STORIES: 3.5/5
WRITING: 3.5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
GENRE: Short Stories, Fiction
THEMES: Everyday People, Everyday Lives, Tales of Ordinary People
If I am really honest, it was the cover that got me intrigued. The watercolor art of the iconic yellow taxi standing against the backdrop of buildings and apartments is just so striking in its imagery that it immediately got me curious.
I’ve recently discovered that a great way to pass your time and do something productive with it, after the lights are out and you are unable to sleep, is to keep your phone away and keep your Kindle eReader handy and fully charged.
That’s how I got around to reading this book in a single sitting, by avoiding my phone and engaging my imaginative mind. To top it all, I had previously read Salini Vineeth’s Magic Square and loved it. But enough of my ramblings, let’s get down to business.
What is the book all about?
Everyday People is a short collection of 8 stories that narrate the tales of people from our everyday lives. These are people whom we may come across but need not engage with; they are ordinary people with ordinary lives, dealing with the struggles and challenges of their everyday existence.
What’s more, these stories reflect the lives of people living in urban cities, striving to eke out a living from the tough city life.
My personal favorites
Among them, my personal favorites are two stories titled “The Blue Light” and “Beyond the Wall.” “The Blue Light” portrays the life of a man living a lonely and dreary existence in a cramped apartment in Bangalore. He feels trapped in the small space, where his choked apartment stands uncomfortably close to the next building, leaving him privy to the happenings of his neighbors. A significant portion of his life is spent in the office, where, like many others, he strives to make a living in this challenging city.
In “Beyond the Wall,” we are introduced to a young girl with big dreams. She is always curious about the places and things that lie beyond the wall of a posh residential complex. Eventually, a chance incident arising out of an adverse situation grants her the opportunity to witness the sights she has always longed to see.
What did I like?
I admire how Everyday People manages to convey so much within a few pages. Spanning just under 40 pages, these 8 stories showcase individuals from diverse backgrounds. Among them, we encounter the anguish of a woman enduring daily torment and abuse from her husband, juxtaposed with the narrative of a career-oriented woman supported wholeheartedly by her husband. There’s the poignant tale of a wife grappling with her husband’s obsession with work, set against the heartwarming story of another wife eagerly planning a surprise for her husband’s birthday.
These characters are ordinary people, yet their stories are compelling and deserve to be heard. The author adeptly captures their essence in a poignant manner. A decent one-time read, I would recommend these stories to anyone seeking a glimpse into urban life and the narratives of ordinary Indians.
Can’t wait to read Everyday People? Get your copy using the link below.
