Details for Kismetwali and Other Stories Set against the backdrop of modern-day India, Kismetwali and Other Stories places the reader amidst circumstances that transcend place, purse and prestige. This octet of novellas offers a rare glimpse into the parallel lives of the privileged and penniless, converging on those astonishing moments when free will intercepts fate and the rigid divide between social classes is rendered insignificant. Each narrative showcases walas and walis of the working class—the common yet essential purveyors of goods and providers of service—as empowered individuals who take centre stage.The shavewala, a humble barber, becomes an intimate collaborator in a love story that spans the seven seas; the malishwali, a long-serving masseuse, conceals her mistress’s shocking secret while offering a gift of revelation to another; the kismetwali, a clairvoyant of unremarkable pedigree, solicits cosmic benefaction for her affluent clients. These socially eclipsed characters are the true protagonists in every story. About Reetika Khanna Nijhawan Reetika Khanna Nijhawan was born and raised in a small town in northern India. While growing up, she travelled the world extensively with her father, an officer in the merchant navy. After receiving her degree in Psychology from Delhi University, she worked as a flight attendant with Lufthansa German Airlines before settling down to write for ELLE and ELLE Décor in Mumbai. She later moved to Atlanta, where her work has been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Khabar magazine. Kismetwali and Other Stories is her first work of fiction. She penned these eight novellas over time, while waiting in the carpool line outside her daughter’s school.

Story, for children.

This book presents a systematic approach to the literary analysis of cultural practices. Based on a postcolonial framework of diaspora, the book utilizes literary theory to investigate cultural phenomena such as food preparation and song. Razia Parveen explores various diverse themes, including the female voice, genealogy, space, time, and diaspora, and applies them to the analysis of community identity. This volume also demonstrates how a literary analysis of oral texts helps to provide insight into women’s lived narratives. For example, Parveen discusses how the notion of the ‘third space’ creates a distinctly feminine spatiality.

The Fuss About Queens and Other Stories, a brilliant collection of short stories by Darius Cooper, delves into disparate universes, including the charming world of the Parsis in Mumbai, caught in a cultural and historical time warp, with the fire temple, the tower of silence, dusty tomes of Dostoevsky, and the British monarch’s portrait in a drawing room, set up with period furniture a truly stunning mosaic. Talking Points: Includes some of the finest short stories by the authorEach story provides a glimpse into the humanistic outlook of the writerEncompasses a variety of socially relevant themes that are close to the writer’s heart

Independent Publisher Award for Best Travel Book of the Year; Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Travel Essay of the Year; India Unveiled by Robert Arnett has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most revealing compendiums ever written about the country. The stunning photography and engaging text with an insightful portrait of its people, landscape, and diverse culture truly captures the essence of India, one of the oldest continuously surviving civilizations on earth. This book is a stunning pictorial record of Robert Arnett's pilgrimage....Recommended for all collections. - Library Journal; The most beautiful book on India I have ever seen. - Toby Bourne, Editor, British Book-of-the-Month Travel Club; One of the most revealing compendiums on India in decades....A highly recommended acquisition. - The Midwest Book Review, Reviewers Choice