Fairy tales are written for impressionable youngsters; Unfairy Tales are written for discerning adults. The values and perceptions of the modern world are not the same as those of the times when the Perrault, Anderson and the Brothers Grimm penned down their stories. Today, their stories seem biased, bigoted and even regressive. Humans have learned […]
By The Lake- Short Story
Mandira closed her eyes and let the gentle lapping of the lake soothe her like a lullaby. It was warm, even though it was early morning. Summer was at its peak. In the city, the heat was unbearable. She had to escape the heat and the people; people who stifled her with their expectations and […]
Book Review: It Happens by Karan Sharma
The theme of the novel is unusual, specially in the Indian context. Men wanting to marry women older than themselves aren’t thick upon the ground in India, as yet. For an author to have picked such a theme for his debut novel, speaks of his own comfort with the idea. The love interest between the […]
You Do Not Have a Memory- It Has You!
To aid your fickle memory, it is time to get yourself a jotting pad. Your memory is not really a dependable asset. It forgets things which are vitally important and refuses to let go of things you’d rather it did not store for posterity. But no, it WILL do the opposite both times! Touch has […]
The Serenity Prayer: Thought for 2018
Summarizing 2017: In 2017, I didn’t choose a word/ phrase/ thought for the year as I had done every year since 2012. There is no reason for not doing it. It just didn’t happen. Strangely enough, I didn’t stress about it which was very out of character for me. I usually fuss and get displeased […]
Book Review: Brahmahatya By Rajiv Mittal
BRAHMAHATYA: by Rajiv Mittal Complicated yet integrated characters, a skilfully created sequence of inevitable events and a thick suspense plentifully fed by a revengeful, murderous intent, Brahmahatya has it all. To make the novel additionally delectable, there is the generous inclusion of local flavor. This, I said to myself, is an Indian story written in English. […]
Boy With a Backpack
The boy with a backpack was ten years old, give or take a year. He had bright, intelligent eyes and a cocky assurance about him. He wore a tan jacket and khakhi full length trousers, in protection against the chilly winter winds. He was carrying a backpack which he refused to put down. From time […]
Book Review: Water Boarding by Bragadeesh Prasanna
Water Boarding is not just a romantic story. While the story revolves around love (yes, there is a love triangle), this story is a lot more than just another romance. The story demonstrates how circumstances and events can hold you immovably captive in their grip, reducing you to a helplessness so acute that you feel as […]
Book Review: Revelations of an Imperfect Life
To be honest, this is not a book review. This is the description of a soul-satisfying feast. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the first paragraph of the book was about maasor tenga, a signature dish from verdant Asom. It is not just a paragraph heralding a gripping story. It has layer upon layer of […]
Book Review: Lean in to Relationships
Book Review: Lean in to Relationships by Rishabh Jhol I was highly skeptical when I began to read this book. The title was not exactly encouraging and the cover page was uninspiring. Moreover, relationships? Er… um… I thought to myself. Rather pompously, yes. My first clue that […]