I spent my birthday with Max after three long years. Fortunately, she happened to be in town around that time.We had lunch together and then she took me along to buy my gift.I had to be back for my afternoon class in some 20 minutes.So I took a quick call and decided to buy a recipe book from the Oxford's bookstore in the same complex. Inside, while looking for the cook books section, I ended up scanning the section on fiction which was on the way. My eyes fell upon a Ruskin Bond book in one of the racks and I picked it up.Max asked me if I wanted to take it. I refused and proceeded to the cookbook section. There I picked up a Good food magazine on 101 cheap eats.I'd made my choice. Max wasn't convinced though. So she picked up a cocktail and appetizers book which she knew would be more useful and on the way to the counter, she also picked up the Ruskin Bond book.
I tried to dissuade her from buying me the book by saying I didn't get much time to read. "Oh I'm sure, you will find time to read this one. Hopefully you'll start writing again too" she said. Best friends know what makes your heart tick. I have always enjoyed reading Ruskin Bond and have tried imitating him in my writings.
The book "friends in small places" is a compilation of short stories inspired by the lives of people Bond knew and who had a lasting impression on him. Reading the book made me nostalgic of all the Ruskin Bond books I had read as a child. I had loved Rusty, the spooky horror tales of Mussorie, the kite maker and many others. In this book Bond shares his relationship with his father, his mother, grandmother, his relatives, his teacher,his servant, his neighbours and some interesting people who gave him the meat for his stories. The stories have humor, heartwarming affection, love, lust, jealousy, innocence, honesty, friendship, loyalty, kindness; emotions that make them real and humane. Sometimes they have an undertone of philosophy on the goodness of life.
Some of my favourite ones from this book are Masterji, Keemat Lal, My father and I, Uncle Ken, his neighbour's wife, Somi and Rusty, Kishan Singh, Bhabiji,Bansi and the ayah, The Kitemaker and the Sensualist. I keep coming back to them everynight.
I guess this post would not be here but for my love for Ruskin Bond. Thank you Max.
Cheers to you Mr Bond!!
6 comments:
aha.. short stories, eh? i think this one i may like!
Finally I find someone who revels in Ruskin Bond...He has been a companion all my adolescent life...And ever since I have read "The Train stops at Shamli", I have always wondered what goes on in those remote stops..
Cheers :)
Met Mr Bond last time I was in Mussoorie, he can be seen regularly signing his novels at a book store.
R.Anand
Delhi
Mussoorie Trip
@eye in sty in.. I'm sure you would enjoy this one.
@Dr. R. Anand, I consider you very lucky,Sir. Maybe someday I shall get a chance to meet Mr. Bond in real life.
Must be an enjoyable read Susanna's Seven Husbands by Ruskin Bond. loved the way you wrote it. I find your review very genuine and orignal, this book is going in by "to read" list.
@Mohit, that was all the more why I wanted to see the movie. I liked it...and thank you! :)
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