The Way Home - Stories gathers Shanta Gokhale's sharp, compassionate short fiction into a moving collection about love, memory, and the quiet courage of everyday life. Written for adult readers who savor precise prose and humane, insightful portraits, this book blends humor with momentous emotion to reveal what it means to grow, be loved, and begin again.
In The Way Home - Stories, Gokhale shapes spare, lyrical moments into full, intimate portraits. Each tale centers on ordinary lives under pressure—married couples, friends, and strangers who reach for connection in a complicated world. The book unfolds with a patient, observant voice that invites you to pause, listen, and meet each character where they are. The title story follows an elderly man as his wife slips further into forgetfulness—an intimate meditation on devotion that travels back to the early days of their bond.
Other stories move from the Mumbai bus window to quiet rooms during lockdown, capturing how small conversations can change a life. In The Swimming Pool, two women strike up a conversation and, through a shared thread, enable one life to move forward. Daybreak Over the Gandaki confronts grief with honesty, while The Bhikbali explores generational memory and intimate space during confinement. She Came to Stay tenderly portrays contemporary love and a blended family navigating modern life with warmth and wit. Across these tales, the collection reveals a deep sympathy for the lives of ordinary people and unpeels the layers to reach the core of what makes us human—flawed, brave, and enduring.
- Intimate portraits of ordinary lives, exploring memory, aging, love, and resilience.
- Vivid, grounded settings—from bustling Mumbai streets to quiet rooms—anchoring emotion in place.
- Standout stories such as The Way Home (title story), The Swimming Pool, Daybreak Over the Gandaki, The Bhikbali, and She Came to Stay.
- Clear, precise prose infused with warmth, humor, and humane insight.
- Emotional payoff that invites empathy, reflection, and a sense of hopeful connection.
- Accessible, page-turning rhythm—short fiction you can savor in a single sitting or linger over.
Reading The Way Home - Stories offers more than entertainment—it invites reflection on love, memory, and what we carry with us. After you finish, you’ll feel seen and comforted by shared humanity, inspired to consider your own moments of grace, and equipped with a gentler, more expansive view of home. The Way Home - Stories stays with you, a lasting reminder that home is less a place than a way of seeing and staying present.
