Assessment:

Plot: Sen takes the readers into the lives of multiple characters and creates worlds that may seem familiar on the surface; however, he is able to offer nuance and a twist on “normalcy”. A common theme is questioning and reflecting on the human experience, and his stories assert knowledge and awareness of history and culture.

Prose/Style: Sen pulls the reader into ephemeral glances of what is most common to all humans: love and death. A few stories read like folklore, both traditional and modern. Across many different characters, Sen is able to evidence sincerity and acuity in each story.

Originality: Each short story is entirely unique unto itself within this compilation. The stories may have influence from cross-cultural literature or religion, but Sen brings about a modern-day experience in his allusions.

Character Development/Execution: Some stories are so short they must live on in the readers’ imagination. Across age, religion, education, and race, Sen’s characters may seem common on the surface, yet are haunting depictions of humanity.

Blurb: A moving and intellectual collection of short stories concerning the human condition, highlighting diversity of emotion, humanity, and anguish.

Date Submitted: July 29, 2021