<p>Soulmates<br />Kanchana Ugbabe<br />Penguin<br />2011, pp 159<br />Rs 199<br /><br /></p>.<p>Each of the 13 stories in the book captures the complexities and subtleties of life in a refreshing manner. An Indian born living in Nigeria, Kanchana says the stories in Soulmates are inspired by her own experiences as an ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ in Nigerian society.<br /><br />The book cover features the shining seeds of pomegranate — a symbol of fertility, prosperity and abundance in cultures around the world. And quite fitting to this image, the stories inside present the rich colours and textures of human interactions hidden in the seemingly mundane aspects of everyday life.<br /><br />From the sophisticated, charming, mysterious Uncle Wahab in the opening story of the book to Louise, a compassionate soul who spreads faith and love among everyone around her, Kanchana’s characters bring to life the many intricate shades of human emotions and experiences.<br /><br />There are no shocking twists and turns, no jaw-dropping climaxes or vague philosophical undertones in her stories. Like a witness who observes without judgment, she narrates life, as it is.<br /><br />In ‘Jaded Appetites’, one of the most delightful stories of the collection, the narrator is witness to a no-strings-attached relationship between a man and his mistress. She watches them as, little by little, they drift apart as the initial freedom in their relationship gradually gives way to a sense of insecurity. And as their drama of love unfolds before her in varying intensities, stifled voice of her own spirit raises its volume inside her.<br /><br />‘It was our tenth wedding anniversary… My gold-fringed card on the table was gushing with sentiment. His was spare. Love for him was a benign presence, like allowing the dog to lie in the kitchen and not kicking it.’<br /><br />Kanchana’s gift for engaging prose is evident in the way she builds the drama from the seemingly insignificant day-to-day incidents and gives an insightful peek into the frailties and complexities of human relationships through the same. The cultural tradition of Nigeria, that features quite colourfully in her writing, adds an interesting dimension to the universal human values like love and friendship that her stories talk about.<br /><br />In ‘Rescue-Remedy’, Alison comes to Nigeria to meet her friend Chika and to get a taste of the life in a ‘third world’ country. And as her ‘liberated’ American spirit clashes with the rigid ways of the country rooted in age-old customs and beliefs, the reader is treated to an entertaining narration that connects two disparate worlds with an intuitive wisdom.<br /><br />Kanchana’s characters don’t strive to find higher purpose behind the struggles of life but make sense of their existence in their own, unique ways. In ‘The White Rooster’, a wife suffers in silent agony over her husband’s love for another woman.<br /><br />‘I hadn’t neglected him or his household or our children. He had never complained. But I was not ‘her’ and could never unlearn myself to be… She didn’t listen to the radio and didn’t claim to know about existentialism. But she probably knew how to love.’<br /><br />In ‘Borrowed Feathers’, a docile wife confronts her husband’s mistress with great strength and confidence, much to her own surprise, while in ‘Greener Pastures’, an academic scholar finds solace in her studies and spirituality as she copes with failures in her personal life.<br /><br />Kanchana’s engaging, unambiguous and humour-laced narrative makes Soulmates an enjoyable read. <br /></p>
<p>Soulmates<br />Kanchana Ugbabe<br />Penguin<br />2011, pp 159<br />Rs 199<br /><br /></p>.<p>Each of the 13 stories in the book captures the complexities and subtleties of life in a refreshing manner. An Indian born living in Nigeria, Kanchana says the stories in Soulmates are inspired by her own experiences as an ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ in Nigerian society.<br /><br />The book cover features the shining seeds of pomegranate — a symbol of fertility, prosperity and abundance in cultures around the world. And quite fitting to this image, the stories inside present the rich colours and textures of human interactions hidden in the seemingly mundane aspects of everyday life.<br /><br />From the sophisticated, charming, mysterious Uncle Wahab in the opening story of the book to Louise, a compassionate soul who spreads faith and love among everyone around her, Kanchana’s characters bring to life the many intricate shades of human emotions and experiences.<br /><br />There are no shocking twists and turns, no jaw-dropping climaxes or vague philosophical undertones in her stories. Like a witness who observes without judgment, she narrates life, as it is.<br /><br />In ‘Jaded Appetites’, one of the most delightful stories of the collection, the narrator is witness to a no-strings-attached relationship between a man and his mistress. She watches them as, little by little, they drift apart as the initial freedom in their relationship gradually gives way to a sense of insecurity. And as their drama of love unfolds before her in varying intensities, stifled voice of her own spirit raises its volume inside her.<br /><br />‘It was our tenth wedding anniversary… My gold-fringed card on the table was gushing with sentiment. His was spare. Love for him was a benign presence, like allowing the dog to lie in the kitchen and not kicking it.’<br /><br />Kanchana’s gift for engaging prose is evident in the way she builds the drama from the seemingly insignificant day-to-day incidents and gives an insightful peek into the frailties and complexities of human relationships through the same. The cultural tradition of Nigeria, that features quite colourfully in her writing, adds an interesting dimension to the universal human values like love and friendship that her stories talk about.<br /><br />In ‘Rescue-Remedy’, Alison comes to Nigeria to meet her friend Chika and to get a taste of the life in a ‘third world’ country. And as her ‘liberated’ American spirit clashes with the rigid ways of the country rooted in age-old customs and beliefs, the reader is treated to an entertaining narration that connects two disparate worlds with an intuitive wisdom.<br /><br />Kanchana’s characters don’t strive to find higher purpose behind the struggles of life but make sense of their existence in their own, unique ways. In ‘The White Rooster’, a wife suffers in silent agony over her husband’s love for another woman.<br /><br />‘I hadn’t neglected him or his household or our children. He had never complained. But I was not ‘her’ and could never unlearn myself to be… She didn’t listen to the radio and didn’t claim to know about existentialism. But she probably knew how to love.’<br /><br />In ‘Borrowed Feathers’, a docile wife confronts her husband’s mistress with great strength and confidence, much to her own surprise, while in ‘Greener Pastures’, an academic scholar finds solace in her studies and spirituality as she copes with failures in her personal life.<br /><br />Kanchana’s engaging, unambiguous and humour-laced narrative makes Soulmates an enjoyable read. <br /></p>
