From Deepa's Desk

Uttarakhand, with its majestic and timeless mountains, beautiful valleys and Himalayan glacial rivers has a rich folklore of legends and stories that are still passed down from one generation to another.  In this book, Supriya has presented a re-telling of the stories in her unique way, adding lots of mysticism and poignancy to the same. Be it the princess unable to refuse the call of the forest, or the queen who gave birth to a mortar and pestle, be it the forest sprites that ask for honoring promises, or protective crows - every story takes the readers back to a time when Uttarakhand's bountiful nature must have inspired the earliest artists, poets and story-tellers.  The narrative is beautiful, bringing the images to life. The characters are unforgettable and leave a lasting impact. Supriya is a wonderful narrator, weaving beautiful trapestries of emotions and images in her stories and leaving the readers spellbound. Magic, romance, mystery, thrill - there is a story for ev...

Thinking of Winter by Shantanu Naidu While studying in Ithaca, Shantanu adopted a puppy. He named him Winter. And life was never the same again for the human and the pet. In this book, Shantanu takes us on a beautiful trip down memory lane, showing us glimpses of his early days with Winter. The efforts of the puppy to stuff himself into every little gap he could find in the room, the potty-training days, hiding the puppy's existence (because the complex where Shantanu lived had a no-pets rule), the guilt of leaving the puppy behind while Shantanu left for the university, the happiness of re-uniting with him at the end of the day - Shantanu has woven a beautiful tapestry of memories and images through his nostalgic narrative. Talking about narrative, this book feels like a monologue by Shantanu. A gripping, engaging monologue that holds your attention and doesn't let it waver anywhere. He has been at his candid best here, sharing moments of self-doubts, guilt, despair and sheer ...

Expressions and Impressions by Shashikala Gadepally This book is a collection of 33 short and beautiful poems based on various concepts such as women empowerment, breaking free from bondage, motivation and many other topics. The poems have been written beautifully and convey their message in a deep and profound way. They strike where it hurts the most. Take for instance these lines - 'What if her presence is ignored? Her due is denied! The legion shall rise again and again to flaunt the cosmic energy that she perpetuates.' There is this poem titled The Mirror that is based on a delightfully misunderstood situation between a mother and a daughter. There is a beautiful poem based on Ram Setu that describes its significance in these poignant lines - 'Its silence, a reminder of the yearning to meet, it's eloquence a gesture to unite, bridging the gap, bringing together not just two human beings but cultures, civilizations, values and relations.' Shashikala is an excelle...

April's Ambers by Durriya Sakarwala This book is based on prompts given for NaPoWriMo 2026 and is a collection of thirty poems for every day of April. The poems are soulful and soothing to read and are based on various topics such as silence, the concepts of birth and death, dreams, holding on and other aspects of life. Every poem reflects Durriya's sheer creativity and imagination that takes the reader on a sublime journey. Take for instance, the poem titled The Train Stops at Shamli. It begins with these soulful lines. 'In the hills, a library whispers calm, a cool breeze dances, butterflies swirl in song, among countless books, I find my way, the train stops at Shamli, where stories belong.' Then there is another beautiful poem titled Midnight Truths which has these soothing lines. 'Seeing light emerge from darkness, as hope appears, something bright after midnight's hush, my mind hums a lullaby, soft and plush. My heart gently pats, urging sweet sleep within...

The Dancing Monkey And Living The Way Of Zen by Serena Choo This book is a sequel to The Monkey and The Way Of Zen. In the first book, we come across a monkey who is searching for answers for the bigger questions of life. He is frustrated and mentally exhausted. In this state, he approaches a Master and lives under his guidance in a temple until the chaos in his mind somewhat silences. In the sequel, we find the monkey all set to leave the temple 'to find new places to dance, find rhythms he has never felt and see if he can dance not just in the temple but anywhere'. The monkey is no longer the frustrated version of his self that we came across in the first book. He has now changed into a lighter and freer being and calls himself as the Dancing Monkey. As the Dancing Monkey steps out of the temple for a new life and new adventures, he often comes across situations where he doubts whether he has really learnt anything at the temple. He meets people who, in their unique and inter...

When I started reading this book, I had a lot of ideas to write a good review. But now that I have finished reading it, my finger tips hover above the screen, searching for words that prove inadequate. What can you really write about a book that took you on an unforgettable and devotional roller-coaster ride?! Lord Jagannath has fascinated humankind since ages and this book brings him alive in a beautiful way. The book is divided into six parts, sharing narratives about the origin of the legend of the deity, the creation of the temple, the beautiful relationship between the three siblings - Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath, miracles and spiritual experiences of people, folk tales and tribal legends and finally the mystical experience of the Rath Yatra. Every part of the narrative resonates with faith and devotion. The author has presented the stories in such a way that every generation reading them will be able to relate to the stories. The narrative is calming and soothing to rea...