The Struggle to Achieve Change

In general, the struggle to achieve change is the primary theme of the collection. Each of the stories, in one way or another, explores the desires of characters, protagonists, and secondary characters to realize or hold onto change in their personal circumstances. This is true from the first story in the collection (“Narabdin Electrician,” in which the title character fights a literal life-and-death battle to hold on to the hard-earned symbol of his changed economic status) to the last (“A Spoiled Man,” in which another title character, Rezak, faces tragic consequences after attaching dreams of longed-for change to un-chosen circumstances).

There are different kinds of change. “Saleema,” “Provide …,” and “In Other Rooms …” all include female characters struggling to improve their personal circumstances through becoming involved with wealthier, successful men.

“Lily” is the story of a woman in a similar circumstance. She, too...