A Garland of Memories

by Ruskin Bond

Garland of Memories is a narration of his charming city Doon. It is a collection of short stories based on the memories of Bond. This collection contains tales from his chance encounter with Rudyard Kipling's ghost, to his adventures with eccentric Uncle Ken, being witness to a bitter battle between a brave snake, a braver mongoose and two foolhardy birds; it's about the hungry pet python that ate up everyone's lunch and the mythical snow-woman who almost exists - See more

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published December 31, 1899

About the author

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

Reviews

[Shantesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, easy and relaxing read. Classic Bond

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond stories always feel like the warmth of the sun on a winter day. Nostalgia of childhood is a constant theme. He iterates his stories which unassumingly makes you remember your summer holiday and days of those innocent plays.
Most of his stories talk about nonchalant everyday things happening around him, which makes you realise so much beauty that we are sounded by even on a regular day, which we just choose not to witness. Reading Ruskin Bond always leaves a smile on my face and I remember my day in his favourite bakery in Simla while I spend some good time with my cousins where the magic still resides in some corners of the now forgotten fairytale town.

[Keerthi Divakaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Garland of Memories' is a beautifully written book by Ruskin Bond describing his favourite childhood memories. Readers who are also travellers and nature lovers find it so easier to relate with him when he takes us through forests, hills, snow-capped mountains, cicadas, crickets, trees, birds and animals. Bond is so much connected with his grandparents in whose house he used to spend most of his vacation and childhood. And this was where he started to find his love for nature.
As someone who has explored tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats, it was easier for me to resonate with Bond when he mentions how nature never fails to mesmerise human beings even in its eerie silence- the silence where you can celebrate your solitude and discover one's self beyond his/her ego.
Hailing from Southern part of India, one of my dreams have always been to explore Himalayas and see the snow capped mountains. This book has intensified my urge and now I cannot wait to explore that part of the country. *Fingers crossed*

[Prashant Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fine book by Ruskin Bond containing about 35 short real life stories about the author. I enjoyed it except the fact that many stories are repeated as I had read them earlier in other similar short stories collection books by Mr Bond (for eg, The Leopard).

[Ambica Gulati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is treasured signed copy that I had picked at the Valley of Words Dehradun Literature Festival three years back. A treasure trove of simple incidents, beautifully written, this is light reading in tough times. Each story is about two to three pages with a beautiful ending.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

34 Stories of memories of author.

[Wendell D'Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4☆

A Garland of memories, was another one from my frequent indulgence into the imaginative world of Ruskin Bond. The book has many stories that blend the lines between fiction and reality. This part memoir, part short story collection will make you feel nostalgic, with tales from the hill, memories with family, pets and Bond's escapades into the wild.
With picturesque writing and Bond's unique way of enthralling the reader, this is a must read for Bond fanatics.

[Prashant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology of mountain side stories

[Abitha Ganesan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for light reading . Will continue reading the authors book. Really enjoyed reading his books