“If you cannot bear these stories then the society is unbearable. Who am I to remove the clothes of this society, which itself is naked. I don’t even try to cover it, because it is not my job, that’s the job of dressmakers.”― Saadat Hasan Manto The words succinctly sum up Manto’s writings. His storiesContinue reading “Manto: selected stories”
Category Archives: books
Other Worlds of Isaac Asimov
Earth – that pale blue dot – planet – home. It’s not the lonely speck Carl Sagan spoke of. In the Other Worlds of Asimov, the universe is home to different creatures, traversing planets in pods and ships, extending the boundaries of space and science. Mars is colonised. Time travel has been achieved. Trade treatiesContinue reading “Other Worlds of Isaac Asimov”
Good Omens, Beastly Tales & Saki
Good Omens: Angels, demons, witches, prophecies, the end of the world – this one’s got it all. Given that it’s a Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett collaboration, there’s the expected dose of whimsy, some classic mishap, and quirky personalities. The Antichrist, Adam, gets misplaced by the nuns in a typical sleigh of hand maneuver goneContinue reading “Good Omens, Beastly Tales & Saki”
Prelude to a riot
India today is a nation of frayed seams. Prelude to a Riot tells the story of one such unraveling in a small Southern town with the help of two families – one Hindu and one Muslim. Written as soliloquies, across three generations, it provides an insight into the thoughts of different actors, and how theContinue reading “Prelude to a riot”
Small Days and Nights & Shikhandi
Small Days and Nights by Tishani Doshi: Grace is unaware that she has an elder sister. It’s only at her mother’s funeral that she learns of Lucia, who lives in a residential facility due to Down’s Syndrome. She’s surprised at the secrets that tumble out in her mother’s letter. There’s the pink house by anContinue reading “Small Days and Nights & Shikhandi”
A Thousand Mornings 