For many writers, fiction is the ultimate realm of creative freedom. But for acclaimed author Sharmistha Mohanty, the journey led her to discover a different kind of liberty—one found in the expansive world of non-fiction. In her latest work, Book of Answers, Mohanty delves into essays and prose poems, arguing that this form offers a unique space unbound by the traditional constraints of narrative fiction.
The Liberating Shift from Fiction to Non-Fiction
Sharmistha Mohanty, known for her novels New Life and Five Movements in Praise, made a conscious pivot with her new book. Book of Answers, published by Almost Island, is a collection of 52 pieces blending essay and prose poem forms. This shift was not a departure from creativity but an arrival at a new mode of expression. Mohanty explains that while fiction often demands plot, character arcs, and a certain narrative propulsion, non-fiction allowed her to engage more directly with ideas, observations, and the pure act of seeing.
She describes the fiction writer as being "in the grip of a novel," a process that can feel all-consuming and bound by its own internal rules. In contrast, the pieces in Book of Answers emerged from a practice of daily writing, a discipline of attention paid to the world immediately before her. This method fostered a sense of immediacy and philosophical inquiry that traditional fiction sometimes sidelines.
Exploring Perception and the Art of Seeing
A central theme coursing through Mohanty's non-fiction work is the nature of perception. Her writing rigorously investigates how we see the world—be it a tree, a painting, or an urban landscape. She moves beyond superficial observation to question the very frameworks of understanding. One essay might dissect the experience of viewing a Caspar David Friedrich painting, while another contemplates the essence of a tree, not as a botanical entity but as a presence.
This focus makes her work deeply philosophical. Mohanty draws from a rich well of thinkers, including the 20th-century French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who emphasized embodied experience. Her prose asks readers to slow down, to look again, and to question the habitual ways in which we engage with reality. The "answers" in the book's title are not definitive solutions but rather thoughtful responses to these perpetual questions of being and perception.
The Unique Voice and Structure of "Book of Answers"
The structure of Book of Answers defies conventional categorization. The 52 pieces can be read in any order, inviting a non-linear engagement. Each segment stands as a self-contained meditation, yet together they form a cohesive exploration of her central themes. Mohanty's language is precise, lyrical, and demanding of the reader's focus. She avoids the anecdotal or autobiographical traps of some non-fiction, steering instead towards a universal, contemplative tone.
Her background as a novelist informs this prose, lending it a rhythmic, carefully crafted quality. However, the freedom from building a fictional world allows her thoughts to flow toward abstraction and inquiry with more intensity. She discusses how non-fiction provided a platform to integrate her wide-ranging interests—from Indian classical music and poetry to Western art and philosophy—into a direct discourse with the reader.
For aspiring writers and keen readers, Mohanty's journey highlights an important lesson: creative freedom isn't confined to a single genre. Sometimes, breaking away from expected forms like the novel can unlock a more authentic and intellectually vibrant voice. Book of Answers stands as a testament to the power of non-fiction to explore the profound questions of life, art, and consciousness with a clarity and depth that resonates long after the last page is turned.
