Major themes of this Edwidge Danticat story are mother-daughter relationships and cultural identity. Out of curiosity, an Americanised Haitian woman secretly follows her mother through the streets of central Manhattan after coming across her window shopping in expensive stores. The mother’s presence in Manhattan and confidence in navigating the crowded streets is a surprise, as is her destination. Over the course of the afternoon the girl begins to see her mother in a different light, with annoyance over her retaining many Haitian ways of life giving way to respect and admiration. Other themes include love, sacrifice, tradition, assimilation, understanding. More…
The Tractor and the Corn Goddess
Renowned Indian writer Mulk Raj Anand was well known for his socialist views. These come to the fore in this tongue-in cheek story about a landowner’s progressive son who returns from overseas with such revolutionary ideas as turning his farm into a villager-owned co-operative and importing a tractor to improve the lives of workers. The focus of the story is the tractor, and the landowner’s ingenious method of overcoming the villagers’ fears and indignation associated with the tractor’s “rape” of their Corn Goddess. Themes: social conscience, change, religious and cultural differences, suspicion, pride. More…
A Handful of Dates
This story by Sudanese author Tayeb Salih is about a young boy’s relationship with his grandfather. They were initially very close, and the boy idolized the old man. In a “coming of age” event, the boy realizes that his grandfather has become rich and powerful by taking advantage of the misfortune of others. The boy feels especially bad for a neighbor who has lost most of his land to his grandfather. His grandfather is determined to own the rest of the land, and is part of a group of moneylenders who take away most of the neighbor’s annual date harvest. More…
Thongproi the Rich Girl
Have you ever wished you were so rich that you could have anything you want? There are two types of people in this group: those who work hard to capitalize on their good fortune, and those who live a life of indolent luxury. This story by Kukrit Pramoj is about a girl from Thailand who fits into the second category. Thongproi was spoiled from the day she was born, one of the most beautiful women in the district, and had a devoted husband in a senior government position. One would expect her to be very happy. But was she? More…
The Great Rat Hunt
This memoir from Laurence Yep includes themes of father-son relationships, accepting differences, and facing fear. A young boy with severe asthma feels left out when he can’t join his father and brother in practicing ball games. Everything changes after they notice signs of a rat in their apartment. When poison and an exterminator don’t work, the father borrows a gun and invites the boys to join him in a hunt. Although no shots are fired, the father claims success. The narrator shares a “trophy” and learns some important lessons about fatherly love and focusing on one’s strengths rather than weaknesses. More…