Her Story - Is not always a story...

• Book: Her Story - Is not always a story...

• Author(s): Neelam Saxena Chandra, Ayan Pal, Nehali Lalwani, Siddhartha Yadav, Bhavya Kaushik, Shruti Fatehpuria, Warishree Pant, Rochak Bhatnagar, Renuka Vishwanathan, Ruchi Chopra, Megha Sumant Sharma, Vivek Banerjee, Paulami Duttagupta, Rafaa Dalvi, Khushi Gupta, Priyanshu Saxena, Snigdha Gharami, Ruchhita Kazaria, Smriti Mahale, Subhasis Das, Amrit Sinha and Surbhi Thukral. 
• Publication House: Petals Publishers.
• Category: Fiction/Short Stories.
• Rating: 4/5.

In my view:

1)A) A Daunting Journey Indeed by Neelam Saxena Chandra.

People with cheap and conservative mind-set think that widowers are objects to be used. But females aren’t weak to bear the nonsense. This story is about a brave woman who boldly deals with a corrupt official. The concept is good but the conclusion is fragile. A bit of extension could have made it a perfect one. 

B) We Shall Overcome Someday by Neelam Saxena Chandra.

Male chauvinists love to trample females and degrade them, despite their skills and talents. The modern day women are strong, determined and competitive; but some males cannot stop themselves from thinking about something really stupid.  This story is about a female worker and her terrible boss. It is a perfectly written tale which successfully holds attention. 

C) The Feeble Voice by Neelam Saxena Chandra.

A married woman has lots and lots of responsibilities. And if the woman simultaneously works, then the responsibilities get multiplied. Even women are human beings and need assistance from the other family members. Pushing responsibilities over to women is easy but one needs to take care of their health too. This one brings to picture a story of a married woman and highlights the manner in which she deals everything – eventually making her family members realize their roles in the family. It’s a hooking tale with wonderful narration. 

D) The Solitude of Life’s Eve by Neelam Saxena Chandra.

Not every man is the same. At a time when there are chauvinists and misogynists, there are also those who genuinely care and respect females. This story brings to light the struggling life of a woman and the helpful role that a known man plays during the distressful phase of her life. It’s a fascinating story indeed. 

E) The Chain of Love by Neelam Saxena Chandra.

Life is indeed funny and we often fail to understand it. While experiencing different phases of life, we get to learn so many things, and most importantly – we come across so many caring people who occupy a vital position in our life. The protagonist of this story is from Kanpur and gets a bank posting in Mumbai. Its a stimulating tale with slight humour instilled in it. 

2) The Beginning by Vivek Banerjee.

Women today are capable of dissolving the increasing fear and handling any different situation with utmost intelligence. This one is a really sweet and lovely story of a Junior Resident Doctor’s first experience of a difficult case. An absolutely intriguing story that it is, it will amaze and win hearts of readers quickly. 

Note: The Third and Fourth chapter could not be read and reviewed as there are some problems in page arrangement and one page is missing. 

5) Is Anybody Listening by Ruchhita Kazaria.

Women in corporate world face several hardships. They still try to adjust with the busy and highly standardized schedules set-up by their companies. This story too, is of a woman in a metropolitan city, trying to accustom with the corporate world. A dull story that it is, it fails to entertain readers by delivering nothing new. 

6) Hand that Rocks the Cradle by Paulami Duttagupta.

Women can make supreme sacrifices. They can easily sense emotions and know how to handle situations. The protagonist of this story does a lot for the kids of her employer. She tunes in with them so much that when their mother leaves them, she take up their responsibility. The story is really different from the others and is wonderfully penned. It touches heart directly and charms readers! Wonderful story, Paulami! 

7) Parallel World by Megha Sumant Sharma.

The joy of becoming a mother is difficult to express. The emotions of a mother, on getting the news of her pregnancy, are difficult to be articulated. This one is a story of joy and emotions of a one such to-be-mother. The story begins interestingly and proceeds well. But the charm begins to deteriorate towards the end, and eventually it concludes unsuitably. 

8) Predators by Renuka Vishwanathan.

We’ve heard about harassment of females at workplace. Even today there exist some offices which do not have a cell to deal with the cases of harassment. The protagonist of this story faces something similar at her workplace. But will she be able to get justice? What will be her next course of action? This is what you need to find out from the book. The narration of the story is fascinating. Also, the manner in which the author has dealt with the story is brilliant. 

9) Endgame by Rafaa Dalvi.

Some think that it is easy to trick and use women, as and when they wish to. But little do they know the consequences of such imprudent demands. The story conveys the same. An enthralling story that it is, it completely holds attention till the end. The author’s writing style is captivating! 

10) Arundhati by Ayan Pal.

For every mother, happiness of her child stands before anything else. The mother-child relationship is such that a mother is able to make out exactly what her child thinks, wants and aspires. The story that Ayan Pal has written has truly, truly won my heart. For an already well-narrated story, the concept and message proves to be a cherry on the cake. 

11) What!!! By Subhasis Das.

Teaching someone gives immense pleasure. Our maids play a vital role in our families. They do all the household tasks assigned to them. How if we extend a helping hand to them in a way or another? Through this story, the author gives out a good message to his readers. But the narration is extremely lackadaisical and I think the author could have framed the story in a better manner. Also, it deserved a better title. 

12) A Letter to the world by Khushi Gupta.

A girl child, in a conservative family, is always traumatized and treated low. They are often not considered as a part of the family. Machos want to get rid of them. This one is a crestfallen tale of a girl who gets a terrible gift on her 11^th birthday. The story begins and ends flawlessly. Moreover it holds readers attention perfectly. 

13) Barren Oasis by Smriti Mahale.

A child’s entry into the world brings happiness on the faces of parents, relatives and doctors (who conduct the child birth). This is the tale of a known gynaecologist who is not able to conceive. It’s the tale of the happiness that embraces her after every child birth. It’s a beautiful and lovable tale!

14) Trigonometry of Codes by Snigdha Gharami.

A sister is as fond of her brother, as a mother is of her son. The brother-sister and mother-son relation is momentous. The trauma of losing any one is completely terrific. Snigdha Gharami’s story signifies the same. The title of the story sets high expectations which the story unfortunately, fails to deliver. To be frank, this is the calamitous story in the book. So many grammatical errors and apathetic storyline makes it all the more boring. 

15) Her Mistake by Surbhi Thukral.

Husbands, because of their hectic working schedules, are frequently unable to shell out quality time for their wives. Wives on the other hand feel lonely at home. This is a story of a lady who thinks of working, to spare away from loneliness. Mind you, this isn’t like any other story. The concept is unique and the narrating style is pretty amazing.

16) Let her die by Priyanshu Saxena.

This is another extraordinary story. Miles away from others, this one targets an important topic. The story is based on a real incident and references have been taken from real cases. The narrative as well as narration is interesting. 

17) Beyond the Shadow Realm by Warishree Pant.

Today’s women are capable for precisely and perfectly handling everything. Then let it be household chores, or office tasks. And those who never think of them apart from their pretty faces get a firm answer some time or the other. Warishree Pant’s story indicates the same. It suggests men to not consider women as incapable of anything. Its a fantastic and motivating story! 

18) Au Revoir by Amrit Sinha.

There are a few atrocious incidents which get noticed while many others are not. There are many crucial stories, which are important to be highlighted, but are put up in tiny spaces. Amrit Sinha, through this story, makes effort to narrate a one such incident. He has well narrated the narrative which has enough capability to hold readers attention. 

19) Griha Lakshami by Nehali Lalwani and Siddarth Yadav.

We have many educated men who force their wives for an abortion because the baby is a girl. This story is about an educated person who asks his wife for an abortion, just because his mother demands so. Ironically, the man is a doctor. Although the story contains a message for protection of girl children, I personally did not like the comparison made between abortion and dismantling things in the doctors life. The comparison is a bit conservative though the message is really good. 

20) Her Story by Ruchi Chopra.

The anthology comes to a conclusion with this title story of a girl who faces the patriarchal society. The story highlights the manner in which she is treated differently than boys. And despite having grown in such a reserved family, it is wonderful to know that her thoughts are so modern and developed. This story brings a pleasing conclusion to the anthology. 

Over years, females have been treated to injustice by misogynists, chauvinists and machos. Dispite of strengthened laws and awareness drives things have not changed completely. But for sure, the scenario is changing slowly. At a time when women empowerment and equality is given so much importance, such anthologies play a vital role in highlighting crucial things and bringing them into picture. Her Story is thus a magnificent attempt with some really first class stories. 

The cover of the book will certainly drag eyeballs. The title is amazing. Further in, the foreword of the book is written by two great and highly respected ladies – Anandiben Patel, the Gujarat CM and Social Activist Sairah Shah Halim. Some stories in the book are worth complementing. Stories like 1stB, 1stC, 1stE, 2^nd, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, 13^th, 17^th and 20^th really deserve applauds for their brilliance and perfectness. 

On the other hand stories such as 5^th, 7^th, 11^th, and especially 14^th, need thorough deliberation. Besides, there are many grammatical errors in the book. I wonder whether the book was edited and proofread. If these flaws were corrected then the book would have been extremely wonderful. 

Nonetheless, it really has some valuable stories, which I feel readers must go through, and hence I am asking my readers to give it a shot. 

Concluding the review and considering everything, I am rating the book with 4/5. Congratulations and good luck to every author who has contributed to this anthology. I hope each and every one continues writing and bringing us amazing tales. :-)

NOTE: A review copy of the book was provided by Ms. Nehali Lalwani.

•  Her Story is available in leading bookstores. 
• You can also avail a copy online via: Amazon,   Flipkart, and Infibeam. 

 

Café Latte by Amit Shankar

• Book: Cafe Latte.
• Author: Amit Shankar.
• Publication House: Vitasta Publishing. 
• Category: Short Stories.
• Rating: 3.75/5.

Story-in-Short:

We are brought up listening to and reading stories, which make us form a cliched framework of expectations and concepts about life. Cafe Latte, takes you on a tantalizing foray into the unusual with some refreshing and some startling stories. A young man, Bikash, is delivered a message through paranormal forces while waiting on the railway platform; A doctor snaps a young man back to life by promising to help him commit suicide. A poor boy, Lokesh, dreams of people at a cinema night show perishing in a fire. Will his desperate attempts to save some lives succeed? 'The Other Side' is the story of a nymphomaniac fighting her desperate craving for sex. 'Smart TV' showcases a smart sales performer, Raj, buying his wife and daughter an expensive TV to cover his affair. 'Code of Honor' is a poignant tale of an army jawaan and his last letter to his son who shuns the army.

The stories cover a broad spectrum of people and events and have us turning the pages eagerly for the twist in the end.

So shed the mundane, become a fearless traveller and savor a fresh approach towards the enigma called Life.

In my view:

Reading short stories is really enjoyable. Several stories, on different topics, with different characters; compiled in a single book are amazing to read. Well, writing short stories is not everybody’s cup of tea. An author needs to be precise while penning them down. The stories should have perfectness and shouldn’t sound abrupt to readers. I have come across another collection of short stories - Café Latte.  

As I pulled the book out from my shelf, my glance fell on its cover which is both proficient and appealing. Temple of the King, the first story in the book, did not really fascinate me as the narration was casual. The theme and the plot of the story too were quite aberrant. But the second story rehabilitated my thoughts. Narration was really interesting and I loved the concept. It begins on a simple note with two people waiting to receive their family members. As story develops, I built up a good rapport with it and kept on turning pages to find what happened ahead. 

Code of Honor, the next one, is indeed a well-written story. A Soldier’s feelings, emotions and hidden affection towards his family, especially towards his son, fascinated me. I loved the way things have been conveyed and found it an awesome write-up. The Black Widow is another story that I would like to mention. This story, that felt like a love story, astounded me in the end. Similarly incredible are stories like A Rose for her, A Highway called Life, The Chosen One, The Other Side, The Dream Chaser, The Guardian Angel, Every Mouse ain’t a Mickey Mouse, True Lies and Writers Block.  

The stories begin mildly and intensity of the required condiments increases appropriately. Every story is unique in itself. None of the stories feel exaggerated. Author has precisely worked on the stories, which can be felt when one reads them. The above mentioned stories are interesting and absorbing. They are logical and coherent and are surely going to give a delightful time to readers. 

The drawback of this collection consists of those stories which are not so mesmerizing. Temple of The King, Let Me Help You Die and Smart TV require contemplation. It is not so that the stories aren’t good. They explicitly fail to deliver something new. Let Me Help you die becomes slightly predictable and Smart TV takes a monotonous turn. 

But apart from these three stories, all others are interesting. I am sure readers will get to read something new through this collection.  

Hence, recommending Café Latte to my readers, I would rate the book with 3.75/5. Congratulations to author Amit Shankar and I am looking forward to read more from him. 

NOTE: A review copy of the book was provided by the author. 

• Cafe Latte is available in leading book stores. 
• You can avail it online via:  Infibeam, Amazon, Homeshop18, Landmark.

Postcards from Memory by Samir Satam.

• Book: Postcards from Memory.
• Author: Samir Satam. 
• Publication House: First Step Publishing.
• Category: Fiction. 
• Rating:3.5/5

Story-in-Short:

Every moment that passes is not coming back. Yes, there might be

moments in future, like the one you just experienced. But it's not going to be the same again. The one that was, was one like itself. It cannot be replaced. It’s gone. Long gone. Dissolved in this crazy tasting, highly intoxicating drink of life. In an attempt to capture these bits and pieces that keep dissolving to give their distinct flavours to this colourful cocktail, I end up scribbling on my pad. This book is a bouquet of such moments that started with my mindless scribbling and ended up in verses. Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Sublime. Each piece has a taste of its own.

In my view:

Only poetries can feature feelings, idea’s, opinions and perspectives in a rhythmic and distinguishing style. Poetries are really interesting to read as spirits, moods and emotions are moulded in a poetic style. I have finished reading Postcards from Memory and this is an anthology of poems composed by Samir Satam. 

This anthology consists of poems on a vast range of topics. Idle Morning, Temtations, Love, Life and a little Nostalgia, Ramblings are the topics covered. The poet has come up with his opinions and thoughts through these poems. Social topics, idealization, fantasy, romance, seasons, feelings attached with surroundings, emotional state, human tendencies have been featured through poems in this anthology. 

The author has used perfect words to describe topics and issues that he has chosen. Figures of Speech used in the poem enhance the poetic effect. The poems are lovely and are surly going to entertain readers. Titles of the poems are simple but suitable. I loved the way author has composed certain interesting poems. 

Speaking about the drawbacks, some poems in the anthology are not that absorbing.  The poet could have implanted interest in these poems. Poems in the initial section were not that captivating as compared to poems in the later section. Some poems have an abrupt ending. Had the poet extended them by a few lines or words, giving it a proper conclusion, then the effect would have been different for sure. Nevertheless, I am sure that the author will contemplate on these suggestions during his future projects.

Considering everything, I would rate the book with 3.5/5. Hope the author continues to write poems and comes up with more books. 

NOTE: A review copy of the book was sent by the author. 

•  Postcards from Memory is available in leading bookstores. 
• You can also avail a copy online via: Flipkart, Amazon.  

Crumpled Voice – Shades of Sufferings.

• Book: Crumpled Voice - Shades of Sufferings.
• Author: Compiler: Pulkit Gupta. Editor: Ila Garg.
• Publication House: Gargi Publishers. 
• Category: Anthology.
• Rating: 4/5.

Story-in-Short:

Crumpled Voices - Shades of Suffering is an anthology based on social issues. A common thread of the prevailing societal evils and injustice binds them together. We have tried to weave stories ranging from rape to acid attack and domestic violence to honor killing in this anthology.

All of us have witnessed such incidents in our day to day life, our near and dear ones might have experienced them closely too. We have almost grown up among them, felt them following us. We constantly live in fear of the unknown, fear of being the victim to any of the criminal activities multiplying around us. These days when no place is safe, including the web, our voices need to be heard.

Protest must begin from somewhere, and we have used our pen which is mightier than the sword to express our anguish. An echo of many unimaginable atrocities lurks within us, engulfing us in its shadow. Through each of the story in this book, we have tried to highlight one such aspect of horrifying crimes.

ssues. A common thread of the prevailing societal evils and injustice binds them together. We have tried to weave stories ranging from rape to acid attack and domestic violence to honor killing in this anthology.

In my view:

Our country is facing so many social issues and every human being suffers in some or the other way. In today’s competitive and busy life, every single day is full of sufferings though the intensity of each sufferings differ. There are so many social evils against whom we have raised our voices but the scenario has barely changed. Every crime targets an individual and every time we hear a crime, our blood boils. But what do we do for its prevention? Although it is easy for ordinary people to simply sympathize with the victims, for them it is indeed a difficult phase of life. I have finished reading Crumpled Voices – Shades of Sufferings. Here’s my detailed review on the stories: 

1) Down the way. I by Ila Garg. 

Environment is an essential factor for the survival of human beings. We have been hearing this for quite a long time now. But seldom do we take care to see appropriate maintenance of environment. Author Ila Garg has targeted a different and a crucial topic this time. This poem genuinely deserves high respect because of its touching lines that stages voice for something that can easily perish if we turn lackadaisical to think about it. It is a poem that directly touches the heart of a reader! 

2) This is who I am. I by Ila Garg. 

Homosexuality is an issue that is being widely discussed and debated. People have varying opinions and perspectives on it. Actually, there is nothing wrong in having feelings for a person belonging to the same gender. But there are people who want to make a mess out of everything. This is a story of two guys and an immoral act that they accost. Emotions have been perfectly wrapped in the story. The only limitation is the hasty conclusion. Actually, the author could have shaped the conclusion in an interesting manner, similar to rest of the story. 

3) Karma Returns. I by Pulkit Gupta.

Karma means nothing but deeds. And if a person’s deeds are good then life becomes pleasurable and less problematic. A child is an icon of love and affection between couples. Our Indian society, even now in some cases, hits hard on females when a couple is unable to have a child. Science has proven this long back that both the parents contribute equally for a child’s birth. Yet only females become soft targets, even when they aren’t at fault. This story is an engrossing story with proper narration. It leaves readers to genuinely think over the topic. 

4) The Last Whisper. I by Tanya Srivastava. 

It is a touching tale of sufferings of women. A woman occupies a pivotal place in a family.  Despite of discussions on things like equality, women are trampled by some typical chauvinists. Having been through a traumatic phase in the aftermath of her marriage, a woman tries to save another woman’s life. It’s an expressive and a poignant story that draws our focus onto marital torture. The title of the story is catchy and appropriate. Its narration too is perfect! 

5) It is Honorable. I by Abhik Chakraborty. 

India is rapidly developing and we Indians proudly talk about modernization. But I wonder when will the conservative outlook of some people change. It is a sad scenario that inter-caste marriage is still considered as a crime in some parts of our country. The title of the story is enough for readers to guess the subject. Indeed this story addresses a grave issue – Honour Killing. The story possesses sorrows and miseries of the victim. Even though honour killing is a subtle topic yet I can evidently say that the author has successfully managed to deliver a captivating story. 

6) The Curious Case of Missing Brahmins. I by Abhishek ‘Atul’. 

In ancient days, Brahmins were the ones who had the task of spreading knowledge. They were the ones who preached and inculcated education in India. They are truly “custodians of all sorts of knowledge”. Today the quality of teachers is no longer same. Teaching has become a business and there rarely exists a student-teacher bonding. After having gone through this story, meticulously, I can call it an ‘out of the box story’. It is truly salutary. Although it is framed in a dramatic style, it leaves readers to give a serious thought on the matter. Wonderful story! Wonderful! 

7) Colour of a butterfly. I by Promilla Qazi. 

Hearing about people consuming alcohol is nothing new for us, is it? It first attracts people towards it and later does nothing other than destroying their lives. The family of an alcoholic person has to go through several hardships. Here’s a story of a girl who witnesses her mother facing malicious atrocities of her drunkard father. The narration of the story is good. And the best part is that it does not take a predictable turn. 

8) Indira’s Story. I by Smita Salins. 

Indian society is prone to people demanding sons. Even when girls are brilliantly excelling in all the fields and posing a tough challenge to boys, we have some samples alive on this planet who just can’t dissolve their conventional thoughts. The title of the story may sound simple but the content is mesmerizing. It is an absorbing story which becomes fragile in the end. 

9) The Corrupt Me. I by Nitesh Chitranshi. 

Thomas Jefferson said that Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Right from our school days we are taught a proverb – Honesty is the best policy. But rarely people follow it. This story is about two friends who set out an example. They also get a reward for their honesty. The title of the story sets high expectations which the story fails to deliver. I think the author could have made the story appealing. Although it gives a strong message but the narration becomes monotonous as the story proceeds. 

10) The Fatal Pride. I by Sreelekha Chatterjee. 

It is always said that we should maintain a safe distance from strangers. Throughout the day, we witness courier delivery boys, insurance agents and many other unknown people walk up to our houses. But we never know the intention that some of these have. This story is about tragic murder of an old lady who lives by herself. But what exactly happens with her? Who commits this crime and why? I won’t reveal much as I would like you to read and find out the further part! The story basically lacks the thrill factor that should have been there. The authoress, in many ways could make this story an exclusive one but it unfortunately becomes predictable. 

11) The Paradise. I by Prachi Priyanka. 

Life is impulsive and we never know what may happen when. This story is about a person who saves a girl about to commit suicide. This girl soon enters the life of this person. But what will this entry result into? To know more about it one must read the story. Well, the story is definitely up to the mark. Something different has been initiated through this story! I liked it!  

12) Nature’s Revenge. I by Shruti Mall. 

This story is about a lawyer who loses his daughter and wife in a barbaric incident.  He loses his wife first and promises his daughter something. But work keeps him busy and he fails to keep his promise. Reader’s sympathy, earned by this lawyer loses within seconds when a confession brings reality in limelight. It is indeed a unique story. 

13) She was raped. I by Nitin Soni. 

Women are an integral part of our society. Ridiculous motives and ferocious thoughts of some bigots have trampled them. Here comes a poem which addresses this topic strongly. A fearlessly and perfectly written poem.

14) The Crescendo of a Grand Symphony. I by Harsh Rai Puri. 

This story is presented in a different manner. It is divided into scenes, probably to make it comprehensible for readers. It’s about Anna and Jacob and the incidents that they accost. Well, the story begins interestingly but fails to hold a reader’s attention till the end. Particularly, the narration of the story falls week as it proceeds and the end too is abrupt. 

15) A Letter to god. I by Sandeep Sharma. 

It is a story of a young girl who works as a domestic help. She does not have much aspirations in life. She just wants to learn the basics of English, to be able to read her brothers letter. The feelings of this girl have been properly displayed in the story. The title of the story is intriguing and its narration is absorbing. 

16) Eighteenth Birthday. I by Nibha Gupta. 

There are so many kids who live in orphanage. They are completely unaware about who their parents are and begin to consider orphanage and the members there as their family. Here’s a story of a girl who grows up in an orphanage. But there’s someone who has some connection with this girl. There’s someone who cares for her. On her 18^th birthday, she gets a vivacious surprise. It’s an amazing and meaningful story with a beautiful narration! 

17) The Indecent Profession. I by Durgesh Shastri. 

In the course of life, we tend to come close to those people who win our trust. Even we begin trusting and loving them. But shocking is that moment when such people reveal their real faces. There are many in this world who have devils hidden behind their innocent faces. This story is about a girl who heartily loves a boy but he turns out to be a buccaneer. I’ll call it an interesting story as it firmly holds a reader’s attention. The narration of the story is enthralling. This makes a reader to turn pages inorder to find more. 

18) Light. I by Shrruti Patole Clarence. 

Women often have to go through open-harrasement, molestation and eve-teasing. The protagonist of this story too is a victim of a similar crime which leaves an indelible mark on her mind. But it is very important to forget those blemishing happenstances and move ahead in life. This story has been written strongly, staging a voice of a determined female. 

19)  Freedom. I by Ketaki Sane. 

Every person has some or the other dreams to accomplish in life. And dreams are something for which a person should never be stopped. This story is about a woman who agrees for an arranged marriage. She has her own dreams to accomplish but there is a hindrance in this path. There is something that troubles her. Her to-be-husband’s approach is ridiculous. But will the life of this girl shine? This is what you’ve got to find out from the book. Well, the story is really good and unlike many others written on this topic. It’s an alluring story. The author could have given a meticulous end to the story as the ending feels abrupt. 

20) A Second Chance. I by Gayatri Aptekar. 

Office work, dreams of promotion, hard work, struggle to have a good profile, stress, fluctuating shift timings and many more reasons keep people busy in a city, as assiduous and diligent as Mumbai. On a one hand parents are busy with their job and on another hand children wait to interact with them. Kids feel lonely spending all their time alone. This story tries to strengthen the relations between parents and kids. It forwards feelings of a lonely child who dearly wants to have communication with parents. I’ll call it a persuasive story with dazzling narration!

21) The Newspaper Reader. I by Chandrapal Khasiya. 

This story is about a woman who first loses her husband and then her eyes in an accident. But she tries to live her life despite of several hardships. She loves interacting with a kid and there’s this girl who comes at her place to read newspaper for her. One find day, while having a conversation something comes to forefront that takes her aback. The story delivers its message perfectly. The narration of this story is simple and the author could have dealt with it in a better way. 

22) Together we can make a difference. I by Priyanka Bansal. 

People have several delusions that they refuse to withdraw. Such delusions often create ruckus in lives of others. This story is about a woman and a girl who set themselves to fight an orthodox society. The woman is diagnosed with a disease and people mistreat her. People in the locality distance themselves from her. This depressed lady has just one source of hope, her daughter, who plays a major role in the story. The story targets another vital issue. The narration completely captivates a reader’s attention. 

23) Don’t Decolorize Me. I by Priyanka Bansal. 

This poem is on Acid Attacks. It describes the trauma that a patient goes through. The poem is composed in a beautiful way that instantly attracts a reader towards it. Although its narration is simple yet it successfully holds a reader’s attention. 

Over-all: The cover of the book is attractive and the title is catchy. The internal layout of the book too is amazing. Crumpled Voices – Shades of Sufferings is different in terms of content. Stories have been wisely selected. Stories based on several crucial and unaddressed issues have found its way in the book. The book offers something new which I am sure readers are going to dearly accept.

Stories – 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 12^th, 16^th, 17^th, 20^th and 22^nd truly won my heart. I would specially like to mention 6th and 20th story. Frankly speaking about the poems, I loved all three! 

Speaking about the drawbacks, I did find some grammatical errors in the book. Also, there are some stories that require contemplation. It isn’t so that they aren’t good. It is just that they lack certain necessary possessions. 

The book is an out-of-the-box novel and after having gone through it, I could easily relate my feeling with that of author Dipen Ambalia, featured on the cover: “An Anthology that is the need of the hour.”

Appreciating the effort put in by each and every author and crediting Gargi publishers for coming up with this anthology, I would rate it with 4/5. 

NOTE:  A review copy of the book was provided by the publication house. 

• Crumpled Voice - Shades of Sufferings is available in all the leading book stores. 
• You can get the book online: Infibeam, HomeShop18, Amazon.in,