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Lifelines: New Writing from Bangladesh
"Lifelines" is an enthralling collection of stories that traces the journeys of individuals as they reshape their destinies in a world where the old ways are being challenged as never before, even in the traditionalist heartlands of South Asia.
A successful architect suddenly finds herself the reluctant guardian of two young children. A New York cabbie ponders his previous incarnation as an investment banker. A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law maintain an uneasy truce based on a delusion. A postgraduate student encounters a mystery from his past in a foreign land. A young woman discovers an unlikely cure for self-consciousness. Clear eyed children observe adult hypocrisies. And romance is found in all the wrong places.
"Lifelines" portrays the trials and triumphs of men, women and children who face unexpected challenges, and discover that the decisions they make can have unimaginable consequences.
A successful architect suddenly finds herself the reluctant guardian of two young children. A New York cabbie ponders his previous incarnation as an investment banker. A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law maintain an uneasy truce based on a delusion. A postgraduate student encounters a mystery from his past in a foreign land. A young woman discovers an unlikely cure for self-consciousness. Clear eyed children observe adult hypocrisies. And romance is found in all the wrong places.
"Lifelines" portrays the trials and triumphs of men, women and children who face unexpected challenges, and discover that the decisions they make can have unimaginable consequences.
807 pages, Flipkart eBook
First published January 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Farah Ghuznavi
8 books50 followersFarah Ghuznavi is a writer, translator and newspaper columnist, with a background in development work. She holds an undergraduate and two postgraduate degrees from the London School of Economics, and has worked for the Grameen Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as NGOs in the UK, Bangladesh and elsewhere.
She remains an unrepentant idealist despite the existence of empirical evidence suggesting that it might be better to think otherwise.
Farah began writing fiction in a desperate attempt to make the stories leave her in peace, in the hope that putting them down on paper would send them on their way. So far, this strategy appears to be working, one story at a time.
Farah’s work has been published in a number of story collections and literary magazines in Britain, the US, Canada, Singapore, India, Nepal and her native Bangladesh.
These include the fiction anthologies The Storm is Coming (Sleeping Cat Books, USA), Curbside Splendor Issues 1 and 2 (Curbside Splendor, USA ), The Path, Winter Issue 2011 (The Path to Publication, USA) and Woman's Work (Girl Child Press, USA); Lady Fest: Winning Stories from the Oxford Gender Equality Festival (Dead Ink, UK), The Monster Book for Girls (Exaggerated Press, UK) and Journeys (Sampad, UK ); The Rainbow Feast (Marshall Cavendish, Singapore); La.Lit Vol. 1 (Nepal); What the Ink? (Writer’s Block, Bangladesh), Sticks and Stones Vol. 1 (Sticks and Stones, Bangladesh) and From the Delta (UPL, Bangladesh); and Lifelines (Zubaan Books, India).
Her story "Judgement Day" was Highly Commended in the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition, and another story, “Getting There”, placed second in the Oxford Gender Equality Festival Short Story Competition. Farah is working to finalise a manuscript of her own short stories and has most recently edited and contributed to Lifelines, an anthology of new writing from Bangladesh for Zubaan Books, India.
She is a regular contributor to The Star Magazine, which is affiliated to the Daily Star newspaper in Bangladesh, and writes a fortnightly column entitled "Food for Thought”. Her website is under construction at: www.farahghuznavi.com
She remains an unrepentant idealist despite the existence of empirical evidence suggesting that it might be better to think otherwise.
Farah began writing fiction in a desperate attempt to make the stories leave her in peace, in the hope that putting them down on paper would send them on their way. So far, this strategy appears to be working, one story at a time.
Farah’s work has been published in a number of story collections and literary magazines in Britain, the US, Canada, Singapore, India, Nepal and her native Bangladesh.
These include the fiction anthologies The Storm is Coming (Sleeping Cat Books, USA), Curbside Splendor Issues 1 and 2 (Curbside Splendor, USA ), The Path, Winter Issue 2011 (The Path to Publication, USA) and Woman's Work (Girl Child Press, USA); Lady Fest: Winning Stories from the Oxford Gender Equality Festival (Dead Ink, UK), The Monster Book for Girls (Exaggerated Press, UK) and Journeys (Sampad, UK ); The Rainbow Feast (Marshall Cavendish, Singapore); La.Lit Vol. 1 (Nepal); What the Ink? (Writer’s Block, Bangladesh), Sticks and Stones Vol. 1 (Sticks and Stones, Bangladesh) and From the Delta (UPL, Bangladesh); and Lifelines (Zubaan Books, India).
Her story "Judgement Day" was Highly Commended in the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition, and another story, “Getting There”, placed second in the Oxford Gender Equality Festival Short Story Competition. Farah is working to finalise a manuscript of her own short stories and has most recently edited and contributed to Lifelines, an anthology of new writing from Bangladesh for Zubaan Books, India.
She is a regular contributor to The Star Magazine, which is affiliated to the Daily Star newspaper in Bangladesh, and writes a fortnightly column entitled "Food for Thought”. Her website is under construction at: www.farahghuznavi.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 29, 2013
This is a collection of very powerful and well written stories touching on topics that are rarely discussed or written about, although they are extremely relevant. All in all, an excellent anthology.
May 25, 2023
A collection of stories by female Bengalis from around the world. Most are stories of day-to-day life, about family, culture, tradition, and societal mindset.
Most of the stories were awesome, a few passable.
Most of the stories were awesome, a few passable.
March 28, 2013
With Lifelines, the editor provides the reader with a considerable range of stories from women writers of Bangladesh, and delivers a few charming hits. ‘Gothna (tattoo) on Venus’, 2007, a woman (thankfully, not a size-zero) covered in beautiful tattoos, by Tayeba Begum Lipi, makes for the eye-catching cover image. The fifteen stories (including one from the editor) include a mix of characters: some enchanting and amusing, a few standard and generic. Three of the fifteen, have significant male protagonists while the others revolve around women of all ages, their girlfriends and sisters; mothers and mother-in-law; husband and lovers. Starting with the familiar throes of domestic violence, the stories take you to modern Dhaka; the far Kenya and Ethiopia; and sometimes to the proverbial village belle.
I definitely look forward to and will watch out for more in English from Bangladeshi writers.
I definitely look forward to and will watch out for more in English from Bangladeshi writers.
March 29, 2013
I enjoyed almost all the stories in this book. Some were standouts, sheer joy to read. Like S. Bari's "Touch Me Not", Shabnam Nadiya's "Teacher Shortage", Srabonti Ali's "Yellow Cab" and Farah Ghuznavi's "Getting There". The characters were believable, and the stories poignant. Others gave an unexpected twist to more traditional themes such as coming-of-age and in law tensions. And "Be", despite being a very short piece, was utterly delightful. I highly recommend the book to anyone who likes short stories, or is interested in finding out more about a country that is all too rarely portrayed overseas with any degree of tenderness or accuracy.
April 1, 2013
For me, the literature of Bangladesh has always meant Bengali writing - often stronger, more passionate and more colourful than in West Bengal, India. It was a stunning surprise, therefore, to read this anthology and discover the quality of writing in English. The stories here, clearly cherry-picked, are a joy both for themselves and for what they say about contemporary writing in Bangladesh. It was doubly wonderful that all the writers are women, which added another dimension to the stories. Each of the 15 stories here are worth reading not only for their craft and language, but also for the lives and dilemmas that they capture.
March 30, 2013
Surprising, engaging, and delightful. I devoured the whole thing in 2 days. I've never enjoyed an anthology so much! They really captured the Bengali experience. Each story was different, but full of rich, intimate, relatable details. Farah Ghuznavi has extracted from her authors some of their best work.
April 21, 2013
What a DELICIOUS collection of stories! I really tried to make the book last as long as I could. Loved every single story. Each one was heartfelt and strong.
"Pepsi" was especially nice because I could relate (my father being a Naval officer meant I attended several schools, including one in a foreign country).
And "Getting There". Well, that one made me a little teary. I really did love it.
"Table For Three" and "Touch Me Not" were so sad. And "Daydreams". And "Bookends" - the last line made me gasp! Also loved how the ending of Gandaria and beginning of Rida were matched.
In a nutshell- would love to read more from most of these authors!
"Pepsi" was especially nice because I could relate (my father being a Naval officer meant I attended several schools, including one in a foreign country).
And "Getting There". Well, that one made me a little teary. I really did love it.
"Table For Three" and "Touch Me Not" were so sad. And "Daydreams". And "Bookends" - the last line made me gasp! Also loved how the ending of Gandaria and beginning of Rida were matched.
In a nutshell- would love to read more from most of these authors!
May 21, 2013
Lifelines is a marvelous new collection of women writers from Bangladesh. For many of the writers this is a first appearance in a book, but the voices are rich, the writing sophisticated, far beyond what one expects from such new writers. The stories surprise us both with the choice of their themes or topics, and also with their stylistic variety and technical flourish. Anyone who wants to hear voices that feel fresh and genuine, and is interested from places we have not heard enough from, this is a real must read.
November 13, 2013
A great read, and indeed a great re-read as my well-thumbed copy attests. The stories speak of universal themes but Bangladesh lies at their heart. Anthologies such as these are so important, bringing many new writers to new international audiences. Congratulations to Farah Ghuznavi and all the contributors.
January 4, 2019
The very idea behind 'Lifelines' is exciting. Fifteen stories, penned by authors from mid-twenties onwards, all of them female. And if readers think an anthology comprising entirely of female writers is bound to be ultra-feminine and revolving around the domestic sphere, they will be pleasantly surprised. The stories in 'Lifelines' make no qualms about walking the uncharted path, and explore a range of characters, locales and themes that will reach out to all kinds of readers. Most appreciable is the enquiry into and subtle presentation of female sexuality, so often described in voluptuous detail otherwise but rarely detailed so satisfactorily as it has been done in a few stories of the collection.
A beautiful tale in this vein is 'Wax Doll' by Abeer Hoque, which really stands out from the rest of the stories with its lovely mix of innocence and experience. In the story, girls do what girls everywhere are supposed to do: get drenched in the rains, sneak away to parties, ruminate on men and hold a room full of the opposite sex in thrall. There is a very contemporary feel to the entire happenings, an uncontrolled exuberance and outburst of emotions that leaves readers with a feeling of anticipation. There is a simple, earthy lilt in the language which makes it almost poetic: “Ila wanted to know if it were possible to want two opposite things at once, passion and reason, each growing fruit and fruit-eating serpents in her garden” [93]. 'Daydreams' by Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi, which might initially seem like a run-of-the-mill story about the disastrous consequences of a young girl's first sexual encounter, takes on a more satisfying bent towards the end.
The most memorable stories in the collection, however, have a tinge of mystery, their climaxes particularly reminiscent of master storytellers like O. Henry and Saki. That delicious twist at the end is evident in 'Over and over again' by Tisa Muhaddes. At first, the story seems to make no sense, disguising itself as a mere rant on an unstable person. But then, as the pieces finally begin fitting together, the story actually screams at the readers to pay attention to the narrator's plight. Leaving us with a bit of goosebumps.
Another story that raises similar emotions is 'Table for Three' by Shazia Omar. It is short, and thus easy on the reader. It begins ordinarily, and talks of mundane exchanges between a daughter-in-law and her slightly mean mother-in-law. But towards the end, we begin realizing that something is very wrong in their relationship, and the last sentence brings us to our senses. Very simply written, in an almost childlike, artless manner – but very effective, indeed.
The best of the lot, and one that would especially be devoured by more sensitive readers, is 'Bookends' by Munize Manzur. It has everything a story ought to have – much flaunting of sensuousness, a heady romance, witty encounters, and then a final line that just about takes our breath away in the neat manner everything is tied up. Much like a melodramatic movie, but with a lot more of raw emotions, possibilities and depth.
Another theme that is popular with the authors is growing up, coming of age, beginning to understand life. And it is not only about girls and women. Two brilliantly written stories, 'Yellow Cab' by Srabonti Narmeen Ali and 'Touch Me Not' by S. Bari, both have male protagonists. Both of them do a commendable job of looking at the world through a man's perspective. 'Touch Me Not' is even more likeable, for along with the protagonist, readers finally begin to make sense of an incident that occurred in his childhood. The female character in this one is a strong, admirable one too. 'Something Fishy' by Sabrina Fatma Ahmed talks of a girl trying to get along in this oft-cruel world, and so does 'Teacher Shortage' by Shabnam Nadiya, though a lot more is at stake here. 'Rida' by Rubaiyat Khan is a plainly narrated, but heart-touching tale of a mother's struggle.
A special mention of the editor, for the stories are well-edited – crisp and sharp, with not a typo nor clumsy construction in sight. One of the most intelligently written and compatibly edited stories of the lot is 'Pepsi' by Sharbari Ahmed. What begins as a slightly gushy, breathless account of a little girl's life matures into something poignant by the end. The story is like a warning to be careful what we wish for, as it just might come true. A fulfilling read.
It is then a little surprising, and even disappointing, that Farah Ghuznavi's 'Getting There' does not match up to our expectations of her. Although one of the most well-intentioned stories of the collection, and very well tied up at the end, there is something heavy handed about it. Perhaps the lack of dialogues, the use of too many multi-syllabic words in the same sentence, or explanation of self-evident statements. Another story that holds a lot of promise but somehow ends up bland is 'Mehendi Dreams' by Lori S. Khan. A couple of other stories also seem to lack direction, or else end with a fizz instead of a bang.
But as an anthology, Lifelines is definitely worth a read. The majority of the stories are interesting, thought-provoking, confidently written and superbly edited. The range of characters, plots and writing styles means that there is something in it for every kind of reader.
A beautiful tale in this vein is 'Wax Doll' by Abeer Hoque, which really stands out from the rest of the stories with its lovely mix of innocence and experience. In the story, girls do what girls everywhere are supposed to do: get drenched in the rains, sneak away to parties, ruminate on men and hold a room full of the opposite sex in thrall. There is a very contemporary feel to the entire happenings, an uncontrolled exuberance and outburst of emotions that leaves readers with a feeling of anticipation. There is a simple, earthy lilt in the language which makes it almost poetic: “Ila wanted to know if it were possible to want two opposite things at once, passion and reason, each growing fruit and fruit-eating serpents in her garden” [93]. 'Daydreams' by Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi, which might initially seem like a run-of-the-mill story about the disastrous consequences of a young girl's first sexual encounter, takes on a more satisfying bent towards the end.
The most memorable stories in the collection, however, have a tinge of mystery, their climaxes particularly reminiscent of master storytellers like O. Henry and Saki. That delicious twist at the end is evident in 'Over and over again' by Tisa Muhaddes. At first, the story seems to make no sense, disguising itself as a mere rant on an unstable person. But then, as the pieces finally begin fitting together, the story actually screams at the readers to pay attention to the narrator's plight. Leaving us with a bit of goosebumps.
Another story that raises similar emotions is 'Table for Three' by Shazia Omar. It is short, and thus easy on the reader. It begins ordinarily, and talks of mundane exchanges between a daughter-in-law and her slightly mean mother-in-law. But towards the end, we begin realizing that something is very wrong in their relationship, and the last sentence brings us to our senses. Very simply written, in an almost childlike, artless manner – but very effective, indeed.
The best of the lot, and one that would especially be devoured by more sensitive readers, is 'Bookends' by Munize Manzur. It has everything a story ought to have – much flaunting of sensuousness, a heady romance, witty encounters, and then a final line that just about takes our breath away in the neat manner everything is tied up. Much like a melodramatic movie, but with a lot more of raw emotions, possibilities and depth.
Another theme that is popular with the authors is growing up, coming of age, beginning to understand life. And it is not only about girls and women. Two brilliantly written stories, 'Yellow Cab' by Srabonti Narmeen Ali and 'Touch Me Not' by S. Bari, both have male protagonists. Both of them do a commendable job of looking at the world through a man's perspective. 'Touch Me Not' is even more likeable, for along with the protagonist, readers finally begin to make sense of an incident that occurred in his childhood. The female character in this one is a strong, admirable one too. 'Something Fishy' by Sabrina Fatma Ahmed talks of a girl trying to get along in this oft-cruel world, and so does 'Teacher Shortage' by Shabnam Nadiya, though a lot more is at stake here. 'Rida' by Rubaiyat Khan is a plainly narrated, but heart-touching tale of a mother's struggle.
A special mention of the editor, for the stories are well-edited – crisp and sharp, with not a typo nor clumsy construction in sight. One of the most intelligently written and compatibly edited stories of the lot is 'Pepsi' by Sharbari Ahmed. What begins as a slightly gushy, breathless account of a little girl's life matures into something poignant by the end. The story is like a warning to be careful what we wish for, as it just might come true. A fulfilling read.
It is then a little surprising, and even disappointing, that Farah Ghuznavi's 'Getting There' does not match up to our expectations of her. Although one of the most well-intentioned stories of the collection, and very well tied up at the end, there is something heavy handed about it. Perhaps the lack of dialogues, the use of too many multi-syllabic words in the same sentence, or explanation of self-evident statements. Another story that holds a lot of promise but somehow ends up bland is 'Mehendi Dreams' by Lori S. Khan. A couple of other stories also seem to lack direction, or else end with a fizz instead of a bang.
But as an anthology, Lifelines is definitely worth a read. The majority of the stories are interesting, thought-provoking, confidently written and superbly edited. The range of characters, plots and writing styles means that there is something in it for every kind of reader.
April 6, 2013
I intentionally took my time to read through this collection, as I was enjoying each story in turn. And I must say that as I had initially anticipated, my instinct was spot on. It really is a fantastic anthology! My thanks go to the editor and contributors.
March 27, 2013
great job farah :D
March 31, 2013
Great writing from Bangladesh. Each story takes you on a journey. I thought it was an interesting read.
September 27, 2013
It is such a pleasure to read stories that actually have a touch of reality in them. It was an amazing experience to hold the book in my hand and read all the great stories.
March 29, 2013
could connect with the characters....a good job...good read indeed :-thanks farah :-)
March 9, 2017
ok, don't like....
December 13, 2013
Let me just put, as a review, what I wrote to Farah Ghuznavi when I finished reading Lifelines (and here's a disclaimer: I never send a note to a writer when I don't actually mean it. Even if they happen to be friends of mine. A writer will get fan mail from me only if I've really enjoyed the book). Here goes:
"Farah, I finished reading Lifelines last night - what an absolutely fabulous book. I was bleary-eyed with lack of sleep, but couldn't bring myself to put it down. Superb collection, with about 90% of the stories being exactly the type I'd have liked to have written ('Getting There' being one of them). Thank you for that."
And yes, this is one book I'm going around talking about to everybody who asks me for book recommendations these days.
"Farah, I finished reading Lifelines last night - what an absolutely fabulous book. I was bleary-eyed with lack of sleep, but couldn't bring myself to put it down. Superb collection, with about 90% of the stories being exactly the type I'd have liked to have written ('Getting There' being one of them). Thank you for that."
And yes, this is one book I'm going around talking about to everybody who asks me for book recommendations these days.
October 31, 2013
Good collection of short stories, however each (aside from one) is akin to the first chapter of a novel, and as such, leaves the reader somewhat disappointed when brought to a close.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews