Deep Ties

When a blogger turned editor decides to write a book, it is likely that it will be one free of glitches and gaffes. 'Aspen Leaves' by the talented Dhivya Balaji is one such book. The title makes one think of delicate leaves that tremble in the sunlight, akin to the stories in the book that dance their way into the hearts of the readers, quick and fleeting, only to stay there forever. There are ten stories in the book divided into three sections – Drama, Supernatural and Revenge Drama. What makes these stories unique is the association of each with a colour that gives each story its meaning and its emotion, colours that are as rare as they are beautiful. The emotions are universal. Is it better to hide a life of passion rather than live a life of austerity? Are there truths that are realised too late in life? Is it possible for perfection to lose its sheen and turn mundane in a relationship? How significant a role does religion play in wedlock and can a woman ever...

What makes this story – Unloved in Love – different from any other similar romantic saga, when the title itself is an oxymoron. What does author Rituparna Ghosh say that distinguishes this book from others? Maybe, it is in the way she says it. Ms. Ghosh reveals a wry sense of humour from page one, when she introduces the way her heroine, Kiara, was born to parents who were taken aback when she arrived. From that point on, Kiara continues to be self-deprecating, “cruising rock bottom in expectations” till she shocks everyone by doing well as a career woman. Three main voices tell the tale, followed by a fourth voice at the end. The three voices belong to Kiara Sen, Kyle Wolf (an interesting German background there) and Karan Shergill, three attractive young people, as they take the action ahead in a series of see-sawing events that keep the reader wondering what the outcome will be. Kiara sees herself in a mirror that is diametrically opposite to how others view her, ma...

The artistic green cover leaps out at you, even as you take in the succinct title – 'It Happens'. Bhaswar Mukherjee has proved to be a miracle worker, as fourteen of the fifteen stories in this book by Readomania were entries for the TOI Write India contest. In fact, his writing has been noticed and lauded by greats such as Amitav Ghosh and Ashwin Sanghi. Delving into the stories, you realise that they are little vignettes of life, showcasing various places by linking them to scenarios that nestle in the minds of all Indians – the Babri Masjid imbroglio, bomb explosions in urban Kabul, “a maelstrom of conflict”, the Indo-Pak border conflicts and militancy, the devastating hurricane Vardah that hit Chennai, the brutality of the Khap Panchayats and the like. Each of these stories holds up a mirror to society, where the author puts in a pertinent comment, almost like an aside in a Shakespearean play. For example, “In the current state of politics, the communal c...

There are stories, and then, there are stories! Anupama Jain has been known as the Queen of humour, and her earlier writings have always left her readers in splits. Acerbic and funny, she has proved that she can turn any topic into a laugh riot. With this anthology, she has showcased another facet of her writing as well. These stories have been taken straight from life, pulsating with reality, hitting an emotional chord in the hearts of the readers. The humour is there in places, but these tales are meant to make people think, and reflect. The situations are simple, the solutions even simpler. Live problems are portrayed, and the language used is apt for the story it highlights. For example, ‘A Scarlett Twist’, a brilliant pun on the title, captures its theme in a non-nonsense manner, which is spot on.   ‘Conversations Between Husband and Wife’ is a hilarious retelling that emphasizes the fact that he, or she, who has the last word wins. ‘Banking on Wrongun...

When a title like this leaps out at you, with a cover that sends a chill down the spine, an expectation arises that the story be as compelling. What a wonderful premise – an old, run-down set of flats in Kolkata, Panorama Apartments, with a murder and a whole pool of suspects, each replete with their own quirks. The characterisation of these suspects is deft – Ira Dutta, a young and feisty journalist; Nandana Roy, middle-aged and “an unsung martyr to the altar of domesticity”; Deepa, a single mother, disciplined and taciturn; the old lady, Mrs. Ghoshal, almost akin to an Indian Ms. Marple, twittering and birdlike, addicted to her television serials and her aromatic fish chops; the voluble Pallabi and her secrets; and the gentle Kedarnath, knuckling under his old mother’s thumb. The mystery is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, as red herrings are strewn around and the suspense mounts, leaving the readers racking their brains to hunt for clues that will unravel the d...

A well-written short story is a piece of art. It encompasses whole lives within it, much akin to seeing a world in a grain of sand. Mira Saraf’s stories do just that. In a short anthology of five stories, she brings in a melange of extremely powerful emotions that overwhelm the reader. The book veers from the bliss of solitude, where the protagonist “dreamed of familiarity, of friends, of family, of a time before her rapid downward spiral”, to a scenario where guilt takes centre stage till realization strikes, with the assurance that it is okay to let go. Suspicion and paranoia can both be debilitating, as can be loss of memory and the fear of living a life gone awry, especially when one is a writer, producing words. “One after another, like footsteps on a long journey.” What happens when a failed novelist whose “writing had the flavour of stale cardboard” finds the right muse? Mira Saraf’s stories tread that space between sanity and its spill over the edges. The...

When a Professor of English writes a book of short stories, the readers are in for a literary feast. This anthology boasts of five stirring stories which touch the heart in myriad ways. All of them are based in the Indian subcontinent and have themes that cannot be dovetailed into separate compartments. The first story, ‘The Banana Leaf’, deals with the dilemma of the stateless and homeless Rohingyas and the trepidation surrounding their search for a place they can call home. It throws light on the unceasing work done by human rights activists to save refugees, and the beauty of the story is enhanced by its poignancy. ‘The Crossover’ has a different tale to tell as it strives to explore the challenges of growing up and discovering that one is different. Cross-gender issues have been addressed and handled positively here. What happens when an entire city comes out in protest against a company that has not been protecting their rights? One young father becomes “par...