Nihar Mukund’s Reviews > The Adivasi Will Not Dance > Status Update

Merely a whore: 4.5/5

While strong, what started as hinting at nuances and small clues became a cartoonish characterisation of an oft-tread issue.

Desire, divination, death: 3.5/5
Whilst reflective of the lack of adequate conditions for Adivasi communities, and perhaps the mode of conveyance draws on cultural and religious beliefs of the community, the story nonetheless feels too trite. In such a short story, language matters, and HSS's heavy-handed approach does not suit.

Baso-jhi: 4/5
The fuck.

Blue Baby: 4.25/5

While I appreciated the plot, I wish it were a bit more layered. It inevitably draws comparisons to Jhumpa Lahiri's 'A Temporary Matter,' and fails to rise to those standards. Nonetheless, it is engaging.

Eating with the Enemy: 5/5
Okay, my fav story till now. I only wish that I knew what yo and jhi meant, but I don't think the onus is on HSS.

Getting Even: 4.5/5
Finally! Given the content, I wouldn't say the story is fun, but the collection finally feels like it is building up to something. My only criticism is that Hansda's heavy-handedness flattens his characters at times, and in this case, the final paragraph (after deciding not to ask the policeman about the case) takes away the potential nuance attributed to the narrating doctor.

Sorry, changing 'November...' to 4/5
Despite its short length and relatively straightforward plot, the context set-up reveals depth that requires more than a two-page short story.

November is the Month of Migrations: 3.5/5
The story feels too on the nose, lacks nuance, and has a gazillion better versions out there. HSS, you can write better.

Sons - 2.5/5
This is a moral story I would have eaten up if I were 5. Unfortunately, except for a few wasted glimpses of depth, the story feels too superficial to belonging to a collection such as this.