ABOUT the BOOK
Published by Fahmidan Publishing, ‘Anatomy of a Storm-Weathered Quaint Townspeople’ is a digital collection of poetry that evolved from experiences of how lives are dependent on weather, resources and on each other in small-towns, and how this interdependence shapes the present and futures of people. Living a large part of my life in small town India, these poems have been written over the years to respond to the changing dynamics of my country.
BLURBS by CHRISTINE TAYLOR, EIC, Kissing Dynamite; MARIA S. PICONE, Poetry Editor, Chestnut Review & KEANA AGUILA LABRA, EIC, Marias at Sampaguitas
Book Reviews
Atticus Review published Manisha Sahoo’s Book Review of “Anatomy…” on January 30, 2023. Manisha writes, “As a mother, as a dutiful wife, as one reeling from the adventures of a night, as a girl figuring out her calling in life, as a grown woman scarred by the past, the women of this quaint town embody their roles in bold strokes of confidence, even in the worst of times.”
Sara Dobbie’s review appeared in Fevers of the Mind (Nov 9, 2022) EXCERPT: Describing the chapbook, Dobbie writes, “…is a study in provincial struggle, both heart-warming and wrenching at varying points. From the first lines of the title poem Pattnaik takes us by the hand to guide us with stunning imagery through the small-town India of her heart and memory.”
Daniel Clark, editor of Briefly Zine, published another extremely kind review on November 16, titled “Weathering Words”. Daniel Clark’s concluding paragraph is especially touching: “Mandira’s keen descriptive eye and vivid imagery convert the twists and turns of doubt into an enriching journey. Navigating ‘the fog of | yesterday’ and ‘the palm of tomorrow’ could be a précis of the ongoing COP27 negotiations. Her climate warning is stark – and her poems are a reminder of the beauty and richness of life on our planet.” (November 16, 2022)
Universal Journal described the collection as “kaleidoscopic” adding, “poems, with chunks of words so intricately woven that one is compelled to take a pause, close the eyes and see it, feel it.” (Nov 20, 2022)
An interview with David L O’Nan in Fevers of the Mind, outlining my journey and the chapbook.
EXCERPTS from POEMS in the CHAPBOOK
READINGS AUDIO/VIDEO
Reader Notes/Verified Purchases/Photographs
Picture of the digital book printed out and bound here by Becky May, as posted on Social Media
Meriole, a Twitter user put up a thread about the chapbook, reproduced above.
Emailed kind words from an editor I’ve worked with.
Mandira Pattnaik 
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