The Short and Long of Stories Well Told

The author's mastery challenges the notion that short-format fiction lacks the ability to hold a reader's attention for long

- By MAYANK JAIN PARICHHA

Readers pick short stories for an experience something new, something enchanting, something that gives them a reason to read. With novels, there isn't that expectation; except for good writing, novels always offer a journey and expansiveness. Short stories, though an exciting genre, often lack the ability to hold a reader's attention for long. This is why publishers are often heard saying, "Short stories are hard to sell."

Life on Mars, a collection of 15 short stories, is the 25th book by Namita Gokhale and serves as the latest example of what all an author can do with short stories. Gokhale's imprint on these stories, weaving together women's experiences while developing a sense of timeless relatability, makes this short story collection very absorbing. Gokhale amalgamated mythology and reality to develop some of the most "bohemian" women characters.