From Deepa's Desk

Meet Shantilal Biswas, a dreamer who keeps pursuing one plan after another and in the process, learns many valuable life-lessons while regaling the reader with his hilarious attempts and experiences.  Shantilal is you, me and everyone trying to find their way in life. I found his indecisiveness and humane quirks entirely relatable. You can't help like this fellow for being so realistically human!  The author has done a wonderful job of blending humor and satire and creating a hilarious mix of quirky personality traits, funny incidents, rib-tickling scenarios and a gentle ending to every chapter that tugs at your heart with an invaluable life-lesson. The tale is effortlessly humorous. I kept smiling and laughing throughout the book.  There are many interesting characters, and each character has earned their place in the book by bringing along some hilarious and unforgettable incident that will make you laugh out loud.  As Shantilal keeps changing his 'business' at the...

This book is a collection of amazing poems which are both simple and deeply poignant in their essence.  There are poems based on abstract concepts that we come across on a daily basis, such as music, hope, the race of life and such others. But it is the Special section of the book that serves as the icing on the cake. From the PoV of a journalist, the author has woven poems based on unforgettable national tragedies such as the Jallianwala Massacre and Bhopal's tragedy. While there cannot be enough words to express the grief of such heartwrenching disasters, Vrinda has beautifully paid an ode to these events that continue to shape the course of the world years later.  Being a fan of the Wednesday Addams series, I was delighted to come across poems based on the protagonists of the series - Wednesday, Tyler and Xavier. These poems lend a quirky touch to the book. But my absolute favorite is the Special section of mythology wherein Vrinda has written poems dedicated to Krishna, Ra...

  This book is a collection of nine stories based on contemporary issues that are often taken for granted and could do with some much more consideration and attention. Be it the man who has been the victim of childhood abuse, or the working mother who in a moment of weakness doubts her decision to embrace motherhood and finds it difficult to forgive herself for thinking so, or the strict parent who refused to change his attitudes with time, only to be taught a harsh lesson by his own kin – each and every story has a common theme of contemporary issues prevailing in the society. The author has beautifully brought these issues to life through poignant stories that hit where it hurts the most. Every story is a reminder to embrace the times we live in, to show the basic kindness of unconditional acceptance of people sans any judgement and allowing them the freedom to live the life they wish and deserve. Every character in every story makes a lasting impression on the reader.  ...

  A large, joint and matriarchal family in a large house wherein the senior most members of the family stayed, and few smaller houses situated in the nearby vicinity – welcome to Tharawaad, an old type of family arrangement that forms the basis of this book. The author K.T.Rajagopalan has shared accounts of his early life in a village called Koodali in the Malabar district of the erstwhile British Malabar Presidency. The stories feature his life in a typical Tharawaad, growing up in a large family and living with people who eventually became an extended family. These stories showcase the immensely alluring charm of life in a village. The description of the people, the words of the regional dialect that appear in the book and the brief glimpse of the lifestyle followed by the village bring it to life for the reader. Every chapter is rich in nostalgia and yearning for a lost time that is probably existing only in the memories of all those who have lived in those times when life was...

This is a story of four people hailing from different walks of life.  There is Mrityunjay whose destiny foretells a lonely life. There is Suman, the only girl born in a family of four boys.  There is Ratna, unwelcome in her own home for having born as a girl.  There is Trishna loved and pampered by all in her family.  Although hailing from different places, these four cross paths in life, united in struggle, grief and a willingness to prove themselves to the world.  The author has woven a fantastic narrative around the four main characters. The plot is gripping and keeps you hooked on to the story. The characters have unique identities of their own and stand out brilliantly. Their struggles are those of millions of people and feel extremely relatable.  The story discusses many societal evils - be it lamenting over the birth of a girl child, keeping her education as optional, preparing her for marriage right from a young age and using her as a pawn for one's...

My Collection of Stories for children written by Poornima Sivaraman is a delightful collection of short, simple and lovely stories that impart life-lessons in quite a charming way.  There are 15 stories that deal with diverse topics such as acceptance of children, the importance of lending them a helpful ear, teaching them core values and setting a good example for them not just through advice but through actions and behaviour. Although the title says that the stories are for children, I believe that adults need to read them as well to get insights into parenting and dealing effectively with children.  The language is simple and extremely easy to understand. What I liked the most was the element of simplicity and innocence in the stories. In a chaotic world, these simple yet heartwarming stories come as a breath of fresh air, instilling positivity and hope among the readers.  While I liked all the stories, if I had to cite favorites, those would be the stories Lessons Of ...