Paradise And Other Stories

by Khushwant Singh

In this sparkling new collection of stories, India's best-known writer addresses some pertinent Why do we believe in miracles? Can a horoscope guarantee the perfect wife? Is the Kamasutra a useful manual for newlyweds? Khushwant Singh returns to the short story after decades to deliver a truly memorable collection - humorous, provocative, tongue-in-cheek, ribald and even, at times, tender.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Indian Literature

239 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Khushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.

An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.

Reviews

[Gorab · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I'm glad about picking this book, the more I regret for choosing the Hindi translated Kindle Edition.
A collection of five stories based in India, each being blasphemous in nature about Indian humbugs being termed as "Andhavishwas". The blurb rightly gives a crisp overview about each story.
While every story doesn't provides a closure or a moral as such, but I liked the way I could easily relate these characters picked up from a routine life. Enjoyed every story.

About Kindle Hindi Edition :
Glad that more Hindi titles are made available for Kindle. But this one has too many bugs! Silly mistakes like प्रतिदिन is written as पर्तिदिन and it goes for every word containing "प्रति"। At times these errors become too funny :
"शादी की तैयारी में पूरे घर में और सभी वक्षों पर लाइटिंग की गयी" :D :D :D
Agreed that some errors made me laugh out loud, but I would still have preferred an error-free version.

[Aida · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was vehemently suggested by many so i decided to go for it. i am no prude but it was downright perverted. But snipping those parts off you this book was an interesting read. The stories albeit did NOT come in full circle which weirdly seems was the EXACT intention of the author- leaving readers to decipher out the moral themselves. So indubitably there were many 'boing'moments after every story I finished. The moral of one story, paradise, was clear cut thankfully. That discipline and habits are like a house of cards, you take one part out the whole of it falls down no matter how meticulously you tried to built it or how strongly the foundation was laid.
Would I suggest anyone to read it?
Yes only if you are menopausal woman or a guy having mid-life crisis. Ie PG 45.

[Adnan Arshad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its compilation of five short novellas namely paradise, life’s horoscope, zora singh, wanted: a son and the mulberry tree.
Paradise is about two women engaging in lesbian sex at Aashram; life’s horoscope is about a man obsessed to find solution of every problem in religious texts, only resulting in a failed marriage; Zora Singh is about corrupt civil servant cum politician keeping the pretense of respectable society member; wanted: a son about a married woman indulging in adultery to beget a child and mulberry tree about a columnist in his fifties infatuated with strange woman and getting cheated by charlatan just to get that woman although he does not believe in god.
There are two things common in all stories; being erotic and ridiculing religious beliefs. As Khushwant Singh was himself an Agnostic, so that makes sense.
One may differ with ideas presented in these stories and abundant use of erotic content, but one thing is certain that author was a terrific story teller.

[Shraddha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accidentally came to know of this book through a Reddit post on the Indian books subreddit. The person who had posted was seeking to know the name of the book by sharing a synopsis of the stories they had read. That synopsis (as you can read here as well) caught my fancy, and I immediately ordered the paperback with this lovely image.

It had been ages since I last read Khushwant Singh. Although the stories are open-ended, I loved how he satirised the notions of God, religion, and the blinkered beliefs that are forever held up unquestionably in Indian society. Especially loved the stories where he so subtly describes the intimate moments between the characters. I have always loved Khushwant Singh's writing, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the ending of the story—Mulberry Tree; it was hilarious and real. He knows how to write humans.

Couldn't have been more grateful to that Reddit user for posting the query. Enjoyed this book.

[Srikumar Krishna Iyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just 5 stories (mostly erotic) & typical KS style.
The last story "Mulberry Tree" was already published in another collection of his (The Mark of Vishu & other stories).
Zoha Singh is a story which is loosely based on his father's life (but names changed & fictional events added in) and also some of his experiences working with a Minister during his tenure as a MP, the original story is actually recollected in his Autobiography with real names.
None of the stories actually stand out as brilliant, just worth a casual read.
If you got nothing else to read, just pick this up.

[Sarath Thampi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a collection of short stories where most of them are set in India who has just gotten her independence. The stories are charming and funny and also satirical at the same time and making a dig at the hollowness of belief and religion through the eyes of a rationalist.

[Manu · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Khushwant Singh never ceases to amaze with stories from everyday live written with different points of view, laced with finer details and examples as to how the government machinery works in India. Loved it!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I picked up this book seeing its cover page, in the hope of reading some sex stories. But, along with sex and intimate things, you can get the inside view of the Indian society and people's mentality. As suggested by others it is hard to draw moral from the stories, this shows how unpredictable the life can be. Most of the time we can't draw moral from events happen in life.

[Nehal Drago · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by the Legendary Author Khushwant Singh.
And, I plan to read more titles by the author.

The stories are captivating and I enjoyed each and every one of them.

Highly recommendable.

[Umer Farooq Bajwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good critique on Indo-Pakistani societies in a sarcastic manner typical to KS. Stories are ingeniously written, superbly crafted. Erotic scenes make them unreadable for many.. Otherwise they're a true depiction of our Sub-continental societies.

[Raghuvir Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

mazedar

[Altaf Hussain · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 would be accurate.

[Rajan Chaturvedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice storeis

Books written by khuswant Singh are bit irrotic but yet interesting . These Stories are very good and quite entertaining.

[Sanjay Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories narrated in inimitable Khushwant Singh style! Story No 2, to some extent, resonate in our current times!

[Zeba Zoariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read

Khushwant Singh as usual is witty and humourous and gives us hope to be hopeful and optimistic always! A Good read while flight hopping! 🌸

[Sumeet Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couple of stories are hilarious and some other are philosophical to an extent. Definitely worth your time.

[Chandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A REALLY NICE COLLECTION OF STORIES.
OUT OF THE FIVE STORIES I LIKE "WANTED : A SON " THE MOST.
MY SECOND PICK WOULD BE "LIFE'S HOROSCOPE".
REST OF THE STORIES ARE ALSO GOOD, BUT I DON'T GET THE POINT BEHIND "ZORA SINGH".
PARTICULARLY ZORA SINGH'S CONCLUSION WAS A BIG LET DOWN FOR ME.
BUT THAT WAS A MINOR ISSUE WHICH CAN BE OVERLOOKED..

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

THANK YOU.

[Alex Mustățea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the gentle and humorous way Singh pokes fun at the more sanctimonious amongst us, at Westerners who go to India in search of 'salvation' and at all the other small (or not so small) social hypocrisies which ail our modern society. He loves and makes fun of his characters with equal measure, like a life,sex and booze-loving old man who's tired of keeping up appearances :).

[Debanjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a pendulum, Paradise and Other Stories constantly shifts from a couple of absurd stories to some truly funny and thought provoking stories. It's the kind of book you read to kill time on a long train journey.

[Pradipta Saha]

pretty mindless stuff but not bad for reading in a hospital or doctor's waiting room when your mind is on other things..

[Charandeep Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last story "a mulberry tree" is awesome.

[VeeG · Rating 2 out of 5]

vintage ! the book is nothing great .not bad or good either . it's like something silly or timepass kinda ..but a reality of India in 50/60/70s.

[Gunasekar guruswamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

must read for its breezy slow tone that picturises india erstwhile independence and post era.not a roller coaster ride but a smooth sail rather.

[Rohit S]

This book was a quick read. It's funny at places, silly at quite a few places, and sends out some underlying messages. I could finish the book in two days ( a few hours each day).

[Mital · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr8

[Mayur Matoli]

nice book

[SUKHJINDER SINGH BAINS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real picture of society!

These stories depict true shades of the societal makeup. May be they remain hidden from most of the eyes, but in reality they exist.

[Harnam Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was full of comedy and seriousness with sensible stories that shows somewhat about truth of Indian mentality for sex, religion and superstitions.

[Ameer Humzo]

Its an interesting book :)

[Yukti Singh]

nice