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faehistory's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
namakurhea's review against another edition
3.75
“Bombay Stories” is my first Manto. The short stories are engaging. The self-inserts are slightly voyeuristic. The characters are a motley crew of pimps and prostitutes. The writing is honest and straightforward. This shall not be my last Manto.
prolinjb's review against another edition
3.0
For when Bombay was Bombay and not Mumbai. When the underbelly was the part of the city and not a discarded appendix.
annaeap's review against another edition
4.0
My Pakistani friends recommended Manto to me. My favorite stories from this collection were "Ten Rupees, "The Insult," and "Smell." His stories explore society's more sordid facets, featuring prostitutes and the people they encounter of questionable moral character, yet I found myself sympathetic to many of them (particularly the women, often prostitutes, who were usually the ones with true hearts). Manto writes beautifully and vividly--in "The Insult," I felt that I was right in the prostitute's filthy room where the story takes place (he described her dog as having "fur...so patchy that if someone saw him from a distance, they would mistake him for the folded piece of sacking used to wipe the floor"). A beautiful scene description in "Smell": "When he looked through the window, he saw the leaves of the peepal tree trembling in the rain, rustling and fluttering in the breeze. It was dark and yet the night gave off a faint glow, as though the raindrops had stolen some of the stars' radiance." Some stories are autobiographical, with writer characters who have some variation of the name "Manto." By the end, I felt like I'd outstayed my welcome at a raunchy party filled with drunken, absurd, and sometimes dangerous guests, but a memorable party I nevertheless did not regret attending. Grateful for this glimpse into Manto's world!
bookbegum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
deepti_srivatsan's review
2.0
Disappointing and underwhelming. Some stories are interesting but seem so pointless when they end. I initially wondered if the beauty of the writing was simply lost in translation but no, I cannot really find fault with the translation. The stories are lacklustre and there’s nothing much one can do about it.
adamantane's review against another edition
“Barren” was my favorite, and while I can appreciate their subtleties, the endless deluge of erotic description and sex in the stories was (personally) exhausting to wade through. Mostly skimmed, after the fourth or so story.
rayriy's review against another edition
4.0
Some stories were a pleasure to read, others were a bit confusing and ambiguous. 3.5 stars!