What do you think?
Rate this book
When Strangers meet..
An easy but interesting read, When Strangers Meet.. has a story that youth can relate to. It shows the father-son relationship from the points of view of the three main characters in the book, each belonging to different ethnicities and stratas of society.
The lives of Jai Sharma, Krishnaprasad Iyer and Hussain Ansari intersect on one fateful day at a metro station. It's a meeting that changes their lives forever. Jai is a typical rebellious college kid. He has his own dreams and passion, but is being forced by his parents to pursue the dreams that they have for him. In order to break the shackles of parental authority, Jai runs away from home.
Hussain, a tea stall owner is a man of modest means. Although, he has never known happiness in his life, he never lost his faith in Allah. He is on a journey that he is sure will turn his fate around.
Last but not the least is Iyer whose story is at the heart of the novel, When Strangers Meet...It is the story of his past which unexpectedly changes the lives of Hussain and Jai.
The real life situations depicted in the novel captivate the readers and show us that sometimes even strangers may change our lives unexpectedly.The book was published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors in 2013 and is available in paperback.
The lives of Jai Sharma, Krishnaprasad Iyer and Hussain Ansari intersect on one fateful day at a metro station. It's a meeting that changes their lives forever. Jai is a typical rebellious college kid. He has his own dreams and passion, but is being forced by his parents to pursue the dreams that they have for him. In order to break the shackles of parental authority, Jai runs away from home.
Hussain, a tea stall owner is a man of modest means. Although, he has never known happiness in his life, he never lost his faith in Allah. He is on a journey that he is sure will turn his fate around.
Last but not the least is Iyer whose story is at the heart of the novel, When Strangers Meet...It is the story of his past which unexpectedly changes the lives of Hussain and Jai.
The real life situations depicted in the novel captivate the readers and show us that sometimes even strangers may change our lives unexpectedly.The book was published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors in 2013 and is available in paperback.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
1356 people want to read
About the author
K. Hari Kumar
14 books169 followersK. Hari Kumar is a celebrated author, screenwriter and filmmaker. He has authored 9 bestselling books with HarperCollins, including Daiva, Naaga, India’s Most Haunted and Dakini. He has penned the screenplay of Bhram, E and has appeared as a speaker on popular podcasts like The Ranveer Show, Dostcast, Speaking Tree, HT Smartcast, Aajtak, Radio One, etc. He currently hosts CHATURYA – THE FOURTH STATE, the trending Youtube Channel, where he explores fascinating tales and concepts from Indic Puranas, regional folklore, spirituality and global mythology.
K Hari Kumar's collection of horror short stories, India's Most Haunted - Tales of Terrifying Places, published by HarperCollins India is one of the highest selling horror story books in India. The Times Of India deemed it as a must-read horror book, and it was also listed in HarperCollins India’s hundred best books written by Indian authors. The Malayalam translation of India’s Most Haunted was published as Indiayile Prethalayangal by Mathrubhumi Books in March 2022. The book will be soon translated into Hindi as well.
Hari has been honoured with invitations to speak on his expertise at prestigious events such as Times Literature festival (Bangalore & Delhi), DAV United Literature Festival (Gurgaon & Delhi), Kumaon Literature Festival (Dhanacholi), Lit-O-Mania (Mumbai), and IISc’s Literature Festival (Bangalore). His insights have garnered attention from leading national newspapers, television channels, and podcasts, including the renowned The Ranveer Show that features India's top writers and film personalities.
K Hari Kumar's collection of horror short stories, India's Most Haunted - Tales of Terrifying Places, published by HarperCollins India is one of the highest selling horror story books in India. The Times Of India deemed it as a must-read horror book, and it was also listed in HarperCollins India’s hundred best books written by Indian authors. The Malayalam translation of India’s Most Haunted was published as Indiayile Prethalayangal by Mathrubhumi Books in March 2022. The book will be soon translated into Hindi as well.
Hari has been honoured with invitations to speak on his expertise at prestigious events such as Times Literature festival (Bangalore & Delhi), DAV United Literature Festival (Gurgaon & Delhi), Kumaon Literature Festival (Dhanacholi), Lit-O-Mania (Mumbai), and IISc’s Literature Festival (Bangalore). His insights have garnered attention from leading national newspapers, television channels, and podcasts, including the renowned The Ranveer Show that features India's top writers and film personalities.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
December 3, 2014
This is my first book and I am quite happy with the results.
Hope the Strangers find a way into your hearts... Forever... :)
P.S I believe in my story, therefore 5 on 5 :)
Hope the Strangers find a way into your hearts... Forever... :)
P.S I believe in my story, therefore 5 on 5 :)
February 17, 2017
Have you ever wondered if you can influence a complete stranger’s life? Celebrities often have that capacity, but I have often wondered if I, being part of the ‘common people’ category, could ever do that. If you have then this book might just quench your curiosity and if you haven’t then this book might just fuel your curiosity.
‘When Stangers Meet’ is a story of an usual circumstance when three people from very different backgrounds of life find themselves stranded together. Oh well, may the circumstance is not so unusual after all because we often do find ourselves in the company of strangers – be it on a long distance train journey or under a roadside shelter during heavy rain. But what is unusual in this case is that Jai, Iyer and Pathan not only strike up a conversation but they actually share their personal experiences somehow manages to touch the other. You might say that the plot can be predictable, yet the author will catch you off guard with a twist at the end.
The individual characters in the story have their own unique identity and they bring in something new to each other’s lives. The protagonists are all well-developed characters that really bring the story together. I do not think that 3 Iyer’s chance meeting would have had the same impact. The style of storytelling here is simple with a pace that’s just about right.
I think, given a chance, the present generation has the capability to come up with something different to keep you occupied. In recent times I have discovered quite a few youngsters who are breaking away from the crowd and coming up with stories that don’t conform with the most clichéd stories. Hari Kumar is no doubt such an author. Breaking away from the trend of writing campus anguish or love stories, Hari Kumar tells us that yes we have the power to touch the lives of complete strangers.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that I gobbled up in a matter of hours. It is perfect for a lazy afternoon!
‘When Stangers Meet’ is a story of an usual circumstance when three people from very different backgrounds of life find themselves stranded together. Oh well, may the circumstance is not so unusual after all because we often do find ourselves in the company of strangers – be it on a long distance train journey or under a roadside shelter during heavy rain. But what is unusual in this case is that Jai, Iyer and Pathan not only strike up a conversation but they actually share their personal experiences somehow manages to touch the other. You might say that the plot can be predictable, yet the author will catch you off guard with a twist at the end.
The individual characters in the story have their own unique identity and they bring in something new to each other’s lives. The protagonists are all well-developed characters that really bring the story together. I do not think that 3 Iyer’s chance meeting would have had the same impact. The style of storytelling here is simple with a pace that’s just about right.
I think, given a chance, the present generation has the capability to come up with something different to keep you occupied. In recent times I have discovered quite a few youngsters who are breaking away from the crowd and coming up with stories that don’t conform with the most clichéd stories. Hari Kumar is no doubt such an author. Breaking away from the trend of writing campus anguish or love stories, Hari Kumar tells us that yes we have the power to touch the lives of complete strangers.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that I gobbled up in a matter of hours. It is perfect for a lazy afternoon!
December 21, 2019
Reasons for hating this book:
*Extremely rude characters
*Overdramatic writing and dialogues
*Sexist and vulgar
*Unrealistic characters
*Poor character development
*Plotless
*Monotonous and boring
***DNFed at page 58.
*Extremely rude characters
*Overdramatic writing and dialogues
*Sexist and vulgar
*Unrealistic characters
*Poor character development
*Plotless
*Monotonous and boring
***DNFed at page 58.
May 11, 2013
K Hari Kumar , the author of , "When Strangers Meet.." has done a fair justice and has been successful in making me so comfortable and of course filling my mind with eagerness to know what is going to be next in the journey of 3 strangers,
Apart from what happens when strangers meet, the story has an extra-ordinary and worth mentioning element of dad-son relationship. The kind of bond that a father and son share in every strangers' category is different. One side you have Hussain, an ardent believer of Allah irrespective of his bad financial status and his son Arshad who loves to do what his father instructs him and is ready to follow his steps. In contrast to them is the young boy Jai who chooses to go against his father's dream to chase his dream but what happens; where does their life take a twist when the third stranger Iyer from Madras meets them.
Hari in his book had also concentrated well on describing the emotions and feelings that come out when the young Iyer meets his love, break up feelings, life moving on, Mom's protection for a son, the affection that brothers share and the list goes on. Especially that magical love moment when Padma reveals about how she had actually started dreaming about Iyer which turns out to be embarrassing for Iyer. An iota but a significant amount of not only South Indian flavour, culture and the orthodox belief but also people's love and Mathematics has also been touched by the author.
Simple words have been penned down in the book delivering an effective message on importance of dad, family, love, fulfilling one's dream but at what cost and the effect of strangers.
One of the best and my favourite lines in the book -
Laugh to your way through everything, everyday. It is funny but at the end of the day, we are all dirt in the sand. What is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again soon?
Well, in short its true that one's relationship, friends and people around them decide and influence their life but "When Strangers meet...", you may wonder and even get influenced by them resulting in a positive impact on your life. :) !!! Read it and you may fall in love as I did :)
Apart from what happens when strangers meet, the story has an extra-ordinary and worth mentioning element of dad-son relationship. The kind of bond that a father and son share in every strangers' category is different. One side you have Hussain, an ardent believer of Allah irrespective of his bad financial status and his son Arshad who loves to do what his father instructs him and is ready to follow his steps. In contrast to them is the young boy Jai who chooses to go against his father's dream to chase his dream but what happens; where does their life take a twist when the third stranger Iyer from Madras meets them.
Hari in his book had also concentrated well on describing the emotions and feelings that come out when the young Iyer meets his love, break up feelings, life moving on, Mom's protection for a son, the affection that brothers share and the list goes on. Especially that magical love moment when Padma reveals about how she had actually started dreaming about Iyer which turns out to be embarrassing for Iyer. An iota but a significant amount of not only South Indian flavour, culture and the orthodox belief but also people's love and Mathematics has also been touched by the author.
Simple words have been penned down in the book delivering an effective message on importance of dad, family, love, fulfilling one's dream but at what cost and the effect of strangers.
One of the best and my favourite lines in the book -
Laugh to your way through everything, everyday. It is funny but at the end of the day, we are all dirt in the sand. What is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again soon?
Well, in short its true that one's relationship, friends and people around them decide and influence their life but "When Strangers meet...", you may wonder and even get influenced by them resulting in a positive impact on your life. :) !!! Read it and you may fall in love as I did :)
May 12, 2013
I'm writing this review on behalf of my mother, Punam Bhatia, who finished this novel first:
When Strangers meet tells a refreshing & a very interesting story, which gripped me till the end! The novel entails a lesson for both the children & parents through the well-explored father & son relationship. The bond between the characters Pathan & his son, touched me the most. It's the story of every guy's life, where the father never shows his love for his son and when he realizes it's too late! This relation has been described beautifully with a thought-provoking story, which makes the reader introspect within themselves, and find out where they went/are going wrong. The story also explains that the 'divine law' works like magic and helps us in identifying between right & wrong (God has his own style!;). I really appreciate the young writer, Hari's efforts which he has put in to come up with this intriguing piece of work. Keep it up! I'm eagerly waiting for his next journey!
With great wishes,
Punam
When Strangers meet tells a refreshing & a very interesting story, which gripped me till the end! The novel entails a lesson for both the children & parents through the well-explored father & son relationship. The bond between the characters Pathan & his son, touched me the most. It's the story of every guy's life, where the father never shows his love for his son and when he realizes it's too late! This relation has been described beautifully with a thought-provoking story, which makes the reader introspect within themselves, and find out where they went/are going wrong. The story also explains that the 'divine law' works like magic and helps us in identifying between right & wrong (God has his own style!;). I really appreciate the young writer, Hari's efforts which he has put in to come up with this intriguing piece of work. Keep it up! I'm eagerly waiting for his next journey!
With great wishes,
Punam
May 10, 2016
after waiting for a long time i finally got the book from my friend and believe me it was worth the wait
the story basically revolves around three strangers who meet in a congested room in a metro station and how this meeting changes their lives.Many people will be able to relate with the characters and for me that was the best part of the story.The portrayal of the father son relationship is also one of the highlights of the novel.The novel has a lot of drama with a nice twist in the end which i was not expecting.
A very good book for a debutante and i cant wait to see what the author writes next which i believe would be even better than this.....
Overall a good novel with a mixture of just about everything you need in a novel...
the story basically revolves around three strangers who meet in a congested room in a metro station and how this meeting changes their lives.Many people will be able to relate with the characters and for me that was the best part of the story.The portrayal of the father son relationship is also one of the highlights of the novel.The novel has a lot of drama with a nice twist in the end which i was not expecting.
A very good book for a debutante and i cant wait to see what the author writes next which i believe would be even better than this.....
Overall a good novel with a mixture of just about everything you need in a novel...
May 31, 2013
4.5
Review:
I have received this book for reviewing from the publisher, himself. This is the third book - after The Homing Pigeons and The Secrets of the Dark - that I received from these publishers this month.
If you come to read my reviews of The Secrets of the Dark and The Homing Pigeons, you might have understood I have literally become a fan of Srishti Publishers. Maybe, there are someone out there who might be thinking that I have been writing positive about the book because I was asked to review, read any of these three books and you will realize the fidelity of my reviews. In fact, it is a shocker even to myself that all the three consequent releases of Srishti Publishers are so wonderful.
Plot (from the jacket - hand typed):
What happens when Jai is stranded at the Metro Station with an irritating stranger called Iyer and a mysterious Pathan?
How will the tale from Iyer's past effect jai's future?
And why does the mysterious Pathan keep staring at Jai?
What happens inside that small room of the Metro Station?
Nobody believes Jai when he claims that 'He was there!'. People think he is crazy. But is he?
The story revolves around Pathan, Jai and Iyer, and their tryst with each other's destiny.
A light-hearted drama with a heavy tint of suspense that captures father-son relationships from the viewpoints of three different strata of society.
Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Suspense... A typical Bollywood fiction...
A touching tale about choosing between the paths of our dreams and their expectations.
Amazing things happen When Stranger Meet..
Three men.
One fateful day.
A small room.
And a story of a lifetime...
About the author (from the jacket, too):
K. Hari Kumar is working as an Assistant Director in the Indian film industry. He has written, acted and directed four independent projects that have been screened in various film festivals.
My take on the book:
The plot:
Though the blurb mentioned on the back of the book and that which is mention under the plot, doesn't portray the tenth of the enthusiasm that the story holds for the reader. I assure you that the story is far better than the plot sounds. Here, let me try to give a alternative plot of the story.
Pathan, Jai and Iyer on a fateful day come to meet in the rest area of a Metro Station in Delhi.
Each of them are different in their both economical and ...................
To read the whole review, click here...
Review:
I have received this book for reviewing from the publisher, himself. This is the third book - after The Homing Pigeons and The Secrets of the Dark - that I received from these publishers this month.
If you come to read my reviews of The Secrets of the Dark and The Homing Pigeons, you might have understood I have literally become a fan of Srishti Publishers. Maybe, there are someone out there who might be thinking that I have been writing positive about the book because I was asked to review, read any of these three books and you will realize the fidelity of my reviews. In fact, it is a shocker even to myself that all the three consequent releases of Srishti Publishers are so wonderful.
Plot (from the jacket - hand typed):
What happens when Jai is stranded at the Metro Station with an irritating stranger called Iyer and a mysterious Pathan?
How will the tale from Iyer's past effect jai's future?
And why does the mysterious Pathan keep staring at Jai?
What happens inside that small room of the Metro Station?
Nobody believes Jai when he claims that 'He was there!'. People think he is crazy. But is he?
The story revolves around Pathan, Jai and Iyer, and their tryst with each other's destiny.
A light-hearted drama with a heavy tint of suspense that captures father-son relationships from the viewpoints of three different strata of society.
Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Suspense... A typical Bollywood fiction...
A touching tale about choosing between the paths of our dreams and their expectations.
Amazing things happen When Stranger Meet..
Three men.
One fateful day.
A small room.
And a story of a lifetime...
About the author (from the jacket, too):
K. Hari Kumar is working as an Assistant Director in the Indian film industry. He has written, acted and directed four independent projects that have been screened in various film festivals.
My take on the book:
The plot:
Though the blurb mentioned on the back of the book and that which is mention under the plot, doesn't portray the tenth of the enthusiasm that the story holds for the reader. I assure you that the story is far better than the plot sounds. Here, let me try to give a alternative plot of the story.
Pathan, Jai and Iyer on a fateful day come to meet in the rest area of a Metro Station in Delhi.
Each of them are different in their both economical and ...................
To read the whole review, click here...
May 19, 2013
I am usually vary of debut novels but I was pleasantly surprised by 'When strangers meet'. I suspected that this might be yet another predictable romance. But in fact it turned out to be a heart-warming tale about a young boy who catches a glimpse into his possible future. This surreal glimpse allows him to make the right choice at a crossroads in his life. The story is well-paced and the language is simple and crisp. I felt that the writing improved as the story advanced and I particularly liked the twist at the end. Hari is a great storyteller and his understanding of plot and story elements come to the fore in this debut novel. Definitely a good weekend read, this novel is easy on the senses and leaves you smiling.
May 25, 2013
A well planned and well written story. Language is simple, flow and pace is maintained throughout. The author has dedicated this book to his father and it truly delivers the message emphatically through an entertaining story. Truly recommended for fathers and sons.
Negatives: There is some repetition at a few places, however that wont make you bored.
The Verdict: A light, entertaining and enjoyable read with a message. Surely unputdownable. Thanks Hari for sending it on the right day :). 3.5 stars on 5.
Negatives: There is some repetition at a few places, however that wont make you bored.
The Verdict: A light, entertaining and enjoyable read with a message. Surely unputdownable. Thanks Hari for sending it on the right day :). 3.5 stars on 5.
May 23, 2013
The book is mostly about three different characters who are chanced upon by fate to meet each other while stranded in a Metro Station. The first character is that of Jai Prakash Sharma, a troubled and unruly teenager. The second character is that of Hussain, a petty tea shop owner who is facing troubled times because of his poverty. The third and the best character in the book is that of Krishnaprasad Iyer a.k.a Iyer.
Read the full review here: When Strangers Meet | K. Hari Kumar | Book Review
Read the full review here: When Strangers Meet | K. Hari Kumar | Book Review
May 14, 2013
'When Strangers Meet..' is an amazing combination of Dreams.. Love.. Pain.. Faith.. The way author has described the father - son relationship has really touched my heart. A story about 3 strangers .. belonging to 3 different strata. The variance between each father - son relation.. Arshad and His Dad's believe in Allah .. Jai and His Dad's different thoughts for Jai's Dream and Iyer's story.. A twist in everyone's life..
Extraordinary Things Happen ... 'When Strangers Meet..' Indeed story of a Lifetime!
Extraordinary Things Happen ... 'When Strangers Meet..' Indeed story of a Lifetime!
May 20, 2013
My review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2mm
I think the book is very enjoyable with a simple plot that might not feel new to anyone. However, the handling of the plot is fresh, and the ending took me by surprise. The book has a casual cover and a familiar flow. Lovely narration. However, it lacks proofreading and that could make it even better than it currently is. The lack of it doesn't take away from the holding power of the narration though. 4 stars from me.
I think the book is very enjoyable with a simple plot that might not feel new to anyone. However, the handling of the plot is fresh, and the ending took me by surprise. The book has a casual cover and a familiar flow. Lovely narration. However, it lacks proofreading and that could make it even better than it currently is. The lack of it doesn't take away from the holding power of the narration though. 4 stars from me.
May 19, 2013
"When stranges meet" awesome novel that amazingly portrays the uncertainty of life and how strangers can change your life and its course of events......incredibly written by Hari Kumar K and very connecting...somewhere u literally visualize the saga of events that take place within the story........must read...highly recommended........
May 28, 2013
This is one quick read! The Author's narration was amazing.. One could easily read it in a flow.. I loved the 3rd part the most.. 'Revelations' .. Emotions were perfectly weaved in the story by the Author! Surely worth the time and money!
December 29, 2018
An interesting story that teaches you value the good things of life.Its quite strange how a person's story can change the outlook of another person.
January 14, 2014
I have had this book for sometime now and every time I picked it up to read, I was interrupted and so it lay waiting to be read on my shelf. But then I got a chance to read it the other day and what can I say, I was totally hooked!
When Strangers Meet is the story of three strangers who are all waiting for a train and while waiting in the "The Resting Area" some events occur that change the lives of all these people.
Firstly there is the runaway, Jay who is running away from his family in order to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Then there is the Pathan, Ansari who has always religiously followed the right path and despite his poverty, always thanked Allah for his blessings and who is now on the verge of changing his life as well as the life of his family forever. Finally there is Iyer, a chubby and jovial man who has seen and experienced it all.
What are the events and how they prove to be the changing curves in these strangers' lives is what the story shapes and delivers.
When I started reading this book I was not impressed and was slowly getting the unholy idea of skipping it because of the unnecessary and all too frequent use of the F- word and slang that I felt could be done without. Also the grammar and misplaced arrangement and usage of words and phrases was a nuisance but then after the initial chapters or more specifically after Jay's introduction, the presentation as well as the writing style changed to better writing, less confusion with the words/phrases and a lot more reality to the settings. For me the dialogues in Jay's story felt unreal and slightly overdone with the author trying to add more slang to give the setting a more modern feel. The Father- Son relationship angle is better handled in Jay's case in the latter part of the book than in the introduction. Some more time should have been given to the editing phase to dispense with the grammatical and nonsensical mistakes.
"She was vexed out of the posh discotheque", "..waded away at the boy's face", "... household was burning on fire..","on a most unlikely manner", "pointed his fingers..","squirreled at his son" etc.
The cons part aside, the story has many pros too. Ansari and Iyer's stories are expertly handled and executed and they touched my heart with their simplicity and down to earth reality. The writing in these stories is simple, elegant and holds the attention of the reader. The author is specially successful in bringing out all the colors from South India in Iyer's story.
I loved the plot and kudos to the author for conceiving and executing it so beautifully. There is perfect balance between all the characters and each is given its due share of spotlight in the story. The suspense is very admirably held and the climax is stellar which left me shocked and so touched.
A gripping story that gets better and better with each page and that will keep you at the edge of your seat till the very end. A great book from a very promising debut author and with some great dialogues, I give
When Strangers Meet a 4.5 out of 5. Had the initial part been handled as the latter one, this story would have been a full 5 on 5 book for me. Nevertheless, here is a story that will make you smile, cry, feel blessed and also thrill and chill you, all in some 200 plus pages. Worth every penny spent and then some more, I loved the whole stranger-meets-stranger-at-a-station idea and hope to read more from K. Hari Kumar in the future.
"May the stranger find a place in your heart..
Forever.." and he did in mine. Sometimes its just a chat with someone unknown that sets us in the right path.
A not to be missed book, I strongly recommend it to everyone.
Some memorable quotes I loved:
'The Greatest epic is your own life's story. From the moment you set your foot outside your mother's womb, an epic is set in motion that keeps evolving until the day you leave this place. For some, the story never ends, their legacy continues.'
"Ignore things that aggravate you, instead of reacting to them. Laugh your way through everything, every day. It is funny but at the end, we are all dirt in the sand. What is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again soon?"
This review is also available on my blog http://njkinny.blogspot.in
When Strangers Meet is the story of three strangers who are all waiting for a train and while waiting in the "The Resting Area" some events occur that change the lives of all these people.
Firstly there is the runaway, Jay who is running away from his family in order to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Then there is the Pathan, Ansari who has always religiously followed the right path and despite his poverty, always thanked Allah for his blessings and who is now on the verge of changing his life as well as the life of his family forever. Finally there is Iyer, a chubby and jovial man who has seen and experienced it all.
What are the events and how they prove to be the changing curves in these strangers' lives is what the story shapes and delivers.
When I started reading this book I was not impressed and was slowly getting the unholy idea of skipping it because of the unnecessary and all too frequent use of the F- word and slang that I felt could be done without. Also the grammar and misplaced arrangement and usage of words and phrases was a nuisance but then after the initial chapters or more specifically after Jay's introduction, the presentation as well as the writing style changed to better writing, less confusion with the words/phrases and a lot more reality to the settings. For me the dialogues in Jay's story felt unreal and slightly overdone with the author trying to add more slang to give the setting a more modern feel. The Father- Son relationship angle is better handled in Jay's case in the latter part of the book than in the introduction. Some more time should have been given to the editing phase to dispense with the grammatical and nonsensical mistakes.
"She was vexed out of the posh discotheque", "..waded away at the boy's face", "... household was burning on fire..","on a most unlikely manner", "pointed his fingers..","squirreled at his son" etc.
The cons part aside, the story has many pros too. Ansari and Iyer's stories are expertly handled and executed and they touched my heart with their simplicity and down to earth reality. The writing in these stories is simple, elegant and holds the attention of the reader. The author is specially successful in bringing out all the colors from South India in Iyer's story.
I loved the plot and kudos to the author for conceiving and executing it so beautifully. There is perfect balance between all the characters and each is given its due share of spotlight in the story. The suspense is very admirably held and the climax is stellar which left me shocked and so touched.
A gripping story that gets better and better with each page and that will keep you at the edge of your seat till the very end. A great book from a very promising debut author and with some great dialogues, I give
When Strangers Meet a 4.5 out of 5. Had the initial part been handled as the latter one, this story would have been a full 5 on 5 book for me. Nevertheless, here is a story that will make you smile, cry, feel blessed and also thrill and chill you, all in some 200 plus pages. Worth every penny spent and then some more, I loved the whole stranger-meets-stranger-at-a-station idea and hope to read more from K. Hari Kumar in the future.
"May the stranger find a place in your heart..
Forever.." and he did in mine. Sometimes its just a chat with someone unknown that sets us in the right path.
A not to be missed book, I strongly recommend it to everyone.
Some memorable quotes I loved:
'The Greatest epic is your own life's story. From the moment you set your foot outside your mother's womb, an epic is set in motion that keeps evolving until the day you leave this place. For some, the story never ends, their legacy continues.'
"Ignore things that aggravate you, instead of reacting to them. Laugh your way through everything, every day. It is funny but at the end, we are all dirt in the sand. What is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again soon?"
This review is also available on my blog http://njkinny.blogspot.in
July 12, 2016
Review initially posted on: https://dreambookreviews.wordpress.co...
The story is quite simple and plain. The writing is easy to understand and the story is not generic. It is taken from a common household story, woven into an intricate design and made into a perfect blanket that the readers can slip into.
Though really amazing the book does use all the Bollywood tricks that one can think of.
Protagonist a typical bad boy who wants to go to Mumbai to become a superstar.
Fate causes meeting with unexpected people with same or similar past.
The dramatic life of Krishnaprasad Iyer
Reference to stereotypical Tamilians and clubbing every South Indian as Tamilian. (I’m pretty touchy about that)
Reference to Rajnikanth and Thalaivar.
Female lead falls for the uneducated, temperamental and egoistic lead guy.
Protagonist has the antagonist as father, and subject of being a villain: MATHEMATICS. (I don’t like the protagonist, because math is nice)
Protagonist runs away from home and the repetition of previously narrated sequence appears.
Dramatic change of life for the protagonist but a guy who believes in supernatural stuff and doesn’t visit his parents.
Parent on death-bed.
I think I did miss a few, but it doesn’t matter, you get the idea where it is heading. But there are a few twists to the story that you don’t expect and that is what keeps the reader going as the story proceeds.
The story is quite simple and plain. The writing is easy to understand and the story is not generic. It is taken from a common household story, woven into an intricate design and made into a perfect blanket that the readers can slip into.
Though really amazing the book does use all the Bollywood tricks that one can think of.
Protagonist a typical bad boy who wants to go to Mumbai to become a superstar.
Fate causes meeting with unexpected people with same or similar past.
The dramatic life of Krishnaprasad Iyer
Reference to stereotypical Tamilians and clubbing every South Indian as Tamilian. (I’m pretty touchy about that)
Reference to Rajnikanth and Thalaivar.
Female lead falls for the uneducated, temperamental and egoistic lead guy.
Protagonist has the antagonist as father, and subject of being a villain: MATHEMATICS. (I don’t like the protagonist, because math is nice)
Protagonist runs away from home and the repetition of previously narrated sequence appears.
Dramatic change of life for the protagonist but a guy who believes in supernatural stuff and doesn’t visit his parents.
Parent on death-bed.
I think I did miss a few, but it doesn’t matter, you get the idea where it is heading. But there are a few twists to the story that you don’t expect and that is what keeps the reader going as the story proceeds.
June 21, 2013
When strangers meet... is an exceptional novel which is not just drama but emotion, humour and action with an unexpected twist.I was a bit apprehensive before starting it, but the first page itself gripped me and got me hooked. I simply could not resist thereafter,and the fast pace of the novel made sure that I could not leave it halfway once I began.The novel not just talks about a father-son relationship but more importantly delves into the paradigm of the society as it exists today by displaying three characters from different walks of life who are forced into each other's life by chance. I especially enjoyed the second part where Iyer narrates his life story particularly because it is so meticulously and wonderfully described. Many a times, a book is so good that the ending seems to be a bit of anti-climax. But here, the ending is superb which will leave all with a sense of hope and may even leave some with a sense of introspection towards their own life. All in all it is a scintillating novel which I highly recommend to everyone , be it a youngster , a father, a friend or even someone who doesn't like reading novels. This may just change your perspective about novels and the impact they can have.
June 20, 2017
When strangers meet is a book that will take you through different aspects of life. The interesting factor about the book is the right amount of mystic and reality elements mixed together in a wonderful format.
The book relates with characters that we have seen or somehow known to us.And that what makes it interesting. An angry young man -jai, a man who is content with his life -pathan and a man who has a story to tell - iyer, makes you laugh and think.
The book is a story between these 3 strangers and how incidents in life gets tangled on a particular day.
I was quite skeptical to read the book at first and the first thing that attracted me is that the book is devoid of romance cliches, a trend young adult writers seem to follow.
And i'm happy i read it :) it's a refreshing change in UrbanRead/Fiction/Contemporary genre. It's definitely a pageturner and gripping from first chapter itself.
The book gives an insight to those people who have stumbled upon life and that's the best takeaway a reader can ever get.
But very unsatisfied with the quality of print copy which i got.
P.s- The most amazing fact is the sincerity in the writing which i assume the writer has gone through reflections rather than inspirations in tuning the tale.
Three cheers !!!
The book relates with characters that we have seen or somehow known to us.And that what makes it interesting. An angry young man -jai, a man who is content with his life -pathan and a man who has a story to tell - iyer, makes you laugh and think.
The book is a story between these 3 strangers and how incidents in life gets tangled on a particular day.
I was quite skeptical to read the book at first and the first thing that attracted me is that the book is devoid of romance cliches, a trend young adult writers seem to follow.
And i'm happy i read it :) it's a refreshing change in UrbanRead/Fiction/Contemporary genre. It's definitely a pageturner and gripping from first chapter itself.
The book gives an insight to those people who have stumbled upon life and that's the best takeaway a reader can ever get.
But very unsatisfied with the quality of print copy which i got.
P.s- The most amazing fact is the sincerity in the writing which i assume the writer has gone through reflections rather than inspirations in tuning the tale.
Three cheers !!!
May 18, 2013
"When Strangers Meet" is an auspicious work by Mr. K.Hari Kumar and his publishing team. A complete Urban fiction depicting the truth of a common man's life in various situations. A story of trust, humanity and belief. A story pushing you towards the height of some very severe situations. I bet if you start, you gonna end up reading. A promising work for any reader's collection. Highly authentic, sensible and of course a marvelous piece of work from a writer's point of view.
Cheers for the success and we are surely looking forward for some more...!!!
Cheers for the success and we are surely looking forward for some more...!!!
May 31, 2013
I have always been a fan of K.Hari's photography & short films. was very keen on his debut novel and its awsm!
I like his descriptive style of narration and well the twist in the end. A usual story but still you can't predict anything and the storyteller just wins your heart through out the story.
Must read!
I like his descriptive style of narration and well the twist in the end. A usual story but still you can't predict anything and the storyteller just wins your heart through out the story.
Must read!
May 16, 2013
A MUST READ...
A perfect mixture of emotions. Awesome style of describing and narrating and truly a motivational and inspiring one.. All characters are very familiar and unique in their own way.
Decision taken in anger or words spoken in anger are always regretful.
Looking forward to read some more from this writer.
A perfect mixture of emotions. Awesome style of describing and narrating and truly a motivational and inspiring one.. All characters are very familiar and unique in their own way.
Decision taken in anger or words spoken in anger are always regretful.
Looking forward to read some more from this writer.
May 28, 2013
A soul-touching story! The author has beautifully described the father - son relationship.. the flow in the narration makes the reader to keep turning the page till the end! The story is really inspiring.. explains amazingly the definition of Life! This is a quick read! I'll highly recommend this to sons and fathers :)
June 2, 2020
This book is really very Indian....I loved reading it.... emotional for right reasons!!
June 3, 2013
*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of When Strangers meet.. by K. Hari Kumar from Srishti Publishers & Distributors in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for the book!
K. Hari Kumar's When Strangers meet.. is the tale of three men, Jai Sharma, Krishnaprasad Iyer and Hussain Ansari, who find themselves in the same situation and how that one situation changes their lives. The book is divided into three parts- The Runaway, Iyer's Story and Revelations.
When Strangers Meet.., as a story, is quite decent and okay as it comes with a good and much appreciated message. The only and major problem I had with the book was the writing.
Yes, I have said before that I am not one to judge. I don't hold any prestigious and respectable degrees in the English language, but I have read quite a lot of books and by now, even I can point out a well written and not so well written book. When Strangers Meet.., unfortunately, fell under the latter category.
Considering the fact that I began this book freshly after finishing a beautifully written novel by the same publishing house, I was disappointed and irritated by the rather mediocre writing. The language was very "today", but it was way too colloquial for a book. Literally every second sentence ended with an exclamation mark. The italics font was used for no reason at numerous places. And what I did not understand was, This. Yes, This. Every word after the first comma in a sentence started with a capital letter. And I have no idea why. Or maybe it was meant to be that way.
Anyways, the quite so-so writing aside, like I said, the story was quite good.
Jai is like any typical metro college kid. He loves his music, has his own dreams and is pressurized to do what his parents want him to do. Hussain, the humble tea stall owner is a wonderful person at heart and I would have loved to read more about him, his family and their daily struggles. Krishna... Well, Krishna was the epicenter of When Strangers Meet.., bringing along with him, his life journey and story that makes and breaks quite a few things.
I loved how author K. Hari Kumar managed to capture, in a very subtle and perhaps unknowing manner, the true current Indian situation where the rich are becoming richer and the poor, poorer. It's easy to ignore the part, but the fact, for me, was hidden right there. And I loved the reality of it. In general, the situational reality of the story was quite solid.
Had I not skimmed the last few pages beforehand, the unexpected ending would have left me feeling devastated and hollow, but I was prepared and so, all was good.
Overall, with some editorial improvements, When Strangers Meet.. has the potential to be a good read. For me, the story was really good, but the writing... Okay. I know I have been mean, but oh well... A little writing research would have helped.
My rating is somewhere between 2.50 to 2.75 but since the story was really good, I'm rounding it up to a total of 3 owls, which means that while I did have some issues with the book, I enjoyed it. I've seen many good reviews for the book and they're all right in saying that When Strangers Meet.. is a light and fun read with a moral worth knowing.
K. Hari Kumar's When Strangers meet.. is the tale of three men, Jai Sharma, Krishnaprasad Iyer and Hussain Ansari, who find themselves in the same situation and how that one situation changes their lives. The book is divided into three parts- The Runaway, Iyer's Story and Revelations.
When Strangers Meet.., as a story, is quite decent and okay as it comes with a good and much appreciated message. The only and major problem I had with the book was the writing.
Yes, I have said before that I am not one to judge. I don't hold any prestigious and respectable degrees in the English language, but I have read quite a lot of books and by now, even I can point out a well written and not so well written book. When Strangers Meet.., unfortunately, fell under the latter category.
Considering the fact that I began this book freshly after finishing a beautifully written novel by the same publishing house, I was disappointed and irritated by the rather mediocre writing. The language was very "today", but it was way too colloquial for a book. Literally every second sentence ended with an exclamation mark. The italics font was used for no reason at numerous places. And what I did not understand was, This. Yes, This. Every word after the first comma in a sentence started with a capital letter. And I have no idea why. Or maybe it was meant to be that way.
Anyways, the quite so-so writing aside, like I said, the story was quite good.
Jai is like any typical metro college kid. He loves his music, has his own dreams and is pressurized to do what his parents want him to do. Hussain, the humble tea stall owner is a wonderful person at heart and I would have loved to read more about him, his family and their daily struggles. Krishna... Well, Krishna was the epicenter of When Strangers Meet.., bringing along with him, his life journey and story that makes and breaks quite a few things.
I loved how author K. Hari Kumar managed to capture, in a very subtle and perhaps unknowing manner, the true current Indian situation where the rich are becoming richer and the poor, poorer. It's easy to ignore the part, but the fact, for me, was hidden right there. And I loved the reality of it. In general, the situational reality of the story was quite solid.
Had I not skimmed the last few pages beforehand, the unexpected ending would have left me feeling devastated and hollow, but I was prepared and so, all was good.
Overall, with some editorial improvements, When Strangers Meet.. has the potential to be a good read. For me, the story was really good, but the writing... Okay. I know I have been mean, but oh well... A little writing research would have helped.
My rating is somewhere between 2.50 to 2.75 but since the story was really good, I'm rounding it up to a total of 3 owls, which means that while I did have some issues with the book, I enjoyed it. I've seen many good reviews for the book and they're all right in saying that When Strangers Meet.. is a light and fun read with a moral worth knowing.
May 7, 2021
Do you believe that one with most number of popular vote will be best?? 📚☕🧃
Today I am gonna say about a popular book that didn't worked out for me.
When Strangers Meet.. by K. Hari Kumar
1⭐
👨💻A book that makes me realize that if prologue and introduction is good then it doesn't mean the book will be equally good.
🌌 This book starts with a simple proforma about life. Prologue was quite catchy but the rest of the book was not so good. 🙄
🔖The story unfolds with a teenager boy, not having his requests granted impulsively leaves his house to go Mumbai to become a movie star. He met another person on Delhi Metro Station, a middle-aged man shares his experience of life which lets him to change his decision. Then, that man asked him for a help after which the prologue started to make sense and an unbelievable climax which was quite predictive.
🔖The plot of this book is very subtle, in the miidle some chapters become monotonous and very boring. Overdramatic writings and Dialouges is also what I seen in this book. Along with Extremely rude characters with 0 character development as well as somewhere use of kinda sexist and vulgar language.
🔖The theme of the book is dysfunctional families, teenage problems, peer pressure, ambitions, nepotism and <*spolier*> ghosts & apparitions (but not at all scary).
*For Beginners (who are very new to book reading)* : I won't recommend this as something good to start with, but still you can go with this as the language is simple.
*For Everyone else* : Again if you are a Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Susan Hill, Alex North, Dean Konntz, Neil Gaiman or Ruskin Bond's(for his scary tales) etc. Fan then don't pick it up.
Today I am gonna say about a popular book that didn't worked out for me.
When Strangers Meet.. by K. Hari Kumar
1⭐
👨💻A book that makes me realize that if prologue and introduction is good then it doesn't mean the book will be equally good.
🌌 This book starts with a simple proforma about life. Prologue was quite catchy but the rest of the book was not so good. 🙄
🔖The story unfolds with a teenager boy, not having his requests granted impulsively leaves his house to go Mumbai to become a movie star. He met another person on Delhi Metro Station, a middle-aged man shares his experience of life which lets him to change his decision. Then, that man asked him for a help after which the prologue started to make sense and an unbelievable climax which was quite predictive.
🔖The plot of this book is very subtle, in the miidle some chapters become monotonous and very boring. Overdramatic writings and Dialouges is also what I seen in this book. Along with Extremely rude characters with 0 character development as well as somewhere use of kinda sexist and vulgar language.
🔖The theme of the book is dysfunctional families, teenage problems, peer pressure, ambitions, nepotism and <*spolier*> ghosts & apparitions (but not at all scary).
*For Beginners (who are very new to book reading)* : I won't recommend this as something good to start with, but still you can go with this as the language is simple.
*For Everyone else* : Again if you are a Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Susan Hill, Alex North, Dean Konntz, Neil Gaiman or Ruskin Bond's(for his scary tales) etc. Fan then don't pick it up.
July 27, 2013
Finally I have completed ‘When strangers meet’ in less than a day! I’m falling short of words to describe how the author has framed 2 stories
side by side and in such a simple manner……while reading the book I found myself standing in front of the mirror and seeing myself instead of Jai’s character coz I had been through these kind of situations in my life..….nowadays it’s the same story in almost every part of India because of the generation gap prevalent everywhere….but always remember that your father can scold you, say anything bcoz he has every bit of right to do so but in the end he would always do the best for you and after reading this book I have found more respect for my Dad in my heart and no more arguments with him now!!!!! In the book I found few lines very inspiring like, “ignore things that provoke you,instead of reacting to them, laugh your way through everything, everyday” and “what is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again??” The book also showed how a person struggled to achieve their dreams but the harsh reality is that you just can’t get everything in this tough world. In the end thanks and hats off to Mr. Hari Kumar for writing such a wonderful book that shows the reality of every teenager of India…...
side by side and in such a simple manner……while reading the book I found myself standing in front of the mirror and seeing myself instead of Jai’s character coz I had been through these kind of situations in my life..….nowadays it’s the same story in almost every part of India because of the generation gap prevalent everywhere….but always remember that your father can scold you, say anything bcoz he has every bit of right to do so but in the end he would always do the best for you and after reading this book I have found more respect for my Dad in my heart and no more arguments with him now!!!!! In the book I found few lines very inspiring like, “ignore things that provoke you,instead of reacting to them, laugh your way through everything, everyday” and “what is the point in wiping off the dirt, when you know you will be covered again??” The book also showed how a person struggled to achieve their dreams but the harsh reality is that you just can’t get everything in this tough world. In the end thanks and hats off to Mr. Hari Kumar for writing such a wonderful book that shows the reality of every teenager of India…...
November 22, 2013
The title that is directly linked to the soul of the story. The moment when the runaway came face to face with the man who came. The moment …
“WHEN STRANGERS MEET..”
When Strangers meet tells a refreshing & a very interesting story, which also an interesting book because usually I don't read books like that.
The bond between the characters Pathan & his son, touched me the most. It's the story of every guy's life, where the father never shows his love for his son and when he realizes it's too late!
Three men.
One fateful day.
A small room.
And a story of a lifetime...
I like the story although this is my first Indian contemporary read and there's a few things I didn't understand but that was fine. Because of that things I looked the dictionarys.This book is The Authors debut book.Even for a firsts it was really good.When Strangers Meet was a quick read to fast readers.
“WHEN STRANGERS MEET..”
When Strangers meet tells a refreshing & a very interesting story, which also an interesting book because usually I don't read books like that.
The bond between the characters Pathan & his son, touched me the most. It's the story of every guy's life, where the father never shows his love for his son and when he realizes it's too late!
Three men.
One fateful day.
A small room.
And a story of a lifetime...
I like the story although this is my first Indian contemporary read and there's a few things I didn't understand but that was fine. Because of that things I looked the dictionarys.This book is The Authors debut book.Even for a firsts it was really good.When Strangers Meet was a quick read to fast readers.
June 28, 2013
This is my first novel by K. Hari Kumar. Narrative is good, however needs editing. This story is based on a teenager in college. There are three main characters Jay, Iyer and Hassan. It is in simple English short story most of you will be able to read it within 2 hours or less. I felt like it is the usual Indian based story with parent’s conflict with teenager running away from home, love and happy ending. The author made great effort for the plot but could have a better ending. I gave it 3 stars as author needs better imagination to create a very good story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews