Home of the Floating Lily is a compilation of 8 short stories portraying the lives led by Bangladeshi families across Dhaka and Canada. The central theme that binds each story is the conundrums of leading double lives to keep up with the pressures and expectations of the Bangladeshi societal constructs, be it in their own native state or in a foriegn land. The stories are well written and succeed in reproducing the culture of Bangladesh and the close knit ties that immigrants of similar background build overseas.
Like most short story collections that I have read, certain stories stand out compared to the others. My favourite was the story named All the Adjustments, in which Silmy very ingeniously portrays the internal friction that builds between two sister-in-laws as they embark a journey in which, avoiding each other is not an option. I thought the build to the end was beautiful and had all the deviousness of a short story that lures into it.
In general, I thought this was an easy read that I could finish in a few hours, and does its job of story-telling fairly decently.
Thank you Dundurn Press for the Netgalley arc!

Genuinely enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. As with any anthology, some pieces were enjoyed more than others, but each story had something to offer.

They all spoke to a different aspect of the overall resounding theme of the importance of family, either through struggle, identifying priorities, or interconnectedness.

This collection also highlights and challenges the concept of home - whether it’s by geography, who you surround yourself with, the longing for or settling in - the feeling of being “home” was conveyed very well through richness of the author’s story-telling.

Sincere thanks to the publisher for this advanced readers copy.

Home of the Floating Lily by Silmy Abdullah is a collection of eight short stories based on the lives of Bangladeshi immigrants in Toronto.

The various protagonists have a connection with Bangladesh and Canada. The stories are independent and not related to each other. The author has addressed varied themes such as love, betrayal, friendship, and family. What binds them all together is the common thread of migration.

The characters in all the stories are as close to reality as possible. Their fears and flaws are etched in an honest and forthcoming manner. Be it the streets of Dhaka, or Crescent Town and Oakridge in Canada, the portrayal is almost lifelike.

Despite the trepidations the characters undergo, the ending is optimistic and promising. Kudos to the author for that. After all, hope is all one needs to keep going!

Apart from stirring deep emotions, these stories also give a glimpse of Bengali culture, customs, traditions and food habits. Silmy’s flawless writing and deeply engaging narrative make this for a wonderful read. Not with a whoosh, but with a slow, gentle caress the stories sucked me in.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC.

Home of the Floating Lily is a delightful and thoughtful short story collection that covers many themes but with a particular focus on immigration and romantic relationships. All the stories were well crafted with excellent pacing, and all featured characters that were well developed despite the short page count allotted to them. The Bangladesh culture is nicely portrayed and I learnt a few new things from reading these tales. That said, the themes in these stories are really universal and could apply to immigrants from any background, making them widely accessible. Recommended if you like perfectly crafted short stories with a focus on characters and relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read Home of the Floating Lily so that I may provide an honest review.

Silmy Abdullah's has given readers a beautiful collection of short stories in her book Home of the Floating Lily. The stories are set in both Bangladesh and Canada, and the themes on which Abdullah writes are relatable and provocative in that they are not unique to that particular immigrant population, but rather part of the shared human experience. Abdullah has a gift of developing characters and narrative arc in this compact format. The stories are often quiet, but powerful. I look forward to recommending this collection widely when it is published in July 2021.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available July 20 2021

Reading Silmy Abdullah's Home of the Floating Lily is like going for summer vacation in my aunt's apartment in Toronto, CA. I can almost breath the air tinged with fresh chotpoti and oily curries, hear my aunties gossiping while the men go outside for their cigarettes, see the many colorful Bengali fabric stores that line the avenues. Abdullah's short stories perfectly capture the experiences of Bengali immigrant life. Told in first and third person, the vignettes delicately explore the nuances of class and gender priviledge as women navigate jobs, marriages and family.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This collection of short stories from a Bangladeshi author were mostly sad. The cultural norms and values really shine through. I appreciate that this book was mostly clean, except for a few small expletives. Family, friendship, the immigrant story, and Islamaphobia are the major themes to be discussed. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for classroom use, as they are mostly adult fiction short stories. However, some of the short stories could be used for young adults. I look forward to reading more from Silmy Abdullah.