Pankaj Giri's Blog

The Way We Are is a collection of stories set in and around Darjeeling. Exploring dark themes like murder, sibling torture, death, and horror, and featuring a gamut of interesting, relatable characters, these stories offer a mirror into the lives of people from Darjeeling and the issues they face.

I have seldom come across a short story collection where almost every story gripped me, and this is one of them. The strength of the stories stems from the intriguing, relatable characters that Ms. Lindblom has managed to create. I could resonate with the main character in all the stories—be it the lonely Diwakar in “In That Building by the Woods”, the innocent Kalsang bullied by her evil sister in “In Her Shadow”, or a brave Trishna trying to cope with her brother’s loss in “Atonement”. I could feel for these characters and found myself rooting for them.

I loved the variety in the stories. Each was completely different from the other, and the pacing was spot on, ensuring that my interest never waned. Having said that, I did notice minor plot holes in a couple of the stories—which would have been mitigated by the addition of a few lines here and there—one story was a bit too filmy for my liking, and the incorporation of the horror element—although well done throughout—became a tad predictable after a few stories.

Another thing I loved about this book is how Ms. Lindblom has beautifully incorporated the Gorkhaland movement—and its impact on the people of Darjeeling—into some stories. The stories “Monsters of Men” and “The Night of the Storm” are a testament to that fact. And the best part is that the movement continues in the background without hampering the characters’ growth and, in fact, even contributing to their development.

The language is excellent, garnished by an ample dose of luscious wordplay and unique metaphors and similes. The descriptions are vivid, diverse, and beautifully done, and I relished every one of them. I did notice a few punctuation errors here and there, and I informed Ms. Lindblom about them. She assured me she was already aware of them, and they would be fixed in the next version.

Overall, The Way We Are is an exceptional collection of short stories that I would highly recommend to all types of readers.

4.2 stars from my side.

Whispers in the Mist revolves around a dead woman, Gayatri—who lingers around her house for months after her death—and other characters in the same village whose lives are intertwined. Exploring the different yet interconnected lives, the novel offers a window into the multifarious challenges faced by the people of Darjeeling.

The story opens with Gayatri as she discovers that her husband has remarried months after she passed away. Ms. Dewan reveals Gayatri’s intimate emotions with appreciable precision, making you feel for Gayatri.

Thereafter, the book moves on to the other characters in the village. Their stories are unique and intriguing, and each of them has their own demons to fight. I loved how Ms. Dewan has portrayed the various challenges faced by the lower middle class of Darjeeling, whether it is water scarcity in schools or the trauma of a woman raped by a soldier during the Gorkhaland movement.

The characters are interesting, but I found it difficult to root for most, except maybe Gayatri and Aruna. I can understand that it was the author’s intention to make them flawed, but perhaps she ended up making them a tad too unlikable. And even those characters who are likeable, their arcs seemed incomplete, even after the innovative epilogue delivered by the cat, Baini. I didn’t get the closure I had hoped for.

The language is simple, lucid, and adequately ornamented at the appropriate places, a marked improvement from the language in Ms. Dewan’s debut novel, which was flowery and clunky. Yet, occasionally, the narration does feel a bit jerky; some dialogues and pieces of narration seem to appear abruptly. However, I loved the peppering of local culture and traditions in the narrative and the vivid, beautiful descriptions that transported me to the scenes.

Overall, Whispers in the Mist is a well-written, unique novel set in the hills of Darjeeling that touches upon several important issues, themes, and human emotions. A book worth checking out for fiction enthusiasts.

3.9 stars from my side.

When Stars Fell into My Soup is a unique book that primarily delves into the life of Spencer Diaz, a young man who lies in a coma after experiencing a fatal accident, accompanied by a collection of separate, diverse stories that are sometimes loosely related to one another.

Initially, the length of the book slightly daunted me; it is a 369-page book, and I rarely read such lengthy books. However, as I navigated the pages, the simple, lucid writing and the relatable stories ensured that my reading experience was smooth.

The prologue was overwhelming, though. Imagine reading one paragraph of the mental state of 20-25 characters at once. It was a bad idea, and I left it midway to begin the first chapter.

I liked the majority of the stories and even thoroughly enjoyed some of them. The characters are relatable, likable, and worth rooting for, and the relationships are beautifully developed. A couple of stories were so poignant that I almost teared up. Mr. Gupta’s writing shines in the short stories. Despite the shorter length, he manages to create nuanced, layered characters and wholesome, complicated relationships. Those stories were a treat to read, especially ‘Noelle finds a memory box’, ‘The Brown Shawl’, ‘Leo Makes a Plan’, ‘Jugs writes Jimmy a letter’, and ‘Sam and Nathan go camping’. However, some stories like ‘Elena, Lost and Found’ and ‘Alex is Home Alone’ didn’t strike a chord with me.

I also appreciate the variety in the genres of stories (thriller, drama, sci-fi, and many others) and the way they explore different facets of queer identity (asexual, transgender).

And coming back to the main character, Spencer, whose story appears in trickles throughout the book. I have mixed feelings regarding Spencer. It is difficult not to feel for a geeky, stammering, comatose youngster with a broken family. However, unfortunately, I couldn’t fully warm up to him. Perhaps it was his ill-timed remarks (supposed to be funny, but I didn’t get the humor), especially when they appear in serious and potentially poignant sections. I can understand the author’s intention – to show how a cool teenager might be thinking. But it alienated me from him, and the emotional punches towards the end didn’t quite land for me (although the character does show significant development throughout the book).

The writing is good throughout, and I couldn’t find any major grammatical or punctuation errors.

Overall, When Stars Fell into my Soup is a great read, and I recommend it to all fiction enthusiasts who enjoy well-written, emotional, thought-provoking drama.

4.2 stars from my side.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling is a memoir by Lt General Shakti Gurung, the first ethnic Gorkha Lieutenant General. The memoir traces the life of General Gurung from his childhood in Malaya, his boarding school days in Dehradun, his college life at NDA, his training at IMA, and his subsequent life as a celebrated officer.

The narrative gripped me from the beginning, and despite the considerable length of the book, I never felt bored. General Gurung employs simple, lucid language and peppers the book with personal vignettes and subtle humor, enhancing the readability. He also sprinkles the narrative with important Nepali culture and traditions and delves into the significant sacrifices made by the Indian Gorkha community. General Gurung also includes some boxed sections wherein he offers valuable tips and learnings to students aspiring to pursue a career in the military, which is appreciable.

I loved the portrayal of his school and college life; it is innocent, relatable, and shows the inquisitiveness, ambition, and resolve of General Gurung as a young boy, which contributed to his immense success in his life as an army officer. Another episode that I thoroughly enjoyed was the way he narrates the history of Gorkhas through a heartfelt conversation between him and his father. It was innovative, beautifully executed, and extremely informative.

The story then moves on to his postings in various brigades and infantries, his significant role in countering terrorism, and how he rose to become a Lieutenant General and retired as the Military Secretary.

I admire how, despite facing obstacles and challenges throughout his military career, he confronted them with unflinching grit and calmness and rose through the ranks with flying colors. Personalities like him serve as sources of immense inspiration for youngsters of the Indian Nepali Community, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and achieve success.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling is an important book. I would highly recommend it to youngsters aspiring to join the military profession, all army officers and cadets, and general readers interested in learning about the military profession and the inspirational success story of a man from an underrated community.

4.5 stars from my side.

Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains is the debut novel by Ms. Subi Taba, based on the rarely explored land of Arunachal Pradesh. It is an interesting collection of short stories that offers a window into an exotic culture and people.

Upon reading the first few pages, I was amazed. Ms. Taba possesses an extensive, enviable vocabulary that could put even seasoned authors to shame. I was in awe as I perused the magnificent wordplay, the beautiful, languid narration, and the vivid, spectacular descriptions. I loved the first story, but couldn’t quite relate to the twist at the end. Although it was an unexpected twist, it felt unrealistic, and even if one could term it as fantasy/lore, I think the physical transformation of the protagonist could have been described better.

The stories are unique and diverse. They also touch upon important social issues and themes like patriarchy, domestic abuse, slavery, and feminism, thus adding depth to the narrative. They are also imbued with the rich cultural tapestry of Arunachal Pradesh, lending a layer of richness and an exotic flavor to the stories.

However, despite the variety in the stories and the brilliant writing, unfortunately, none of the stories moved me as much as I had hoped. Perhaps that was because of the author’s attempt to be unconventional and stand out, which led to the story being told from multiple perspectives, like animals, birds, and even plants. Although the experimentation is appreciable and this endeavor could have worked if the stories were longer (I have read and even loved an animal as a narrator in a recent read—an award-nominated novel—where the animal’s voice was well-developed and poignant), I feel it resulted in a slight compromise in the character development. Even in the stories without animal narrators, a detached omniscient narrator is used, and there is still no emphasis on character development. I could find no characters to root for, no relationships to savor and follow, no confrontations or conflicts to look forward to, thus diluting my emotional connection with the stories.

The last story is a slight exception to the trend, where the character of the China Man is well-etched and worth rooting for. However, I didn’t quite like how the story turned out in the latter half of the book, and although the twist at the end is surprising, it wasn’t satisfying enough for me.

However, the writing, as mentioned earlier, is remarkable and flawless. I couldn’t even locate one grammatical or punctuation error throughout the book. Ms. Taba and the editor deserve a round of applause for such impeccable editing, which I rarely find in books nowadays, even in award-winning books. Moreover, the illustrations accompanying the text are breathtaking. I loved them.

Thus, Tales from the Dawn-lit Mountains is a brilliant debut by a talented writer. Ms. Taba possesses exceptional writing skills and a wonderful gift of storytelling. If she works on her character development skills, she has the potential to become one of the leading writers in the country.

3.9 stars from my side.

Berserk is a dark psychological thriller primarily dealing with three characters – Ramakrishna, a humble teacher in love with his feisty student, Nazm; Coffee Man, a volatile figure hell bent on revenge for the murder of his loved one; and another unnamed character who is on a murder spree to avenge a brutal betrayal. Their paths eventually converge, leading to chaos and astonishing revelations.

The story gripped me from the get-go, and despite the excessive gore at the end of the first chapter, I was eager to read more. The love story between Ramakrishna and Nazm is beautifully written, and I can’t remember being so engrossed by any literary passage in recent times. The relationship was exceptionally developed, and I couldn’t peel my eyes from the pages.

Then, the twists and turns kept coming, retaining my intrigue till the final page. Mr. Priyadarshi is a supremely talented writer. Despite the intricate plot and complex characters, he not only manages to keep the reader invested throughout but also succeeds in tying almost all loose ends satisfactorily at the end. The last chapter, especially, with its shocking reveals, was brilliantly executed, and as the author predicts in the blurb, it made my mind go berserk. The epilogue is also good, but it could have been better.

The characterization is top-notch as well. All three personalities are unique and undergo significant development throughout the read, making them relatable and real, despite only one of them being likable.

The language is lucid and mostly fluid, although certain dialogues sound a bit unnatural owing to the usage of big words and phrases. Also, I noticed a slight overuse of capitalized words in dialogue, which should ideally be avoided in prose. The same should be conveyed using action or dialogue tags instead of capitalizing the text in dialogue. The descriptions are well-written, although some gory sequences were a bit difficult to read and made me queasy. I had to skim through them.

Nevertheless, Berserk is an excellent novel, and I would highly recommend it not only to thriller enthusiasts but to readers who enjoy well-written, captivating reads with brilliantly developed characters.

4.5 stars from my side.

Whispers in the Wind primarily revolves around the protagonist Ram, the son of a wealthy landlord in Bhutan, and the adversities he faces as he flees Bhutan with his infant son during the ethnic cleansing triggered by the king of Bhutan decades ago.

The story starts with a prologue where Ram’s son, now settled in Sikkim and a grandfather, narrates the story of his father to his grandson. The story then shifts to the 1950s, chronicling Ram’s childhood, his relationship with his wealthy father, the decline of the family, and what transpired thereafter that forced him to flee from his home.

The narration alternates between different timelines, and the transition is smooth and executed with appreciable expertise. The story is woven beautifully, and the flow is excellent, giving the impression of a seasoned writer’s work rather than a debut novel.

The story is told from the protagonist’s perspective, and the character development is well done. However, I couldn’t quite relate to certain decisions of the protagonist during the middle phase of the book. Yet, I carried on. The journey of the protagonist and son is interesting, and it is endearing to see the father caring for his son and doing his best to protect him despite battling the horrors of his past and the threats of the present.

The ethnic cleansing, previously unexplored in Indian fiction but a historically significant and sensitive topic, is also handled well, and it was heart-wrenching to see how the Nepali community was affected by the injustice. However, it would have been even more impactful if the conflicts were more tightly woven into the main character’s plot, rather than showing how the tragedy affected new, unrelated characters.

The language is simple and lucid, garnished with good wordplay at appropriate places. However, I found several grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the book. The book needed at least one round of editing. The descriptions are vivid and well-written, though.

The climax is brilliantly executed, and I loved the twist at the end, which brings the story to a captivating juncture. However, the story then ends abruptly without tying up many loose ends. I feel it was essential to portray the protagonist’s reactions at that point.

Nevertheless, Whispers in the Wind is an interesting and well-intentioned book that explores the poignant and arduous journey of a father-son duo through a volatile Bhutanese landscape. I recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with a political/historical background.

3.8 stars from my side.

The Zora Trigger is primarily based on the experiences of Major Param, as he finds himself a victim of a dangerous betrayal. Battling physical and mental trauma, he attempts to decipher a deadly game threatening national security and protect the life of Shilpa Venkataraghavan, his true love.

The novel kicks off intensely with a terrorist attack, resulting in Param losing his best friends and his left leg getting amputated. Then, the book oscillates between the past and present, expertly narrating his backstory and the situation he finds himself in presently. After that, the narrative flows smoothly, with many well-executed twists and turns.

Param is a likable character, and his character arc is well-developed. I felt for him and wanted him to find happiness and peace. Shilpa is also a relatable, sympathetic character, although sometimes I found her a bit too tearful. Moreover, the secondary characters are well-etched and play pivotal roles in the story, which is worth appreciating.

The climax and ending are thrilling and well-executed, and I found myself rooting for Param and Shilpa. There are a few interesting surprises as well, and all loose ends are tried up brilliantly.

The author, Ms. Nayak-Gole, possesses a great vocabulary and her writing is simple and lucid, but unfortunately, I did find a few grammatical and punctuation errors here and there. One round of editing would have ironed them out. Also, I feel that some slang and cuss words could have been avoided, and the intimate scenes could have been written with a bit more subtlety.

Nevertheless, The Zora Trigger is an interesting, well-written novel. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a patriotic angle.

A Roar and a Drumbeat is a travelogue based on the author Ms. Anjaly Thomas’s experiences as she travels across various African and European countries.

From the first page itself, the book grips you, what with the use of an intimate first-person POV. You get to explore the thoughts and feelings of Ms. Thomas and her affinity for coffee, books, and literary figures like Hemingway, Shelley, Byron, and others throughout her journey.

Her childlike passion for coffee, literature, and literary icons bounces off the pages, endearing her to the reader and making her relatable.

The descriptions of the landscapes, history, and people of the various places she travels to are vivid, making you feel as if you are accompanying her. Despite not being an ardent reader of travel-oriented books, I never felt bored throughout the book.

The trials and tribulations faced by the people of some African countries like Rwanda were heart-wrenching and horrifying, and the way they worked hard to achieve significant development was inspiring. Ms. Thomas also refrains from sugarcoating everything about the places and honestly articulates the problems and issues plaguing them; I found that informative and thought-provoking.

The language is simple, lucid, and devoid of unnecessary wordplay, which aids the beautiful narrative flow and is perfect for a book like this.

This book is not only a must-read for travel lovers, coffee enthusiasts, and fans of Hemingway, Shelley, and Byron, but it is also highly recommended to people seeking a light yet informative read.

For the Love of Apricots is primarily based on two protagonists—forty-year-old divorcee Nandini, who lives in Mukteshwar, having established a pickle cooperative there, and Vikas Joshi, who also lives in the hill town, having recently acquired an apricot orchard. The story delves into their interesting interactions, painful pasts, and the possibility of second chances at love.

The novel grips you from the get-go, and the narrative flows at a beautiful, languid pace – perfect for the story. The mild twists and turns are placed appropriately and keep you engaged in the story. There is also a sprinkling of humor throughout, which made me smile.

But the characters are what keep you glued to the story. Nandini and Vikas are exceptional characters. They are lovable and worth rooting for. The character development is brilliant, with sufficient backstories to flesh out the characters. The only minor nitpick is that Vikas’s father is hardly mentioned in the book. Considering he is alive, maybe some interaction and/or thought about his father should have been there. That would have been the icing on the cake.

I could relate to every sentiment experienced by the characters, as the feelings were natural and realistic. Despite the strength of the characters, they have their share of vulnerabilities and idiosyncrasies, which again reinforces the relatability factor and makes you feel for them.

As expected from a writer of Ms. Liddle’s caliber, the language is excellent—lucid and unornamented yet garnished with the appropriate wordplay at the right places. The grammar and punctuation are immaculate, as always.

The descriptions of the scenery are delectable, painting a vivid picture of the lush landscapes of Mukteshwar, making me want to visit the beautiful hill town. Moreover, the descriptions of food are luscious, making my mouth water. I want to taste the apricot jam studded with kernels, smeared on crisp buttered toast.

The ending is perfect, and the emotional punches are so beautifully executed that I teared up a couple of times. All loose ends are tied up immaculately, providing a wholesome, unforgettable experience.

This novel proves that Ms. Liddle, an award-winning writer specializing in historical fiction, is equally proficient at contemporary fiction.

4.7 stars from my side.