Jenny Bhatt

Bhatt's debut short story collection has been cited as one of the most anticipated debuts of the second half of 2020 by Electric Literature,[13] Literary Hub,[14] The Millions,[15][16] and Entropy Magazine.[17] It is published by 7.13 Books.[18] It received a starred review from Shelf Awareness,[19] with praise that “Challenging assumptions, confronting power, manipulating barriers whenever possible–even at grave personal cost–Bhatt’s cast surprises, inspires, frightens, beguiles, but never disappoints.” Publishers Weekly wrote that Bhatt's "stories are memorable on their own, and they add up to a powerful expression of the hunger for success on one's own terms."[20] Kirkus Reviews called it a "formally diverse collection with exquisitely crafted stories about longing, striving, and learning what we can control"[21] and listed it as one of the must-read collections of Fall 2020.[22] Debutiful,[23] Ms. Magazine.[24] Bustle listed it as a must-read book of September 2020[25] and as one of the best collections of 2020.[26] Other venues that gave positive or rave reviews: The Dallas Morning News;[27] Texas Public Radio;[28] Open the Magazine;[29] New York Journal of Books;[30] NRI Pulse;[31] India Currents;[32] The Hindu Business Line.[33]

This book is a translation of 26 short stories by the Gujarati writer, Dhumketu, published by HarperCollins India in October 2020.[34] The Hindustan Times praised the translation as "reasonably fast-paced and eminently accessible."[35] Womensweb.in said that "Jenny Bhatt’s translation is nuanced but simple, and does justice to these stories.”[36] Firstpost wrote that "Her translations make for a crisp and honest rendering of 20th century Gujarat . . ."[37]