The Blotted Line

by Mehreen Ahmed

Riddled with foreign words, The Blotted Line is an international book of short stories. One thematic link that weaves the narratives together is its universal issue of loss. While the stories are individually unique, the characters in each tale lose something precious; not always in the sense of material possessions, but the loss of human values such as trust, freedom, and happiness.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Australian author Mehreen Ahmed is celebrated by the Midwest Book Review for her "exceptional flair for narrative storytelling and compellingly memorable characters" in her novel, "The Pacifist". The review describes the book as "deftly crafted and consistently entertaining," as well as "original, compelling, skillfully written from cover to cover," making it "very highly recommended."It is also, a Drunken Druid Editor's Choice.She has authored eleven books comprised of novels, novellas and shorts_short stories, micro/flash fictions were widely published and translated into Greek,Bangla,German and have won contests,shortlisted for Editor's Choice Awards,nominations for BestSmallFictions,5botN,2Pushcart and JamesTait.AntipodeSF Radio featured her shorts. Currently,she is the Guest Fiction Editor of Panorama:Journal for Travel,Place,and Nature,UK.

>Publications/Forthcoming
BendingGenres,Boudin:McNeeseStateUniversity,CambridgeUniversityPress,ChironReview,UniversityofHawaii Press,MichiganStateUniversityPress,PerceptionMagazine:SyracuseUniversity,StraylightMagazine:WisconsinParklandUniversity,TheTalonReview:NorthFloridaUniversity,MetachrosisLiterary:DundeeUniversity,BitterleafBooks:YSJ,PopshotQuarterly,CoffinBell,AntipodeanSF,Aphelion:Website of ScienceFictionandFantasy,Callej,UniversityofKentPress,TheSheaf,Jimson WeedUVA,UltramarineLitRev,TheBayouReview,MuseIndia,CentaurLit,HootReview,
ShortsMagazine,BlazeVOX,ArgyleLiteraryMagazine,JournalofExpressiveWriting,SixSentences,IceFloePress,LitroUK,PanoramaTheJournalofTravelPlaceandNature,MrBull,Otoliths,SoFloPoJo,
OlneyMagazine,AlternateRoute,TheGorkoGazette,PorchLitMag,WordCityLit,TheAntonym,The HennepinReview,LiteraryHeist,MadSwirl,
AlienBuddha,RogueAgent,VineLeafReview,OctoberHillMagazine,OddballMagazine,InParenthesis.artLitMagNew Modernism,ConnotationPress,DoorIsAJar,ELJ
ScissorsandSpackle,VisualVerse,FlashBoulevard,
FiveMinutes,QuateraryRealmsAnthology,ChewersandMasticadores,QuailBell,Crêpe&Penn,FlashFrontier,EllipsisZine,Ginosko#24#29#30,TheCabinetofHeed,ActiveMuse,HeroinChic,LoveInTheTime ofCovidChronicle,WellingtonStreetReview,NailpolishStories,Setu,ImpspiredMagazine,ThornLiterary,Magazine,3MoonMagazine,SageCigarettes,TheBombayReview,FlashBackFiction,DownInTheDirt,DarkWinterLiteraryMagazine,AcademyOfHeartAndMind,PikerPress,Kitaab,CommuterLit,AngelCityReview,FreeFlashFiction,CafeDissensus,ThePunch,FurtiveDalliance,InkPantry,FlashFictionNorth,BridgeHouse,CosmicTeapot and others.

Awards/Nominations/Recognitions
>Winner
DrunkenDruidEditor'sChoice2017/ThePacifist
FirstPlace_AcademyoftheHeartandMind,May FlowersContest2022/ThePhasesoftheMoon
CoWinner_WaterlooWritingCompetition May2020/Dolly
AyaskalaLiteraryMagazine2023/RainandCoffee
Cabinet-of-Heed Stream-of-ConsciousnessChallenge April2020 DrawerFour/BlackMirror
>Nominations
2Pushcart:ParadoxOfLove:CentaurLit2026,Ylem:PaperDjinn2020
BestSmallFictions,TheStretch:Boudin2025
5BestoftheNet:Interlude-LiteratiMagazine2020,Elysium:FlashFictionNorth2020,NumberNinetyFour:DecolonialPassage2024,OftheBlueEvening:GorkoGazette2025
JamesTaitBlackPrize2021,Gatherings:BridgeHousePublishing
>Finalist/Shortlist
Finalist:FourthAdelaideLiteraryAward contest,February2020/FlowerGirl/
Shortlisted:FreedomFictionJournalEditor'sChoiceAwards/Flamenco24/AroundtheBend25
>Honourable Mentions
WeaversOfWordsContestUnpublishedPlatform 2022/SilentBleat
>Bestof/MostRead/Top10
AntipodeanSF25PainttheCityRed
AntipodeanSF25Cloudfields
EthelZine24Dead-Fly
AlienBuddha23/24TheRiverofMelted Chocolate/The Scripts
TheGorkoGazette23/OftheBlueEvening ReadersFavFic
MadSwirl23/24Space/Vape/CitySmell/InStillness
ImpspiredMag/MultipleTimesTop10Read
CafeLit8Writer'sChoice2019BatsDownunder.
>Milestone Selection
AlienBuddha2023/DeepWell
>Special Collector's Edition
PopshotQuarterly 41:2023/RiverofMeltedChocolate.
>Audiobooks Best Seller/Others
ThePacifist2017
PeekingCatLiterary

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories, done collectively, by a singular author with a resonating theme throughout can be truly magnetic, as is the case with Mehreen Ahmed’s The Blotted Line.

Sit back and follow Ms. Ahmed as she takes us on a world tour of humanity, with its flaws, joys, humor, and losses. As diverse as each culture and country is, there are always commonalities in the peoples of the world and Mehreen Ahmed has captured these emotions and individual responses to situations beautifully. From Australia to Canada, partake of a slice of life, be it bittersweet, joyous, painful and downright comical at times.

Need a break from day to day reality? Try a story a day and feel like you have just been a fly on the wall of the world with dialogue and characters that breathe life into each tale.

I received this copy from Mehreen Ahmed in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Story Institute
Genre: Short Stories
Print Length: 192 pages
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Saradia Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blotted Line” is a collection of literary short stories and it is one of the best ones I’ve read. I have been fortunate enough to read some fantastic anthologies by Indie authors but I must say when it comes to profound understanding of feelings and portrayal of human conditions, Mehreen Ahmed’s writing has impressed me the most.

 

The stories are not excessively descriptive. They are stories where we slip into the shoes of the characters and discover their thoughts and emotions. The author doesn’t intrude and inject opinions to confuse the reader. The characters speak for themselves. It is this aspect of Ahmed’s writing that strikes me as brilliant. Only a great author allows space for the reader’s imagination by refraining from clogging the narrative with too many details or explanations.

 

While each story encompasses the lives of different individuals, they converge at a certain point to express the oneness of feeling. Loss and tragedy is common to many of us mortals irrespective of our individual situation. These stories bring home the truth about humans not limited within barriers. We have faults, we err, we struggle through dismal moments and chase happiness. “The Blotted Line” doesn’t just tell the stories of fictional figures, it tells our stories.

 

There are some crucial elements which determine the quality of short stories, one of them being the ability to conclude without letting out too much information. This keeps the reader ruminating for hours after completing the story. “The Blotted Line” will force you to think and rethink. It will affect you and my experience tells me not a lot of books can achieve that!

[K.P. Ambroziak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mehreen Ahmed’s compilation, “The Blotted Line,” is a fine mix of short stories that get one thinking about relationship negotiations, and how the nuances of character are actually what make a character real. Each story is unique in its theme and narrative, as well as voice and pacing, and yet the seven of them are tied together by their common humanness, as in the way the human condition is readily put on display to show us that we are in essence reliving the same stories again and again. One of my favorite stories, “The Black Coat,” challenges our ways of seeing the world and the dearth we experience when we get what we desire. Piccolo-Xavier is an artist with a muse who may only inspire if she remains elusive. It questions the real and the imagined, and asks us to consider if we are not foremost haunted from within. But each story boasts its own complexity and may challenge a reader’s intuitive sense, if only for its free-flowing prose and roaming wiles which tend to defy ordinary narrative.

[John Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibrant and diverse.

This book, The Blotted Line by Mehreen Ahmed is a great collection of stories that take place in the most diverse of locations. Intricate story lines and rich language delight the reader’s senses at every turn.
Taken as a whole these stories highlight the vibrancy and diversity of the short story genre. Within the pages of this book lie hidden gems of truth and honesty, polished and brought to light by the work of a skilled and talented writer.
There is evidence here of the author’s clarity of vision and maturity of spirit. This reader became enthralled by each scene as it developed in his mind’s eye. The clever use of imagery is delightful.
All in all a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. It contains intelligent thoughtful portraits of the human condition

[Betty Mermelstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories shows humankind at its truest as demonstrated by the actions of the characters. Jealousy, deception, hope, determination, and despair are some of the raw emotions that these men and women experience. Lessons are learned in believable scenarios: three friends who are more deceptive and jealous than supportive of each other, a man who finds he is in love with the fantasy of a photo in a locket and realizes he should be careful what he wishes for, two childhood friends of different religions who fall in love and are determined to be together, a man who finds his daughter too late in his life, and a woman who is bound in contract to marry a man because of a family debt but who is avenged. There are other stories included and they all give the reader much to think about.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blotted Line is a collection of moving short stories that take readers on a remarkable journey to places like France, Spain, and Bangladesh. Each story explores the lives of various individual all of whom have suffered some incredible loss.

Each story is skillfully crafted in such a way as to completely absorb the reader. The characters all have a genuine flaw or struggle they are attempting to overcome, this one trait alone will appeal to many. But, the author doesn't stop there as she uses her gift as a storyteller to pull at our emotions creating a well balanced thought provoking book.

I recommend picking up a copy.

[James Okun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Blotted Line” is an amazing book filled with thrilling internationally based short stories written by the acclaimed, award- winning author Mehreen Ahmed.

The “Wager” takes us to Granada, Spain where there is a desire for “blood money” in revenge for the death of a loved one. This demand for revenge comes in the form of an arranged marriage. This story with its hero, Simi, a student, is a captivating and dramatic tale with many twists and turns.

“Charade” is another short story which is set in Brisbane, Australia and deals with the great humor exhibited in the relationships between 3 fellow coffee drinkers, Una, Ulle and Ursula who all maintain their friendships while battling their own individual demons of fear, betrayal, ego and jealousy.

“The Black Coat” is set in Paris where we meet an artist, Piccolo-Xavier, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman who he bumps into one day while crossing the street. She is wearing a black coat and drops a broken locket with the picture of a girl in it onto the street. Piccolo- Xavier’s life is totally turned topsy- turvey as a great delusion of falling in love with the woman in “The Black Coat” totally takes him over as he tries to find this mysterious person.

“Anomalous Duo,” is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and involves a romance between two childhood best friends, Sidu, 20 years old, a boy and Minah, 18 years old, a girl. Minah comes from a rich Muslim rice farming family and Sidu is from an orthodox Brahmin family. Minah has been promised by her family in an arranged marriage to another suitor. Religions and castes comes between these two best friends and lovers leading to an incredible ending.

“Melodies Passe” also takes place in Dhaka, Bangladesh and involves the travails and cruelty encountered by Tina, her Grandmother and their family as the country undergoes an economic transition from an agrarian society to materialism. Sadly, Tina’s Grandmother loses her home and eventually her life as her home is demolished to make way for a modern building.

“Of Note” which is based in Canada tells the riveting story of a refugee from the coast of Nova Scotia separated from his family and biological daughter, reunited and then separated again by a terrible twist of fate.

The characters in each of the short stories were very real and in sync with each story. The pace of each story was appropriate with each individual plot and the writing style of author Mehreen Ahmed flowed beautifully.

The formatting and editing of “The Blotted Line” was flawless and the cover was very appealing.

I could find no flaws at all in this fascinating, poignant and extremely well written book.

As a bonus to the short stories included in this book, one of the author’s previous books: “Jacaranda Blues” is included at the end of “The Blotted Line.” This is an engrossing and captivating story that was hard to put down. It is written in a “stream of consciousness” manner with references made back to the Virginia Woolf novel “Mrs. Dalloway” that the protagonist in “Jacaranda Blues,” Rhonda, is currently reading.

The “stream of consciousness” technique is a method of writing which presents a person’s thoughts and reactions continuously and without interruption from the book’s narrative. In this case, Rhonda is torn between two lives: her current life stuck in a miserable marriage with no children, a boring job and an angry, irritable husband (Sam) and her life 30 years before with her former lover (Chris) who she happened to bump into at a railway station when they first met. Chris, it turns out, has become a doctor. The descriptions of Sam reminded me of the nasty and icy cold Reverend Edward Casaubon from the novel Middlemarch by George Eliot.

The Jacaranda tree represents the hope for a better life. Rhonda meets again with Chris. Then there is a horrendous murder. Rhonda’s life takes tremendous twists and turns that you won’t believe. I couldn’t stop reading it.

In summary, “The Blotted Line” is a fascinating, dramatic, deeply thought out and exciting collection of short stories each differing in their emphasis on romance, humor or betrayal but all emphasizing the continuous relation between good and evil. I especially enjoyed reading the “Wager”, “Melodious Passe” and “The Black Coat” with its emphasis on how a “diseased concentration” on something to the exclusion of everything else can lead to delusions and insanity. “The Jacaranda Tree” was a non-stop thriller!

I highly recommend the “Blotted Line” and its talented author, Mehreen Ahmed, to everyone, especially those who love a great short story that is full of meaning. 5 Stars!!!

.

[Matt Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I previously became aware of Mehreen Ahmed’s work when she gave me a copy of her magnificent stream of consciousness piece, Moirae, in return for an honest review. While I enjoyed the book, and in fact gave it the full five stars, I did state that the style of the book makes a difficult read. Here, Mehreen takes us in a different direction, offering a series of short stories in a more recognisable prose style.

Mehreen has a very clear ‘feel’ to her writing, and this shines through in this collection. The blurb makes it clear that the stories are linked by a thematic feeling of loss, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this will mean that the tales cross-over. Each story is very much its own beast, and they are all given plenty of room to grow in their own way. In fact, outside the aforementioned theme, the only real link between them is Mehreen’s ability to craft an emotional tale. For me, this was most apparent in ‘The Anomalous Duo’, a tale of two lovers as the issues they face when one is forced into an arranged marriage. Regardless of whether such a situation is directly relevant to your own life, it’s hard not to empathise with the characters as they traverse what is an often controversially viewed tradition. Then, there are stories such as ‘Eye-Opener’, that show how life can sometimes provide us with unexpected, and undoubtedly unwelcome, surprises, even when in the company of those that we know well.

In all, I am very happy to have been offered a copy in return for an honest review, and I personally found it to be a rewarding read. Like any short story collection, there is every possibility that there will be a story or two that just don’t click with you, but that just makes it all the sweeter when you find the one that does. Mehreen’s talent is never in question, and there is such a good variety of tales on offer here, that most people should find something to enjoy therein. For that, it is deserving of another five stars.

[James Bizzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slices of life from across the globe, and some dashes of magical realism

This is a sparkling collection of short stories, dotting the globe with exotic locales and interesting characters. Mehreen Ahmed mentions that a primary theme of this compilation is the idea of ‘loss,’ with each story featuring a character losing something very important to them, or struggling to regain something that has been lost. Another theme that I thought I noticed were characters wavering between the mundanities of their real lives, and the comforts of fantasy.

My favorite story in the collection, ‘The Black Coat,’ is about a struggling/mediocre artist in Paris, who suddenly finds success when he finds ‘love’ and inspiration in a woman that is basically a figment of his imagination. As reality begins to intrude, and the artist finds himself facing a new series of life-changing problems. I also liked ‘Charade,’ where three women epitomize the term ‘frenemies,’ competing with each other to create more intriguing lives for themselves.

There are also several stories that revolve around women trying to assert their identity and independence against overbearing males, or against old traditions. Some of these stories end bittersweetly, and some end tragically. Which, I guess, is what you can expect of life in general.

[Mark Kasniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Blotted Line” by Mehreen Ahmed I can only describe as an absolutely wonderful collection of short-fiction pieces that plays on the entire spectrum of human emotion. From sadness to jubilation, from betrayal to triumph, from love to hate, Mehreen Ahmed takes you on a journey in her stories that will leave you wanting more.

In Charade a story about the friendship between three women, Ulle learns that companionship can be fleeting, and trust can easily be betrayed.

Eye-Opener is a tale that will show you just when you think you know somebody; you may actually not know them at all.

The Black Coat (I absolutely loved this story!) an artist obsessed with his work becomes fixated with a mysterious woman he sees on the street, but she can never add up to the image of her he’s created in his mind. This is a tale of obsession, the decent into madness, and loss.

The Anomalous Dou is a classic tale of love not willing to be denied. Two childhood friends grow up to the realization that they want to be together, even though a forced marriage tries to deny them.

There are many more wonderful stories in this collection. Mehreen Ahmed did such a superb job of bring thought-provoking controversies to the reader that after finishing each piece I instantly wanted to tackle the next. This is anthology you will not be disappointed in! Don’t wait to pick it up.

[Paul Landes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blotted Line is a collection of seven diverse short stories that take place in different world locales. I was struck part way through reading this that the stories share an underlying theme. As I read further I could see several insights that carried throughout the book. I think it may be possible for different readers with different backgrounds to see themes different that what I saw. A brilliant idea by the author and well crafted to boot.

Each story is unique with a different cast of characters and a different setting. You’ll find psychological drama, romance, humor and good vs. evil. Ahmed has taken the time and used her obvious skills to craft the characters in such a way that I felt their innermost emotions of pain, excitement, outrage, love and I experienced this with learning what it would be live in the neighborhoods to be in Bangladesh, Canada, Australia and other locales.

My favorite story, Charade, takes place in Australia and is absolutely knee-slapping hilarious. Three women meet for coffee on a regular basis and unload a set of lies on each other that lead to undesirable predicaments.

I highly recommend this book – you’ll be charmed by the writing and the creative stories.

[Stevan Nikolic · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blotted Line was a very pleasant surprise for me. I read some of Mehreen Ahmed’s writings before, but this collection of short stories is completely different in subject and in style. It is just a testimony of the writer’s talent and versatility. The main theme behind all short stories is universal, in time and space – the theme of loss. The loss is experienced by everybody in many ways and it is inevitable fact of life.

As we “travel” with Mehreen’s stories from one part of the world to another, always with different set of characters in different settings and events, we are encountering a romance, a drama, the clash of good and evil, lies and deceptions, humor and satire, colorful characters, and all of that is ultimately bringing yet another form of terrible feeling of loss. Masterfully written! As each story, separately and as a collection of short stories with a common theme, The Blotted Line is a great reading.

[J.H. Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blotted Line is a collection of seven short stories set in a range of locales. The stories share the theme of loss. The author’s writing is strong, in particular through its lyrical language. The author crafts her stories well, each story conveying character development and speaking to how often our lives are shaped by circumstances and our choices within such circumstances. I appreciated the focus on women in some of the stories with the lens on how they struggle to assert themselves within a patriarchal world (whether it be on an individual level or social level). These stories did not always end on positive note, which speaks to the realism of the author’s writing. The collection is diverse covering romance, drama, humor and more. I would recommend this collection to those who appreciate short stories.

[Fran Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of short stories from around the world. The author obviously knows her locations well as evidenced in her descriptions. What really stands out is her portrayal of human emotions and foibles. From three bitchy women playing one upmanship against each other to a brush with the surreal as an artist seeks his phantom muse you will be entertained by the inventiveness that has gone into the tales. Deception,love and a curious case of a snake, an unwanted suitor and a hero to the rescue and you have an eclectic mix of stories to enjoy. This author delves deeply into the human psyche and manages to portray it in her work with aplomb.

[Cameron Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful stories. Although they are wide-ranging, multi-cultural, and span the globe, they exemplify the common complex emotions of love, want, jealousy, longing, and so much more, which is in all of us. I echo the praises in the other reviews but I think it needs to be added, how wonderful and expert the dialogue is as well. She somehow manages to weave her tales in this place between the edge of dreams yet ground in the grit and heft of reality as well; a wonderful and unique quality which I haven't really encountered in any other author.

[Meriel Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fascinated by Mehreen’s unusual style and rich language in her collection of short stories. Although all in different settings and with separate story lines, they are linked by the theme of human emotions.
The author has clearly travelled widely, and interesting and informed detail is woven into every story.
Hard to find a favourite, but I’ll choose The Black Coat, set in Paris, for Accolo-Xavier’s imaginative dream world, or maybe Of Note, a Canadian tale of hope, discovery and despair.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written collection of stories, intriguing in it's depth and symmetry. A book of adventure but, in a twist of insight and intuition into each individuals' lives with very descriptive back drops of place such as Brisbane and Spain adding to the characterization quite poignantly and methodically.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mehreen Ahmed’s collection of short stories The Blotted Line is a powerful read. Filled with striking descriptions of loss and the power of the human spirit to bounce back, this artfully done emotional piece had me riveted to the end! This one is perfect for anyone looking for a gut-wrenching emotional ride!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blotted line by Ahmed. Mehreen has again woven stories close to the stream of consciousness in her other stories. She has a unique take on life as she weaves her magic through 7 short stories with a sense of loss as well as redemption. And florists which feature in the last 2 stories: "Of note" and "Jacaranda blues". Mary meets a man at the bus stop - but did he plan it? Rhonda comes from a dysfunctional family - will she be liberated? The answers eventually come.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony McMahon's Review

The Blotted Line Mehreen Ahmed

Story Institute

The Blotted Line is the new short story collection by Queensland writer Mehreen Ahmed. Boasting a deliberately cosmopolitan air, these tales weave their way skilfully through all parts of the globe, taking the reader to Spain, Brisbane, Paris and Bangladesh, just to name a few, and the overwhelming sense one gets on reading them is one of movement.

But Ahmed is more than just a chronicler of geographic place names. The psychological insights underpinning each of her characters are profound. While the reader is, quite literally, transported to a different place story to story, there is a thematic cohesion that links each of the seven tales and makes for an overall satisfaction factor not unlike that of a novel. The seven distinct stories here relate to each other in meaningful ways - no small feat - exploring issues of loss, trust, freedom and happiness.

If this were an album, the term `all killer, no filler' might be invoked, as it's difficult to pick a favourite. With a gun to his head, though, this writer would probably choose `Of Note', which closes the collection. Set in Canada, this is the story of a refugee that has significant resonance for this country and its own attitudes to those fleeing persecution. Political without appearing overtly so, this story is a good example of Ahmed's skill in bringing together disparate geographical narratives to bear on her singular vision of how the world should be, a noble pursuit if ever there was one.

Tony McMahon

Author of The Single Gentleman's Dining Club

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasantly rewarding anthology of short fiction minced with allegory, fable, parable, and dreamscape. Exploring commonalities, contrasts, and unique diversities and quirks within human nature, within multi-cultural settings.

The writing - which at first seems geared toward YA - is actually quite a complex build in crafting each story and at the same time provides an easy flow. Most had me engaged guessing where the story was heading and how it would be resolved - each with a plausible, satisfying conclusion.

The characters have substance and personality, peppered attributes, variance, and interest, more than ample to care about their contributions and fate.

The author, Mehreen Ahmed mentions in the description, “...the characters in each tale lose something precious, not always in the sense of material possessions, but the loss of human values such as trust, freedom, and happiness.” Throughout, she adeptly captures the theme of ‘loss’ from numerous perspectives conjoining the 7 works as a collection.

I most liked the originality of “Black Coat” and the depth of “Of Note”.
I found “The Blotted Line” a pleasing collection.

[Michael Mardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blotted Line by Ahmed is a collection of seven short stories detailing the people's emotions in different countries.The first story involves Simi, Muni who is in an arranged marriage and Tim who is in pursuit of Muni. Charade is about three women who tell tall tales. Eye-opener concerns Riana who has a miscarriage. There are different points of view for each character. The Black Coat is set in Paris and deals with the obsession of an artist after finding a locket. Anomalous Duo concerns a boy and a girl of different religions. Will they get together? Melodies Passe about a grandchild and grandmother forced to sell the family home. Finally, Of Note is about an orphan and her pursuit by her father. A good mix.

[Anthony Stancomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of short stories in which the drama is built up between the characters in a series of subtly woven stories spread over the world. ‘The Charade’ for instance is a wonderful description of girls telling lies to impress each other, and in all the stories, the exuberance of the writing carries the reader along.
The strength of the book, is in the writing, which is highly flowery. The descriptions of places and objects are sometimes exquisite, and pace of the sentences is abrupt and original. The writing is at times highly unusual, and the observations of characters and how they react are at times naïvly written - but this adds to the favour of the book.

[David Tanager · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of short stories, and having previously read two of Mehreen Ahmed's novels, I was very excited to read 'The Blotted Line' short story collection.

The collection itself is diverse, not only in the locales, but also in the characters and their motivations and obsessions. While each seems to possess a sense of loss or that of a missed opportunity, Mehreen Ahmed skillfully develops each character into a unique entity with layers that are so diverse that each short story could easily be carried into an individual novel driven solely on their depth.

I feel that this collection has something for everyone in it, due to these characters and the intriguing plots. We can all relate to at least one of these characters, if not all of them for they are truly human in their desires, wants, and fears. The author, having been well traveled, has surely been in the various locations described in the book that span the globe. You can get a real sense that she has become part of the culture and local niche when she describes minute details that would pass by any casual observer. I recognized this instantly in the first short, when Ahmed describes the gate within a gate, reminding me of my travels and noticing the same thing in my sub-conscious but not having it registered until her character refreshed my memory.

Initially the short 'Charade' was going to get my vote as my favorite in this collection, as it caught me off guard with its witty humor and also subtle commentary on society and human nature. 'The Black Coat', ultimately took my number one spot, but it was after I finished reading it. The obsession of the main character in this short was so well written, it began to work on me after I thought about it, and I returned to reread this short and discovered more layers than I had before when I first read it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short stories that have a literary value, present new and unique locations (as well as Paris) and give you something after to think about, specifically as I mentioned before, about the human condition, and what it means to truly live.