Reading A House Is a Body is like escaping into a dream. It feels familiar and fantastic at the same time - each story draws you into a new world that feels as real as the room you're in but reads like a folktale or a memory you can't quite grasp. But while I loved the stories in this collection, what truly hooked me was Swamy's writing. It was elegant and frank and mesmirizing, and it made me fall in love with the power of words and language all over again. When you pick this up from your local bookstore, I'd recommend reading it slowly, story-by-story. Preferably in a thunderstorm or after midnight, when everything feels a little more surreal. You won't regret it.

This collection of stories is stellar. Wonderful peaks into the lives of various people and circumstances. One of the very best collection of stories I have read this year. It's compulsive reading because you want to know what the next story is about. Flawless writing with vibrant characters. Pick up this winner of a book. Happy reading!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Shruti for an advance copy of an AWARD-WINNING DEBUT. Also, thank you once again to Algonquin Books for the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour.

I am not a big short stories / essays / anthology reader. I actually think this may only be my second, not counting Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark and assorted celebrity memoirs written in essay form. However, one of my big goals of 2020 was to expand my reading horizons and opportunities like this have been fantastic for me. Admittedly, being that short stories are new to me…writing an extensive review about them is also unknown territory, so here’s to trying!

A House Is A Body features stories that all hold heavy subject matter. Cultural identity is present throughout the book, specifically what it’s like to be an Indian woman, however if this isn’t something that you can relate to, do not let it deter you. I found the stories to be entertaining and emotional, there were topics that I did know about as well as topics that I have now been educated about.

Female sexuality and sexual identity is also a heavily discussed topic throughout the book. Women are still having to tiptoe around their sexuality to this day, keeping their past and present a secret from friends and lovers.

And lastly, mortality is present in many of the stories. Grappling with our own mortality and the mortality of those we love.

While these stories all hold very real topics, Shruti has a way with her prose that turns the subjects into a surreal or fantastical feeling.

As I would imagine is the case for most readers of short stories, some stories appealed to me above others. Overall, these stories packed decent punches for being in the 20-30 page range. There are some that kept me thinking about them afterwards and some that were rather forgettable, but overall most definitely a worthwhile read if the topics above interest you. I can really see this book sparking great discussion in book clubs or women’s lit classes.

Special thanks to Net Galley, Algonquin Books and Shruti Swarmy for the e-Advanced Reader's Copy as well as a physical ARC of A House is a Body. Receiving these ARCs did not affect my review or rating!

Shruti Swarmy's writing style is addictive. I was drawn into her stories from the first page. Swarmy has an uncanny ability to wrap you and place you into each short story almost effortlessly. And is the sole reason I continued my journey with this book.

However, I have to admit that I had a difficult time with a few of the stories that had more elements of mysticism. Though I loved the writing, I often felt confused about things such as plot, character's motivations as well as settings. It's jarring to know that you like someone's writing but are having a difficult time with their story.

My favorite stories from this collection had fewer elements of mysticism and felt much more tangible.

Overall, I recommend this collection to lovers of mysticism and literary fiction.

This is a very interesting collection of short stories. Each follows different women as they address motherhood, desire, among other topics. The stories are set all over the world.

I enjoyed these stories, but also feel like I missed some of the purpose. But that is more on me than the book/author. The stories were interesting but also left me wanting a little more. Many felt as though they ended abruptly.

Overall good stories but just not meant for me. (3.5 rounded up)

I have a love/hate relationship with short story collections. When I personally read a collection there is one or two stellar stories and then the rest are just ok. While I had a similar feeling with this collection, there was definitely a lot more strong stories in this collection, than I expected.

These stories span the globe from India to the US. You will find each story extremely unique. There are stories that deal with polygamy to dealing with children, celebrities and wealth.

There are several stories that I just wished that the author could turn into full novels, including the very first story of the book, Blindness. Hopefully she will expand on some of these in the future.

This debut collection is strong. Her writing is beautiful and you will walk away from many of these stories wanting more. You can tell Swamy put a lot of emotion into this collection. I am looking forward to seeing what else she writes.

Thank you Algonquin for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A House is a Body is a really stunning short story collection by Shruti Swamy. This debut did a gorgeous job picking out pieces of lifetime and condensing every feeling into perfect snippets. While a few fell a little short with me, the majority of them were the kinds of stories I will hold on to and come back to again and again to relive the sorrow, love, happiness and remarkable intensity that Swamy is able to project into her words. Her stories focus on love, parenthood, loss, marriage and lots of inner demons. I love the way Swamy sets up her stories to flow until an end, but she doesn’t give the reader a true ending. That is truly my favorite part of short stories, as I really love being able to fill in the blanks myself while analyzing the human experiences happening within the stories.

Set all over the world, but mostly in India and the US, most voices in these stories were of Indian women. I would absolutely recommend this collection to anyone who loves to pick apart stark feelings and tense relationships.

I love short stories. As a genre they are notoriously hard to get right: you have to fit whole settings, plots, characters into just a few pages, bring the reader in rapidly while also leaving them with something to chew on once the story is over. Shruti Swamy does such a wonderful job in her collection of short stories, A House is a Body, that I couldn’t put it down. I literally read the entire collection in one sitting and wanted more.

Shruti Swamy’s prose is lyrical, lush, beautiful; she creates a world where the reader’s time is suspended, where the reader enters a world that is both familiar and different, magical and painfully real. The breakdown of a relationship; an alcoholic artist; a woman caught in a dream of another woman; a family mourning the loss of a partner, a sister, a friend; domestic violence; mental illness; a kingdom falling apart because of the violence of men against women, are all among many themes portrayed in the twelve stories, and each and every one of them struck me in deeply personal ways I find hard to describe on paper. The stories are set in both India and the US, sometimes in both countries, and read in a way like dreams. The reader looks into intimate and personal settings that we know we should not be part of, but we can’t seem to stop reading either.

The stories are all unique and different, but they flow so well into each other: I wanted more, but also felt satiated, satisfied even. I want to read more of Shruti Swamy’s work: she is so talented, and I adore her writing style. Highly, highly recommended read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sincere thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

A House is a Body is an extraordinary collection of twelve stories that sparkle in their depth of darkness. Swamy's debut explores vivid narratives that blur the lines of magical realism and character studies.

Not all of the stories are strong, and some like 'The Siege' and 'Didi' seem out of place, but no less intriguing. Easily the star of this collection is 'Earthly Pleasures' in which an artist in San Francisco begins a relationship with the Hindu god, Krishna. This story in particular demonstrates the range and power of Swamy's voice. Blending ancient imagery into a contemporary narrative. It is perfection. All of the stories are introspective with well-crafted characters, a good portion of which are queer! Some stories showcase the absolute love we are all capable of should we only dare, while others flash with anger revealing our deepest fears.

There is a fairytale-like quality to these stories. I recommend reading them like fables, as if each character is a mirror unto ourselves and a guide into a reality previously unexplored. Step into Swamy's world and be changed.

A House is a Body comes out August 11th, 2020

Shruti Swamy crafts a collection of such beautifully written and evocative short stories, depicting women in all different areas of life and situations. Each story is so gripping that you get lost in it, and wish for more when it inevitably ends far too soon. But there is something so right about the abrupt ends to the stories, because life continues on for women, not matter what happens to you. Your responsibilities continue on endlessly, and the short stories seem to really try to just catch a snapshot of these women going about their lives.

The writing in this collection is truly the highlight. The prose is so lyrical and emotional, it's hard to tear yourself away from reading the next perfectly crafted line. Swamy really weaves intricate tales, giving detail when necessary, withholding information when needed. Some stories appear to be set in the current world, some could be set in worlds gone and dead. She travels back and forth from India to America in her stories, without it feeling disjointed or broken up.

A short, but powerful read for anyone who enjoys short stories and women's lit.

**Thank you to Algonquin Books and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Short story collections are always hard to review because so much depends on the individual stories themselves. In this one, for example, I wasn’t blown away by the first couple of stories but then the rest of the collection was spectacular and totally made up for it.

Several themes run through the stories here, indicated by the title which is also one of the stories. These is much emphasis on corporeality, both through sexuality and just the general “feeling” of being in a body. “The Laughter Artist,” for example, is narrated by someone who prides herself on all the laughs she has created but is also struggling to overcome the grief of her divorce. Other stories take on magical elements, like Earthly Pleasures, one of my personal favorites. Most of the stories have domestic settings and are best described as character-driven.

To me, the stories in this collection combined some of Jhumpa Lahiri’s insights on being Indian/Indian-American, with Otessa Moshfegh’s dark humor, and Haruki Murakami’s meditations on grief and loneliness mixed with magical realism. Swamy’s prose is beautiful and sparse in all the right places. Reading this short collection was an enjoyable journey, and I can’t wait to read more of her writing.

I don't know how to fully describe the writing in this collection of short stories other than to say: it is gorgeous. I'm not the biggest fan of short stories in general, but this collection is so sweepingly lyrical, it's hard not to fall in love with it. Some stories hit me harder than others, naturally, but overall wow. I will recommend this to anyone who is interested in motherhood, marriage, relationships, or just beautiful writing in general. I can't wait to see what Swamy writes next.

Review // A House is a Body by Shruti Swamy
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The Facts: Literary Fiction, Feminist Fiction, Short Story Anthology
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The Feel: Empowering, Magical, Abstract
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The Focus: A short story collection by Shruti Swamy, covering Indian culture, motherhood, siblinghood, loss and grieving, and self-discovery.
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Things To Know:
🇮🇳 I loved how the stories in this collection really ran the gamut when it comes to genre. Some stories were based in reality, some were based on Indian mythology, and some read like complete fairy tales. The magic mixed with the mundane worked really well, and kept me guessing.
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🇮🇳 As with all short story collections, I was interested in some of the stories more than others. Some of the essays were a little too abstract for me (as much as I dissected them, I just couldn't figure out what they were trying to say), but most of them were powerful and feminist and especially spoke to the Millennial mindset. Plus a positive with short story collections? If you don't enjoy one of the stories, it's only a few pages long.
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Some standouts in the collection:
🇮🇳 Earthly Pleasures - A folklore-ridden, dark fairy tale in which Krishna becomes an actual person, a lover and a spirit guide for a woman who more often finds peace at the bottom of a bottle.
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🇮🇳 Wedding Season - A lesbian couple in Bombay come to terms with their relationship, and the opinions of their family and friends, in a story that was very cute and quiet.
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🇮🇳 The Neighbors - A foreboding and somewhat abstract cautionary tale about domestic violence, abuse and privilege.
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Read If You Like:
🇮🇳 Short story collections
🇮🇳 South Asian folklore
🇮🇳 Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
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A literary and thought-provoking collection. Thank you so much to @algonquinbooks and Shruti Swamy for the advanced copy. A House is a Body is out this Tuesday, August 11!

First off, I love short stories. They’re one of my favorite genres, so I don’t really get when people review short story collections on Goodreads but start out by saying that they’re not really fans of the genre. I’m excited to read any short story collection but especially one from a promising new writer. However, for some reason, this book didn’t really connect with me.

I’ll start with the things I loved: Shruti Swamy’s voice infuses Indian culture into her writing in a really natural and organic way. Some of the customs, foods, beliefs, etc. are all weaved into the stories seamlessly. The stories (even when they weren’t specifically set in India) had characters with a unique point of view and perspective. I also loved that Swamy’s characters feature strong women who are seeking to find meaning or purpose in their life. Swamy has a beautiful, lyrical flow to her prose that is a treat to explore.

But instead of connecting with her characters, I often felt like each story ended abruptly. I know some short story writers do this to leave the reader wanting more. But, for me, each story felt like too short of a window into someone’s life for me to really understand them or tap into their perspective. Instead of feeling satisfied at the end of each story, I had a general feeling of apathy and frustration. I couldn’t quite figure out why Swami had bothered telling that character’s story at all.

I wanted to love this collection and there were a few stories that I felt if they had been expanded on would have been truly wonderful. For example, in “Earthly Pleasures,” the main character falls in love with a Hindu god come to life named Krishna. The inclusion of a touch of magical realism made this story my favorite by far – I wish more of the stories had this element of fantasy in them.

We need more books published by women and people of color, so I might be checking out her work in the future to support a clearly talented writer. But I probably won’t be raving about this one.

I’m not even sure where to begin with reviewing this collection of short stories. They are more often than not simply not my jam and yet I continue to read them in the hopes that I’ll come across that one collection that absolutely blows me away and I will finally find peace with what I often feel is an elusive search. I was hoping that A House is A Body would be that for me, and while I enjoyed some of the stories, I have to be honest and say that I was confused for the majority (even with the ones I enjoyed). That said, I think that’s more to do with my personal preference, and I have no doubt that people who are lovers of short stories will love diving into this very beautifully written collection.

What I appreciated most about Swamy’s writing is that she does an incredible job writing stories that are completely rooted in fantasy/mythology and those that are rooted in reality (with sprinklings of magical realism). There is a dreamlike quality to Swamy’s writing that makes it feel as if you’re literally floating along in your mind with each story that you dive into; it felt very surreal at times.

There’s a good balance between fantasy and reality in this collection although I think I much preferred the ones rooted in fantasy and that has more to do with my love/hate relationship with magical realism. However, the one element that really ties all these stories together is the undercurrent of tragedy and grief, and anger and sorrow that runs through them–she covers some heavy topics. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect but the depth of the emotions that run through these stories really does jump straight off the page at you. One thing that I found a little… weird(?) is that quite a few of these stories had strangely sexual situations in them that threw me off and I felt they were… weirdly unnecessary? I don’t know. Maybe this is where my confusion and lack of understanding of the style short stories are usually written in comes into play though.

Overall, reading this collection of short stories was an interesting experience (and I really do mean experience because it takes you on some mental journeys)! In the end though, I couldn’t get over the confusion I felt while reading which often overshadowed my enjoyment and left me feeling very detached from the stories. I loved Swamy’s writing though and I think that if you’re a fan of short stories, especially ones that have a good mix of fantasy and reality, then you should definitely read this!

A beautifully written collection of short stories that reads like poetry or mythology. Every story was from a different perspective in time and geographic location, and yet there was a clear identity that made the narrator seem like the same individual looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. I loved the diversity within the stories, there are mothers, daters, singles, and piners - straight, gay, or curious. At times erotic and always intimate, I will come back to this collection again and again.

A beautifully written collection reflecting some of the troubling aspects of young life- this collection is a brilliant statement of humanity.

After hearing Kiese Laymon recommend this short story collection on The Stacks podcast, I was intrigued and wanted to read it. The collection consists of twelve short stories that take place in various settings: India, United States and Germany. There are several unifying themes in the collection, mental illness, children and relationships.

The author uses literary devices in interesting ways in the collection. In one story, she uses foreshadowing but the details of the event are not revealed. The reader picks up the clues and has to formulate what happens in their own imagination.

As I neared the end of the collection, I thought the title story would be a fitting end. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending story, Night Garden. The two concluding stories helped unify the stories for me.
Readers who enjoy short stories will enjoy this collection!

I was given the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

A House Is A Body is a collection of short stories about motherhood, love, sacrifice, and the boundaries we place upon ourselves, and those that are forced upon us by others. Many stories explore morally ambiguous situations, and play with themes from Hindu mythology, and Indian society. Almost all the stories are told from a female perspective, and center around women figuring out who they are.

Favorite stories are Earthly Pleasures, about a young artist who is confused as to what her purpose is, Wedding Season, about a lesbian couple who return to India for the marriage of a family member, and Didi, about a young man who brings his nervous daughter home from a sleepover. These stories appear rather simple, but Swamy is great at nestling wide-ranging truths and consequences amongst the ordinary.

All of the stories are deeply rooted in the minds of each narrator. While the plot of a story is sometimes nonexistent, the inner-worlds of each individual populate the story and provide a deep emotional and spiritual weight to Swamy’s writing. Swamy’s language is sensuous and evocative, and it flows over you as you read. The entire collection is unified by this languorous atmosphere that Swamy creates through her writing, which colors and shapes your reading, and wraps you up within each story.

A House is a Body by Shruti Swamy, contains a collection of twelve short stories, most of which originally appeared in journals and are now gathered here together.

If you are looking for a light escape, this volume won't whisk you away to a place where all ends well and you can breathe a sigh of relief at a tidy resolution. But Swamy weaves memorable tales filled with tragedy and pain: a mother frozen with inaction when a wildfire is threatening her home, an artist caught up in a secret relationship, a wife losing respect for her husband as he loses his grasp on reality, a country at war and a wife inside a palace wrestling with the evil acts around her. Themes of longing, regret, and loneliness are pervasive.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)