Book review: Redolent Rush

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Short stories are perhaps among the most accessible forms of literature. They’re concise by nature and offer readers the unique chance to dive into a snippet of a universe.

By extension, short story collections are one of the best ways to get an overview of specific short fiction cultures. And if your chosen destination happens to be India, “Redolent Rush” does one hell of a job getting you there.

This collection, curated by poet Kiriti Sengupta, features 19 stories, translated into English from no less than 8 different languages.

“Variation” is a keyword with this book. Regarding plotlines and settings, but also in relation to the genres: From everyday reflections of a migrant worker to a heartfelt family memoir, from ancient folklore retold all the way to diary entries set in a dystopian future: “Redolent Rush” gives you substantial mileage for a single charge.

The stories themselves are rich in narrative and not afraid to go places. Images such as the protagonist of “Abbajaan’s Bones” cursing his existence while cradling the bones of his deceased dad, which he is forced to sell to be able to afford a bribe, are as relentless in their imagery as they are masterful in their delivery of complex social issues.

A note on language: It must be acknowledged that some of the translations will feel a bit clunky to native or near-native English speakers. However, I don’t consider this a massive flaw for 2 reasons. First, the pool of translators for some of these languages is probably very limited and I respect the publisher’s choice to make this a fully domestic project. Second, I’m not a grammar pedant. In fact, I firmly believe in language(s) as an inherently liberating tool. These translations make these amazing stories accessible to a whole new audience and that is all that matters. Believe me, when you’re reading a story about the life of disabled refugee children in an Iraqi minefield, the last thing you’ll be thinking about is syntax. “Redolent Rush” is an invitation to discover one of the richest cultural matrixes in this world. Go ahead and accept it because this is a journey you won’t forget any time soon.