Author: Aura Bhattacharjee
Publisher: Storymirror Infotech
Do you think observations
around you make for good stories?
Dozen Pebbles
Washed Ashore by Life by Aura Bhattacharjee is a
collection of 12 short stories, each of which carries a subtle message for the
reader. Short stories that pair up perfectly with a kulhad or two of
steaming tea, travelling on the last row of a public bus, or wading the Mumbai
rains to grab the fast local to Andheri. The stories span across people, places
and food across Bengaluru, Chicago, Kolkata and Mumbai. Drawn loosely from the
author’s life, there are stories that tell the tales of the people like you and
me.
The book is a refreshing read with stories that are simple, yet subtle. Each of the 12 stories was different from each other and shows a flair of storytelling that Aura has. The manner in which a plain track of the story gets a sudden burst of a twist in the end was something I liked. Since they have been drawn from her own life, the stories strike a raw nerve in the reader and help them visualize the scene as it unfolds. The descriptions of people, places and emotions is quite vivid and adds a different dimension to these stories. A couple of the stories could have been better in terms of its content, otherwise I liked the rest. My favorites from the pack were Rendezvous, Full Course Meal and Ancient Love as they struck a chord with me somehow.
Coming to the
characters, the one thing that stands out about them is their rusticness. These
are people one would see in their families, offices, trains and basically
around them. Aura has recounted her experiences and thus each of the character
felt real, as if it is a real person. Despite being short stories, the
characters are well defined and there are almost no loose ends or wayward
people. With just the right amount of characters, it felt like a perfect party
where the guests are telling their life stories.
With a score of
3.69/5, the collection of stories a recommendation from me if you are looking
for a light read, one that fits all your moods and will make you smile,
regardless of what you were feeling before reading the book.
Grab a copy of the book here.
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