Sucheta Dasgupta's 'Ladies' Night' is a collection of 18 short stories, each complete in itself, with subjects as varied as complete fantasy to autobiographical. The book defies being categorised, offering a cerebral read that lingers in the mind.
Focus on Women
As the title suggests, the book is focused primarily on women. The stories have been narrated by women and are about women. The names of the storytellers are intriguing and evocative of their personalities — Bubbly, Gaunt, Obnoxious and White Lady. However, this is not typical 'chick lit'; each story has a context that enhances the reading experience.
Context and Depth
'The Poet and Gigi' is linked to Bengali poet Jibananda Das, and unless the reader realises this, the story may seem obscure. 'Lipstick' alludes to Greek mythology. Even without context, the stories are thought-provoking and deeply insightful, written from the heart and compelling the reader to think.
Expressive Prose
The prose is deeply expressive, evoking vivid imagery: “he makes me dream of a magic, mythical bird with feathers the colour of a rainbow plus a kaleidoscope that sets the heavens afire.” In some stories, a deliberate attempt to tantalise the reader is effective, if occasionally annoying. An attempt at obscurity ensures the story lingers. In 'The Mindloggers', a sentence reads: “thinking is not saying things to or in your mind. That’s how parents want to work in you sometimes, through hypnotic suggestion, like Goebbels.”
Parental Domination Theme
A running theme is parental domination — Bengali middle class' conscious and unconscious repression of the younger generation. A haunting line in 'Chet and Babakukur' runs: “Ma humiliated Chet on that trip… she twisted her arm… not hearing her request to ask the driver to wait.” This story, possibly autobiographical, tells of an achiever suffocated by parents' expectations, a contrarian path, and the death of her influential father. Imagining her 'baba' reborn as a 'kukur' with appraising eyes is novel.
Memorable Stories
'Her Mother's Daddy' is riveting, with close family bonds felt by the reader. 'Ladies' Night' is authentic and raw, unconventionally structured and unforgettable. 'Mihir' unusually focuses on a young man, but his relationship with sister Renee dominates. The cast is beautifully etched.
Conclusion
'Ladies' Night' is a cerebral read; several ideas linger well after the book finishes. It defies categorisation, ranging from love and science fiction to ghosts. This is the author's first work of fiction; one hopes it will not be her last.
