Tuesday, 14 January 2020

The Store of Stories-Asim Jaffri

Book: The Store of Stories
Author: Asim Jaffri
Publisher: Notion Press

Have you come across stories that are short yet engaging?


The Store of Stories by Asim Jaffri is a collection of 5 short stories, each with a different context and a very deep meaning. The first story, The Local Superhero is the story of Dipu who runs across the lanes of Kanpur, selling tea when an incident changes his viewpoint on life. His selfless act makes him what he wanted to become, a superhero. The Quarter’s Review is the story of Ameen, who wishes to break free from traditions and live life in the fast lane, until one moment changes his life forever. Keto is a wonderful story of the namesake, who lives in a wonderful and fascinating land and is amazed by a daily occurrence that is inexplicable yet amazing. Alka and Alok is a hear rendering love story of the namesakes who get separated due to societal pressure but cross paths again after 7 years. Destiny gives them a second chance, but the question remains whether they can make use of it. The last story, The Very Short Story of Jim and Tim is a light read which explores the life of twin brothers Jim and Tim, who face an existential crisis when they come across their fate and are at a risk of getting disowned by their family.

The Store of Stories by Asim Jaffri has 5 stories which are crafted very nicely. Each of the story has an underlying concept that comes out really well in the end. The Local Superhero brings out the struggle of a person living in poverty, yet how the humanity in the protagonist is worth a lot more. The Quarter’s Review is a mirror to the society showing how we have become slaves to material things and moved away from the real joys of life, of fun and the meaning of family. Keto is a story that brings out the importance of being inquisitive and the need for moving out of the comfort zone. Till the time one is living in his/her own world, they would never be able to see what lies beyond the horizon. Alka and Alok is a story that highlights the power of love and fate. It goes on to show that if two people are in love, they are bound to cross paths and life will always give a second chance to someone who truly wants it. The Very Short Story of Jim and Tim is a satirical take on the nature of people to discard people once they have outlived their usefulness. It goes on to show how insensitive as a species we have become.

The characters are relatable, and the storyline is fairly consistent with the tone and the plot of the story. There are some places which could have been edited better but that in no way affects the storytelling or the flow of the book.

Overall, a good read and is recommended for anyone looking for short yet impactful reads.

The book scores a 3.88 on my scale.

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