Heart Lamp

by Banu Mushtaq
Heart Lamp cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 4050
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9789367902295
  • Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
  • Published: 2025-05-21
  • Reviews: 3

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq offers a compelling glimpse into the everyday lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Through a rich, colloquial style, Mushtaq portrays a diverse cast of characters, from sparky children to resilient mothers, highlighting the complexities of family and community tensions. Her work, originally published in Kannada, reflects her extensive experience as a journalist and lawyer advocating for women's rights and against caste and religious oppression. The collection has garnered both acclaim and controversy, winning prestigious literary awards while facing censure from conservative quarters. Mushtaq's ability to build disconcerting emotional heights from everyday experiences makes this a standout work of literary fiction.

Reviews
Tony's Reading List · Tony · 2025-06-06
insightful 4.00

Heart Lamp is a collection of interesting stories that provide fascinating insights into a society often ignored by mainstream literature. The personal and communal themes are well-explored and engaging.

Tony from Tony's Reading List finds Heart Lamp to be a collection of interesting stories that examine both personal and communal aspects of life in Muslim communities in southern India. The stories offer fascinating insights into a society often ignored by mainstream literature, making it a compelling read. Tony appreciates the depth and engagement of the themes, which provide a unique perspective on a lesser-known culture.

Quick quotes

    A collection of interesting stories examining both the personal and the communal, it provides fascinating insights into a society previously ignored by the mainstream.

    The stories offer a unique perspective on a lesser-known culture.

    The themes are well-explored and engaging, making it a compelling read.

The New York Times · 2025-05-21
groundbreaking 4.75

Heart Lamp is a groundbreaking collection that wins the International Booker Prize, translated from the original Kannada. The stories are praised for their unique and powerful portrayal of Muslim communities in southern India.

The New York Times highlights Heart Lamp as a groundbreaking collection that wins the International Booker Prize, translated from the original Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi. The stories are praised for their unique and powerful portrayal of Muslim communities in southern India, offering a fresh and compelling perspective. The collection is celebrated for its ability to bring alive a culture that may at first seem alien, making it a significant and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    Banu Mushtaq's 'Heart Lamp,' translated from the original Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, is the first story collection to win the prestigious award.

    The stories are praised for their unique and powerful portrayal of Muslim communities in southern India.

    The collection is celebrated for its ability to bring alive a culture that may at first seem alien.

The TLS · Kate McLoughlin · 2025-05-16
harrowing 4.50

The stories in Heart Lamp are powerful and emotionally charged, highlighting the struggles of women in Muslim communities. The collection is a poignant exploration of societal issues and personal resilience.

Kate McLoughlin delves into the twelve powerful stories in Heart Lamp, where women in predominantly Muslim communities in southern India face emotional and physical abuse. The collection is a poignant exploration of societal issues and personal resilience, offering a deep and moving look into the lives of these women. McLoughlin appreciates the raw and unflinching portrayal of these experiences, making it a compelling read that stays with the reader long after the last page.

Quick quotes

    In the twelve powerful stories in Banu Mushtaq's Heart Lamp, women in predominantly Muslim communities in southern India are emotionally and physically abused.

    The collection is a poignant exploration of societal issues and personal resilience.

    The stories are raw and unflinching, offering a deep and moving look into the lives of these women.

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