Jakhan Chand Ebang by Bani Basu [Hardcover]

Just as Japanese haiku exemplifies the brilliance of short poetry, and Bonophul offers some of the finest specimens of short stories in form and structure, Bengali literature boasts several notable long stories that are simultaneously unforgettable short novels. In this vein comes a new addition, Bani Basu’s collection Jokhon Chand Ebong.
This unique compilation of six long stories often breaks down the boundary between a story and a novel. It transforms fleeting reflections of moments into an expansive portrayal of complex lives. Not only does Bani Basu narrate stories, but she also extends the very limits of this art form. Each of the six stories in this book has a distinctive flavor and tackles different issues. Some focus on the conflict between deceit and compassion, while others delve into the quicksand of status and sin. One story revolves around an endlessly enduring sibling in a middle-class family, while another centers on the interactions between a celebrated poet and an enigmatic reader who conceals her identity. There are tales where the facade of idealism shows signs of collapse, and others that humorously capture the essence of losing track of time in the race of life.