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An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd and Other Stories
254 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2025
An occasional tonic of absurd stories is a collection of short stories about Morality like in adulthood confessions and sorry are difficult to be said. Most civilised men can fight over silly topics .Nature is all about balance and it doesn't change its course according to one living thing. Humans find mistakes in others but not when they contributed to it too. Society doesn't change because of your nature , one have to adapt with them.
If hitler had won the war after jews , humanity would have ended by the 21st century in alternate scenario. One cannot judge humans by psych test at gun house , integration is formed by discipline not by the test of humans. Being conscious is good but obsessed with consciousness is worry. Not all that you see in order is right some people have the mask on it. Being rude for your job is not bad even if you get punished . Propaganda between American vs Russian in an absurd fiction story.
Once a cheater is always a cheater. When you disturb the peace of someone, be ready for karma. Parents sometimes embarrass the children with little things just to let them know they have been through that age and know the nuisance they did in their age. God has his way to bring back to faith and he has ways to do it one has to believe in it. If humans don't stop dividing the nation soon there will border in the every home by the end of this century.
Adults can't take rejection if rejected they are in constant nudge to get even with that person. Even most honest people have weaknesses . Oriental and Westerner doesn't go along because of culture difference.
Sometimes one has to keep distance from people who take abuse and silent they are the most violent people. Luck favours the brave but when it does not let that get to the head because hardwork comes with confidence, luck can change at any moment but not hardwork and experience
If hitler had won the war after jews , humanity would have ended by the 21st century in alternate scenario. One cannot judge humans by psych test at gun house , integration is formed by discipline not by the test of humans. Being conscious is good but obsessed with consciousness is worry. Not all that you see in order is right some people have the mask on it. Being rude for your job is not bad even if you get punished . Propaganda between American vs Russian in an absurd fiction story.
Once a cheater is always a cheater. When you disturb the peace of someone, be ready for karma. Parents sometimes embarrass the children with little things just to let them know they have been through that age and know the nuisance they did in their age. God has his way to bring back to faith and he has ways to do it one has to believe in it. If humans don't stop dividing the nation soon there will border in the every home by the end of this century.
Adults can't take rejection if rejected they are in constant nudge to get even with that person. Even most honest people have weaknesses . Oriental and Westerner doesn't go along because of culture difference.
Sometimes one has to keep distance from people who take abuse and silent they are the most violent people. Luck favours the brave but when it does not let that get to the head because hardwork comes with confidence, luck can change at any moment but not hardwork and experience
October 31, 2025
Rahul Chak's An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd and Other Stories is a Tour de Force of playful imagination, astute satire and emotional nuance. In 25 short stories, Chak brings to life a vivid kaleidoscope of absurd and strangely familiar worlds; a bumbling chef who is abducted by aliens, who demand a grand gourmet meal; a professor who becomes the prey of a talking shark; or a Formula 1 racer who discovers a magic meteorite that alters the course of his world. Each story may boast delightful absurdity, but dwell deeper and you will find a rich reservoir of insights about ambition, vanity, loneliness and the absurdity of life.
Inspired by writers like O. Henry and Roald Dahl, Chak expertly synthesizes humor, irony and pathos. His writing is sharp and stimulating, situations are ingeniously penned and endings are always surprising sometimes inducing laughing out loud, and other times needing time to pause/test. What moves this writing from the simple genre of entertainment to the complex writing of wisdom is that layered beneath each surreal experience, is a mirror held up to our world. This collection reminds that absurdity, often reveals and profound truths. An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd is just that; a tonic that refreshes and provokes thought for the mind, delights the sense of imagination and stays with you long after reading the last page.
Inspired by writers like O. Henry and Roald Dahl, Chak expertly synthesizes humor, irony and pathos. His writing is sharp and stimulating, situations are ingeniously penned and endings are always surprising sometimes inducing laughing out loud, and other times needing time to pause/test. What moves this writing from the simple genre of entertainment to the complex writing of wisdom is that layered beneath each surreal experience, is a mirror held up to our world. This collection reminds that absurdity, often reveals and profound truths. An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd is just that; a tonic that refreshes and provokes thought for the mind, delights the sense of imagination and stays with you long after reading the last page.
November 1, 2025
An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd and Other Stories by Rahul Chak is honestly such a wild ride if you love stories that surprise you, mess with your expectations, this collection is for you. Each of the 25 stories is packed with absurd humor, clever twists, and satire that never feels dull or preachy. I genuinely found myself laughing out loud at some points, and then feeling weirdly thoughtful just seconds later.
Some stories that totally stood out for me include Adults, Man, Adults!which felt hilariously relatable if you’ve ever been baffled by grown-up logic, The Nearly Departed that brings so much unexpected emotion out of nowhere, and Ingredient X which seriously took food and absurdity to new levels as a foodie and someone who loves stories where food is kinda symbolic, this one just hit different.
What I loved about this collection is that every story feels better than the last, and even though they’re quirky or light, there’s always a subtle lesson or moment of truth that sticks with you. Rahul’s writing is inspired by O. Henry and Roald Dahl, so you just know there’ll be unexpected endings and playful language, but he’s made it so fresh and relevant to our times.
If you like books that are fun, smart, and make you giggle while also giving you a tiny existential crisis you are gonna love this book.
Some stories that totally stood out for me include Adults, Man, Adults!which felt hilariously relatable if you’ve ever been baffled by grown-up logic, The Nearly Departed that brings so much unexpected emotion out of nowhere, and Ingredient X which seriously took food and absurdity to new levels as a foodie and someone who loves stories where food is kinda symbolic, this one just hit different.
What I loved about this collection is that every story feels better than the last, and even though they’re quirky or light, there’s always a subtle lesson or moment of truth that sticks with you. Rahul’s writing is inspired by O. Henry and Roald Dahl, so you just know there’ll be unexpected endings and playful language, but he’s made it so fresh and relevant to our times.
If you like books that are fun, smart, and make you giggle while also giving you a tiny existential crisis you are gonna love this book.
November 2, 2025
I read An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd & Other Stories by Rahul Chak, which contains 25 short stories that are all absurd in one way, but deeply meaningful, truthful, and thoughtful in another. The author intentionally wrote them to be weird and funny, placing his characters in impossible or unrealistic situations that make us laugh, think, and realize the absurdity of life.
Some stories truly stand out, and my personal favorite is One Must Eat, which follows a snake that suddenly evolves into a higher being, and a herpetologist (learned a new word!) trying to capture the snake, well, not capture exactly, but film it with a cameraman for a TV documentary. The snake’s revelation makes it decide that it should not attack another innocent being just to satisfy its hunger. So it chooses to become vegetarian, only to be captured by an eagle at the end, which is captured (filmed) by the herpetologist and the cameraman.
This story makes you laugh but also makes you think, about many things. How can a biped (learned another word!) even come up with such an idea? It’s absurd, right? That’s exactly what this book is about. And that’s what makes it so interesting. I really liked the author’s way of thinking and his style of writing. It truly is one of the best short story collections I’ve read. If you enjoy stories that makes you think and also laugh, then this book's for you.
Some stories truly stand out, and my personal favorite is One Must Eat, which follows a snake that suddenly evolves into a higher being, and a herpetologist (learned a new word!) trying to capture the snake, well, not capture exactly, but film it with a cameraman for a TV documentary. The snake’s revelation makes it decide that it should not attack another innocent being just to satisfy its hunger. So it chooses to become vegetarian, only to be captured by an eagle at the end, which is captured (filmed) by the herpetologist and the cameraman.
This story makes you laugh but also makes you think, about many things. How can a biped (learned another word!) even come up with such an idea? It’s absurd, right? That’s exactly what this book is about. And that’s what makes it so interesting. I really liked the author’s way of thinking and his style of writing. It truly is one of the best short story collections I’ve read. If you enjoy stories that makes you think and also laugh, then this book's for you.
October 31, 2025
I just finished *An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd & Other Stories* and found myself smiling, pausing, and then scratching my head in delight. These 25 tales lean into the weird, the witty, and the unexpected - a chef abducted by aliens in London, a professor stalked by a talking shark on a tropical island, a racer supercharged by a magic meteorite.
What I loved is how the collection doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s humour, there’s pathos, and the kind of twist endings that make you go back and re-read the start. The tone is playful and inventive, which made me stay for story after story.
On the flip side some stories hit harder than others. A few felt more like clever ideas than fully lived worlds, and now and then the absurdity piled up so quickly I lost track of characters. But that’s also part of the charm, it’s not made to be deeply, painfully real, it’s made to be fun and strange and thought provoking.
If you enjoy short fiction that treads the line between quirky adventure and thoughtful reflection, this collection will entertain you and leave you with little odd thoughts sticking around after you close the book.
What I loved is how the collection doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s humour, there’s pathos, and the kind of twist endings that make you go back and re-read the start. The tone is playful and inventive, which made me stay for story after story.
On the flip side some stories hit harder than others. A few felt more like clever ideas than fully lived worlds, and now and then the absurdity piled up so quickly I lost track of characters. But that’s also part of the charm, it’s not made to be deeply, painfully real, it’s made to be fun and strange and thought provoking.
If you enjoy short fiction that treads the line between quirky adventure and thoughtful reflection, this collection will entertain you and leave you with little odd thoughts sticking around after you close the book.
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October 31, 2025
The blurb caught my attention, and I wasted no time diving into this one.
This anthology is something I thoroughly enjoyed. The themes of the stories in this collection aren’t something very serious but something that is found in everyday life. There’s humour, there’s pathos, and those clever twist endings that make each story enjoyable. The tone is playful and immersive, and that kept me turning pages from one story to the next.
Each of the 25 stories carries a different emotional note. Some make you laugh out loud, some leave you thoughtful. This variety kept the reading experience fresh and engaging throughout.
Some stories that became my favourite are Adults, Man, Adults!, The Nearly Departed, The Honest Policeman, and Ingredient X (from the blurb).
Overall, this is a wonderful collection that transforms everyday themes into sharp, satirical, and brilliantly written tales. With its mix of humour, heart, and insight, it’s an anthology worth picking up and enjoying an eclectic mix of stories.
This anthology is something I thoroughly enjoyed. The themes of the stories in this collection aren’t something very serious but something that is found in everyday life. There’s humour, there’s pathos, and those clever twist endings that make each story enjoyable. The tone is playful and immersive, and that kept me turning pages from one story to the next.
Each of the 25 stories carries a different emotional note. Some make you laugh out loud, some leave you thoughtful. This variety kept the reading experience fresh and engaging throughout.
Some stories that became my favourite are Adults, Man, Adults!, The Nearly Departed, The Honest Policeman, and Ingredient X (from the blurb).
Overall, this is a wonderful collection that transforms everyday themes into sharp, satirical, and brilliantly written tales. With its mix of humour, heart, and insight, it’s an anthology worth picking up and enjoying an eclectic mix of stories.
November 4, 2025
Looking for stories with absurd plot, twisted endings and heart wrenching tales? This is your sign to take up this book.
An occasional tonic of the Absurd and other stories is a masterpiece in itself created by Rahul Chak. The book is a warm collection of 25 stories each with a weird, random yet intriguing plots which will take you on a roller coaster ride.
Each story is so cleverly written, it will compel you to think, bite your nails and clench your hair.
The author cleverly blends the stories with different and weirdest fantasies. The stories that fascinated me the most are the ones where aliens abducts people, aliens give away superpowers to people and what not. The humorous language and set up at parts makes the book outshine and behaves like cherry on top of cake.
Each story brings something new on plate which is way better than the previous one. Really enjoyed the story “The Invoice” what a fun and playful characters play..
This is a perfect collection for readers looking for a change in genre from the same rom-com or thrill!! Really great.
An occasional tonic of the Absurd and other stories is a masterpiece in itself created by Rahul Chak. The book is a warm collection of 25 stories each with a weird, random yet intriguing plots which will take you on a roller coaster ride.
Each story is so cleverly written, it will compel you to think, bite your nails and clench your hair.
The author cleverly blends the stories with different and weirdest fantasies. The stories that fascinated me the most are the ones where aliens abducts people, aliens give away superpowers to people and what not. The humorous language and set up at parts makes the book outshine and behaves like cherry on top of cake.
Each story brings something new on plate which is way better than the previous one. Really enjoyed the story “The Invoice” what a fun and playful characters play..
This is a perfect collection for readers looking for a change in genre from the same rom-com or thrill!! Really great.
November 14, 2025
'An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd and Other Stories' is an engrossing collection of short stories that will entertain you till the last page. With a mix of humour and magic and a dash of absurd, this book is an absolute fun ride.
The book is a collection of 25 stories, each with a unique premise. Be it the story of a man trying to mend his relationship or the weird story of a chef abducted by aliens or a professor's encounter, each story has a unique, unexpected plot.
The unique thing about the stories is the thread of absurdity or magic realism. Each story is a blend of humour and wisdom, but unfolds like a fairy tale. The writing is engaging and the stories are imaginative. The twist to end each story makes each story truly memorable. Though all stories are great, "The Upstairs Neighbors", "Please Use the Exit" and "Gun Control" were some of my favourite stories.
In conclusion, 'An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd & Other Stories' is one collection of short stories that you shouldn't miss. A treat for fans of short stories.
The book is a collection of 25 stories, each with a unique premise. Be it the story of a man trying to mend his relationship or the weird story of a chef abducted by aliens or a professor's encounter, each story has a unique, unexpected plot.
The unique thing about the stories is the thread of absurdity or magic realism. Each story is a blend of humour and wisdom, but unfolds like a fairy tale. The writing is engaging and the stories are imaginative. The twist to end each story makes each story truly memorable. Though all stories are great, "The Upstairs Neighbors", "Please Use the Exit" and "Gun Control" were some of my favourite stories.
In conclusion, 'An Occasional Tonic of the Absurd & Other Stories' is one collection of short stories that you shouldn't miss. A treat for fans of short stories.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews