Review: Small Towns Big Stories By Ruskin Bond

Small Towns Big Stories by Ruskin Bond

An existence and a life-long romantic relationship, with the smaller towns and cities of northern India's hilly areas, Ruskin Bond excelled at documenting life in these places. So much so, even if one may not have any plans to alias with cities like Shamli or Deoli, knowing the characters in these heartland areas becomes far more vivid and true, with Ruskin's style of writing. There could well be those who don't perhaps, even think of Ruskin's works to be anything serious, but it can be said with great moral conviction that, there is every bit the chance, their views change. In a world of conflict of various shades, it makes for great read to delve into lives whose shades are more realistic, vivid, perhaps romantic in ways, sketched on the literary canvas by a person, who knows how to do it best. Great read, Rusty!

       What and Who Ruskin Bond is, and why he makes for great read 

'Small Towns' big stories may be a collection of Ruskin Bond's writings over the years, combining portions from different titles, but it gives a more than fair idea why he is called 'the greatest chronicler of the Indian heartland.' His writings often draw, 21 times via these 21 stories, multiple characters in such vivid styles, the reader should not be surprised to find themselves engrossed in making a simultaneous motion picture in the mind. To fit it in other vocabulary, each story is like a short movie, played out in detail, if one gets taken in.

     Who Ruskin Bond is, and what he has won over, thus far

Favorites in literature can often be a hard pick, especially when detailing one of the best chroniclers of emotional stories, but 'The Night Train at Deoli', 'Times Stops at Shamli' remain to be the top picks. Close-in on the heels would be 'Strychnine in the Cognac' and 'The Funeral' which are written in morose settings, and happen to be tragedies. Obviously such remarks are underlined with being of 'subjective nature', as opinions differ, and so will the picks as favorites among these stories written by Ruskin Bond. 

   Some other opinions about the book

This hardback copy was bought online, from Amazon  but could be availed in physical bookstores as well.