Sham, Drudgery, and a Beautiful World has stories that cover a wide spectrum of human emotions. Practical and emotional at the same time, they look at life with a purposeful detachment. These stories are written to make you think and reflect.
Shankaracharya | Anuj Tikku | Book Review
A young boy named Adi Guru becomes the new Shankaracharya of the famous Hindu math and assumes command of the ancient organization. He finds support amongst many followers, but he also has his fair share of detractors, people who accuse him of foul play and conspiracy.
The Search | Sajita Nair | Book Review
Laya is a cheerful teenager who loves hanging out with her friends and boyfriend.
Alas! her carefree days are cut short abruptly when she realizes the reason behind her recent bouts of nausea and sickness. She is pregnant. And now she’s also clueless about what to do.
Sacred Trove | Subin Mathew George | Book Review
Sacred Trove is a collection of eleven unique stories that reflect human nature and behavior. Though not all stories adhere to it, many have biblical themes. It is a book that manages to capture the beauty of this imperfect human world.
Putli: Wanna Play | Anuj Tikku | Book Review
Sushant Gupta, an archeologist, finds the church that houses Jesus’s remains but at the same location, he also finds an ominous-looking doll that goes by the name Putli. Very soon, the locals start experiencing weird and sinister encounters that hint at a darker power at play.
Sunaina Ki Jadooi Sandal | Anuj Tikku | Book Review
Sunaina’s life take a turn for the worse when she becomes a widow.
One day fate leads her to a roadside vendor from whom she buys a pair of flashy red sandals. But unknown to Sunaina, these sandals have magical powers. They provide numerous superhuman abilities to anyone who wears them.
The Pickle | Roshan Kulki | Book Review
The Pickle promises to take the reader into unchartered territory where hunger and lust exchange places and roles. It talks of a taboo world where hunger is restricted, but sex is openly and publicly accepted in all its permutations, combinations, kinks, and quirks.
Nonet | Sonali Dabade | Book Review
Nonet is a potpourri of heterogeneity. Every story is different, incongruous with the rest, and yet they all come together beautifully like an exquisite bouquet of wildflowers.
The Goddess’s Homecoming | Nibedita Deb | Book Review
The language of the book is easy to follow, neither too ornate nor too crisp.
Dhi’s Parables Of Divine Transformation | Saudamini Mishra | Book Review
The book is worth reading word by word, page by page and definitely more than once, because of its clever use of climaxes and gripping plots.
Afsaane | Ameya Bondre | Book Review
“Afsaane” is a collection of short stories that are relatable in their themes and remarkable in their depth. It is a book that attempts to anchor our generation down with its esoteric lessons and its philosophical musings.
Slices of Life | Richa Gupta | Book Review
Each story is beautifully crafted with contrasting characters like Kanika and Kanta from different socio-economic backgrounds, Tiya and Bijoy with different levels of commitments and Rakhi and Mamta varying in their sense of loyalty and age.