review a short story collection before. But I've read many. And only few in which all the stories in the compilation are of the same high standard.
"Another Man's Wife" is among those rare exceptions.
That's because Manjul Bajaj is an excellent writer. I set out to study this work as a model for learning how to craft a good short story. I ended up also admiring it as a work of art and a piece of brilliant, gripping storytelling.
I think you'll enjoy it, too.
I was only seated across the room from my wife. Had been for the past hour. But she was right. I had been far, far away, lost in a magical world woven from words.
A world where I laughed and cried, suffered and celebrated, hoped and failed alongside a tribal woman named Kuheli, the protagonist of "Another Man's Wife" Manjul Bajaj's title story in a lovely anthology.
Just last week, I mused about what makes for good writing... and came up with this:
The words reach out from the pages to softly envelop you in a soothing embrace, gently coax you into the tale they're telling you. And you step along, willing, even eager. Soon you realize the silken bonds have turned into steel wires that hold you prisoner, unable, even reluctant to escape.
When, at last, you manage - or, more likely, are rudely shaken into - the real world outside it, you're startled. You blink uncertainly, like a man locked inside a dark room might when he opens the door to the sunlight. For a few lovely, dazed moments, you're lost in that delightful twilight zone between the story and your life.
And then, with a shake of your head to clear your thoughts, you return to the world.
That's when you know you've been reading a good book.
"Another Man's Wife" is a good book. A very good book. I stumbled across it by accident, from a recommendation on a book lovers' group by Amogha Reddappa who called it "probably the most underrated book ever."
A short story must grab attention in the first 2 or 3 sentences. The collection of stories in Another Man's Wife and Other Stories is among the finest examples of this rule in action.
I mean, who can resist a first story ("Ripe Mangoes") that begins with Samina telling her mother: "Ammi, you are a whore!"
It then evolves into brilliant storytelling, delving deep into tangled relationships spawned by circumstance and choice, and culminating in a mother's lament... "She will not believe me if I tell her love is all anyone ever needs."
The next story ("Crossed Borders") is a lovely exposition of the vagaries of fate and destiny that lead a person's life in unpredictable directions, causing impulsive actions taken in the heat of a moment to govern the future chain of events.
As Bahadur ruminates, "We are mere actors in our lives, the script is written by destiny." You find yourself taking a deep dive along with the hero, living his fears and anxieties, hoping fervently that he gets a break, rejoicing in his final reprieve.
Each story in this amazing collection is different.
Except for one thing. They are all captivating, fascinating.
"The Birthmark" sensitively addresses a social quirk. "Marrying Nusrat" tackles a different problem of growing up, tracing the progress of Karim, a villager who becomes urbanized - and transformed. "A Deepavali Gift" is a touching short tale of an aunt's role in her niece Sarita's future.
"Me and Sammy Fernandez" is about love and its perversion. As our heroine Cory puts it: "However much you might love someone you simply can't feel self-worth on their behalf. In that regard, each person is truly alone."
"Under a Moonlit Sky" powerfully brings out the impact of the passage of time, through a narrative of four people across twelve eventful years, starting with the first blush of romance through to a more cynical, pragmatic and practical time beyond it.
"Lottery Ticket" takes a simple situation and weaves it into a delightful exploration on the pre-ordained nature of our existences. It reveals many home truths that we'd live a lifetime to learn. About doctors. About growing up. About being adults. And tackling a random universe.
I loved, too, the analogy: "A well-worn marriage was like a shop-soiled currency note. It's only fault was that it had been in circulation for too long."
Dotted all through these lovely stories are some wise, deep truths that still delight me.
Like "Years don't age a man - experiences do that."
And: "One should only commit those indiscretions whose consequences one can live with, if found out."
Or: "Like a shawl of the finest pashmima, only wisdom's warmth must be felt, not its weight."
And: "To survive, they had to change completely, but if they changed, then what exactly would survive?"
I've never tried to review a short story collection before. But I've read many. And only few in which all the stories in the compilation are of the same high standard.
"Another Man's Wife" is among those rare exceptions.
That's because Manjul Bajaj is an excellent writer. I set out to study this work as a model for learning how to craft a good short story. I ended up also admiring it as a work of art and a piece of brilliant, gripping storytelling.
I think you'll enjoy it, too.
May 26, 2018
What a revelation this book was! Nine stories that transport you into the heart of India and into the conundrums faced by a variety of characters from across the social milieu of the nation. Manjul's strength lies in her sublime use of language which is richly descriptive, beautifully nuanced and deceptively profound. There is an empathy that lies at the heart of her work, and a desire to explore the human condition.
Every story has something new to reveal. Whether that is people coming to terms with their lives in unusual ways, or actively steering themselves through the currents and eddies of their myriad situations, these are skilfully drawn protagonists housing a spectrum of emotions within themselves.
I give this a 4.5* star rating purely because at certain junctures there are proofreading/typos/editing errors. This somewhat mars the flow of the narrative, and needs to be sorted out by the publishers.
Regardless, this is a writer par excellence and I cannot wait to read more of her incredibly beautiful writing. Highly recommend this book to fans of short stories!
Every story has something new to reveal. Whether that is people coming to terms with their lives in unusual ways, or actively steering themselves through the currents and eddies of their myriad situations, these are skilfully drawn protagonists housing a spectrum of emotions within themselves.
I give this a 4.5* star rating purely because at certain junctures there are proofreading/typos/editing errors. This somewhat mars the flow of the narrative, and needs to be sorted out by the publishers.
Regardless, this is a writer par excellence and I cannot wait to read more of her incredibly beautiful writing. Highly recommend this book to fans of short stories!
July 30, 2021
With an effortless writing by the author, the book will make you meet characters that would have otherwise been an extra in any other story. Set in various parts of India, the 9 stories have their own theme and yet you feel a sense of being tied to emotions that short stories seldom emote. The anxiety, guilt, love, desire and helplessness are felt in every single story and they will not fail to impress you. It’s also probably one of the most underrated books
One of the most shocking openings of a short story I’ve read is from the first one ‘Ripe mangoes’ where Samina calls out to her mother ‘Ammi, you are a whore’. The muted me just continued sailing from one page to another spellbound.. sometimes because of what the character did, sometimes for the characters’ plight and sometimes for what I was experiencing
“To survive, they had to change completely, but if they changed, then what exactly would survive?”
One of the most shocking openings of a short story I’ve read is from the first one ‘Ripe mangoes’ where Samina calls out to her mother ‘Ammi, you are a whore’. The muted me just continued sailing from one page to another spellbound.. sometimes because of what the character did, sometimes for the characters’ plight and sometimes for what I was experiencing
“To survive, they had to change completely, but if they changed, then what exactly would survive?”
December 1, 2022
The unmistakable vernacular spirit — not only of her ancestral Punjab but of much of rural north India — comes to sensual life in the English fiction of Manjul Bajaj, who, though now based in a Delhi suburb, calls herself a Lakhnavi, from Lucknow. The ability to bring the rural and the indigenous alive in the English language is, I’ve always, one of the cherished gifts of South Asian writers. Bajaj has written two novels that exploit this gift to its fullest: Come, Before Evening Falls, which is set in the blood-smeared world of honor-killings in rural undivided Punjab, and Searching for Heer, an experimental retelling of Punjab’s own Romeo and Juliet legend, the story of Heer and Ranjha. But the book that truly took my breath away was her 2012 collection of short stories, Another Man’s Wife.
May 26, 2021
What an amazing book! Manjul Bajaj now tops my list of favorite authors. Smart, wonderful writing with a clever, crisp narrative makes all the stories in this collection irresistible.
Wow wow wow. I don’t know enough superlatives to describe the book. Excellent!
Wow wow wow. I don’t know enough superlatives to describe the book. Excellent!
April 1, 2018
Engaging short stories with vivid visuals and distinctive memorable characters.
March 14, 2024
If you haven't yet delved into the works of Manjul Bajaj, you're truly missing out on some exceptional Indian literature! She's a hidden gem that I'm thrilled to have discovered. "Another Man's Wife and Other Stories" stands out as one of the finest collections of short stories, touching upon themes of love, infidelity, passion, and more. Each story captivated me, with the final one, "Another Man's Wife," leaving a particularly lasting impression. Bajaj's writing is beautifully lucid, drawing readers deep into the narratives, and I found myself reluctant to reach the end of this captivating book.
Featuring diverse characters and intricately woven stories, this collection is a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the richness of Indian fiction. My only wish is that more attention had been given to the book's cover and marketing, as it deserves a wider audience.
January 11, 2017
Writing short stories is tricky. The story needs to be short enough to hold one’s attention and long enough to have substance. The characters need to shine and connect. The end needs to justify the plot. And these are just a few things to keep in mind while writing, or even reading, a short story.
Manjul Bajaj shows you just how it’s done, and how!
Desire, intimacy and love are the themes that run through the stories.
9 short stories, each a gem shining on its own, and all of them strung together to form a necklace of emotions.
Ripe Mangoes - A young kathak dancer trapped in a marriage of convenience to an old man chooses infidelity to make herself forget resentment and feel alive.
Crossed Borders - A Nepali servant boy steps into an occupied bathroom and the imagined aftermath sends him spiralling down a path of destruction.
The Birthmark - The desire for a male child and buried guilt surfacing at the right time makes for a deadly concoction that could save a life.
Me and Sammy Fernandez - Music, memories and abuse are the crux of this beautifully written story set in Goa.
Marrying Nusrat - Innocence which is wiped away by reality, resulting in heart break.
A Deepavali Gift - Lighting up someone else’s life is sometimes the best way to celebrate this festival of lights.
Under a Moonlit Sky - A honeymoon on a houseboat in Kashmir, after which life happens to two young couples. Will they be able to rekindle lost love again?
Lottery Ticket – The constant hammer of monetary desire leads to fractured relationships. Who will win, money or relationships?
Another Man’s Wife – The title story and my most favourite one of the lot. A contractor at a dam site finds himself obsessively attracted to a tribal tea seller’s wife and wishes to possess her at any cost. What price will this liaison demand, and by whom?
Manjul Bajaj is a prolific writer. Her detailed research and empathy come through in the stories set in varied locations, backgrounds and situations. Her words bring alive her characters in your imagination and you connect with them, and their situations instantly. I read this book in one go, and turning the last page left me bereft.
February 5, 2016
Word of mouth and the fact that the author happens to be an alumna of my alma mater led me to this.
The refreshing aspect of this collection was the variety of the context and the setting of each tale. A displaced tribal family, a houseboat owning couple of Kashmir, a murderer of a West Delhi family on the run and a reporter who, besotted by the musical talents of a Goan prodigy marries and ends up with an abusive relationship are some of the varied characters one comes across in this collection.
While there are instances where the prose glitters, Bajaj could have improvised and made some of the endings a bit more hard hitting than they actually turn out to be. All said and done, an impressive collection and someone to watch out for.
The refreshing aspect of this collection was the variety of the context and the setting of each tale. A displaced tribal family, a houseboat owning couple of Kashmir, a murderer of a West Delhi family on the run and a reporter who, besotted by the musical talents of a Goan prodigy marries and ends up with an abusive relationship are some of the varied characters one comes across in this collection.
While there are instances where the prose glitters, Bajaj could have improvised and made some of the endings a bit more hard hitting than they actually turn out to be. All said and done, an impressive collection and someone to watch out for.
April 30, 2015
A most pleasant surprise. Nine short stories give the reader a glimpse into the lives of another culture. Fascinating descriptive views of landscape, as well as a view into the minds of another culture expressed in the terms of their thinking. Hints of the class system which many try to overlook but exists in many countries and lends well to the telling. The author has done a superb job of engaging readers in the world as seen through the eyes of the characters. Perhaps a bit over the top with the foreign expressions in languages of the various dialects of India. If the reader is able to skim over the uninterpretable phrases there is an abundance of fine reading enjoyment to be had. A commendable work worthy of five stars and leaving this reader impressed.
July 27, 2016
Another man's wife. Odd name but relevant. A collection of short stories. Very well written. I am always glad to see good writing. Although there is an undercurrent of sadness in the stories, there is optimism as well. and importance to female characters. exploring a wide variety of issues. i read about tribal people, about boat people etc...
Would recommend all I know to read this book. U will not agree with everything and u may not like some views but u cannot deny the beauty of the writing and the strength or how real the characters r.
Not easy to paint a picture with a short story. But this author does it really well.
Would recommend all I know to read this book. U will not agree with everything and u may not like some views but u cannot deny the beauty of the writing and the strength or how real the characters r.
Not easy to paint a picture with a short story. But this author does it really well.
February 14, 2014
I purchased this book randomly on kindle store because I liked the title and I found it really interesting. It is an interesting collection of 9 stories and the title is based on the last story which was one of my favorite. I loved all the stories equally though. It's difficult to believe that this is author's second book. I really feel happy when I read these kind of books written by Indian authors. I'm making this review short because I want to avoid spoilers.
November 14, 2013
I do not exactly remember why i chose this book. But I did. And I thankful for my random thinking. Each story was pleasuraly written and seems that the author had enjoyed it as well. Love as a central theme, each story explore and explains various levels of a human and the society's behaviour. Especially the last one Another Man's Wife. Beautiful.
November 23, 2012
Don't normally write reviews..but this one is special..had to finish it once I started..even though there are nine separate stories..haven't come across such writing in a long time..superb! Must read!
January 20, 2013
I would highly recommend this book to all those who like women-oriented stories.
visit my blogpost to read my review at http://chat-with-pushpee.blogspot.in/...
visit my blogpost to read my review at http://chat-with-pushpee.blogspot.in/...
February 25, 2015
A string of stories written and beaded well. It's interesting after reading all to pan out and view how the meanings of the words fidelity, love, lust, desire, family and life choices can mean just so many things to different individuals in stark situations.
March 31, 2016
Finished reading Another Man's wife.....and what a read. ..Each plot had the power to pull u into the time period and surroundings and live and feel along with the protagonists....truly transported to the tribes and the homes of each one of them. ..look forward to more from you
February 1, 2017
Poignant and beautifully crafted stories about India and Indians.
One memorable example of a description of a failed marriage, "My marriage had not lasted long enough for us to breed anything. Familiarity. Contempt. Children."
An anatomical error needs to be corrected- toenails do not sprout hair.
One memorable example of a description of a failed marriage, "My marriage had not lasted long enough for us to breed anything. Familiarity. Contempt. Children."
An anatomical error needs to be corrected- toenails do not sprout hair.
October 28, 2012
A very interesting compilation of stories related to love, passion and intimacy. The titular story was particularly hard hitting. Liked it!
December 16, 2012
Detailed review at http://www.anureviews.com/another-man...
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