Ritam Dutta — Excerpt: The novel’s prose, as rendered in English by Manikuntala Dasgupta, carries the scent of its soil. Her translation has a rare transparency—it does not attempt to embellish but allows the natural music of the original to flow through.

Jonaki Ray — Excerpt: Girls Who Stray has an edge to it, a raw honesty in the depiction of the central character that makes it distinct.

Wani Nazir — Excerpt: Manchanda’s comprehensive description reminds me of Narayan’s Malgudi, which is very place-based, or Anita Desai’s researched landscapes. But his view is full of life, character, and joy in the small things in life.