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Escape from Java and Other Tales of Danger

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Join intrepid heroes and dauntless heroines in their quest for survival against earthquakes; fire; floods and bombs! Live life on the edge with five stories of danger and adventure. Flee with Romi as he rides his cycle straight into the river to escape a fearsome forest fire; listen in to Ruth's hair-raising story of escape from rioting sepoys during the uprising of 1857; read about the author's miraculous flight from Java as Japanese planes bombard the city; witness the havoc wreaked by the deadliest earthquake ever in Rakesh's town; Shillong; and watch Sita combat a fatal flood that threatens to engulf her. Thrilling plots; daring protagonists; explosive exploits-this book has it all! Written in Ruskin Bond's inimitable style; with doses of humour and excitement; these extraordinary stories are simply unputdownable.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

13 people are currently reading
176 people want to read

About the author

Ruskin Bond

672 books3,519 followers
Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

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5 stars
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31 (28%)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Kasturi  Dadhe.
107 reviews20 followers
February 22, 2020
When life gets tough and everything seems adverse, reading Bond reminds the reader of simple joys and pleasures life has to offer even in turmoil. Easy emotions and innocent relationships help you waddle in the most difficult and dire circumstances, is what reading Bond reiterates. Not for nothing that Ruskin Bond remains a favourite for all ages.
Profile Image for Debalina.
234 reviews31 followers
December 25, 2019
Nothing better than a Christmas morning partially spent reading Ruskin Bond. Winter, a hot steaming cup of chai made my ma, an unopened newspaper and a date with Rusty.

Though this was most different of the usual flavour of Ruskin Bond. I have read so much of him that it is really difficult to find books, especially short story and diary collections, that I haven't read sometime. Only after reading a few pages you realise if the story is known or not. This was totally fresh.

Review coming soon.

Happy reading & Merry Christmas! :)
Profile Image for Dilip Chauhan.
248 reviews27 followers
June 20, 2022
As always Ruskin Bond books are just beautiful 🥰
Profile Image for Darshna Rekha.
232 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2022
Beautiful Thoughts From the Book

Why we should keep the Gifts from Escape from Java

'Who knows? But he gave it to you with love, and love is like a prayer. So keep it carefully.'


Humans being Human from The Island in the River

She had always loved the river. Why was it threatening her now? She remembered the doll and thought, 'If I can be so careless with someone I have made, how can I expect the gods to notice me?'
82 reviews8 followers
September 23, 2016
Danger, mystery, crime, courage...........it has it all. This book is one of my favourites by Ruskin Bond because I really enjoy reading short stories and especially those which are very thrilling. My favourite one was the one about the earthquake in Shilong and what happened to the families who lived there. Then there was another about a kid and his father's escape from Java when bombs were being thrown there. It was really fun because Ruskin Bond usually writes about Rusty goes to school etc. I recommend this book to people who love reading about danger like me !
4 reviews
March 29, 2014
I really couldn't get the main point of the story,but I liked the story Escape from Java.
Profile Image for Richa.
87 reviews25 followers
November 30, 2014
Ruskin Bond's simple and lucid writing with earth touching moments at its best! I especially liked he last story!
1 review
Want to read
July 19, 2016
nice book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Song.
29 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2022
Stories of ordinary children caught up in real-life traumatic incidents and overcoming odds with valour. Simple yet effective writing.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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