Reviews

A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness by Jai Chakrabarti

ar_jun's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

varunika's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? N/A

2.5

inkspiring's review

reflective medium-paced

I was disappointed that he did not speak up about Palestine in a concrete, constructive way. I don’t respect how he skirted around the issue and took a “neutral” “anti-violence” stance.

cloudwatcher's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

the writing was great and some of the stories really resonated. i just don't think short stories are my favorite format.

littoral's review

Jai Chakrabarti’s A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness is a series of 14 short stories exploring the theme of family through the lens of the South Asian immigrant experience. The stories capture a variety of unconventional families - including same-sex couples in forbidden relationships and mixed-race couples not quite on the same wavelength - and doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects like miscarriage and the change of identity that occurs with parenthood. The prose has a lovely rhythm and lyricism that makes each story very readable.

Ultimately, though, I was left with the feeling that I was being strung along from story to story wondering what new trauma or hardship would be the theme of the next. The third person narration common to so many of these stories feels distanced, such that the emotional turns never quite pay off. This can make the story endings feel abrupt; while I don’t mind a story that ends in the middle of the action, these stories sometimes ended before I realized the emotional arc had already come and gone.

aurigae's review

4.0

This collection of short stories addresses themes of migration, parenthood, and loss. Many characters are Indian immigrants to America, or former emigres attempting to return home. Others are observant Jews. Several characters long for children, others have them, and a few struggle at the border in between. Love between adults is accompanied by obligation and demand.

In other words - despite taking place in a spare and haunting literary world - these stories are a lot like life. I found most of them interesting and a few of them memorable. Although this collection was not quick reading, it was worth the time.

[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]

crum_93's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you Knopf Books for the advanced copy of this book. 

It took me some time to work thought this book because while every story is really beautiful, they all left me profoundly sad. I loved the writing and how the stories fit together. 

iekanayake's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage

samanthaash_'s review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

mathiasblack's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

In this short story collection by the author of "A Play for the End of the World," we're treated to an enriching and sensitive look into people's lives as they face life-altering challenges. We get a unique perspective on the lives of characters in India and America, with themes of parenting and identity that could easily have been mangled in rougher hands. But what I've always loved, loved, loved about Jai's writing (full disclosure: we attended the same MFA program) is that his stories have a delicate, poetic touch -- they welcome us readers to open our minds and strengthen our heart muscles. 

I also love how these stories feel like a set while at the same time surprising with new locations and unique characters and situations each time. Like his novel, "A Play for the End of the World," Jai's short stories bring me something entirely new and unexpected, in language that often demands rereading -- not because it's difficult, but because it's so beautiful and true. 

I'd recommend first-time readers to dip into this book and savor the stories like poems. Don't rush. Enjoy.