What do you think?
A Bird on My Windowsill
In Manav’ s world, memories are like little birds perched upon the windowsill of time. In his world there are no boundaries between thoughts and reality. In his world the past and the present form a mirror that disintegrates into the memory of a single day…
Known for writing silences and articulating dreams, in this book Manav sifts through the past, delves into the present and talks about all the creative impulses, writing, directing theatre and acting that have made him who he is. Through his poetry and prose, he creates vignettes of his life, a long-lost love, his interactions with people as he travels, his favourite authors and their writings, almost as if he’ s trying to weave a world for the reader as well.
Beautifully symbolic, this book is a rich tapestry of thoughts and feelings, of todays and tomorrows, of being alone and seeking loneliness.
Known for writing silences and articulating dreams, in this book Manav sifts through the past, delves into the present and talks about all the creative impulses, writing, directing theatre and acting that have made him who he is. Through his poetry and prose, he creates vignettes of his life, a long-lost love, his interactions with people as he travels, his favourite authors and their writings, almost as if he’ s trying to weave a world for the reader as well.
Beautifully symbolic, this book is a rich tapestry of thoughts and feelings, of todays and tomorrows, of being alone and seeking loneliness.
- GenresIndian Literature
200 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2024
About the author
Manav Kaul
36 books446 followersकश्मीर के बारामूला में पैदा हुए मानव कौल, होशंगाबाद (म.प्र.) में परवरिश के रास्ते पिछले 20 सालों से मुंबई में फ़िल्मी दुनिया, अभिनय, नाट्य-निर्देशन और लेखन का अभिन्न हिस्सा बने हुए हैं। अपने हर नए नाटक से हिंदी रंगमंच की दुनिया को चौंकाने वाले मानव ने अपने ख़ास गद्य के लिए साहित्य-पाठकों के बीच भी उतनी ही विशेष जगह बनाई है। इनकी पिछली दोनों किताबें ‘ठीक तुम्हारे पीछे’ और ‘प्रेम कबूतर’ दैनिक जागरण नीलसन बेस्टसेलर में शामिल हो चुकी हैं।
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 21, 2024
There’s something very poetic about words which are not phrased as poems but aren’t stories yet. Can we call them dreamlike? Because that’s what this book feels like. You want to swim in that word maze he creates but it’s short lived so you have to step out. But once you’re out, there’s a new way through which you see the world.
A book which made me smile through tears, which made me see the author as a human more than what we see him. A book which made me feel alright writing in English :)
March 2, 2025
4.5.
Felt like I was sitting across a beautiful landscape and the author was just telling me all the simple, mundane yet beautiful observations he made throughout his life. His writing was so beautiful, his prose felt like poems, nice, warm hugs in the form of poems.
Some chapters were so nice and meticulously detailed that I listened to them again and again. He wrote things I think about but never thought could be described.
If I had had the physical copy of this one I probably would've underlined the whole book.
Felt like I was sitting across a beautiful landscape and the author was just telling me all the simple, mundane yet beautiful observations he made throughout his life. His writing was so beautiful, his prose felt like poems, nice, warm hugs in the form of poems.
Some chapters were so nice and meticulously detailed that I listened to them again and again. He wrote things I think about but never thought could be described.
If I had had the physical copy of this one I probably would've underlined the whole book.
June 28, 2024
This book spoke to me, it made me reflect, made me sad, made me hopeful, made me look around and appreciate every little thing. I love how Manav Kaul makes even monotony look beautiful. ❤️
I went on a trip to the hills twice the month I read this one and took it along every time. I read this book very slowly because I don’t want it to finish and yet read it quickly and know everything. This is how everyone feels when they read it, I am told. I was at the riverside in Choj, reading about the riverside in Manali and Mr Kaul’s experience goes “But the most significant pull came from the river that flowed next to it. Its roaring sound overpowered everything else. It also reminded me of my writing. It’s hard to know when or how it will start and end. But whenever it’s flowing, the thought of it leaving haunts me. One moment I am intensely writing something, and the next moment, it’s gone.”
The feeling of being in the hills is unmatched just like the feeling of reading “A Bird On My Windowsill”. But wait, what about the feeling of reading this book in the hills? 📚🌄
I went on a trip to the hills twice the month I read this one and took it along every time. I read this book very slowly because I don’t want it to finish and yet read it quickly and know everything. This is how everyone feels when they read it, I am told. I was at the riverside in Choj, reading about the riverside in Manali and Mr Kaul’s experience goes “But the most significant pull came from the river that flowed next to it. Its roaring sound overpowered everything else. It also reminded me of my writing. It’s hard to know when or how it will start and end. But whenever it’s flowing, the thought of it leaving haunts me. One moment I am intensely writing something, and the next moment, it’s gone.”
The feeling of being in the hills is unmatched just like the feeling of reading “A Bird On My Windowsill”. But wait, what about the feeling of reading this book in the hills? 📚🌄
April 14, 2024
This book is not just a book!
It's an experience worth living and feeling.
This book is for everybody. It would be a crime to only recommend it to just one kind of readers.
Highly recommend ❤️
Yours truly
a lifelong fan, Manav :')
It's an experience worth living and feeling.
This book is for everybody. It would be a crime to only recommend it to just one kind of readers.
Highly recommend ❤️
Yours truly
a lifelong fan, Manav :')
November 19, 2023
When one poet writes about the experience of another poet and the process of writing, and another poet reads about it, it feels celestial as they can relate. Only those deeply immersed in words can truly understand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
I did the audible audio book (read by Luke Kenny). The audio book is very well produced, with a bit of guitar strumming, audio versions of printer's ornaments (or "fleurons" as ChatGPT informs me!) in poetry books and the like, at the beginning of chapters or to separate the a la Ruskin Bond's "Rain in the Mountains" style diary-like entries.
The first reason I picked this up was the lovely cover and the title, so great packaging - kudos! So much for not judging a book by its jacket and all that!
I have not really seen Manav Kaul in any movie or play, or if he was in a movie I have watched, then it hasn't registered with me. But that's my ignorance - mea culpa!
The prose is lyrical, no doubt, but I can't say I am a great fan of the writing - not that I can write better, but I am a reader, and I can safely say that there is better writing out there - in poetry, at least. This was mostly derivative. He is a like a poor man's Gulzar. Pop poetry, at best. Not that there is a lot of poetry here - prose poetry, then.
He talks about Nirmal Verma and Vinod Kumar Shukla, at some point during the book, and so I have added them to my reading list. Book reccos by established authors are always a valuable takeaway, and Kaul does have a fair bit of writing behind him by now!
I was mostly dozing off to this, picking it up to listen at bed time, so that didn't work for me. This would have been best to do with the hardcover version in hand, mulling or meditating over the paragraphs. That said, each para, particularly towards the end seemed to take off at tangents. Too sketchy. For example, say you were someone lucky enough to spend some time in Prague, or some exotic European city (he's been to a few, although the reasons for it are not always clear), and if you were a writer, wouldn't you extract an entire travelog out of it? Instead, all we get is a lousy para or two! Maybe "travelog" wasn't the style employed here, but still.
It was good going to begin with, but as the book progressed there was no saying what he would talk about next and there was no link or overarching theme to it. So, yeah, lost me! More power to those still with him!
As mentioned already, there are a few more books by him though (all in Hindi, except for two more English translations), and those look good. But I am hoping to do something by Vinod Kumar Shukla or Nirmal Verma one of these days first, having read a chapter or two from them as Hindi lessons out of a text book in school and they come highly recommended. Looking forward to that! I might do this again some day, and change my opinion about it. But I have tried getting into this for more than a month now, without much success, and so - short as it may be (only a few hours), I am letting it go for the moment! No fault of the author or the reader here, some listens are just jinxed!
The first reason I picked this up was the lovely cover and the title, so great packaging - kudos! So much for not judging a book by its jacket and all that!
I have not really seen Manav Kaul in any movie or play, or if he was in a movie I have watched, then it hasn't registered with me. But that's my ignorance - mea culpa!
The prose is lyrical, no doubt, but I can't say I am a great fan of the writing - not that I can write better, but I am a reader, and I can safely say that there is better writing out there - in poetry, at least. This was mostly derivative. He is a like a poor man's Gulzar. Pop poetry, at best. Not that there is a lot of poetry here - prose poetry, then.
He talks about Nirmal Verma and Vinod Kumar Shukla, at some point during the book, and so I have added them to my reading list. Book reccos by established authors are always a valuable takeaway, and Kaul does have a fair bit of writing behind him by now!
I was mostly dozing off to this, picking it up to listen at bed time, so that didn't work for me. This would have been best to do with the hardcover version in hand, mulling or meditating over the paragraphs. That said, each para, particularly towards the end seemed to take off at tangents. Too sketchy. For example, say you were someone lucky enough to spend some time in Prague, or some exotic European city (he's been to a few, although the reasons for it are not always clear), and if you were a writer, wouldn't you extract an entire travelog out of it? Instead, all we get is a lousy para or two! Maybe "travelog" wasn't the style employed here, but still.
It was good going to begin with, but as the book progressed there was no saying what he would talk about next and there was no link or overarching theme to it. So, yeah, lost me! More power to those still with him!
As mentioned already, there are a few more books by him though (all in Hindi, except for two more English translations), and those look good. But I am hoping to do something by Vinod Kumar Shukla or Nirmal Verma one of these days first, having read a chapter or two from them as Hindi lessons out of a text book in school and they come highly recommended. Looking forward to that! I might do this again some day, and change my opinion about it. But I have tried getting into this for more than a month now, without much success, and so - short as it may be (only a few hours), I am letting it go for the moment! No fault of the author or the reader here, some listens are just jinxed!
September 15, 2026
Eloquent and quiet. Turbulent and still.
Thoughts. Feelings. Observations. ‘a bird on my windowsill’ is a rich medley of words and observations, drawing the reader into the world of the author, weaving a web of stillness and turmoil.
Firstly, a deep acknowledgement to nandini kumar nickerson for transcreating manav kaul’s words so beautifully. I am sure it must have been a herculean task to transform the depth of the original into something so meaningful for English readers.
“You create the world you live in.”
And Manav Kaul has created this wonderful world of words for one to bask in.
His writings emerge from the heart. Throughout the book, one can sense his deep disturbance at the state of the world today: man turning against man, and the way man has turned against the universe, making his future existence so precarious.
But yet there is a tenderness to the book, which is indescribable. It somehow reassures your faith in humanity. For, there is a deep understanding which echoes in his writings, even if it is of loss or despair or sorrow.
His travels are his journey to seek, to question, to find solace. They form a major part of his writing, giving him an innate sense of fulfilment.
“There is so much beauty to be seen in the world that I fear I started late.”
“Little did I realize that journeys, while taking our sorrows away, add something back too.”
Personally, the book read to me like a resonance of one’s inner self.
There’s a joy in writing anything anywhere…….. But the freedom of writing that I feel is freeing.”
Thoughts and reality intermingle, creating a rich kaleidoscope of emotions lain on the intense landscape of words. A collection of prose and poetry, the book seems straight from the heart, outpourings of the soul and a fervent need to express. His ‘chai ka cup’ and his sojourn into the mountains bring forth these beautiful, lyrical expressions which create an ethereal feeling so overwhelming.
The book makes you pause and reflect, paying homage to stillness while acknowledging the disquiet.
“It is easy to be complicated,
But hard to stay easy.
It’s easy to feel lonely in a crowd,
But it is difficult to live alone with yourself.”
This is a book to be read when you are feeling low, or when you are cheery; when you are questioning or just seeking. This is a book I will definitely return to read again and again.
Thoughts. Feelings. Observations. ‘a bird on my windowsill’ is a rich medley of words and observations, drawing the reader into the world of the author, weaving a web of stillness and turmoil.
Firstly, a deep acknowledgement to nandini kumar nickerson for transcreating manav kaul’s words so beautifully. I am sure it must have been a herculean task to transform the depth of the original into something so meaningful for English readers.
“You create the world you live in.”
And Manav Kaul has created this wonderful world of words for one to bask in.
His writings emerge from the heart. Throughout the book, one can sense his deep disturbance at the state of the world today: man turning against man, and the way man has turned against the universe, making his future existence so precarious.
But yet there is a tenderness to the book, which is indescribable. It somehow reassures your faith in humanity. For, there is a deep understanding which echoes in his writings, even if it is of loss or despair or sorrow.
His travels are his journey to seek, to question, to find solace. They form a major part of his writing, giving him an innate sense of fulfilment.
“There is so much beauty to be seen in the world that I fear I started late.”
“Little did I realize that journeys, while taking our sorrows away, add something back too.”
Personally, the book read to me like a resonance of one’s inner self.
There’s a joy in writing anything anywhere…….. But the freedom of writing that I feel is freeing.”
Thoughts and reality intermingle, creating a rich kaleidoscope of emotions lain on the intense landscape of words. A collection of prose and poetry, the book seems straight from the heart, outpourings of the soul and a fervent need to express. His ‘chai ka cup’ and his sojourn into the mountains bring forth these beautiful, lyrical expressions which create an ethereal feeling so overwhelming.
The book makes you pause and reflect, paying homage to stillness while acknowledging the disquiet.
“It is easy to be complicated,
But hard to stay easy.
It’s easy to feel lonely in a crowd,
But it is difficult to live alone with yourself.”
This is a book to be read when you are feeling low, or when you are cheery; when you are questioning or just seeking. This is a book I will definitely return to read again and again.
August 23, 2024
“Why do things seem beautiful when we think about them as the past? Is the present only helpful in collecting memories? Can we only find happiness by looking at the past?”
Review
It is an introspective journey woven as poetry, memoir, and intellectual musings. Readers will explore vivid themes through the author's journey. The themes include belongingness, introspection, contemplation, love, care, loss, sorrow, joy, happiness, and every other emotion you can think of would be available in this little bundle of peace and calmness.
The author's writing style is thought-provoking and evocative. Readers would be immersed in the river of emotions while reading this book and might find themselves in the context they read. The author brought past and present journeys to blur the impacts between realities and thought. This book would inspire young minds, as it talks about the author's journey in shaping and making him what he is today, from theater, writing, acting, and meeting like-minded people in his life.
While reading, readers would understand the significance of the book's title, "A Bird On My Windowsill," which the author uses as a metaphor to imply memories. With time, memories fly, and so does the bird. Readers who have a habit of annotating the book will find this book a treat to their reading experience as it would be challenging to decide which page should not get annotated. Every bit of this book is worth cherishing and remembering. At times, it might bore readers when the context goes too personal to the author's account, but the journey this book takes the readers is fulfilling.
Moreover, through this book, the author offers emotions of a place rather than the scenic beauty that makes it a distinct work. Also, artists and readers following their passion or wish to follow would extract inspiration from Kaul's journey. He mentioned his mother told him, "You do not have any luck line, son; you have many struggles lying ahead. Your life requires much hard work. But there is one good thing. The good thing is that you have laborer's hands." But he chose his dreams and the career he wished for and received all the honor and fame he deserved.
So, the overall experience of reading this book is a journey in itself that would take readers into introspection and a deeper understanding of everyday experiences and joy.
Review
It is an introspective journey woven as poetry, memoir, and intellectual musings. Readers will explore vivid themes through the author's journey. The themes include belongingness, introspection, contemplation, love, care, loss, sorrow, joy, happiness, and every other emotion you can think of would be available in this little bundle of peace and calmness.
The author's writing style is thought-provoking and evocative. Readers would be immersed in the river of emotions while reading this book and might find themselves in the context they read. The author brought past and present journeys to blur the impacts between realities and thought. This book would inspire young minds, as it talks about the author's journey in shaping and making him what he is today, from theater, writing, acting, and meeting like-minded people in his life.
While reading, readers would understand the significance of the book's title, "A Bird On My Windowsill," which the author uses as a metaphor to imply memories. With time, memories fly, and so does the bird. Readers who have a habit of annotating the book will find this book a treat to their reading experience as it would be challenging to decide which page should not get annotated. Every bit of this book is worth cherishing and remembering. At times, it might bore readers when the context goes too personal to the author's account, but the journey this book takes the readers is fulfilling.
Moreover, through this book, the author offers emotions of a place rather than the scenic beauty that makes it a distinct work. Also, artists and readers following their passion or wish to follow would extract inspiration from Kaul's journey. He mentioned his mother told him, "You do not have any luck line, son; you have many struggles lying ahead. Your life requires much hard work. But there is one good thing. The good thing is that you have laborer's hands." But he chose his dreams and the career he wished for and received all the honor and fame he deserved.
So, the overall experience of reading this book is a journey in itself that would take readers into introspection and a deeper understanding of everyday experiences and joy.
February 10, 2025
A Bird on My Windowsill (Book18/ 2025) by Manav Kaul is beautifully poignant. The art on the cover, in yellow, is attractive, giving the impression of how fleeting life is and yet, there is much freedom in looking beyond the window as symbolised by the little birds perched on the trees.
Short passages, poetic language, smoldering thoughts, self-reflection, a love for solitude, nature and humanity, is evident in Manav's style. This is reflective of his acting as well.
Manav, an accomplished actor, is not your typical Bollywood star. I realised this after watching a few of his movies especially Nail Polish, where he carried to perfection, the role of a serial killer with a deep seated mental health problem. His ability to portray complex roles with depth and nuance is impressive.
In this book, he bares his soul as he shares vignettes of his travels, within and outside India. He draws inspiration from his many personal encounters to write his plays.
For examples he shares about the simple joys of drinking chai in a small village or forest or by the river. He befriends hawkers who sell tea or snacks and could sit a whole day at such road side stalls. He loses himself in the community and sees beauty in little acts of kindness and love.
He treasures friendship and his childhood memories in Kashmir, where he comes from. In all these travels, he comtemplates deep questions about life, death, loneliness, and darkness. But there is always hope as he explores these themes in his plays and acting.
Manav writes in Hindi and the translation of this work was done by Nandini Kumar Nickerson. Excellent job.
I plan to read Manav's other books, and have ordered three from India. They will take 3 weeks to reach our shores but the wait will be worthwhile. I hope you find my enthusiasm contagious. Ends.
Short passages, poetic language, smoldering thoughts, self-reflection, a love for solitude, nature and humanity, is evident in Manav's style. This is reflective of his acting as well.
Manav, an accomplished actor, is not your typical Bollywood star. I realised this after watching a few of his movies especially Nail Polish, where he carried to perfection, the role of a serial killer with a deep seated mental health problem. His ability to portray complex roles with depth and nuance is impressive.
In this book, he bares his soul as he shares vignettes of his travels, within and outside India. He draws inspiration from his many personal encounters to write his plays.
For examples he shares about the simple joys of drinking chai in a small village or forest or by the river. He befriends hawkers who sell tea or snacks and could sit a whole day at such road side stalls. He loses himself in the community and sees beauty in little acts of kindness and love.
He treasures friendship and his childhood memories in Kashmir, where he comes from. In all these travels, he comtemplates deep questions about life, death, loneliness, and darkness. But there is always hope as he explores these themes in his plays and acting.
Manav writes in Hindi and the translation of this work was done by Nandini Kumar Nickerson. Excellent job.
I plan to read Manav's other books, and have ordered three from India. They will take 3 weeks to reach our shores but the wait will be worthwhile. I hope you find my enthusiasm contagious. Ends.
June 20, 2024
When I read this work, I found myself relating to so many emotions. Kaul touched my soul and reassured me, saying, "Tanya, you're not alone." We are all different individuals experiencing similar situations and emotions. His words felt like a comforting hand over my head, soothing my chaotic thoughts.
I recently finished reading "A Bird on a Windowsill" by Manav Kaul. While I was familiar with some of his Hindi works, this was my first encounter with this particular book. Reading it felt like watching a series of soulful, deep, and heartwarming Instagram reels. Each page turned brought a new emotion, a new anecdote, and a new layer of overthinking.
Kaul delves into various themes, from dreams and love to memories, death, home, parents, the earth, society, and our sense of belonging. He invites us into his mind, beginning with the poignant observation:
"Have you ever looked at yourself while reading? I've written the image for you."
In this book, Kaul truly unleashes a torrent of thoughts, as he mentions in the preface. He smoothly weaves together his journey with writing, his plays, his works, and the history behind them.
He reflects on his encounters with smiles, silences, loneliness, desires, and expectations, creating vivid vignettes of his life's moments. Kaul pays homage to his literary influences, particularly Nirmal Verma and Vinod Kumar Shukla. About Shukla, he beautifully writes, "meeting him felt like shade in a scorching heat."
Kaul's discussions on Kafka, Simone de Beauvoir, Rabindranath Tagore, and Bukowski are both epic and surreal, offering profound and thought-provoking conversations.
You can read it in one day because it feels like you are talking to Kaul and talking is always fun, Right?
I recently finished reading "A Bird on a Windowsill" by Manav Kaul. While I was familiar with some of his Hindi works, this was my first encounter with this particular book. Reading it felt like watching a series of soulful, deep, and heartwarming Instagram reels. Each page turned brought a new emotion, a new anecdote, and a new layer of overthinking.
Kaul delves into various themes, from dreams and love to memories, death, home, parents, the earth, society, and our sense of belonging. He invites us into his mind, beginning with the poignant observation:
"Have you ever looked at yourself while reading? I've written the image for you."
In this book, Kaul truly unleashes a torrent of thoughts, as he mentions in the preface. He smoothly weaves together his journey with writing, his plays, his works, and the history behind them.
He reflects on his encounters with smiles, silences, loneliness, desires, and expectations, creating vivid vignettes of his life's moments. Kaul pays homage to his literary influences, particularly Nirmal Verma and Vinod Kumar Shukla. About Shukla, he beautifully writes, "meeting him felt like shade in a scorching heat."
Kaul's discussions on Kafka, Simone de Beauvoir, Rabindranath Tagore, and Bukowski are both epic and surreal, offering profound and thought-provoking conversations.
You can read it in one day because it feels like you are talking to Kaul and talking is always fun, Right?
December 31, 2024
“Happiness is not seeing the bird but in the hope of it. In all my unfinished stories is the hope of a new one. And I can be free from the struggle of finding it because I know it will appear when I stop looking.” - @manavkaul19 🍁
.
This book was a gift I received from one of my closest friend and I was so happy as I wanted to read it for so long. Today 2024 ends and I am finally writing about this book. This book is a treasure that every booklover should own and keep it on a special place in their bookshelf. “A bird on my windowsill” holds so many emotions all together which we unfortunately forget to notice in our day to day life like the small happiness, achievement and run for bigger things in life. It’s my 4th book by Manav Kaul. Earlier I have read “Tumhare bare me”, so it’s basically a translated version of this book (according to me). But obviously Hindi version is the original one so it’s true that it has more essence to it. But this book is in English version, still it’s beautiful and easy to read for those people who find it difficult to read in Hindi. Both the books have different flavours in it but the meanings are same. It’s a wonderful translation as it feels like the book should not end. The imaginative writing of Manav Kaul has always been a center of attraction. The more you read his books, you fall in love all over again for his writing. ❤️ I wish to read more of his books in the coming year, eagerly waiting for it. If you love reading books of Manav Kaul but you find it difficult to read Hindi then this book is a perfect choice to start with it. Don’t think twice, just read it.
.
This book was a gift I received from one of my closest friend and I was so happy as I wanted to read it for so long. Today 2024 ends and I am finally writing about this book. This book is a treasure that every booklover should own and keep it on a special place in their bookshelf. “A bird on my windowsill” holds so many emotions all together which we unfortunately forget to notice in our day to day life like the small happiness, achievement and run for bigger things in life. It’s my 4th book by Manav Kaul. Earlier I have read “Tumhare bare me”, so it’s basically a translated version of this book (according to me). But obviously Hindi version is the original one so it’s true that it has more essence to it. But this book is in English version, still it’s beautiful and easy to read for those people who find it difficult to read in Hindi. Both the books have different flavours in it but the meanings are same. It’s a wonderful translation as it feels like the book should not end. The imaginative writing of Manav Kaul has always been a center of attraction. The more you read his books, you fall in love all over again for his writing. ❤️ I wish to read more of his books in the coming year, eagerly waiting for it. If you love reading books of Manav Kaul but you find it difficult to read Hindi then this book is a perfect choice to start with it. Don’t think twice, just read it.
April 30, 2025
Have you ever read a book that feels like holding onto sand? Not the dry, forgettable kind, but the warm, golden grains slipping through your fingers in a quiet hour, like watching an hourglass lose time. You want to pause it, just for a moment—to hold the story still, to stretch each second into something longer, something lasting. This book is the living embodiment of that hourglass. It moves swiftly, elegantly, and just as you try to hold on, it slips through—leaving its weight behind in emotion, not in pages.
It wears its heart not just on its sleeve, but in every word, every pause between sentences. The emotions here don’t simply flow—they spill, they surge, they wrap around you like a mist. There’s longing in these pages. Joy and ache. A quiet kind of truth that reaches you before you realize you’ve been reached. I’ve never felt so deeply understood by a book, never seen myself reflected with such clarity and care. It doesn’t just speak—it listens. And somehow, in its silence, it answers.
As Manav says, “We do go back to beautiful, good books and read them again and again, because every time we read them, we find something new—and that brings us closer to ourselves.” That’s exactly what this book does. I know I’ll return to it—not to chase the same feeling, but to meet new ones, to peel back more of myself through its pages. Until its story becomes my own. Until I start to live inside the spaces it leaves behind.
This isn’t a review. I can’t reduce it to stars or summaries. All I can do is offer thanks—to Manav, for crafting something so open, so alive. And for proving again that when used right, words can make you feel deeply, truly seen.
It wears its heart not just on its sleeve, but in every word, every pause between sentences. The emotions here don’t simply flow—they spill, they surge, they wrap around you like a mist. There’s longing in these pages. Joy and ache. A quiet kind of truth that reaches you before you realize you’ve been reached. I’ve never felt so deeply understood by a book, never seen myself reflected with such clarity and care. It doesn’t just speak—it listens. And somehow, in its silence, it answers.
As Manav says, “We do go back to beautiful, good books and read them again and again, because every time we read them, we find something new—and that brings us closer to ourselves.” That’s exactly what this book does. I know I’ll return to it—not to chase the same feeling, but to meet new ones, to peel back more of myself through its pages. Until its story becomes my own. Until I start to live inside the spaces it leaves behind.
This isn’t a review. I can’t reduce it to stars or summaries. All I can do is offer thanks—to Manav, for crafting something so open, so alive. And for proving again that when used right, words can make you feel deeply, truly seen.
November 24, 2024
🌻 There are certain books I've always imagined myself reading when I'm much older — truly old, to be precise. I’m not entirely sure why, I just thought they'd resonate more with me at that stage in life. This one was among them.
🌻 I'm so grateful, however, that I decided to pick it up now anyway. It turns out this book isn't meant to be read when you're old. Instead, it’s one to be revisited repeatedly, time and time again, until then.
🌻 It's a collection of Kaul's thoughts and observations from different perspectives in life, each one beautifully expressed. I didn’t simply read this book—I savored it. I would read just a few pages at a time, often taking breaks of several days between sittings, because it evokes such deep emotion.
🌻 While I love books that draw you so deeply into their characters that you can feel their emotions, this one invites you to connect with yourself. It encourages introspection, guiding you to look within. It takes you down a nostalgic memory lane, when life felt simpler, while also posing challenging questions that leave you pondering.
🌻 Personally, it felt like a warm hug. There's something oddly comforting in realizing that you're not alone in what you feel, and that countless others share the same emotions. The language is simple, the thoughts gentle, yet many of them resonated deeply, tugging at my heartstrings.
🌻 I find myself wanting to carry it with me everywhere, to open a random page whenever life feels overwhelming, and let its words offer solace.
🌻 I'm so grateful, however, that I decided to pick it up now anyway. It turns out this book isn't meant to be read when you're old. Instead, it’s one to be revisited repeatedly, time and time again, until then.
🌻 It's a collection of Kaul's thoughts and observations from different perspectives in life, each one beautifully expressed. I didn’t simply read this book—I savored it. I would read just a few pages at a time, often taking breaks of several days between sittings, because it evokes such deep emotion.
🌻 While I love books that draw you so deeply into their characters that you can feel their emotions, this one invites you to connect with yourself. It encourages introspection, guiding you to look within. It takes you down a nostalgic memory lane, when life felt simpler, while also posing challenging questions that leave you pondering.
🌻 Personally, it felt like a warm hug. There's something oddly comforting in realizing that you're not alone in what you feel, and that countless others share the same emotions. The language is simple, the thoughts gentle, yet many of them resonated deeply, tugging at my heartstrings.
🌻 I find myself wanting to carry it with me everywhere, to open a random page whenever life feels overwhelming, and let its words offer solace.
September 27, 2026
# *Coffee Ke Cup Mein Chai* by Manav Kaul
As usual, Manav Kaul brings that warmth and intimacy that I have always loved in his novels. His stories often feel deeply personal, almost like you are travelling through someone’s memories and experiences rather than simply reading a novel. This one is no different—a quiet, reflective journey through Europe, filled with people, places, conversations and little observations about life.
I have always loved Manav Kaul’s novels because his stories feel personal, deep and lived-in. There is something very comforting about the way he writes.
My only issue with this book was the journey towards the conclusion. Along the way, you meet several people, and each of them has their own story. Initially, these stories feel unique and interesting, like little windows into different lives and different parts of the journey. But after a point, some of them started feeling more like fillers added to move the story towards its conclusion.
I have noticed this pattern in some of his other books as well. At first, these side stories feel fresh and different, but when used repeatedly, the technique starts feeling a little repetitive.
Still, the warmth, personal touch and atmosphere of Manav Kaul’s writing remain. And that is probably why I keep coming back to his novels.
As usual, Manav Kaul brings that warmth and intimacy that I have always loved in his novels. His stories often feel deeply personal, almost like you are travelling through someone’s memories and experiences rather than simply reading a novel. This one is no different—a quiet, reflective journey through Europe, filled with people, places, conversations and little observations about life.
I have always loved Manav Kaul’s novels because his stories feel personal, deep and lived-in. There is something very comforting about the way he writes.
My only issue with this book was the journey towards the conclusion. Along the way, you meet several people, and each of them has their own story. Initially, these stories feel unique and interesting, like little windows into different lives and different parts of the journey. But after a point, some of them started feeling more like fillers added to move the story towards its conclusion.
I have noticed this pattern in some of his other books as well. At first, these side stories feel fresh and different, but when used repeatedly, the technique starts feeling a little repetitive.
Still, the warmth, personal touch and atmosphere of Manav Kaul’s writing remain. And that is probably why I keep coming back to his novels.
April 28, 2024
5⭐
I recently read A Bird On My Windowsill and it had such a profound impact on me, I found myself jotting down thoughts as I immersed myself in its pages. I stumbled upon this gem randomly at Crossword unaware of the author or the fact that it was translated. When I told a friend later about this book, they were shocked I didn't know who the author was. Well, that's on me for living under a rock.
The translation, impeccably captured the essence of the original work. The book evoked a range of emotions in me, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of incoherence yet deep satisfaction. It's rare for me to be so captivated by a book primarily on its vibes because I typically prefer plot-driven books with a clear narrative, this one's resonated with me in a way I can't quite articulate.
Here are the notes I jotted down when I read the book -
I'm not reading these words but breathing with the words I'm reading. I may not fully understand what it means, but it evokes anxiety, fear and curiosity in me. At the same time, it also comforts and calms me. How is that possible? Even I'm not sure.
I'm breathing with the words and just letting myself feel, whatever it's making me feel. What am I feeling? Even I'm not sure. I'm pausing every few sentences to introspect, I sigh deeply unable to exactly fathom what to make of the words and this inexplicable feeling.
I see my shadow on the pages of the book as I slowly turn the page, still thinking about the previous one. My nails make a clicking sound as I incessantly tap my fingers on the desk trying to make sense of it all. The words, this feeling, infused with loneliness and the lack of understanding. The book answers my state of feeling partially - restless, maybe that's what I'm feeling. It's comforting, and agitating at the same time. The constant overthinking, and worries about the past, present and future resurface and float in my mind.
I keep the book down for sometime and pace around, with the book embraced in my arm, trying to make sense of it all. Truthfully, maybe there is no string or combination of words that can describe my fleeting thoughts.
I don't want the book to be over, it feels like walking away from a friend who tried to understand me, although I couldn't understand them. Maybe, both of us didn't really understand each other, but we tried. I have goosebumps on my arm, but maybe that's just the air conditioning. Everything is prefixed with maybe, there are an infinite possibilities, who really knows the truth? But, for now, I'm just savouring the words trying to imprint it to my memory.
But remembering has never been my strong suit, so maybe I'll forget. But that's okay, I guess. Maybe, it's the first time in thankful for my forgetful memory because maybe, I'll be able to pick up the book again in future and reread it like I'm reading it for the first time and hope I can feel what I'm feeling now again and actually understand what I'm feeling.
I recently read A Bird On My Windowsill and it had such a profound impact on me, I found myself jotting down thoughts as I immersed myself in its pages. I stumbled upon this gem randomly at Crossword unaware of the author or the fact that it was translated. When I told a friend later about this book, they were shocked I didn't know who the author was. Well, that's on me for living under a rock.
The translation, impeccably captured the essence of the original work. The book evoked a range of emotions in me, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of incoherence yet deep satisfaction. It's rare for me to be so captivated by a book primarily on its vibes because I typically prefer plot-driven books with a clear narrative, this one's resonated with me in a way I can't quite articulate.
Here are the notes I jotted down when I read the book -
I'm not reading these words but breathing with the words I'm reading. I may not fully understand what it means, but it evokes anxiety, fear and curiosity in me. At the same time, it also comforts and calms me. How is that possible? Even I'm not sure.
I'm breathing with the words and just letting myself feel, whatever it's making me feel. What am I feeling? Even I'm not sure. I'm pausing every few sentences to introspect, I sigh deeply unable to exactly fathom what to make of the words and this inexplicable feeling.
I see my shadow on the pages of the book as I slowly turn the page, still thinking about the previous one. My nails make a clicking sound as I incessantly tap my fingers on the desk trying to make sense of it all. The words, this feeling, infused with loneliness and the lack of understanding. The book answers my state of feeling partially - restless, maybe that's what I'm feeling. It's comforting, and agitating at the same time. The constant overthinking, and worries about the past, present and future resurface and float in my mind.
I keep the book down for sometime and pace around, with the book embraced in my arm, trying to make sense of it all. Truthfully, maybe there is no string or combination of words that can describe my fleeting thoughts.
I don't want the book to be over, it feels like walking away from a friend who tried to understand me, although I couldn't understand them. Maybe, both of us didn't really understand each other, but we tried. I have goosebumps on my arm, but maybe that's just the air conditioning. Everything is prefixed with maybe, there are an infinite possibilities, who really knows the truth? But, for now, I'm just savouring the words trying to imprint it to my memory.
But remembering has never been my strong suit, so maybe I'll forget. But that's okay, I guess. Maybe, it's the first time in thankful for my forgetful memory because maybe, I'll be able to pick up the book again in future and reread it like I'm reading it for the first time and hope I can feel what I'm feeling now again and actually understand what I'm feeling.
August 26, 2026
Bird on a Windowsill — Manav Kaul
Review from a very biased Manav Kaul fan.
I finished the book in two days. There was an urgency to it, like when you meet someone interesting and suddenly want to know everything about them!!!
So Bird on a Windowsill felt strangely familiar. Many of its pieces felt like things I had already encountered in fragments — on Instagram, in his Terribly Tiny Tales videos in other books or interviews. And yet there was something deeply satisfying about seeing them gathered together, printed and bound, made into a book.
Perhaps that is one of the loveliest things about this collection: the transformation of something fleeting into something permanent. Words that might once have appeared on a screen, been read and scrolled past, are given the slowness of paper. You can return to them. Leave them beside your bed. Make notes. Read a page, stop and come back.
There are stories, poems, observations, memories and seemingly ordinary moments that become something else simply because Manav pauses long enough to look at them. And perhaps that is what I like most about his writing — the permission to linger.
There is a lovely irony in that: a book about slowness made me want to read everything, immediately.
Review from a very biased Manav Kaul fan.
I finished the book in two days. There was an urgency to it, like when you meet someone interesting and suddenly want to know everything about them!!!
So Bird on a Windowsill felt strangely familiar. Many of its pieces felt like things I had already encountered in fragments — on Instagram, in his Terribly Tiny Tales videos in other books or interviews. And yet there was something deeply satisfying about seeing them gathered together, printed and bound, made into a book.
Perhaps that is one of the loveliest things about this collection: the transformation of something fleeting into something permanent. Words that might once have appeared on a screen, been read and scrolled past, are given the slowness of paper. You can return to them. Leave them beside your bed. Make notes. Read a page, stop and come back.
There are stories, poems, observations, memories and seemingly ordinary moments that become something else simply because Manav pauses long enough to look at them. And perhaps that is what I like most about his writing — the permission to linger.
There is a lovely irony in that: a book about slowness made me want to read everything, immediately.
July 8, 2024
Have you ever looked at yourself while reading? I've written the image for you...
When I started reading this book, the weather was cloudy, breezy and rainy with curtains swaying, pages flapping and birds chirping. When I finished reading this book, the weather was cloudy, breezy and rainy, with a tiny bird perched upon a plant pot in my balcony.
This book is a collection of musings and reflections from childhood, travels, drama, theatre, poems, letters, love, mountains and a cup of chai. The author loves to write about deodar and banyan tree. It will make you wander in the pages amidst the wonderful fragrances and memories with comfort.
Finding stillness with whispering breeze and mist, as we connect with nature and the stories woven into everything around us. Memories and nostalgia draw us in, allowing us to rediscover ourselves with curiosity and care. Secrets and dreams mingle in the shadows, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. As we awaken, we are left with a sense of wonder and a lingering trace of magic.
When I started reading this book, the weather was cloudy, breezy and rainy with curtains swaying, pages flapping and birds chirping. When I finished reading this book, the weather was cloudy, breezy and rainy, with a tiny bird perched upon a plant pot in my balcony.
This book is a collection of musings and reflections from childhood, travels, drama, theatre, poems, letters, love, mountains and a cup of chai. The author loves to write about deodar and banyan tree. It will make you wander in the pages amidst the wonderful fragrances and memories with comfort.
Finding stillness with whispering breeze and mist, as we connect with nature and the stories woven into everything around us. Memories and nostalgia draw us in, allowing us to rediscover ourselves with curiosity and care. Secrets and dreams mingle in the shadows, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. As we awaken, we are left with a sense of wonder and a lingering trace of magic.
October 12, 2024
Ever read someone's journal?
Ever read a journal someone meant for you to be read? Just some beautiful ramblings, here and there.. Of times old and new, of people known and unknown, of incidents real and imagined.
☕
This book isn't your regular structured read. It's like a cup of ginger tea on a balcony when raining - BTW author's favorite imagery - meant to be savored at its pace.
☕
'a bird on my windowsill' by Manav Kaul.
☕
Rating 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 and a half
PS it grows on you like the author. Perfect fall read. Romantic, cozy and comforting.
BTW, do you read based on seasons?
#manavkaul #journal #abirdonmywindowsill #wholesome #cosy #comforting #warm #anamslibrary #anamsreview #nerdfest #readinggoals #fallbooks #fallreads #fallreading
Ever read a journal someone meant for you to be read? Just some beautiful ramblings, here and there.. Of times old and new, of people known and unknown, of incidents real and imagined.
☕
This book isn't your regular structured read. It's like a cup of ginger tea on a balcony when raining - BTW author's favorite imagery - meant to be savored at its pace.
☕
'a bird on my windowsill' by Manav Kaul.
☕
Rating 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 and a half
PS it grows on you like the author. Perfect fall read. Romantic, cozy and comforting.
BTW, do you read based on seasons?
#manavkaul #journal #abirdonmywindowsill #wholesome #cosy #comforting #warm #anamslibrary #anamsreview #nerdfest #readinggoals #fallbooks #fallreads #fallreading
June 1, 2024
In Manav's world, memories are like little birds perched upon the windowsill of time.
life's fleeting nature is beautifully expressed through in it like 'If we are temporary then you are life.'
It explores themes of solitude, connection, and the wisdom found in nature, such as 'Trees talk if you listen.'
It reflects on the longing for connection, symbolized by the 'void' of space between characters. Light represents hope amidst darkness, while 'fragrance' evokes memories of the past.
The characters journey is likened to an 'we all have an island inside us,' a sanctuary in a chaotic world. Through simple yet profound insights, the book invites readers to ponder the essence of existence.
life's fleeting nature is beautifully expressed through in it like 'If we are temporary then you are life.'
It explores themes of solitude, connection, and the wisdom found in nature, such as 'Trees talk if you listen.'
It reflects on the longing for connection, symbolized by the 'void' of space between characters. Light represents hope amidst darkness, while 'fragrance' evokes memories of the past.
The characters journey is likened to an 'we all have an island inside us,' a sanctuary in a chaotic world. Through simple yet profound insights, the book invites readers to ponder the essence of existence.
February 18, 2026
I came upon this gem penned by Manav kaul the actor, translated in English by some other person.
I'm sure, it must be lethal in its base language by the author.
well, at first, I couldn't fathom what he wanted to say by this random musings, one or half page long, each. It bumped off my head. Then suddenly, it started to grow on me like a poem which touched somewhere my soul and mind that I could empathize with.
Now I know, Manav kaul, is not just a good theater artist and actor, he's deep, likes to reflect a lot and loves his daily doses of tea or coffee. 3 to 3.5 stars for this one.
I'm sure, it must be lethal in its base language by the author.
well, at first, I couldn't fathom what he wanted to say by this random musings, one or half page long, each. It bumped off my head. Then suddenly, it started to grow on me like a poem which touched somewhere my soul and mind that I could empathize with.
Now I know, Manav kaul, is not just a good theater artist and actor, he's deep, likes to reflect a lot and loves his daily doses of tea or coffee. 3 to 3.5 stars for this one.
December 16, 2024
It is dreamy. It is not a poem, but it is poetic. Thoughts that come and go like a whim if phrased they are beautiful and striking and seem like one thread that you want to hold on forever!
As he says, "We are but a story". Insignificant but it is all we have and we have to live it. Why do we look ourselves in someone else's story!
It is a book that makes you free , makes you pensive, takes you to your childhood, unfinished dreams and leads you to new story.
As he says, "We are but a story". Insignificant but it is all we have and we have to live it. Why do we look ourselves in someone else's story!
It is a book that makes you free , makes you pensive, takes you to your childhood, unfinished dreams and leads you to new story.
May 20, 2025
This is a book in which the writer wants all readers to embrace the beauty in ordinary moments and melancholy moments of fleeting time. It is very deep having poetries and self reflections covering themes of solitude and old memories. Lastly, it deeply resonates with artists worked in theatre and dreamers offering a gentle and introspective journey into the heart of human experience.
October 23, 2024
a collection of childhood,innocence and a fleeting nature of humans and the natural world. A bird usually sparks a deep contemplation in the character realization of persoanl choices and freedom and decisions :) unmade
May 4, 2024
An intriguing and comforting book with lots of relatable days.❤️
September 27, 2024
While reading it felt like a book that was written by someone else yet the words inked in the paper was about me and my mind.
May 20, 2025
Reading this book calms anyone!
March 23, 2026
Poignant, what i loved the most is the silences in between the writing. First time read a book where silence also speaks .
September 23, 2026
One of the best books I've read. Made me want to live in it.
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