I wish I could just be happy on my own,” is a powerful theme in Shashi Bhat’s latest publication Death by a Thousand Cuts. Bhat presents a sharp anthology of short stories that examines contemporary womanhood's complex, sometimes agonizing realities. With wit, empathy, and brutal honesty, Thousand Cuts provides pieces that resonate with women's quiet desperation and perseverance in navigating a society plagued with unrealistic expectations. 

While not all stories in Death by a Thousand Cuts hit the mark, with protagonists often seeming interchangeable, the collection offers relatable tales of dating horrors and social anxiety, particularly for women of color in Canada. Though this theme becomes repetitive, many stories remain competent and some deeply moving. Bhat skillfully exposes casual misogyny in everyday interactions, confronting it with a righteous rage that evolves into self-compassion rather than violence or self-pity. The collection would have benefited from clearer chronology, particularly for non-pandemic stories.