I am a huge fan of short fiction. It's possible to read a story in the free and awake time available to a person who has lupus and a child with some special needs. Even exhausted, I can read a short story. The question is always whether I want to.If the story in question is one of Ambai's, the answer is always yes. These stories tell of feminism, from a viewpoint that is decidedly different from those of American feminist writers. It's just as empowering, and the action requirements are the same, but the social pressures are more intense and the consequences of resisting them are extreme, compared to 20th century U.S. women, at least in non-fundamentalist-controlled parts of the country.The translation from Tamil is gorgeous, the prose as lyrical as I imagine it would be in the original. Despite a significant cultural gap, it was easy to relate to and empathize with the characters. I had time enough for a short story, so I read one. (The Calf that Frolicked in the Hall). Then, I read it again. And later, I read another. I am reading them all.Highly recommend for people who enjoy Barbara Kingsolver and Zora Neale Hurston. Kate Chopin also comes to mind.