When She Was Queen

by M.G. Vassanji

“My father lost my mother one evening in a final round of gambling at the poker table,” writes the narrator of “When She Was Queen,” the title story of a new collection by bestselling novelist and two-time winner of the Giller Prize, M.G. Vassanji. That fateful evening in Kenya becomes “the obsessive and dark centre” of the young man’s existence and leads him, years later in Toronto, to unearth an even darker family secret.

In “The Girl With The Bicycle,” a man witnesses a woman from his hometown of Dar es Salaam spit at a corpse as it lies in state at a Toronto mosque. As he struggles to fathom her strange behaviour, he finds himself prey to memories and images from the past–and to perilous yearnings that could jeopardize his comfortable, middle-aged life.

Still reeling from the impact of his wife’s betrayal, a man decides to stop in on an old college friend in “Elvis, Raja.” But he soon realizes that it’s not always wise to visit the past as he finds himself trapped in a most curious household, where Elvis Presley has replaced the traditional Hindu gods.

The other stories in the collection also feature exceptional lives transplanted. A young man returns to his roots in India, hoping to find his uncle and, perhaps, a bride. Instead, he becomes a reluctant guru to the residents of his ancestral village. A mukhi must choose between granting the final sacrilegious wish of a dying man and abiding by religious custom in a community that considers him a representative of God. A woman is torn between the voice of her dead husband–a cold and grim-natured atheist–and her new, kind and loving husband whose faith nevertheless places constraints on her as a woman. On Halloween night, a scientist lays bare his horrifying plan to seek vengeance on the man who thwarted his career.

Set variously in Kenya, Canada, India, Pakistan, and the American Midwest, these poignant and evocative stories portray migrants negotiating the in-between worlds of east and west, past and present, secular and religious. Richly detailed and full of vivid characters, the stories are worlds unto themselves, just as a dusty African street full of bustling shops is a world, and so is the small matrix of lives enclosed by an intimate Toronto neighbourhood. It is the smells and sentiments and small gestures that constitute life, and of these Vassanji is a master.

Vassanji’s seventh book and his second collection of short stories, When She Was Queen was shortlisted for the 2006 Toronto Book Award. The jury "Vassanji's Naipaulian language is like a sharp short knife that cuts through the superficial and gets to the heart and soul of the narrative.”


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, India, Canada, Unfinished

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Moyez G. Vassanji was born in Kenya and raised in Tanzania. Before coming to Canada in 1978, he attended MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in theoretical nuclear physics. From 1978-1980 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Atomic Energy of Canada, and from 1980 to 1989 he was a research associate at the University of Toronto. During this period he developed a keen interest in medieval Indian literature and history, co-founded and edited a literary magazine (The Toronto South Asian Review, later renamed The Toronto Review of Contemporary Writing Abroad), and began writing stories and a novel. In 1989, with the publication of his first novel, The Gunny Sack, he was invited to spend a season at the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa. That year ended his active career in nuclear physics. His contributions there he considers modest, in algebraic models and high spin states. The fact that he was never tenured he considers a blessing for it freed him to pursue his literary career.

Vassanji is the author of six novels and two collections of short stories. His work has appeared in various countries and several languages. His most recent novel, The Assassin's Song, was short-listed for both the Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Prize for best novel in Canada. It has appeared in the US (Knopf) and India (Penguin) and is scheduled to appear in the UK (Canongate).

His wife, Nurjehan, was born in Tanzania. They have two sons, Anil, and Kabir. He lives in Toronto, and visits Africa and India often.

Awards: Giller Prize, twice; Harbourfront Festival Prize; Commonwealth First Book Prize (Africa); Bressani Prize. Order of Canada.

Reviews

[Arwyn King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize it was a collection of short stories—I fault the cover design—so I was very confused for the first 50 pages or so, which I re-read once I discovered my error. I’m not the biggest fan of short stories as starting a story is my least favourite part. That being said, I did enjoy the stories as the writing is superb. I need to read this kind of book in pieces throughout the year, rather than all at once, like a novel. I love that it broadens one’s perspective about the immigrant experience, which is one of my criteria’s for a desirable story—about another place or time.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vassanji is always a pleasure to read and these short stories are no different.

[Barbara Sibbald]

This compelling collection of stories that spans the globe from Africa to Toronto is a pleasure to read. The title story reveals a dirty family secret when his mother was gambled away to a neighbour in a poker game. My favourite was "Dear Kharija" an epistolary short fiction about friendship this is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Nearly as compelling is "She, with Bill and George."
Vassanji is a masterful story teller traversing the in-between territory of what is and what might have been. Truly remarkable.

[Pankaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vassanji is a great story narrator. His characters are true to form representatives of geographic regions, customs and practices and come alive.

Dear Khatija was especially poignant as I read it on the eve of India's 75th year of independence. It brought out memories of the many conversations - some very quiet, thoughtful and mournful - with my two grandmothers who suffered through the Partition and relived the torment of that period each time the subject came up.

[Carol Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not really a short story person.However, since I have travelled to both Africa and India I was certainly drawn in by some of the stories. For Vassangi’s rich language I give this collection 4 stars.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vassanji is a brilliant writer, but this is not his best work. I highly recommend both his The Book of Secrets and The In-Between World of Vikram Lall. Hower, I have tried twice to read this book of short stories and have never been able to ‘wade’ through them. Not recommending this book.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these short stories. Beautifully written, they provided a little peek into immigrant experience and the homeland culture of India and Africa. Nice.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories that have a thread that links them - tenuously - to one another. A good writer who studies people.

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Read 100 pages and just did not 'get' the stories. There are an awful lot of non-English words which cannot really be figured out just by context.

[Shishir · Rating 3 out of 5]

short stories - tackling infidelity morality feminissm marriage after widowing love

always wi a twist ; not much characer development allowed for in short stories always wi a twist; tension filled East africa mostly / india / canada E african gujarati values / defineda and yet challenged reasonable displacement

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

A set of short stories that was not obvious from the cover. I liked the title and cover of the book than the actual book itself, although I've never really been one for short stories either. Creative and lots of variety but it seemed like I should see connections between the stories that were difficult to grasp. Or perhaps character names were recycled a lot.

[Shantha Karthigesu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay. My first Vassanji book. I liked the last two stories told using letters more than all the others. Beautifully written though.

[Aramis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories are more successful than others. I like how Vassanji makes me recall my years in Tanzania. I still think The Gunny Sack is a great book.

[Rob & Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating short stories. I especially liked Dear Katija.



Liz

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

These were disappointingly pedestrian. I thought The Assassin's Song was really profound and had high hopes for these. Unmet.

But I'll still read the other novels.

[Shadoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

short stories, such a variety, all good, esp like 'elvis raja' such imagination.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Stories - Vassanji at his best

[Hadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet,,,,

[Naheed Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to the complex, introspective world of MG Vassanji. Enjoyed all the stories, but 'When She Was Queen' was superlative.

[Karen Thomson]

I enjoyed this book, but didn't feel compelled to keep reading. Too many other options pulling me.