Apr 06, 2006 10:33 PM
9136 Views
(Updated Apr 06, 2006 10:42 PM)
I accidently discovered Ruskin Bond over a decade ago..
During my schooldays, Gerald Durell was a hot favourite with me. His stories, infused with much wit, were woven around friends,family,pets and nature. There was simply no one who could write like him.
Ruskin Bond is Gerald Durell all over again, in a totally Indian 'avatar'. His books are of the Indian,for an Indian,by a true Indian.
He is one of our best writers of short stories.They appeal to readers of all ages.
Fame and success have come to Ruskin Bond rather late in the day. This septuagenarian,like a bottle of the bubbly, gets better and better with age. Much to the delight of his fans, Bond is turning increasingly prolific as the years go by. British by parentage and 'asli desi' at heart, Bond loves his 'parathas' and 'shalgam' pickle just like you and me! His Indian ethos comes across in his works.
At last we have an Indian writer of English prose, whose works don't read like translations from the vernacular.
This book, aptly entitled ''Friends in small places,'' is an engaging collection of short stories,twenty four in all.
Bond writes about real people.
His sense of humour is unparalleled.
His style of writing is deceptively simple and thereby all the more appealing.
In this book, Bond shares with his readers, his varied experiences in life.He writes about his encounters with the people around him, many with a very humble station in life. Apart from his parents,granny,Prem (his man Friday),we are told about the exploits of Uncle Ken,Uncle Bill, Mr.Kushal - the Hindi master,friends Somi and Kishen and lots more.
Some stories will make you smile.
Others are absolutely hilarious.
Some of the stories are tinged with melancholy. They will tug at your heart strings.There are Bond's accounts of the days spent with his father, who was taken by fate when Bond was very young.
Bond's world will certainly enthuse every reader.
Although every story has it's own special appeal, this reviewer's personal favourite is 'His Neighbour's Wife'.
This delightful collection of Bond's short stories can be best described as a heady bouquet of vintage Bond.
