Tag / contemporaryfiction

by whatsonsidsmind

2 Years Already! | Two and a Half Rainbows

Hi All,

Happy to inform that my book Two and a Half Rainbows has completed 2 years!
The experience of travelling with my first book, as it journeyed through clouds of uncertainty, to make a name for itself, was humbling and enlightening. Let me not mince words here; it is a very lonely process. While you write to tell a story that you are dying to tell, a finished book at the end of the day is meant for its readers. It must find miraculous ways to reach them. And on rare days, when it receives the appreciation of a book lover, all the effort that was put into nurturing ideas and transforming them into words feels worth it.

So, to all who have supported me in this journey, and sent in a kind word of encouragement; thank you for believing in me! And to all who have read and reviewed my book; I can’t thank you enough!

Two and a Half Rainbows is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Google Books. (link below)
https://amzn.to/3dC7aqd

Regards,
Sid

by whatsonsidsmind

A River on the Wall | Stormy Hazarika | Book Review

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

Imagine that you are at your favorite hill station. A place, you think you know all too well. But on that day, you are approached by a tourist guide, who tells you about a breath-taking view, you may have missed. You are apprehensive, but decide to give in to his persuasive nature. Elated, he grabs your hand, but walks you through those same roads you’ve been before! The shops, restaurants, and marketplaces you pass by are all familiar. “What is the catch?”, you wonder, and just as you begin to protest, he pulls you into a dark alley. You feel jittery and decide to bring the cheeky little guy to a halt. “What are you up to?” you ask. He stops, grins and vehemently kicks open a door. What you see, thereafter, leaves you breathless!

One-third into “A River on the Wall”, that is exactly how I felt. It was, as if, a forgotten bulb in the room had suddenly got switched on, after which everything became clearer. It was then that I realized, that here is an author, who is both brave and crafty, and that the title she has chosen is perfect for the book.

I was introduced to this book by an author friend who had written a detailed review of it in a reader’s group on Facebook. I was intrigued and had included it into my “TBR list” immediately. But I must admit, that I began reading it with some pre-conceived notions. I had thought of it to be a “lingering melancholy” with realistic, empathetic characters. It’s a genre that I do read but this book wasn’t just that, despite the underlying pathos, which was unmistakable. It is an epic tale of love, loss, betrayal, despair, guilt and guarded secrets. But there is more to this book than what meets the eye.

The author is a Professor of English, so my expectation with language and grammar were high. But what caught my eye was her choice of words—poetic and appropriate. Authenticity wasn’t sacrificed at the altar of demonstration, thankfully! The other commendable aspect of the writing was the use of allegories, metaphors and idioms which lent symmetry to the writing, thereby helping the reader visualize the scenes better. In fact, there were many instances where I felt that this book has the potential to be converted into a screenplay. Here are a few noteworthy quotes from the book:

“Sometimes, life is like an autumn wood, golden leaves and amber paths, dappled with sunshine.”

“Human emotion is such a complex thing. At times it is right there for the world to see. At others, no matter how deep one dives, an endless void meets the eye, an abyss of nothingness”

“And though Ryeed was relatively young, he felt old and tired, like Lear on the heath, alone in the storm.”

However, more than language, it is the intelligence with which the story has been crafted that deserves praise. The author weaves several impactful moments by treading through what may seem like the mundane. Hence, when these moments arrive, they do pack a punch. The generous use of soliloquies and one-to-one conversations is also interesting and they manage to take you into the mind of the characters.

The most impressive aspect of the storytelling though was the use of wit. Subtle humor to be precise. When you make bold decisions with your plot you can easily tilt to extremes with your storytelling and make it overdramatic or outlandish. But this is where the author shines. She uses humor and pathos intelligently, and by doing so keeps the story and its characters real and believable. In other words, she takes a big risk by being deceptively outlandish but comes out keeping all the traits of good literature intact, and that’s the newness that Stormy Hazarika brings to the table.

This is not to say that the book is without any flaws. The story covers several years in the life of its lead character (Ryeed), often jumping timelines, and there were moments where I felt that the author could have invested a little more to let the emotions linger. Also, I felt that the protagonist’s (Ryeed) character could have had a few more layers. However, different readers will perceive these aspects differently. Personally, if a book keeps me emotionally engaged from start to finish, it has served its purpose. And “A River on the Wall” does that without a shadow of doubt!

Hence, I strongly recommend this book to all who like reading good contemporary fiction. It deserves to be read because it is witty, clever, brave and skillfully crafted. I will give Stormy Hazarika’s “A River on the Wall” – 4.5/5. She is a remarkable storyteller, and I am looking forward to her next.

The book is available in both paperback and kindle formats. You can grab a copy of it from the Amazon link below:

https://amzn.to/3l2WXWV

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

Meeting Rosanna (Short Story Reading) | Two and a Half Rainbows

Hi All,

The above video is a reading of an extract from the short story “Meeting Rosanna” from my book “Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories”. The story is about two septuagenarians who meet unexpectedly after 40 long years. The inspiration for the story came from observing my parents. I have often wondered, what it would be like, for them, to meet an old and dear friend in a serendipitous encounter. What would be their reaction? What would they be reliving?

The extract has been read by my sister-in-law, Garima Joshi Tewari, who was kind enough to lend her mellifluous voice to my story. She is a former radio jockey with FM Rainbow (All India Radio) and I believe she has done a fabulous job of helping the reader visualize the scenes unfolding in this short extract from the story. Hope you all like it!

This will be the first among a series of story reading videos which will be uploaded in the coming weeks. So do watch out for this space and do like, share and subscribe to my channel if you have liked what you have seen!

You can grab a copy of my book from the links below:

Amazon India:

https://amzn.to/2Lx00sU

Amazon customers outside India:

https://amzn.to/3crRc2S

(Available in Paperback and Kindle)

Also, available on Flipkart & Notion Press Store. Ebook available on google books, kobo.com

Warm Regards,

Sid

by whatsonsidsmind

Why was ‘Two and a Half Rainbows’ chosen as the title for the book?

Dear All,

This is a question that was asked quite often in the last 4 months, either by people who have read the book or those who have contemplated reading it. I thought that this is the right time to answer. Do watch the video and let me know your thoughts.

Warm Regards,

Sid

*******************************************************************************************************************

Grab your copy of ‘Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories’ from the link below (Available in Paperback and Kindle):
https://amzn.to/2Lx00sU

Also available @ Flipkart & Notion Press store. ebook available @ Google books, iBooks and Kobo.com

by whatsonsidsmind

Two and a Half Rainbows | Book Review – By Author Pankaj Giri

Please note: The following review was originally posted by Pankaj Giri (author of the ‘Amazon Best Reads’ – The Fragile Thread of Hope) on his FB Page and on the ‘Two and a Half Rainbows‘ FB page. It is being shared on this website with his due approval. 

A Thought Provoking, Masterful Collection of Short Stories!

I met Siddhartha on Facebook, where he introduced his book to me. The blurb was well-written and intriguing, so I decided to give it a go.
I am constantly on the lookout for good contemporary fiction by Indian writers. However, most of the time, I am left disappointed. Either the language is laden with grammatical errors or the narration leaves a lot to be desired. Only rarely do I come across a literary gem with polished language and good narration that gives an overly satisfying experience. I’m glad to inform you that ‘Two and a Half Rainbows’ by Siddhartha easily falls into the latter category.
The book is a collection of short stories exploring the themes of familial relationships, life’s bittersweet memories, mystery, love, friendship, and even horror. Some stories also give life lessons in a subtle, non-preachy way. I also loved how some of the longer stories have been divided into parts. It’s a unique technique, and I think it is certainly effective in this book.
After reading the first few pages itself I knew that I had not made a mistake by choosing this book. The language is lucid and descriptive and free from grammatical and punctuation errors. Even the punctuation in dialogues—where young writers invariably falter—is flawless.
The book is sprinkled with unique metaphors and similes here and there, enriching the already brilliant writing. The paragraphs are short and there is a perfect mixture of long and short sentences, which makes for a wonderful reading experience.
The descriptions are vivid and the reader can imagine everything as if they are right there in the scene. There is an artistry in the narration as well, keeping the mystery alive right till the very end. I was awed by the endings of almost all stories. The characters are also well-sketched and I could relate to most of them.
The best part about the writing in this book is its intelligence. The narration is layered, and the conclusions of the stories are not spoon-fed to the reader. It makes them think, which is the hallmark of clever writing.
This is a one-of-a-kind book that deserves to be read by readers and non-readers alike. It is entertaining, clever, and extremely well-written. It is rare to find a flawless book like this, especially among the self-published ones. In fact, this book deserves to be traditionally published and reach bookstores across the country. I asked the author about it, and he said he didn’t even try to approach publishers, which is unfortunate.
Nevertheless, I urge anyone who is reading this review to try this book out. Brilliant writers like Siddhartha Krishnan need to be encouraged.
4.7 out of 5 stars to this masterpiece.
You can get a copy of Two and a Half Rainbows (available in Paperback and Kindle) at the below links:
India
International customers:
Also available @ Flipkart (Paperback), ebooks @ Kobo.com ,Google books, iBooks and Booktopia.
You can get a copy of Pankaj Giri’s The Fragile Thread of Hope (available in Paperback and Kindle) at the below links:

India:

Amazon.in

International customers:

Amazon.com

by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review – The Fragile Thread of Hope | Pankaj Giri | An Ode to Melancholia

Book Cover – The Fragile Thread of Hope

By Siddhartha Krishnan . 3 Min Read

There goes a saying, “Our pleasures are shallow, our sorrows are deep”. The undeniable attribute of melancholia, is that, it is slow and lingering. Unlike happiness it is never in a hurry to leave. Pankaj Giri’s novel, therefore, is a slow burn and deliberately so, which makes it feel like an ode to melancholia. It’s the story of Fiona and Soham and their traumatic past that is unwilling to give in to their resilient present, which hangs by “The Fragile Thread of Hope”. It’s a tale of love, loss, loneliness, regret and the power of hope. Loss is imminent but the baggage that it ensues often leads to regret and ruthless melancholy. The story moves at its own pace but cleverly leads to gut-wrenching moments of loss, which leaves the reader in a daze.

The first thing that strikes you about the book is the investment into its characters and that each chapter is dedicated to a specific character testifies the effort that has gone in. The characters are well-sketched, especially the leads, Fiona and Soham, and the author jumps timelines to unravel their arc. Another unique aspect of the storytelling is the use of delusions and dreams in vivid prose with the atmospherics playing an important role in them. Like this other-worldly experience that Soham goes through in a hospital in Bangalore after a ghastly accident, “A cool breeze caresses his cheeks, Soham finds himself on a chair in front of a wooden study table. Bright light streams in through the transparent panes of the window in front of him, blurring his vision. Observing the balustrade of the balcony beyond the window, he recognizes the place—it is his room in Gangtok”.

The writing has a rich poetic vein about it, which shows in the author’s choice of words and formation of sentences. There is a languid flow to it all. The other commendable aspect of the writing is its symmetry displayed through some clever use of analogies. As a writer I can vouch that this is not an easy task but they are critical to help the reader visualize a scene in their mind. Only skilled writers can pull this off with aplomb. The following is a good example—“She walked past a streetlight, a swarm of moths hovering around it like a gang of flirts”.

In May, 1886, Anton Chekhov once famously wrote to his brother Alexander, who was harbouring literary ambitions, “In descriptions of nature one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes, he gets a picture. This is where the author excels the most as he expertly transports you to places. The following description of a bike ride in Gangtok is a good example, “The farther away the mountains were, the more their colour seemed to drop from green to blue and then lighter shades of blue. Dark clouds looming above the hilly horizon were on the verge of swallowing the setting sun”. 

Melancholy, undoubtedly has its own charm. It is strangely seducing and entertaining in its own way and this book is proof of that. After reading it, I was reminded of lines from a favourite Hindi song,

“Jashn ye raas na aaye,

Maza tho bas gam mein aaya hai.

Maine dil se kahan, dhoond lana khushi,

Na samajh laya gam, tho gam hi sahi!”

(Celebrations are deceiving,

Pain is more honest.

I asked my heart to go find happiness,

But the fool brought back sorrow)

I will recommend the book to all dreamers, brooders, wanderers and eternal romantics. For its well-sketched characters, poetic prose and attention to detail, I think the book is a must read. I will give Pankaj Giri’s masterfully written “The Fragile Thread of Hope” a 4.5/5.

Note – “The Fragile Thread of Hope” has been selected among “Amazon Best Reads” and the author is a finalist of the Amazon Pen to Publish contest (2017). The book has also received accolades from award-winning bestselling authors like Chitra Divakaruni (The Palace of illusions) and Renita D’Silva (The Forgotten Daughter).

The book has been published by Fingerprint publishing and is available at the below places:

India:

Amazon.in

International customers:

Amazon.com

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of “Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories“. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

 

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