City of Dreams: Stories

by Pranaya SJB Rana

Buildings, roads and bridges made up the city, Kanti knew that. So did trees, rivers and hills. But he had never quite thought about people. He was told that they, too, were integral parts of a metropolis; if Kathmandu were an organism, people were its red blood cells, navigating busily through road-veins and street-arteries. City of Dreams is set in the multifaceted, fast-changing Nepali capital, Kathmandu. And through a series of deftly woven short stories, it exposes the interaction of city-dwellers with this teeming, schizophrenic metropolis, caught in the tussle between tradition and modernity. In the title story, a Kathmandu native wanders the streets of his hometown and encounters a deep secret. In 'The Presence of God', a couple bickers about faith and ambivalence, only to be confronted with an event so inexplicable that it changes the very foundations of their argument. In 'Dashain' a young man's attempt to leap into adulthood goes horribly awry. And in 'The Smoker'-the only story set outside Kathmandu, in New York City-a writer begins his quest to craft the perfect narrative; yet, even here, the Nepali city is a shadowy presence. As Kathmandu becomes the protagonist of the collection, what we see emerge is not just the skeletal outline of the metropolis, a cartographer's map, but a capital of stories. City of Dreams is one of the most startling literary debuts in recent times.

Genres: Short Stories

200 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Elsa Rajan Pradhananga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt that Kathmandu isn’t just the backdrop of these stories but a lead character displaying its layers of tenderness, altruism, madness and callosity as we progress from one story to the next. Pranaya SJB Rana has presented the traditions and values the locals hold on to and the dreams and people they let go of, with laudable lucidity. I was blown away by this collection of short stories that had an array of Nepalese characters I could absolutely relate with, set in facades that I’m so familiar with.

Some of my favourite stories were Maya, where the protagonist fearing the worst, refuses to hear the letter addressed to her be read out and Our Ruin– a coming of age story of friends who gradually grew apart despite the close bond they shared throughout childhood. However, the best story in the collection is undoubtedly The Smoker which was where Pranaya’s literary genius shone the brightest leaving readers wondering if the event was an illusion, time travel or a mere misunderstanding. It’ll be hard to forget the striking image of Maya reading out to her lover while riding him to an orgasm. And although The Red Kurtha was cheesy, it is a portrayal of the helplessness of domestic helps in the city and human failings of parents. The concept of Two was astounding but it was ruined using too much fillers that tests patience and Dashain brought back memories of my first Dashin in Nepal and the revulsion I felt on seeing pools of blood affront temples in Bhaktapur.

I’m looking past the stories that felt a tad bit trivial in the collection because those that I loved, actually floored me!

[Sulata Dhakal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the name suggests CITY OF DREAMS: STORIES , it consists of short stories which portrays the lives of people living in kathmandu. Yes, Kathmandu is city of dreams as well as struggles, heartbreak and dishonesty. This book perfectly displays the each and every layer of Kathmandu and the people living here.

One of the best part of this book is the familiarity to kathmandu valley and beautiful nepali touch.Also another thing that I liked was the differences in the writing style and genre in each stories, maybe some people won't like it but I was totally digging it.

Pranaya Rana is one of the finest storyteller, the words and the language is so well crafted that it perfectly flows like a beautiful poem.

If you are into unique and distinctive stories also based on nepali culture and kathmandu peoples than you should definitely read this. Pranaya Rana has so much potential and l'm eagerly waiting for his new book.

[Sangharsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The city has multiple layers and so does our life and conscience. Lives do not flow in a linear fashion and neither do our thoughts and dreams. 'City of Dreams' captures multiple lives through the lens of multiple 'seemingly familiar' characters.

One of my personal favorites is 'The Smoker', which the author himself says is an experimentation and I liked it very much. The overlapping of time and space, I felt like reading Murakami at times, its beautiful. Next favorite is the Knife in the Water, a dark and thought provoking story of a relationship. Presence of God, is equally interesting. Rest are good too.

If I think of one GREAT thing about this collection, it is Language. Simple, yet creatively crafted flow catches us all through the pieces. Though the stories are grasping, I suggest you take a break between each one and let them marinate a bit.

Kudos to Pranaya for giving us this beautiful collection.

I would definitely recommend this collection to anyone who is interested in reading Nepali works in English.

[Bibash Sapkota · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
I liked first two stories of "city of dreams" very much simply because they were surreal. I was feeling that this book is gonna be one of my best reads, but then 'Dashain' happened. After that all the stories (Except 'Our Ruin') failed to impress me.

Many stories start in a promising manner but eventually dissapoint. They have nothing new to say, nothing remarkable. Most of the stories are ordinary, which any writer can write.

'Two' is a restless story. It just wanders from one character to another and lacks central plot. 'The red kurta' has cliched substance. We have heard it many times before. Treatment of this story towards is somewhat good but that is not enough. 'Knife in the water'could have been made a lot better. Despite having excellent plot, it failed to deliver upto its potential. Other stories are ordinary.

The book has total 10 stories, among which only 3 are good.

[Skz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pranaya, Apart from being the journalist that he is, for Nepal has also found his niche of being an astounding storyteller from his narratives off the streets of Kathmandu and beyond.
'City of Dreams' is mystical, melancholic,lucid and engaging. It delivers Kathmandu the storys it deserves. It almost feels like a transitional narrative for the City it has morphed into. Stories that are molded to engage the new generation without disengaging the old aspects of city life, all of it harnessed in commendable deliverance.
What remains affirmative is; the literary scene in Nepal is forging to new and greater heights. As a reader, I am thrilled with the unfolding storytelling scene from writers in Nepal, for Nepal.

[Bhaskar Dhakal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pranaya Rana's story telling is too good to be called a debutant's work. Having read only Samrat Upadhyaya's works as 'Nepali writers writing in English', I started long ago to ignore Nepali writers writing in English. A lot of English books written by Nepali writers are stacked in my book shelf and I think it's time to kick out my ignorance.

Coming back to Pranaya and his book, I think this is one of the best collection of short stories. Out of ten stories, three stories (Dashain, The Red Kurta and Maya) left me disappointed while other stories are the early signs that 'this writer' will not only be better with time but will mark his place high as a writer, as a whole.

I am not going to review each story here. But I recommend everyone to read this book.

[Udipta Bohara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly loved all the stories of the book. They were unique yet beautiful.
I would definitely recommend it!

[Richa Bhattarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

विद्यालयमा पढ्दैदेखि हिँड्न मन पराउने कान्ति वयस्क भइसक्दा पनि हिँड्न उत्तिकै रुचाउँछ । हिँडेरै काठमाडौँका गल्लीगल्ली नाप्दा उसलाई कतिले पागल भन्छन्, कतिले अव्यावहारिक र परिवारले पनि अनौठो ठान्छ । तर, ऊ कसैको पनि वास्ता नगरी आफ्ना पाइला अनवरत अघि बढाइरहन्छ ।

काठमाडौँका हरेक सडक कण्ठै पारिसकेपछि भने ऊ खिन्न हुन्छ किनभने अब चहार्न नयाँ ठाउँ बाँकी रहेन । कान्तिलाई आफ्नो जीवन नै अर्थहीन लाग्न आँट्दा यो राजधानीले अचानक उसलाई एउटा आश्चर्यजनक रहस्यसँग चिनारी गराउँछ । अनि, उसको जीवनमा फेरि रौनक छाउँछ । तर, कथामा त्यो अपत्यारिलो क्षण आइपुग्दा पाठक भने त्यसलाई दोहोर्‍याइ तेहेर्‍याइ पढ्न र अर्थ खोज्न बाध्य हुन्छन् ।

प्रणय राणाको भर्खरै प्रकाशित कथासंग्रह सिटी अफ ड्रिम्स (सपनाको सहर)मा यस्ता अद्भुत क्षण बारम्बार आइरहन्छन् । संग्रहको पहिलो कथा ‘सिटी अफ ड्रिम्स’मा उनले कान्तिका माध्यमबाट स्वैरकल्पनाको संसारमा पुर्‍याएपछि त्यसपछिको कथा ‘द स्मोकर’मा यथार्थको प्रयोग गरेका छन् । मायाको आगमन र प्रस्थान अनि त्यसले प्रमुख पात्रको मनमा सिर्जित भ्रम र प्रश्नले पाठकलाई रनभुल्लमा पार्छन् । अर्को कथा ‘द प्रेजेन्स अफ गड’ ( ईश्वरको उपस्थिति) त अझ रोमाञ्चक छ, दुई प्रमुख पात्र ईश्वरको अस्तित्वका बारे बहस गर्दै यस्तो मोडमा पुग्छन्, जहाँ ती दुवैको आस्था र विश्वासमाथि प्रश्नचिह्न उठ्छ । उनीहरूलाई आत्मसमीक्षा गर्न लगाउने घटनालाई लेखकले अति प्रभावकारी ढंगले प्रस्तुत गरेका छन् ।

मात्र दस कथामा यस्ता प्रयोग गरेर राणाले अंग्रेजीमा कलम चलाउने नेपाली लेखकमाझ छुट्टै चिनारी त बनाएका छन् नै, उनको भाषा प्रयोग, विषयवस्तुको विविधता र आख्यानशिल्पले कुनै पनि विदेशी स्रष्टासँग प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्न सक्छ । त्यस्तै नयाँपन ल्याउने नाममा अनेक वाद र झर्को लाग्दा प्रयोग गरेर लेखनीलाई बोझिल र निरस बनाउन लागि परेका केही स्रष्टालाई पनि राणाको यो कृतिले गतिलै पाठ पढाउँछ । कुनै पनि प्रयोग वा लेखनमा नवीन तत्त्व घुसाउँदा पढ्नुको आनन्दमा रत्तिभर कमी हुनु हुँदैन, राणाले यो राम्रैसँग बुझेका छन् । त्यसैले त उनको लेखनीको नौलोपन सरस र आकर्षक लाग्छ ।

एउटा उदाहरण छ, कथा ‘टु’ (दुई)को । कथाको विषयवस्तु त्यति नौलो होइन तर लेखकले यसमा रमाइलो प्रयोग गरेका छन्, प्रमुख पात्र अनामले भेटेका हरेक गौण पात्रका कथा उनले एक–एक अनुच्छेदमा बताएका छन् । अनि, कथा जुन मोडबाट सुरु भएको हुन्छ, सबै पात्रलाई बेरेर सर्पझैँ फन्को मार्दै फेरि त्यही विन्दुमा पुगेर टुंगिन्छ । संग्रहको अन्तिम कथा ‘द चाइल्ड’ (बच्चा)मा पनि यस्तै प्रयोग छ । साथै, अन्तिम कथामा लेखकले नैतिकता र क्षोभलाई जोडेर मनोवैज्ञानिक प्रश्न उठाएका छन्, जसले वर्तमान समाजको चित्रण मात्र गर्दैन, यसका सदस्यलाई पनि झस्काउँछ । हुन त उनका अरू कथामा पनि प्रेम र यौन, नैतिकता र चरित्र अनि भ्रम र यथार्थका प्रशस्त चर्चा छन् ।

यसै गरी कृतिमा प्रस्ट भेटिने अर्को कुरा हो, राणाको काठम��डौँ मोह । राणाले राजधानीलाई हरेक पाठकको आँखैसामु नचाइदिने प्रतिभा राख्छन् । यहाँको हरेक भवन, चोक, चियापसल, चौतारा र चौबाटोलाई उनी मायाले सुमसुम्याउँछन्, तिनका बनोट र ढाँचालाई कुशल कालिगढले झैँ केवल शब्दका माध्यमबाट दुरुस्तै उतार्छन् । यो सहरमा बस्ने हरेक पात्र पनि उनका घनिष्ठ छन्, ती सबैसँग हाम्रो परिचय गराउँदै लान्छन् । हामीले हरेक दिन देख्ने यी स्थान र भेट्ने मान्छेलाई नै राणाले आफ्ना कथामा कैद गरेका छन् ।

तर, कैद पनि यति शक्तिशाली ढंगले गरेका छन्, बयान गरी साध्य छैन । उनका शब्द पानीझैँ सलल बगिरहन्छन्, पृष्ठभरि मिलेर बस्छन्, वाक्य–वाक्यले आनन्दित तुल्याउँछन् । यो सबै उनको वर्णनात्मक शैलीले सम्भव भएको हो । कथाकारले हरेक पात्र, घटना र स्थितिलाई यस्तो चिर–परिचित परिवेशमा राखिदिन्छन्, हामीलाई लाग्छ– यिनलाई त हामीले पहिल्यै चिनिसक्यौँ, देखिसक्यौँ । र, सायद हामी नै यी पात्र हौँ र यो जीवन भोगिरहन्छौँ । वर्णन गरेर नै पात्रलाई हाम्रै नगीच उभ्याइदिने खुबी उनले बारम्बार प्रदर्शन गरेका छन्, संग्रहमा । कहीँ खसी छिनालेको दृश्यले रौँ ठाडो हुन्छ भने कतै श्रीमान्ले पिटेको महिलाको नीलडाम देखेर । फरक यत्ति हो, धेरै ठाउँमा उनी अत्यन्त परिपक्व रूपले वर्णन गर्छन् भने कहीँ अलि अपरिपक्व र कृत्रिम लाग्छन् ।

राणाका कथाको अर्को विशेषता हो, प्रमुख पात्रहरू सबै नै किशोरावस्थाका चरण पार गर्दै गरेका छन् । र, प्राय:जसो पात्रले कुनै चुनौती बेहोर्नुपर्छ वा अकल्पनीय परिस्थितिको सामना गर्छ । जीवनका यी भोगाइसँग जुझ्दै अघि बढेका पात्रमा यी घटनाकै कारण परिपक्वता पनि उत्पन्न हुन्छ । युवा पात्रमा देखिने यस किसिमको परिवर्तन समेट्ने साहित्यलाई ‘कमिङ अफ एज’वा ‘बिल्डन्स रोमन’ विधाका रूपमा परिभाषित गरिन्छ । राणाका धेरै कथालाई यसै अन्तर्गत राख्दा उपयुक्त हुन्छ र उनले पात्रमा उत्पन्न हुने यस्तो परिवर्तनलाई स्थान दिएर नेपालमा ‘यङ एडल्ट फिक्सन’का लागि ढोका खोलिदिएका छन् । यसका तीन उत्कृष्ट उदाहरण ‘दसैँ’, ‘आवर रुइन’ (हाम्रो बर्बादी) र ‘द रेड कुर्ता’ (रातो कुर्ता) हुन्, जसभित्र किशोर–किशोरी आफ्ना जीवनका खुड्किला पार गर्न संघर्षरत हुन्छन् ।

संग्रहका प्राय: कथाका पात्र त लेखक आफैँ हुन्जस्तो लाग्छ ।

कथाको एउटा परम्परागत ढाँचा खोज्ने पाठकलाई भने यस संग्रहले निराश तुल्याउने छ । दुई–तीनवटाबाहेक कुनै पनि कथा पारम्परिक हिसाबका कथाझैँ छैनन्, जसको आदि, मध्य र अन्त्य होस् । कथामा अलि गम्भीर विषयवस्तु, राजनीतिक धारणा वा दर्शन चाहने पाठकका लागि पनि कृति उपयुक्त छैन, त्यस्ता पाठकलाई यी कथा सतही र यथार्थको धरातलबाट धेरै पर लाग्नेछन् । तर, अंग्रेजी भाषाको यति मीठो र ओजपूर्ण प्रयोग गरेर चकित तुल्याउने कलाको खोज गरिरहेका पाठकका लागि भने यो संग्रह सँगालेर राख्नयोग्य छ ।
http://bit.ly/1QVQ5HR

[Anushree Bhattarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece! I mean wow, like I totally loved this book.

As the title says, “City of Dreams: Stories”, is a collection of several stories which portray the lives of people from diverse backgrounds in Kathmandu. One story after the other, blends each flavor of the city so beautifully that it does not seem to fall out of place and displays the tenderness, the madness, the struggles, coming of age, heartbreak, and the dishonesty that is ingrained in the veins of Kathmandu. The city of Kathmandu, isn’t just a backdrop but many a time also the protagonist as you progress from one story to the next.

Coming back to Pranaya as the author this is a phenomenal piece of work and he is an astounding storyteller. His writing style is like poetry in motion. Beautiful!

I will not go into each story in detail, but I will say that I enjoyed all except the title “Dashain”, this story brought a bitter experience of my childhood where I witnessed the sacrifice. “The Smoker”, the only story set outside of Kathmandu, is one story I particularly loved. It took me into a conscience where there is a fine line between reality and a dream. Other favorites are “Maya”, “The Red Kurta” and “The Child”.

The book captures the lives of familiar characters. You feel like you know these characters inside out or it could be you as well at some point in time. This is one reason that totally kept me hooked to the book. I felt an adrenaline rush that I haven’t felt while reading others. The feelings seem so real that I literally got goosebumps. I honestly do not have enough words to describe the book and the sense of calm at the of each story even though I would have loved to read more as to what happens next.

Although the stories are totally captivating, I would recommend taking a little break in between if you choose to read the book and let each story to kind of blend in and then move to the next. I definitely would recommend everyone to read it.

[Jyotika Rimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first and last chapter and the one in between. Just love the way this writer writes!

[Abani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like the stories were simple yet strange--in a good way. They made me ponder for a while, once I was done reading each. I loved the perspective of each stories. They were subtle and their familiarity to Kathmandu was a good touch.

"The smoker" was a story I could resonate with from a different angle and it made me think and reflect on myself after I was done reading.

Stories like, "Dashain" " Maya" & "The red kurta" felt like ubiquitous Nepali stories but I loved that they had a different angle for their presentation and it felt like an important perspective that I was missing out.

I love "The presence of god". First, I could relate with the protagonist in many ways. But I loved how it ended. It felt different and miles away from my anticipation.

At some point, I felt that "the red kurta" could be better but then it wouldn't be his story anyway. And I liked it the way it was.

Overall, it was a good read and I think that I would reread a few of the stories too. I haven't mentioned all the stories but they were good.

[Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so strange and i deeply enjoyed it! Some stories were better than others, but i was totally transfixed the second half of the book. I think in the leech / arresting god in Kathmandu verse, this collection's definitely my favorite!

[Mohit Rauniyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are so vivid and relatable. Some stories will completely throw you off towards the end. Fantastic job putting it together.

[Simran Silpakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Neuza]

Reading Around World #125: Nepal

[Jo Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these! Original and also so human.

Many beautiful lines, but the one that has stuck with me in the days since: "Two hours and one conversation later Maya had the job."

[Sameep · Rating 4 out of 5]

City of Dreams is wandering of a writer and his imagination with various character and their destiny in relation to city they dwell in. This book prefaced with Italo Calvino's "Invisible cities" quote that may show the influence of that writer on his book. However, Calvino's writing had to do with historical retelling of Genghis Khan and his exploration of various antique cities like Venice, this book is contemporary exposition of the modern cities.

It starts with two stories dealing with Kathmandu and New york which is the best among all stories. Pranaya at his best, he treats city like some kind of metaphysical notion not as a mere description. This personification of city is a remarkable achievement of an author who is well read with philosophical writers like Borges, Calvino. Borges treatment of Islamic past and his recharacterization of Ibn sina( Avicenna in Latin) also revolve around making time and space as a subject of fiction rather than mere background to a character's tale.

The influence of this book is to lift the fiction which highly concentrates on character's fate and to show how city and it's mere streets, alleyways, intersection molds and is witness to character's destiny.

The story " Presence of God" dealing with supernatural being is noteworthy in it's attempt. However, rest is pure newspaper column fiction written to fit in the theme of the book or in Pranaya's word "Amateurish fiction." However, his writing has philosophical potential and I expect him to try like Borges and Calvino to retell Nepalese antiquity with philosophical notions.

[Heema Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoping that next time, Pranay Rana comes out of the school-teen-growing up Kathmandu phase and delivers deeper stories.

But all of us who grew up in this age of Kathmandu are in too deep a relationship with it to let it go just like that. Maybe that's why the writer needed to tell its tale. And maybe Kathmandu will always be lurking in his story telling. Oh this damned city.

[Nabin Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathmandu is definitely a wonder place. Our ruins, City of Dreams, Child and The Red Kurta are my favorite stories.

[Biboss Maharjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

open secrets of Kathmandu...

[Ashish Ghimire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice stories but not engaging enough.