White Dancing Elephants
- Author Chaya Bhuvaneswar
- Narrator Priya Ayyar
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 9 October 2018
- Run Time 6 hours and 55 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Short stories.
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What to expect
A woman grieves a miscarriage, haunted by the Buddha’s birth. An artist with schizophrenia tries to survive hatred and indifference in small-town India by turning to the beauty of sculpture and dance. Orphans in India get pulled into a strange “rescue” mission aimed at stripping their mysterious powers. A brief but intense affair between two women culminates in regret and betrayal. A boy seeks memories of his sister in the legend of a woman who weds death. And fragments of history, from child brickmakers to slaves in Renaissance Portugal, are held up in brief fictions, burnished, made dazzling and unforgettable.
In sixteen remarkable stories, Chaya Bhuvaneswar spotlights diverse women of color―cunning, bold, and resolute―facing sexual harassment and racial violence, and occasionally inflicting that violence on each other. Winner of the 2017 Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize, White Dancing Elephants marks the emergence of a new and original voice in fiction and explores feminist, queer, religious, and immigrant stories with precision, drama, and compassion.
Critics Review
“Bhuvaneswar’s debut collection maps with great assurance the intricate outer reaches of the human heart…An elegant story collection to read and savor.”
“The seventeen stories in this debut collection take place around the world, exploring queer and interracial love, extramarital affairs, and grief over the disappearances of loved ones…An exuberant collection.”
“Bhuvaneswar tackles the intricate interactions of race, class, and sexuality in this enticing debut…Sharp and provocative, and Bhuvaneswar’s voice rings true.”
“Although affecting throughout, Ayyar is keenly enhancing when voicing the stories of women in conflict…Ayyar’s resonating performance further amplifies Bhuvaneswar’s urgent words with astute empathy.”
“Narrator Priya Ayyar is a steady guide for this collection of literary short stories. She helps listeners explore a variety of characters and diverse settings that range from South Asia to Portugal. Her narration is steady and serene…She soothes even as she delivers the difficult circumstances of the characters’ lives.”
“The stories remain firmly grounded in physical detail, boldly exploring moments of oppression and violence, and Bhuvaneswar’s persuasive, readable style will keep readers absorbed. A strong collection from a writer on the rise.”
“Bhuvaneswar’s seventeen tales give voice to a variety of characters, sorrows, and experiences, constituting a striking collection.”
“Takes on important topics like racialized violence and violence against women—that which is committed against them and they which they commit themselves. Friendship, romance, and family are the ties that bind in this forthcoming collection.”
| Author | Chaya Bhuvaneswar |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Priya Ayyar |
| Duration | 6 hours and 55 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781982584184 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | Blackstone Publishing |
| Genre | Short stories |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
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