Oct 12, 2007 01:35 PM
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(Updated Oct 12, 2007 01:35 PM)
The Five Dollar Smile. What can a statement like that mean. A smile is worth Five dollars or a smile bought for Five dollars or a smile which can fetch five dollars?
This collection of short stories starts with the story of Joseph, an orphan who has become the poster boy for HELP. He has modeled for the “All it takes is five dollars a month to bring a smile on this face” campaign. The story is an heart wrenching one and paves the way for very humane collection of short stories.
Shashi Tharoor has written the stories using his real experiences. The timeline of the stories ranges from 1978 – 1981.
The issues covered range from
* The social discrimination prevalent in 1970s.
* College life, the loss of a friend and guilt that how did I survive? Fantasizing the daughter of a professor…
* The dilemma of a young man, is it right to fantasies about your real aunt?
* An Author who writes on real life characters he meets and how lonely he is when everyone turns away from him.
* About normal people like a thief (it’s a classic story of conning), a policeman who thinks he is Sherlock Homes…
* The book ends with a drama which is humorous & sarcastic to the core. It’s the story of a dog….this one is in the background of emergency.
Now let’s come to why I liked the book….
~~ The book is a combination of real stories & real issues. It doesn’t take you to another world but gives you a view of the real world.
~~ It is of an era which we haven’t lived in but it’s enriching to read about it. The stories have an old world charm to them. Like those old Doordarshan serials.
~~ Almost each story has suspense and a twist to it…its keeps you guessing.
~~ The humor is not in your face kinds. Its subtle and a relief.
~~ I picked it up without any expectations and it turned out to be a very good book.
~~ The author has written a small foreword for each story which gives you an insight of the author’s frame of mind at that time. The foreword was very useful and insightful too.
~~ Have heard many people ask Shashi Tharoor writes fiction? Well this is the second book him which I have read & reviewed and would suggest everyone to read him. He has a very simple style of writing but it captures your heart.
Recently I have been into too many Short Stories but trust me each one collection is as different as Chalk & Cheese and I have enjoyed all of them.
This book is not about relationships rather it’s about individuals in different situations.
As I have said it has an old world charm to it. This book should be read by all…on a rainy day with a cup of coffee.
The book will bring a smile on your face, will make you think, will keep you hooked.
