Jenny Bhatt Explained

Jenny Bhatt
Notable Works:Each of Us Killers; Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu; The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu
Occupation:Writer, literary translator, literary critic, podcaster, writing instructor
Birth Place:Rajkot, Gujarat, India
Nationality:American
Alma Mater:Kimmins High School
University of Hertfordshire

Jenny Bhatt (born September 18, 1972) is an Indian American writer, literary translator, and literary critic.[1] She is the author of an award-winning story collection, Each of Us Killers, an award-shortlisted literary translation, Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu, and the literary translation, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu. She is the founder of Desi Books, a global multimedia platform for South Asian literature, and a creative writing instructor at Writing Workshops Dallas.[2]

Personal life

Bhatt was born in Rajkot, Gujarat, India, and grew up in Mumbai. She did most of her high school at Kimmins High School in Panchgani, Maharashtra. She attended the University of Hertfordshire in England as an engineering undergraduate. Thereafter, she worked in Germany, England,[3] Scotland, and the United States[4] at various multi-national corporations until 2012.[5]

From 2012 to 2014, she worked as a personal financial advisor to people running small businesses.[6]

In 2020, she founded Desi Books LLC, a global multimedia forum that showcases South Asian literature and connects readers and writers through conversation and community.[7]

She's based in the Dallas, Texas area.[8]

Writing (fiction and nonfiction)

From 2016 onward, Bhatt's short fiction has been published in various literary journals.[9] Her non-fiction and literary criticism have been published in various venues like NPR,[10] The Washington Post,[11] Literary Hub,[12] The Atlantic,[13] Publishers Weekly,[14] and others.

In 2022 Bhatt guest-edited a collection of Gujarati literature in translation works at Words Without Borders.[15]

Bhatt's weekly newsletter, 'We Are All Translators' has received mentions at venues like Los Angeles Review of Books,[16] Literary Hub,[17] and The Dallas Morning News.[18]

Each of Us Killers (short story collection)

A winner in the Foreword INDIES 2020 Book of the Year Short Stories award category and a finalist in the Multicultural Adult Fiction category[19] , Bhatt's debut short story collection was cited as one of the most anticipated debuts of the second half of 2020 by Electric Literature,[20] Literary Hub,[21] The Millions,[22] [23] and Entropy Magazine.[24]

Published by 7.13 Books,[25] the story collection received a starred review from Shelf Awareness,[26] with praise that “[c]hallenging assumptions, confronting power, manipulating barriers whenever possible–even at grave personal cost–Bhatt’s cast surprises, inspires, frightens, beguiles, but never disappoints.” Publishers Weekly wrote that Bhatt's "stories are memorable on their own, and they add up to a powerful expression of the hunger for success on one's own terms."[27] Kirkus Reviews called it a "formally diverse collection with exquisitely crafted stories about longing, striving, and learning what we can control"[28] and listed it as one of the must-read collections of Fall 2020.[29] Debutiful,[30] Ms. Magazine.[31] Bustle listed it as a must-read book of September 2020[32] and as one of the best collections of 2020.[33] Largehearted Boy listed it as a favorite short story collection of 2020.[34] Book Riot listed it as one of the top ten short story collections of 2020 by Asian authors.[35] Other venues that gave positive or rave reviews: The Dallas Morning News;[36] Texas Public Radio;[37] Open the Magazine;[38] The National Book Review;[39] New York Journal of Books;[40] NRI Pulse;[41] India Currents;[42] Puerto del Sol;[43] National Book Critics' Circle;[44] Phoebe Journal;[45] Vagabond City;[46] Platform Magazine;[47] and The Hindu Business Line..[48] Tabish Khair, writing for The Hindu, described the work thus: ". . . Bhatt gets under the skin of her characters with an ease that is difficult to achieve when creating characters beyond the pale of capital and caste. [. . .] using lively, sculpted language that avoids the stilted, literary English often afflicting Indian English writing."[49]

Anthologies

Bhatt's story 'Return to India' was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021, selected by Alafair Burke and series editor, Steph Cha. In her introduction, Burke wrote: "In “Return to India”, Jenny Bhatt uses the structure of witness statements to build a tightly woven mystery, while effortlessly balancing a broad cast of diverse characters and voices as they collectively narrate the painful series of facts leading to a crime of violence."[50]

In 2023, the crime/noir forward anthology, The Dark Waves of Winter, edited by David M. Olsen, included a short story by Bhatt titled 'Lili's Song'. IndieReader called the anthology "a first-rate anthology for literary short story fans with consistently excellent writing throughout."[51]

Also in 2023, Bhatt's short story, 'The Weight of His Bones' was included in South to South: Writing South Asia in the American South,[52] an anthology edited by Khem K. Aryal.

Literary Translation

Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu (literary translation)

Shortlisted for the Valley of Words Book Award in the 'English Translations From Regional Languages' category,[53] this book is a translation of 26 short stories by the Gujarati writer, Dhumketu, published by HarperCollins India in October 2020.[54] The Hindustan Times praised the translation as "reasonably fast-paced and eminently accessible."[55] Womensweb.in said that "Jenny Bhatt’s translation is nuanced but simple, and does justice to these stories.”[56] Firstpost wrote that "Her translations make for a crisp and honest rendering of 20th century Gujarat . . ."[57] The Hindu wrote: "The translator of this collection, Jenny Bhatt, contextualizes [Dhumketu's] work in the introduction while providing insightful details about his craft."[58] The Indian Express described the translation as mellifluous and wrote that "well-informed choices for pivotal words open new possibilities of re-readings for a Gujarati reader."[59] The Deccan Chronicle praised the depth of each story, adding: “. . . which means that a) the translator has done an excellent job and b) every story in the book is satisfying, something that does not often happen with short story collections.”[60]

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu (literary translation)

In 2022, the US edition of Bhatt's literary translation of Dhumketu's selected short stories was published as The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Deep Vellum Books. Kirkus Reviews called it "a love letter to the power of art and the human spirit."[61] Publishers Weekly said that "Complex characters, vibrant imagery, and descriptions of rural Gujarat State bolster each of the stories."[62] Words Without Borders reviewed it as a "skillful translation."[63] Asymptote Journal described it as “. . . a kaleidoscope, abundant in variegating depictions of both landscapes and the human interiors populating them.”[64] The translation also made World Literature Todays 75 Notable Translations of 2022 list.[65]

In an interview with Five Books, Bhatt said that "Not only is it the first ever book-length translation of his vast oeuvre, it is also the first ever translation from Gujarati being published in the US, where we have the largest Gujarati diaspora."[66]

Desi Books LLC

Bhatt started Desi Books as a podcast in April 2020[67] to spotlight books by writers of South Asian origin.[68] South Asia refers to the SAARC countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and The Maldives.[69] Mid-Day called it a venue for "the best of desi reads."[70] Eastern Eye described it as one of the most "popular podcasts redefining real talk."[71] The Dallas Morning News featured Bhatt and Desi Books saying "This North Texas author is shining a light on Desi authors from around the globe."[72] The Los Angeles Review of Books described it as follows: "What started as a modest program now has several channels, featuring conversations on craft, book reviews, and even video episodes."[73]

In August 2021, Desi Books was registered as an LLC and a global multimedia forum that showcases South Asian literature and connects readers and writers through conversation and community.[74]

In February 2023, Bhatt announced that she would be winding down the platform although the archives would remain online.[75]

Teaching

Bhatt teaches creative writing at Writing Workshops Dallas.[76]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-10-01 . An Interview with Jenny Bhatt . 2024-05-05 . thesoutheastreview . en.
  2. Web site: BOMB Magazine Older People Do Reinvent Themselves: Jenny Bhatt… . 2024-05-05 . BOMB Magazine . en.
  3. Web site: 2018-11-05. But Let Us Cultivate Our Garden. 2020-08-23. The Millions. en-US.
  4. Web site: What Does It Mean to Be a Black or Brown Person at Work?. 2020-09-04. Rewire.News. 4 September 2020 . en.
  5. Web site: Bhatt. Jenny. 2018-11-28. 'Emerging' as a Writer — After 40. 2020-07-04. Longreads. en.
  6. Web site: Stone. Heather. 2013-01-30. Jenny Bhatt Engineers New Business Opportunities. 2020-07-04. BizSugar Blog. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2020-04-22 . Best of desi reads . 2023-01-24 . Mid-day . en.
  8. Web site: 2020-09-29. Reading to each other, a woman in Mumbai and man in Dallas turned their talks into marriage. 2021-04-21. Dallas News. en.
  9. Web site: 2020-01-22. Publications. 2020-07-04. Jenny Bhatt, Writer. en.
  10. Web site: Meena Kandasamy Claims Space For Herself In 'Exquisite Cadavers'. 2020-12-01. NPR.org. en.
  11. News: Bhatt. Jenny. Review In 'How to Pronounce Knife,' stories of Lao immigrants reveal everyday moments of racism, classism, power and privilege. 2020-07-14. Washington Post. en.
  12. Web site: 2018-11-08. 20 Debut Works of Fiction by Women Over 40. 2020-07-14. Literary Hub. en-US.
  13. Web site: Smith. Rosa Inocencio. The Literary Passages That Guide Your Life - The Atlantic. 2020-07-14. www.theatlantic.com. 12 October 2016 . en.
  14. Web site: Bhatt . Jenny . Moving Beyond Stereotypes in South Asian Literature . 2023-01-24 . PublishersWeekly.com . en.
  15. Web site: Translating Gujarat: A Literary Intervention Archives . 2023-01-24 . Words Without Borders . en.
  16. Web site: 2022-07-18 . Los Angeles Review of Books . 2023-10-12 . Los Angeles Review of Books . en.
  17. Web site: 2022-09-20 . Lit Hub Daily: September 20, 2022 . 2023-01-24 . Literary Hub . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2022-11-15 . This North Texas author is shining a light on Desi authors from around the globe . 2023-01-24 . Dallas News . en.
  19. Web site: "Each of Us Killers" is a 2020 Foreword INDIES Finalist. 2021-03-13. www.forewordreviews.com. en.
  20. Web site: 2020-06-30. The Most Anticipated Debuts of the Second Half of 2020. 2020-07-04. Electric Literature. en-US.
  21. Web site: 2020-07-14. Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2020, Part 2. 2020-07-14. Literary Hub. en-US.
  22. Web site: 2020-07-15. Most Anticipated: The Great Second-Half 2020 Book Preview. 2020-07-15. The Millions. en-US.
  23. Web site: 2020-09-02. September Preview: The Millions Most Anticipated (This Month). 2020-09-04. The Millions. en-US.
  24. Web site: August and September 2020 Small Press Releases. 2020-08-21. entropymag.org.
  25. Web site: 7.13 Books. 2020-07-04. 7.13 Books. en.
  26. Web site: Shelf Awareness for Readers for Tuesday, October 6, 2020. 2020-12-01. www.shelf-awareness.com.
  27. Web site: Each of Us Killers Review (Publishers Weekly). 2020-07-04. www.publishersweekly.com.
  28. Book: Each of Us Killers Review (Kirkus Reviews). www.kirkusreviews.com. 2020-07-14. en.
  29. Web site: Fall Preview: Must-Read Story Collections. 2020-08-21. Kirkus Reviews. en.
  30. Web site: vitcavage. 2020-09-01. 6 debut books you should read this September. 2020-09-04. debutiful. en.
  31. Web site: September 2020 Reads for the Rest of Us - Ms. Magazine. 2020-09-04. msmagazine.com. 2 September 2020 .
  32. Web site: The Books Everyone Will Be Talking About All September Long. 2020-12-01. Bustle. 6 September 2020 . en.
  33. Web site: The Best Short Story Collections Of 2020, From 'Daddy' To 'Verge'. 2020-12-01. Bustle. 30 October 2020 . en.
  34. Web site: Largehearted Boy: Favorite Short Story Collections of 2020. 2021-02-08. www.largeheartedboy.com.
  35. Web site: Megally. Stacey. 2020-12-04. 10 Short Story Collections by Asian Authors Released in 2020. 2021-02-08. BOOK RIOT. en-US.
  36. Web site: 2020-09-08. D-FW-based author Jenny Bhatt's debut collection 'Each of Us Killers' reveals a world of humanity. 2020-12-01. Dallas News. en.
  37. Web site: Review: 'Each of Us Killers' By Jenny Bhatt. 2020-12-01. TPR. en.
  38. Web site: Bhatt. Jenny. 2020-10-16. The Bloodlust. 2020-12-01. Open The Magazine. en-GB.
  39. Web site: 5 Hot Books: A Heart-Stopping Holocaust Mystery, Chemotherapy's Surprising Origins, and More. 2021-02-08. The National Book Review. 8 September 2020 . en-US.
  40. Web site: a book review by Murali Kamma: Each of Us Killers. 2020-12-01. www.nyjournalofbooks.com.
  41. Web site: Veena. 2020-10-30. 'Each of Us Killers' by Jenny Bhatt: Powerful anthology deftly explores complexities of life. 2020-12-01. NRI Pulse. en-US.
  42. Web site: 2020-11-17. Each of Us Killers: Vignettes of Immigrant and Indian Lives. 2020-12-01. Best Indian American Magazine San Jose CA India Currents. en-US.
  43. Web site: Toor. Pardeep. 2020-12-03. REVIEW Jenny Bhatt's Each of Us Killers. 2021-02-08. Puerto del Sol. en.
  44. Web site: 2020-12-01. Leonard Prize 2020: Each of Us Killers. 2021-02-08. National Book Critics Circle. en-US.
  45. Web site: 2020-12-08. A Review of Jenny Bhatt's Each of Us Killers. 2021-02-08. phoebe. en-US.
  46. Web site: Journal. Vagabond City Literary. 2020-12-14. In Review: Each of Us Killers by Jenny Bhatt. 2021-02-08. VAGABOND CITY. en.
  47. Web site: Each Of Us Killers. 2021-02-08. www.platform-mag.com.
  48. Web site: Ray. Jonaki. Life's like that. 2020-12-01. @businessline. 30 November 2020 . en.
  49. News: Khair. Tabish. 2021-01-23. All the lives we never lived: Tabish Khair reviews Jenny Bhatt's 'Each of Us Killers'. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-02-08. 0971-751X.
  50. Book: Cha . Steph . Best American Mystery And Suspense 2021 . Alafair . Burke . 2021-10-12 . HarperCollins . 978-0-358-52590-5 . en.
  51. Web site: THE DARK WAVES OF WINTER . 2023-01-24 . IndieReader . en-US.
  52. Web site: South to South . 2023-10-12 . Texas A&M University Press . en-US.
  53. Web site: Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu. 2021-04-21. Valley of Words. en-US.
  54. Web site: Ratno Dholi. 2020-10-02. HarperCollins Publishers India.
  55. Web site: 2020-11-20. Review: Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu. 2020-12-01. Hindustan Times. en.
  56. Web site: 2020-11-04. A Masterclass In Detailing Human Emotions As Ratno Dholi, Dhumketu's Work Remains Relevant Today. 2020-12-01. Women's Web: For Women Who Do. en.
  57. Web site: 2020-11-22. Healing the helpless, only to be banished by society: Read a short story from Dhumketu's Ratno Dholi anthology. 2020-12-01. Firstpost.
  58. News: Vatsa. Mihir. 2021-02-06. A weave of emotions: Review of 'Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu'. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-02-08. 0971-751X.
  59. Web site: 2021-02-14. How Dhumketu transformed Gujarati literature with his short stories. 2021-02-14. The Indian Express. en.
  60. Web site: Gulab. Kushalrani. 2021-03-14. Book Review Worlds within worlds in Dhumketu's best classic short stories. 2021-03-14. Deccan Chronicle. en.
  61. Book: THE SHEHNAI VIRTUOSO Kirkus Reviews . en.
  62. Web site: 2022-06-14 . The Shehnai Virtuoso by Dhumketu . 2023-01-24 . www.publishersweekly.com.
  63. Web site: Dhumketu's "Shehnai Virtuoso": Exquisite Nuance from a Giant of Letters . 2023-01-24 . Words Without Borders . en.
  64. Web site: What's New in Translation: July 2022 – Asymptote Blog . 2023-01-24 . en.
  65. Web site: 2022-12-05 . World Literature Today's 75 Notable Translations of 2022, by Michelle Johnson . 2023-01-24 . World Literature Today . en.
  66. Web site: Books . Five . The Best South Asian Novels in Translation . 2023-01-24 . Five Books . en.
  67. Web site: Khabar : Desi Author and Advocate. 2021-04-21. www.khabar.com.
  68. Web site: Stories. Local. Meet Jenny Bhatt of Desi Books Podcast in North Dallas - Voyage Dallas Magazine Dallas City Guide. 2021-04-21. voyagedallas.com. 9 September 2020 . en-US.
  69. Web site: DesiBooks Podcast featured in the Funasia Radio Community Roundup (Sep 6, 2020). 2020-09-07. www.youtube.com.
  70. Web site: 2020-04-22. Best of desi reads. 2020-12-01. mid-day. en.
  71. Web site: How popular podcasts are redefining real talk - EasternEye. 16 July 2020 . 2020-12-01. en-GB.
  72. Web site: 2022-11-15 . This North Texas author is shining a light on Desi authors from around the globe . 2023-01-24 . Dallas News . en.
  73. Web site: 2022-07-18 . Los Angeles Review of Books . 2023-01-24 . Los Angeles Review of Books . en.
  74. Web site: 2020-05-22. DESI BOOKS. 2021-08-21. DESI BOOKS. en.
  75. Web site: Bhatt . Jenny . 2023-02-03 . #DesiBooksNews: An Important Update About Desi Books . 2023-02-04 . Desi Books . en-US.
  76. Web site: Jenny Bhatt Writing Workshops Interview. 2020-08-21. www.youtube.com. 19 August 2020 .

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