00000nam##2200000#a#4500045307SLIM2120260612122900.0260612s 0000 00eng d823Kottary GajraThe Last LaughStories where women take centre-stage Kottary GajraMumbaiJaico Publishing House 2002179p1. All for the Good Cause 2. Such a Long Journey 3. Happily Ever After 4. The Guru 5. A Clean Slate 6. Waxworks 7. Insane and Able 8. Screaming Silence 9. Face to Face 10. Two Gold Guineas 11. A Decision at last 12. Family Ties 13. Turning Point 14. The Final Act 15. Virginal Fantasy 16. Not Man Enough Written in a lucid style, the remarkable quality of the collection are the plots. The Last Laugh is Kottary's second collection of short stories where women take center-stage. It is inspired by the 'twist-in-the-tail' style of Roald Dahl, though the tales are not as macabre. They are a delightful mix. A new bride's fantasy, the existential frustrations of a crusader's wife, the dilemma of a chic MBA in publicly recognizing her homespun parents, an aware-winning journalist who finds her campaign gone awry, a danseuse realizing that a Guru must do more than merely teach.. These are some of the experiences encountered by the protagonists in these stories. There is also a Rashomon-like tale of two women comparing husbands. Plus stories of loveless marriages, noisy neighbors, the sane insane, indecisiveness and also on what could go wrong in a sex-change operation. Written in a lucid style, the remarkable quality of the collection are the plots. As also the writing; in the seamless fusion of thoughts, self-doubts and recollections of the characters with their dilemmas. While sketching a portrait of existence in contemporary urban India, these stories showcase some of the foibles of women and delight the reader with their quaint unpredictability.WomenStoriesGiftedKottary GajraG05279G0527901PHSt. Andrew's College ofArts, Science and CommerceMGENGRM045307Y