Customer Reviews

Karma and Other Stories

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Set mostly in suburban Boston, this debut collection of seven short stories revolves around familiar themes of cross-cultural integration. Reddi writes what she knows about, the struggle of Indians (specifically, the Telugu-speaking diaspora from Hyderabad) to reconcile their heritage and culture with life in the United States. These challenges, which are reflected quite differently among the three generations of characters, are all handled with delicacy, grace, and a certain calm tone. Unfortunately the stories trawl back and forth over the same thematic territory to such an extent that the book ends up feeling rather repetitive.

Certainly, Reddi adeptly captures a range of voices, from that of an indignant elderly ex-judge who can't accept the smallest slight, to a young teenage boy trying to fit into his white-bread Midwestern school, and all manner of husbands, wives, and aunties in between, including a fully assimilated 20something woman. This is accomplished without trotting out a kitchen sink's worth of cultural touchstones, which is a welcome change from so much writing of this kind (although food, traditional dance, and clothing all play small roles in setting various scenes, and contrary to several reviewers, arranged marriage does play a central role in one story, and is a key factor in a few others).

However, by the end, I didn't feel particularly enriched by the book. The immigrant experience is central to American literature, and I had a difficult time finding anything new or through-provoking in these stories. They're all well-written, and each has its moments of nice imagery or subtlety of tone, but there was nothing fresh to grab me -- rather, they felt like well-executed versions of a well-trod genre. Published individually in other publications (as, I believe they were, although there's nothing indicating this anywhere in the book), I can see the stories standing out more and having a greater impact, but side-by-side, they start to blur and blend.

Karma and Other Stories. Rishi Reddi's debut book with short stories. Rishi was born in the Indian city of Hyderabad and then moved to the US with her parents when she was young. Her first attempt to write a book has been commendable. She is comfortable writing about the Boston area, where she spent most of her life in the US. She talks about the Telugu speaking families settled in the US. And, to an extent she has been able to create the aura. I particularly liked the story 'Lord Krishna' - it was all about standing up for something that's wrong and also about trying to forgive.

Though most of the stories are well written, in easy English, and have a logical ending, there are one or two stories that end abruptly & whose ending leave much to the reader's imagination. And there is another story that was a bit confusing - was Rishi trying to tell a story about Devdasis or about Hindu/Muslim divide?

I've been reading this book at night, before going to bed. That's about the right pace; it lets me reflect on each story. And the last three nights I've found myself saying "man this is a good book."

Each story is about people, with the same motivations and conflicts that most of us can identify with. The lenses we see those conflicts through are different, but it just helps to give a different perspective, and see how much alike people are deep down inside.

The need of an elder for respect; the conflict between duty and desire for a path; the interaction beween husband and wife who have grown a little distant and are trying to figure out what's wrong; the failure of people to fit into others' preconceived roles for them.

The fact that they're mostly set in Lexington, MA, in a particular Americanized ethnic community serves more to highlight the commonality than set apart the cultures.

I think the study of people is fun and interesting. If you do, too, then this is a really great book.

If you are looking for a deep look into the lives of Indian-Americans, you won't find it here. Reddi's short stories are easy to read and move at a good pace. The characters have depth to them and you find yourself identifying with them and feeling for them as well. Some stories have a bit of a punch at the end that can leave you wondering about your own mistakes like "The Validity of Love" or laughing at someone that you know who is just like the character in "Justice Shiva Ram Murthy." She writes from the viewpoint of a crotchety old man as she does a teenager discovering the world of men.

Overall, it's a good collection. The stories and characters are easily identified and you begin to get a feeling of the Indian-American culture. I think my favorite stories were probably "Bangles" and "The Validity of Love" just because you saw the characters grow from beginning to end.

I didn't give the collection five stars because certain things do become repetitive and the stories lose momentum. But if you are a fan of short stories and/or cultural fiction, this is a good collection to read.

Karma and Other Stories by Rishi Reddi is a beautiful book in every way -- starting with the cover and extending to the lovely prose. I recently purchased multiple copies for friends who I believe will enjoy these stories that so skillfully explore the Indian American experience.

I lived in the Winchester/Lexington/Boston area for a while which made this book even more enjoyable. However, I think I would have still enjoyed these captivating short stories even if I had not lived in this area.
Karma and Other Stories really sums up the situations and lives of the people in these stories. I bought further copies of this book and sent them to friends to read. I hope you get the opportunity to read this book.

It's unusual for me to read every story in a collection, but I did with this one. The characters seemed very authentic to me. I grew up among an Indian-American community in northeastern Ohio, and although Reddi's stories are set in the Boston area, I recognized these people, and I enjoyed learning about them.

The stories are inter-linked, with the same characters appearing in different stories, which makes this feel almost like a novel. You see a glimpse of a character in one story, and in the next you read about that person in more depth.

I really enjoyed this book so far. I'm about 2/3 done, and I can't wait to finish. Reddi's writing is extremely accessible and gripping. Her prose is very calm; I read this book every night with a cup of chamomile tea, and the combination is very fitting. "The Validity of Love" is an absolutely wonderful story.

My one question would concern the setting. Does the immigrant experience differ in various regions across America? From simple anecdotal experience, I think it does. Jhumpa Lahiri and Reddi both write from New England settings and I wonder how this dominates and obscures a more variegated Indian American experience?

Of course, both writer's deal with much more than that simple trope. Read this collection for a wonderful examination of the human condition.

Written with imagination and sensitivity, this book of short stories is quite outstanding. Paticularly noteworthy is the first story of the anthology, "Justice Shiva Ram Murthy."

A great thought provoking book that really hits home to those of us searching for a proper balance between Eastern and Western values. Ms Reddi manages to convey a powerful message to all her readers by telling us of the outcomes of inter-marriages, where Indian Americans are involved. Due to a heavy influence of culture, Indian parents have a very difficult time adjusting to their children's new found lives and it is within this context that the book prevails in delivering its message.

Thanks for making a great read about life and love from a cultural perspective.