Small deaths : a novel / Rijula Das.

Select an Action

Title:

Small deaths : a novel / Rijula Das.

Author:

Das, Rijula, author.

Das, Rijula. Death in Shonagachhi.

ISBN:

9781542036672

9781542036696

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

307 pages ; 22 cm

Abstract:

"In Calcutta?s notorious red-light district, Lalee aspires to a better life. Her unfailingly loyal client Tilu Shau has dreams too. A heady romantic and marginal novelist, Tilu is in love with the indifferent Lalee and wants to liberate her from her street life with marriage. But when a fellow sex worker and young mother is brutally murdered, the solicitous madam of the Blue Lotus invites Lalee to take the woman?s place ?upstairs? as a high-end escort. The offer comes with the promise of a more lucrative life but quickly spirals into violence, corruption, and unfathomable secrets that threaten to upset the fragile stability of Lalee?s very existence. As Tilu is drawn deeper into his rescue mission, he and Lalee embark on life-altering journeys to escape a savage fate. As much a page-turner as it is poignant, Small Deaths is a brilliantly drawn modern noir that exposes the reality of society?s preyed-upon outcasts, their fierce resilience, and the dangerous impediments that stand in the way of their dignity, love, and survival." -- Jacket flap

Subject Term:

Prostitutes -- Fiction.

Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction.

Man-woman relationships -- Fiction.

Genre:

Detective and mystery fiction.

Added Author:

Das, Rijula. Death in Shonagachhi.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Adult Fiction Book Hardback	120791002989867	F DAS	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A staggering debut novel of murder, loyalty, love, and survival at all costs, set in the teeming underbelly of Calcutta's most infamous neighborhood.

In Calcutta's notorious red-light district, Lalee aspires to a better life. Her unfailingly loyal client Tilu Shau has dreams too. A heady romantic and marginal novelist, Tilu is in love with the indifferent Lalee and wants to liberate her from her street life with marriage. But when a fellow sex worker and young mother is brutally murdered, the solicitous madam of the Blue Lotus invites Lalee to take the woman's place "upstairs" as a high-end escort. The offer comes with the promise of a more lucrative life but quickly spirals into violence, corruption, and unfathomable secrets that threaten to upset the fragile stability of Lalee's very existence. As Tilu is drawn deeper into his rescue mission, he and Lalee embark on life-altering journeys to escape a savage fate.

As much a page-turner as it is poignant, Small Deaths is a brilliantly drawn modern noir that exposes the reality of society's preyed-upon outcasts, their fierce resilience, and the dangerous impediments that stand in the way of their dignity, love, and survival.

Revised edition: Previously published as A Death in Shonagachhi , this edition of Small Deaths includes editorial revisions.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Das's searing debut centers on the plight of sex workers in contemporary Calcutta, India. Cell phones now enable sex workers to make their own deals, so pimps and madams have been forced to diversify their activities, bribe more officials, and take harsh measures against those who flout their "arrangements." One night at the Blue Lotus, an infamous red-light establishment run by autocratic Shefali Madam, Maya, a high-end escort, is murdered, her throat cut with a broken bottle. Shafali Madam asks Maya's friend Lalee, sold into prostitution at seven by her father, to replace Maya. Lalee and Tilu Shau, a low caste writer of erotic fiction who loves Lalee, are drawn into a complex world of vicious religious chicanery being secretly investigated by the Sex Workers' Collective. Das effectively reveals a painful paradox: the exploited workers frequently consider the brothel their only home in a land that can "overwhelm one with kindness one minute and skin you alive the next." This devastating novel is in turn touching and painful to read. Das, a Bengali-to-English translator, is definitely a writer to watch. Agent: Maria Cardona Serra, Pontas Agency. (Sept.)

Library Journal Review

Lalee has dreams, but she is trapped by her life as a sex worker at the Blue Lotus, a brothel in Kolkata's red-light district. Tilu, a middling erotic fiction writer, becomes one of Lalee's loyal customers and dreams of giving her a better life. When a fellow sex worker is found murdered, Lalee is invited to take her place and work with higher-end clients at the Blue Lotus. Soon, however, both Lalee and Tilu are caught up in a web of violence, secrets, and corruption. Deepa Samuel gives an evenly paced, yet emotionally rich narration of the novel, bringing depth to the many characters who make up the bustling city. Samuel provides unique voices for each character, allowing listeners to easily distinguish between them and better understand their perspectives. Das's debut tackles heavy topics such as sex work and human trafficking, making for a harrowing and affecting listen. VERDICT Although the subject matter is difficult, this book offers a glimpse into a world many listeners will never see, making it an important addition to any audiobook collection.--Elyssa Everling