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Inklings
Very short stories and other babies born of Ink.
Stories tagged under urban life, oblique humor, romance, satire and even the purpose of life. In this book, you will find urban-style, simple prose, sprinkled with thought-provoking metaphors along the way.
Inklings offers a glimpse into the world of intelligent flash fiction, which, while not a popular genre in traditional publishing, is making an impact in online literature.
For an idea of what to expect, an introduction of five of the twelve stories in this anthology follows
1. Intoxicated by Impossibility - The story of one guy who can't fall asleep because of one girl who's not even there. Or is she?
2. Who wrote the Rules? - Existential angst clubbed with rebellion against The System.
3. The revolt of the coconut trees - Inspired by an academic study published in the Journal of Trauma, 1984, titled "Injuries due to falling coconuts".
4. So what? - What happens after the Storm.
5. Cheeky - A story about that chubby part of a certain person's face.
Stories tagged under urban life, oblique humor, romance, satire and even the purpose of life. In this book, you will find urban-style, simple prose, sprinkled with thought-provoking metaphors along the way.
Inklings offers a glimpse into the world of intelligent flash fiction, which, while not a popular genre in traditional publishing, is making an impact in online literature.
For an idea of what to expect, an introduction of five of the twelve stories in this anthology follows
1. Intoxicated by Impossibility - The story of one guy who can't fall asleep because of one girl who's not even there. Or is she?
2. Who wrote the Rules? - Existential angst clubbed with rebellion against The System.
3. The revolt of the coconut trees - Inspired by an academic study published in the Journal of Trauma, 1984, titled "Injuries due to falling coconuts".
4. So what? - What happens after the Storm.
5. Cheeky - A story about that chubby part of a certain person's face.
ebook
First published March 3, 2011
8 people want to read
About the author
Aparna Warrier
2 books52 followersAparna Warrier enjoys music that she can hum along to, books that make her think deep and movies that tell her something she didn’t know.
Until recently, she was writing code for a software company. She is currently on a sabbatical to ponder the meaning of life, especially her own. Among other things, she has recently discovered how to make super awesome coffee.
Visit the Facebook page for her book Inklings here http://www.facebook.com/InklingsByApa...
Until recently, she was writing code for a software company. She is currently on a sabbatical to ponder the meaning of life, especially her own. Among other things, she has recently discovered how to make super awesome coffee.
Visit the Facebook page for her book Inklings here http://www.facebook.com/InklingsByApa...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 24, 2011
It's very difficult to post a review for a book that comprises of 9 pages and comprises of flash fiction - very short, short stories - however I'm going to do my best! I was intrigued by the concept of flash fiction when the author contacted me. I'd never heard of it but, as a lover of short stories, it sounded both interesting and fun and so I agreed to read and review it.
If I'm honest, I had to read all of the stories through twice before I understood them, which wasn't a problem as they were obviously very short! Maybe this is because I'm not used to such short stories and trying to find the meaning behind them. I don't consider myself particularly analytical but I knew that I would have to be if I wanted to get the most out of the stories. Initially after reading the stories once, I found that they were fun, quirky and creative. In particular, I loved the creativity of The Revolt of the Coconut Trees. Once I'd read the stories again I saw that they were insightful and, in many cases, there was much more to them than I'd originally thought. Many of them left me wanting to know more. I'm undecided whether this is a good thing or not, as I tend to think that short stories should be complete in themselve. I suppose it depends on what the author is trying to acheive. If the author decides to expand on the stories in the future then I would definitely be interested in reading them.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read and it made a welcome change in between heavier reading. I would recommend it to people who want to try something different or are just looking for a fun read.
If I'm honest, I had to read all of the stories through twice before I understood them, which wasn't a problem as they were obviously very short! Maybe this is because I'm not used to such short stories and trying to find the meaning behind them. I don't consider myself particularly analytical but I knew that I would have to be if I wanted to get the most out of the stories. Initially after reading the stories once, I found that they were fun, quirky and creative. In particular, I loved the creativity of The Revolt of the Coconut Trees. Once I'd read the stories again I saw that they were insightful and, in many cases, there was much more to them than I'd originally thought. Many of them left me wanting to know more. I'm undecided whether this is a good thing or not, as I tend to think that short stories should be complete in themselve. I suppose it depends on what the author is trying to acheive. If the author decides to expand on the stories in the future then I would definitely be interested in reading them.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read and it made a welcome change in between heavier reading. I would recommend it to people who want to try something different or are just looking for a fun read.
May 14, 2011
This was the first flash fiction that I’ve read. It was an interesting collection of works. Some of them were cute, others funny, and some I just outright didn’t understand. I’ve never been the kind of reader who analyzes what she’s reading, or enjoys picking things apart to see what kind of double meaning there may be that the author was implying. I just like to read and enjoy. So it’s for that reason, I think, that some of the stories either bored me or just went flying over my head.
There were a couple that I liked. Greenie and Cheeky were both cute. I found The Revolt of Coconut Trees to be funny, too. It’s about coconut trees who are willing to be cooperative with humans until humans start abusing them and taking advantage of them. So they attack and wipe out the human race. I suppose I shouldn’t find it funny, but the thought of coconut trees attacking and wiping out the human race makes me laugh.
Overall, I thought these stories were cute, and a great starting place for a new author. However, I don’t really think they were for me. It was probably just a personality conflict between me and the author, considering she “likes books that make her think deep,” which I totally do not. Still, it’s a quick read (just 9 ebook pages), so check it out on Smashwords if you’re interested.
Thanks to Aparna Warrier for the review copy through Smashwords.
There were a couple that I liked. Greenie and Cheeky were both cute. I found The Revolt of Coconut Trees to be funny, too. It’s about coconut trees who are willing to be cooperative with humans until humans start abusing them and taking advantage of them. So they attack and wipe out the human race. I suppose I shouldn’t find it funny, but the thought of coconut trees attacking and wiping out the human race makes me laugh.
Overall, I thought these stories were cute, and a great starting place for a new author. However, I don’t really think they were for me. It was probably just a personality conflict between me and the author, considering she “likes books that make her think deep,” which I totally do not. Still, it’s a quick read (just 9 ebook pages), so check it out on Smashwords if you’re interested.
Thanks to Aparna Warrier for the review copy through Smashwords.
August 12, 2011
Collectively, Inklings (Very short stories and other babies born of ink) by Aparna Warrier, is shorter than a conventional short story. Undoubtedly the shortest book I’ve ever read without pictures.
Despite its brevity, there is variety and something for every mood and taste in the twelve well-crafted pieces. This is the work of a confident author, not a self-conscious one, particularly evidenced by the use of sensory details that subtly complement the stories without calling attention to themselves.
There is clever wordplay too as in the opener, Taking Our Time, which might have seemed incomplete if not for the intentional pronoun confusion that rounds it out. Some stories did seem like fragments, though, while others were really parables. Several, like So What? and the children’s story, Greenie, the longest piece, border on the sentimental. Cheeky, the second longest and most amusing was my favourite; the sentimentality of its ending was appropriate.
Inklings is not without grammatical and proofing flaws, particularly in the aforementioned, Greenie. It’s a minor nuisance but there’s little reason a work of this length can’t be perfect. That factor notwithstanding, I enjoyed Inklings and am confident the author will have much to offer in the future.
Despite its brevity, there is variety and something for every mood and taste in the twelve well-crafted pieces. This is the work of a confident author, not a self-conscious one, particularly evidenced by the use of sensory details that subtly complement the stories without calling attention to themselves.
There is clever wordplay too as in the opener, Taking Our Time, which might have seemed incomplete if not for the intentional pronoun confusion that rounds it out. Some stories did seem like fragments, though, while others were really parables. Several, like So What? and the children’s story, Greenie, the longest piece, border on the sentimental. Cheeky, the second longest and most amusing was my favourite; the sentimentality of its ending was appropriate.
Inklings is not without grammatical and proofing flaws, particularly in the aforementioned, Greenie. It’s a minor nuisance but there’s little reason a work of this length can’t be perfect. That factor notwithstanding, I enjoyed Inklings and am confident the author will have much to offer in the future.
July 22, 2011
Leaving lots of room for interpretation, the title really suits the content. Each piece is truly an inkling; a vague notion or slight hint of an idea. It's really up to the reader to self-interpret the meaning behind the words. A collection of seemingly random thoughts and ideas, the pieces mirror many of the fleeting thoughts we all have daily. But rather than floating briefly through our heads, these thoughts are written down in detailed prose that helps to convey the feelings behind the ideas.
Some of the selections needed to be read twice to catch the meaning- in fact, I can't claim to have fully understood all of them- and others were almost poetic in their presentation. "So What" and "Always" are probably my favorites, and I found I much preferred the author's shortest selections to many of the longer ones. Somehow, the more succinct pieces seemed almost more complete, leaving me to really put my own interpretative spin on them. The longer selections left me feeling like I should be understanding more of the author's intent, and I wasn't always sure I did. An exception to that was "The Revolt of the Coconut Trees" which felt complete and thought provoking, and left little room for errant interpretation.
full review @ MotherLode blog http://gracekrispy.com
Some of the selections needed to be read twice to catch the meaning- in fact, I can't claim to have fully understood all of them- and others were almost poetic in their presentation. "So What" and "Always" are probably my favorites, and I found I much preferred the author's shortest selections to many of the longer ones. Somehow, the more succinct pieces seemed almost more complete, leaving me to really put my own interpretative spin on them. The longer selections left me feeling like I should be understanding more of the author's intent, and I wasn't always sure I did. An exception to that was "The Revolt of the Coconut Trees" which felt complete and thought provoking, and left little room for errant interpretation.
full review @ MotherLode blog http://gracekrispy.com
July 6, 2011
Inklings by Aparna Warrier is a neat, short collection of neat, short stories (flash fiction), ideal for drinking in with a coffee, or reading in place of that poetry book you’ve misplaced. Mini-mysteries tingle on the palette, delicate sensuality amuses, and a lovely rendition of childhood strikes cords of sympathy in the subconscious. The twelve stories range from a few short lines—the poetic, intriguing, unsettling images of So What for example—to a few short pages—Venus or Intoxicated by Impossibility—which quickly draw the reader into the mystery of new characters. Language is poetic with occasional, forgivable, lapses, and the whole is like an enjoyable tray of snacks—spiced, sweetened, tinged with curiosity and the meaning of life.
Of all the stories, my three favorites are Cheeky for its innocent sensuality and pleasingly portrayal of cubicle life, Greenie for that perfectly honest and real little third-grader, and Always for the tears of a guitar. And then there’s the Revolt of the Coconut Trees… My four favorites… Ah well. They’re all good.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Of all the stories, my three favorites are Cheeky for its innocent sensuality and pleasingly portrayal of cubicle life, Greenie for that perfectly honest and real little third-grader, and Always for the tears of a guitar. And then there’s the Revolt of the Coconut Trees… My four favorites… Ah well. They’re all good.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2011
This is a collection of flash fiction stories covering a wide variety of topics.
Flash fiction stories are very short, often only a page or two. The main purpose is usually to describe a specific situation in order to generate a specific emotion. They are a condensed shot of words.
I found this to be a nice read, suitable as an introduction to flash fiction with pieces ranging from a few lines to a few pages. I did find that some of the shorter pieces seemed to fit together which lead to a more defined larger picture, but reduced the impact of the individual stories.
My favourite piece was The Revolt of the Coconut Trees. It was humorous with a touch of science fiction. I also enjoyed Always and Oil on Canvas, which were each only a few lines, but managed to convey strong emotions.
Flash fiction stories are very short, often only a page or two. The main purpose is usually to describe a specific situation in order to generate a specific emotion. They are a condensed shot of words.
I found this to be a nice read, suitable as an introduction to flash fiction with pieces ranging from a few lines to a few pages. I did find that some of the shorter pieces seemed to fit together which lead to a more defined larger picture, but reduced the impact of the individual stories.
My favourite piece was The Revolt of the Coconut Trees. It was humorous with a touch of science fiction. I also enjoyed Always and Oil on Canvas, which were each only a few lines, but managed to convey strong emotions.
June 4, 2011
Full review can be found on my blog : http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
After reading this collection, my opinion is that it would actually be a good introduction to flash fiction. I found that the stories were all very varied in regards to length, topic and style. But the majority also seemed to have some sort of deep and profound meaning behind the basic story that the author was trying to portray.
To summarise, if you would like to try out flash fiction and enjoy trying to understand some of the deeper meanings behind a story, then I would recommend this book as one to pick up. It is not as heavy as some of the previous flash fiction collections I have read and Aparna Warrier has created a nice range of stories.
After reading this collection, my opinion is that it would actually be a good introduction to flash fiction. I found that the stories were all very varied in regards to length, topic and style. But the majority also seemed to have some sort of deep and profound meaning behind the basic story that the author was trying to portray.
To summarise, if you would like to try out flash fiction and enjoy trying to understand some of the deeper meanings behind a story, then I would recommend this book as one to pick up. It is not as heavy as some of the previous flash fiction collections I have read and Aparna Warrier has created a nice range of stories.
May 1, 2011
I really enjoyed this flash fiction book. Warrier is an exceptional writer with profound ideas--each vignette needs to be read closely as there is more to each than meets the eye.
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
January 16, 2016
This is a collection of flash fiction short stories dealing with the humor, romance and relationships of real life. I have to say that I have never read flash fiction - which are really short stories that usually stand alone. I was very interested in this book and give it an A!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews