The House Next to the Factory

by Sonal Kohli

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime
A Book of the Year for The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Wire and More
Longlisted for the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award

The House Next to the Factory shows a changing India over three decades through the lens of one family and the house that they live in.

Life in the house is humdrum and confining, but on a rare evening out, Kavya sets off in search of a nun; a beloved teacher is caught in the aftermath of the anti-Sikh riots; a loyal servant worries over his relationship with a low caste woman; while in England, an aunt reads William Trevor and pines for all that she has left behind. Over the years, the family's steel utensil business blossoms, and amid the clanging of metal and the churning of machines, the household transitions from bourgeois to elite. Yet at thirty, Kavya finds herself in Paris, hoping to get past the sorrows of her young life...

Delicate and finely textured, Sonal Kohli's extraordinary debut lays bare the complexities of class and culture and the difficulties as well as excitements of change, even as it evokes loves and triumphs, the pull of incongruous desires and the tragedies of everyday life.

Genres: India, Short Stories, Fiction, Historical Fiction

196 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2021

About the author

Sonal Kohli grew up in Delhi and now lives in Washington, D.C. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, UK, and a BA in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. She has received fellowships from the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Sangam House. 'The House Next to the Factory', her critically acclaimed book of linked stories, was long listed for the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award, was a Book of the Year for The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Wire and is a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

Reviews

[Lisa - *OwlBeSatReading* · Rating 5 out of 5]

These nine interconnecting stories by debut author Sonal Kohli, paint a vivid picture of the lives of an Indian family and their culture. Spanning over three decades, starting in 1980 with ‘Morning Visitor’ and finishing in 2010 with ‘Kettle on the Hob’, Kohli writes with a realism that gently pulled me into each story.

The House Next to the Factory was a feast of words, I’ve learnt about India as a country moving with the times, its wonderful cuisine, clothing, family values and home life.

Effortless to read with not a wasted word, this collection has charm and eloquence, I loved everything about it.


Thank you so much to publicist, Lisa Shakespeare and Swift Press for my copy.

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Next to The Factory by Sonal Kohli is a collection of 9 short stories that are intertwined to one another through their association with a certain house and the people who live and work there: a tutor who comes to teach the two young sons of the family, a domestic help working at the house, a woman of the house and so on. Spread over different historical time periods starting from the India Pakistan partition years and then crossing over to the 2000s, the stories situated largely around Delhi are many layered: they give an essence of the socio-political winds without resorting to any theatrics, instead weaving in the said contexts with a subtle hand. 
One more common thread that binds the stories is the way they centre around relationships: the ties that bind people in neighbourhoods, familial ties, unequal friendships, long lost ties going through doubtful phase over reconnecting again.The writing grows on you for there is a rhythm in the stories that settles with a familiarity, as if the people and their lives are known to you and you don't minds getting to know a bit more of them for they appeal to you.

There is no high drama or major plot twists to the stories and yet, or perhaps because of this very aspect, they quietly make their way to you, making you a part of the situations the characters are living with or discovering for themselves. This is an assured debut and definitely interested in reading more of the author.

[Tanaya Pandey (kitabiyatri) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Aarti Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set around the 1980s, the nine beautifully composed stories in The House Next to the Factory written by Sonal Kohli take us into the lives of people who are connected to “the factory” in one way or another.

The class and cultural representation in the book is exquisite. Although I find it hard to connect with the stories whenever I started reading a new one; it was baffling to identify the characters’ connection with each other with a convoluted narration, but later on, it went on smoothly and the plot became clearer.

‘Morning Visitor’ is liked by me for its personal touch and simplicity. I enjoyed ‘One Hour, Three Times a Week’ & ‘Steel Brothers’ for their honesty and realism. Other stories that I like are ‘Kettle on the Hob’ and ‘Shirley’.

Read the full review on:
https://bit.ly/3zcSlXi

[Debarati · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is such a try-hard collection of short stories. I struggled to finish it. A few were half-decent but most of them were just meandering and pointless. The author fails to deliver on atmospheric or nostalgic world-building, creating interesting or relatable characters or situations. All of it is a bit meh. If you want to read a better slice of life collection of short stories, read Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts.

[Akshata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure if I have the right word to describe how peaceful it was reading this book. It is such a self assured book, every word written with a purpose, nothing more and nothing less. It paints vividly the minute details of an Indian household, every image so relatable.
The book touches upon various themes subtly- the riots, caste, poverty, the modern India , it is a 30 year long journey but covered so swiftly.

A very good light and comforting read.

[Kairavi Pandya]

[DNF]

I stumbled across this collection on Amazon while looking up my favourite generational novels Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai.

Upon learning that it is a short story collection capturing the changing times of India, I was beyond excited to read it. Afterall, reading about your homeland and its people is a dear thing.

Currently, I have reached 50% mark of the book and I don't have any will to continue it. I find the characters and their conflicts boring.

I don't even feel nostalgic or imagine my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents leading their lives parallel to the world of this novel.

To add to the dismay, I have been spacing out so much that I no longer know what time period or socio-political events the story is capturing at the moment and I was reading it just few minutes ago!

I have failed to be an engaged reader to it and it has failed at engaging me. It is fair to say we aren't compatible so this one goes to the DNF pile.

[Ben Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut collection from author Sonal Kohli of nine short stories centres on characters whose lives and dramas are independent of each other, but who are.connected through the titular house next to the factory.

The collection begins in the 1980s and moves slowly through the decades. The stories themselves are relatively minor in their scope - there are no grand incidents here (albeit the assassination of Indira Ghandi in 1984 forms the backdrop for one piece) - just images of the domestic through whose prism we gain an insight into Indian life in Delhi (and occasionally elsewhere). Some of the characters re-appear but the stories could easily be read independently of each other.

Due to its brevity I read this in one sitting, and that really helped soak me into this world, wonderfully created by Sonal Kohli's luminous prose. This is a debut collection which certainly marks her out as an author to watch.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House Next to the Factory by Sonal Kohli was a sweet book with a great beautiful cover that drew me in. This lovely book was set around the 1980's and then moves slowly through the decades. There are nine short beautifully written stories within it. Each story take us into the lives of ordinary people who are all connected to “The factory” in one way or another.

This book was one of my favourite short story books of 2022 and enjoyed every story. It made me wanting to go back to India and breathe in all the smells and atmosphere India has to offer.

I highly recommend this book and great for a holiday read or sitting in your comfy chair in from of a fire on a cold evening.

[Prakriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House Next to the Factory by Sonal Kohli is a book of nine short stories. The time (1980-2010) and place (Delhi) these stories are set in are also the protagonists of these stories as much as the characters. The objects, the songs playing in the background, the occupations people have, the way they live—everything will remind you of a bygone era.

These stories are about ordinary people and their mundane lives. There are no big mishaps and villains, but the writer still forces you to find so much drama and joy in just the everydayness of things.

I am usually a reader who (unhealthily) binges on books, but I savoured this one because each story made me so nostalgic. There is also a calm and stillness in the writing.

I ended up underlining a lot because, as a writer, honestly, I was in awe of how beautifully the objects and the surroundings are described here. The writer's words literally make that world come alive on the page. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Priyank Aggarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by the Amazon recommendation engine.

This is the first book written by the author, Sonal Kohli and is a collection of short stories of a post-partition immigrant family in Delhi. Each family member has his/her own unique story. The first story serves as a foundation from where every other story branches off, at least for me.

What I liked most about the stories is the simplicity with which it is written. I really liked the story titled "Outing" which is written in a form of a diary entry, with every minute detailed noted with perfection.

One of the best books I've read in this year.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is minutiae, and so it is in this portrait of modern India crafted from moments in the lives of ordinary Indians.

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beauty!

[Ruchi Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has catchy cover that immediately stole my attention and I am glad that I picked this up. I will briefly summarise the blurb. The striking and unique feature about this book is that it includes nine stories. The 9 stories or incidents that are unique in nature still interdependent somehow. You will get when you will read it. It’s set up in Delhi around 1980-2010 era. I will discuss two incidents that will give idea about the content without revealing spoilers. In first incident, Raghu and Kavya are siblings. Mr. Lamba is their beloved teacher. Raghu, Kavya, Anuj are his students. Mr. Lamba got hurt in Sikh riots. I liked the small letter mentioned at the end of this. In next incident, Kavya set out in search of a nun, sister Celina. She was teaching at school and had gall bladder surgery. But even after two months, she didn’t return. There was a rumour that she ran away with a priest and got pregnant. I liked the concept. All stories are unique in nature. I liked the correlation. The narration style of the author is captivating. It’s like watching a nice movie. Interpretation of certain incidents are quite deep. I liked the language and vocabulary used by the author. Overall good one. I enjoyed reading it. Recommended from my side.

[Aswathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book 'The House Next To The Factory' by Sonal Kohli is the author's debut novel and it's a collection of nine wonderful short stories which are interlinked with each other. 

First of all, I must say that I loved the cover of this book. It's really beautiful and totally goes with the theme of the stories portrayed in this book. Even though I have read so many short story collections, I haven't read a book like this where all the stories are somehow interlinked with each other. The stories revolve around different people related to a post-partition immigrant family and the author has wonderfully portrayed their lives in a simple yet interesting way. One of my favourite among these stories is definitely the first short story portrayed in this book. All the stories are light and easy to read. Also, each story is different and unique in its own way. The language used is really simple and lucid. The narration style is also pretty interesting.

 Overall it is a good read. I would recommend this book to those who love to read short story collections.

[Aditi Debnath · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Home is where the heart is." - Pliny the Elder.

Warm, loving and beautifully written — 'The House Next To The Factory' gladdens your heart with its appeal and short writings.

This novel is a collection of nine short stories neighboring each other with its penny plain domestic themes. Set between 1980s to late 2000s, it flows through the post partition period, the Hindu-Sikh riots and also touched the 1947, India-Pakistan partition period. Surrounding all these times, the stories blooms with the feeling of belongingness, it talks about long-lost and lasting friendships, love, the bonds of teacher and student & remind you the love for a place called 'home'.

Simple, serene not so complex, this novel makes you feel better, and it tightly hugs you through its words.

[Bhargav Varshney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me regret not having explored more fiction from my own culture.

If I were to describe popular books, I would say it’s like running towards a destination. You do walk sometimes when the book is slow, but the destination (the plot/ending) is the final goal.

This book is more akin to taking an aimless stroll in your own city. Stopping every so often and looking at the little birds along the way. Full of heart, but a quiet book nevertheless.

[Shubham Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. This is what great short fiction is all about--simple, quotidian, but brimming with the fullness of character.

[Diya Sengupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Sonal Kohli,
Thank you for writing The House Next to the Factory. I cannot imagine a more authentic and charming rendition of the lives that ordinary people live. From One Hour Three Times a Week to Other Side of Town to Shirley to Kettle on the Hob, each story is rich with the touch and tone of the 80’s and 90’s, the decade when I was growing up.
Mr. Lamba’s helmet that had perhaps seen better days and his addiction to evening tea. His expectation of being served tea whenever he went to Raghu and Anuj’s house for tuitions, and the way he dipped biscuits into his tea reminds me of our Hindi teacher. Although I grew up in rural Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the scenes that play out in your first story are like what I have witnessed. I once had a private tutor like him. But unlike Mr. Lamba who rode a scooter our Hindi teacher rode more than 10 kilometers in his Hercules bicycle. But by the time he reached our house he would be so tired that the first thirty minutes would go in my mother serving him refreshments to bring him ‘back’ to life. He too loved his tea, and like Mr. Lamba would dip his biscuits before putting them into his mouth. Reading about Mr. Lamba brought back fond memories of my teacher who we lost to a sudden illness two years ago.
I am in thrall of how you have woven mundane moments like shelling peas, to eating tea and samosas into something so beautiful, that the reader is left wanting for more. You have brought out Shirley and Hema’s uncomplicated and pure friendship so beautifully! It is fragrant of the era when writing and receiving poignant letters was such an anticipated moment in everyone’s lives.
And how Miss Jello swished her tail as she walked! I don’t want to disclose who Miss Jello was, but that was a hilarious moment in the story. I could even picture Sister Celina’s house in The Outing and smell the stench of stale bread that permeated through her house. It was heartening to read Yamuna’s bond with Pushpa that was sprinkled with both affection and charity.
Oh, and what a beautiful love story you’ve woven between Johnny Walker and Rani! Couldn’t but not regale in their trysts in Other Side of Town. Their uncertain but steady affection for each other plays out beautifully in the story. I have often wondered myself how does love and romance brew in the lives of the have nots, men and women who live in the margins. Can a hand-me-down phulkari dupatta that is gifted to a woman by her boyfriend, a house help, charm someone like her used to cleaning bathrooms for a living?
Dear Sonal, you have woven magic in these stories. I cannot think of a single passage in the book that did not evoke strong bittersweet memories. I saw the events unfold right in front of my eyes.
I am mesmerized and entranced.
Lots of love and good wishes,
Diya

[Monalisa Sethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her debut collection of interlinked stories, "The House Next to the Factory," Sonali Kohli masterfully weaves a tapestry of ordinary lives set against the backdrop of a transforming India from 1980 to 2010. The nine stories revolve around Kavya and her post-Partition immigrant family, including their servants, tutors, cousins, and lovers. They navigate the complexities of class and culture, loneliness, aspirations, and small-scale ambitions.

Kohli's quietly ambitious prose reflects the essence of a 'rising' India, capturing the hearts and minds of readers as it delicately unveils the surprising and ever-changing world of her characters. The author's ability to evoke entire lives through a few deft strokes speaks to the power of her storytelling, making it one of the most pleasurable works of fiction in recent times.

The stories primarily occur in Delhi and follow the family's steel utensil business as it blossoms, marking their transition from the bourgeois to the elite class. Amid the cacophony of metal and machines, the characters face the challenges and triumphs of their lives, grappling with incongruous desires and personal tragedies. Kohli's narrative delves into various themes, such as the aftermath of the anti-Sikh riots, the impact of migration on personal identity, and the longing for a sense of belonging.

"The House Next to the Factory" is a testament to the often-overlooked power of the ordinary. It poignantly explores the intricacies of class and culture in a rapidly changing India. Kohli's storytelling style is marked by spare yet astutely detailed prose, highlighting the complexities and nuances of her characters' experiences. This literary approach serves as a paean to quiet lives everywhere, emphasizing the significance of seemingly commonplace narratives.

Through her finely textured writing, Kohli manages to tell the truth in a slanted manner, allowing readers to uncover her characters' layered emotions and motivations. The culmination of Kavya's journey, which leads her to Paris in search of solace and healing from the sorrows of her young life, symbolizes the universal quest for self-discovery and redemption.

In conclusion, Sonali Kohli's extraordinary debut, "The House Next to the Factory," offers a profound and moving exploration of class, culture, and the human condition in the context of a transforming India. Her evocative prose and keen attention to detail create a rich, immersive reading experience long after the final page. This collection of interlinked stories serves as a reminder of the enduring power of literature to capture the essence of ordinary lives and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

[Sneha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let us go to an ordinary street to feel that life is beautiful with all the ordinary things, with children playing, with laundries hanging out, with people wondering aimlessly."

At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to one family and all other 9 stories are directly or indirectly interlinked to them. Furthermore, we got to know the stories of their first generation, third generation and the people related to them(cousins, neighbours & workers). All the stories are set largely in Delhi with brief journeys to Launder, Paris, and Norwich within a timespan of 1980' to 2010'. And the effects of partition, the post-partition period, and Hindu-Sikh riots are Subtly embedded in the narrative.

The stories are enriched with the simplicity and also complexities of ordinary lives. The author has woven magic with her words in these stories. Simple yet so serene and beautiful. The author poignantly refelts the most bizarre and diverse human emotions. It needs great skill to make mundane things seem most interesting.

Searching for the meaning of one's life, the meaning of being alive, longing for loved ones, being confused, meeting a friend after three decades, the long-lasting friendships, moving homes, the lost connections due to riots, surviving in a place away from home and the feeling of the first kiss. The feelings that sometimes unexplainable.

My fav stories are Shirley,10 Bela road and the other side of the town. I absolutely loved the friendship story and journey of Hema and Shirley. I want to read more of them(Mam May I expect or request you to write a novella on them Please😌🤞)

And the beautiful love of Johny Walker and Rani. In the last one, the Author eloquently portrayed the feeling and that void emotion of leaving a place filled with a lot of emotions and moments attached within the four walls called home. I loved this story so much.

The writing is so beautiful. For a debut novel, this is exceptionally so good. Though I loved the book while reading I got a little bit confused because of the narrative. I loved all the stories except one or two maybe I failed to understand the nuisance within them. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful book.

[Craartology · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House Next to the Factory, is a book of comfort, a collection of stories that portray the mundane facets of life with keen attention to emotions, often suppressed to preserve the sanctity of the relationship and to maintain the way life has shaped up over the years.

9 short stories interwoven with each other through relationships formed either through familial bonds, friendships, employment and a common association to “the house next to the factory”, Sonal Kohli weaves stories of an era gone by, displacement, loss, acceptance and finding oneself guide the reader through a subtle emotional tunnel which ends bringing light in the form realisation and comfort to the characters of the stories and readers, alike. Set in the post-partition period, following the anti-Sikh riots with an evolving timeline stretching to the late 1990s-2000s this book paints Delhi with simplistic charm.

Sonal Kohli’ words are emotive, reminiscent and engrossing which unravel the complex and delicate thoughts and desires of ordinary folks with small ambitions to live comfortably and to feel like home in a home away from home.

I highly recommend this commendable debut for its simplistic and realistic charm that stays beyond comparison from all that I’ve read lately.

[Rita Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Next to the Factory
By Sonal Kohli

I have never been to India, but it features highly in my reading life. Could there be another place that can titivate all five senses through reading alone?

This gorgeous debut is no exception.

Nine short stories that are loosely connected, not so much by the eponymous house, more by the grandchildren we encounter in the first few stories. Through vividly imagined scenery, haunting music, make-your-mouth-water food descriptions and textures of fabrics, even grit, I may as well have been there. The writing is poetic, sensual and in high definition technicolour. Perfect for the armchair traveller.

Looking forward to seeing what this author produces next.

Publication date: 3rd November 2022
Thanks to #netgalley and #swiftpress for the egalley

[The Indian Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Delhi between 1980 and 2010, Sonal Kohli pens down nine interlinked stories that will linger in your heart for a long time. These stories are simple and to the point, reminding readers of many bygone habits and hobbies.

They are filled with love, music, houses, and people who cherish life as it comes.

"The house next to the factory" is a testament to the beauty in the mundane things in life. Kohli gracefully includes the everyday dramas of life against an ever-changing backdrop.

Kohli is really good at noticing small things, especially how Delhi is changing fast. Her characters deal with everyday problems while the city around them is changing too. This makes the stories more interesting and helps readers understand the characters better.

Read more about the book here:
https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...

[Madeline Elsinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection features 8 short stories, ranging in time from 1980s to 2010. The characters well developed and loosely connected to each other. Some characters reappear in other stories which I quite enjoyed. The author knows how to say a lot without directly going into detail; ie she shows us what’s happening through her prose rather than telling us in so many words. And as with all short story collections, I liked some more than others but overall an interesting look at domestic life in India.

Thank you to Netgalley and Swift Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a series of short. stories loosely connected to 'the house next to the factory'. They are written in a number of different styles and cover a range of characters, storylines and time periods. Some were more interesting than others (some were quite dull). The whole thing didn't really come together for me.

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like stories about Indian characters and the vibrant culture. This started well but I didn't find it easy to connect the characters and found it more like a book of short stories.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

[Jayati Talapatra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this in a hurry from the library and was pleasantly surprised. Stories based in Delhi, kapurthala, Paris and London, knitted together skillfully. The stories are not much to speak of but loved the writing style.

[Manu Kohli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonal has a remarkable ability to capture the little details of life that bring vibrancy to the story and provide a compelling reading experience. I love these stories, since each of them, though interconnected, is quite unique in its style and subject matter.

[Anita Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really something I can’t explain.

It’s the softness of living, it’s the hard realities of truth, it’s the slowness of life, it’s the embrace of relationships, it’s the kindness of being humans.

It reminds you of what being human is. So fickle, so impermanent, yet so full of life.