It was a packed house that Sunday morning, despite the rain. Founding member, Reshma Ruia, introduced the Anthology as an exploration of “dark, pulsating loves which cut across ethnicities and divides. ”The Group read snippets from their varied stories, each illuminating a different shade of the drama of the heart, to an engaged audience and the swaying trees outside. Festival blogger Amy McCauley wrote, "I’m impressed by the power of these voices, and by the boldness with which each writer tackles the complexities of modern love," in her review. You can read the full piece here: blog.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/2016/10/review-the-whole-kahani/ We're so pleased that Watermelon Seeds by Catherine Menon and Rocky Romeo by Dimmi Khan are part of the summer issue of the Asia Literary Review along with an introduction to The Whole Kahani collective.
At the same time, Kavita Jindal's story from Love Across a Broken Map, Three Singers, is now available on MIR Online, the web edition of the Mechanic's Institute Review. James Holden describes the stories in Love Across a Broken map as stories where a South Asian identity is key to the protagonist, and stories where it is incidental. But even this broad dichotomy doesn’t really hold, as the stories cross this boundary in unexpected ways. It’s also notable that where the stories are set in the UK they aren’t about the ‘migrant experience’ and racism is only mentioned once in the book, and even then it’s a fleeting reference....
But ultimately it is the stories that make this such an engaging read. Because what all these stories have in common is that they are strongly driven by interesting and well- drawn characters. Many truths and observations emerge from their mouths over the course of the book, but the group achieves its aim of not tipping into stereotypical depictions of South Asian culture. Read the complete review here: http://www.theshortstory.co.uk/the-short-story-review-love-across-a-broken-map-by-the-whole-kahani/ We read from Love Across a Broken Map at the Leicester Writes festival, followed by a Q&A with a engaging, participative audience. Thank you Leicester!
Get it online from Dahlia books: http://dahlia-books.kong365.com/en-gb/products/love-across-a-broken-map or Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Across-Broken-Map-Stories/dp/0956696783 or head to Daunt books in Marylebone to pick up your copy It's got some lovely reviews. Catriona Troth from Bookmuse says, "The stories surprise, unsettle, but enchant too. Once or twice, in the most unlikely circumstances, we are offered hope that love can make it across the fissures of the broken map." bookmuseuk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/love-across-broken-map-by-whole-kahani.html Rebbekah Lattin-Rawstrone writes, "Love across a broken map is one of the best anthologies I’ve read in a long time." lattin-rawstrone.com/2016/06/02/love-across-a-broken-map-an-expanded-book-review/ The Asian Writer caught up with members of The Whole Kahani about love, London and Love Across a Broken Map. Read the interview here: theasianwriter.co.uk/2016/05/love-across-a-broken-map/ We will be reading at the Manchester Literature Festival in October, so look out for updates! |