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Savithri's Special Room and Other Stories
Named after the black river that flows through it, Karuthupuzha is a sleepy little town in the interiors of south India. But wait till you meet its inhabitants. A stingy accountant who wants to be a philanthropist, a godman with a strange fetish, the owner of an old age home who trades in pornography, a rationalist brought down to earth by an orphan's curse, and Savithri, a kind-hearted grandmother filling her secret room with there's a surprise waiting at the turn of every page.Told in a fresh new voice that's wry yet humane, these tales will remind you of R.K. Narayan's Malgudi stories, full of life's little ironies and delicate wisdom
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2016
18 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Manu Bhattathiri
4 books16 followersManu Bhattathiri is a writer from Kerala, currently settled in Bangalore. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, a journalist and a college lecturer. At present he co-owns a small advertising agency.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 28, 2017
first appeared in The New Indian Express
In almost every story of Manu Bhattathiri’s debut short story collection, ‘Savithri’s Special Room & Other Stories’, a surprising personification lights up the page. Like how a jackfruit tree suppresses a giggle on the very first page of the first story, ‘The Cold’; or how a bedbug poses a relevant question to The Cold’s protagonist; or how a star cunningly adds ‘a little quirk’ to the thinking of Eeppachan Mothalali, the protagonist in ‘The Wife’s Leg’; or how a fly sits on the rim of a glass of tea in ‘A True Liar’ and greedily ‘rubs its hands together’ – these minor events stand out in the otherwise controlled stories as scintillas of magic, the moments where Bhattathiri deliberately and deftly unshackles our mind from realism and prepares us for the unique atmosphere of his stories.
All nine stories in the collection are based in the fictional town of Karuthupuzha, apparently somewhere in South India. Karuthupuzha signifies a unique sort of Indian middle – it feels neither urban nor rural, neither staid nor frenetic, neither out of pace with the times nor too concerned with the so-called after-effects of modernity. It is, in many ways, a town in a delightful stasis (I use the word in only the positive sense). If the spilling over of characters across stories suggests a restriction of space, bringing to mind a great Indian village, the unique concerns of the characters inform us of the possibility that the Indian countryside might always have been urban in mindset. In the second story of the collection, ‘The Man Who Knew God’, a character proposes more than one origination myth apropos the town. This uniquely Indian property – the ability to ground belief in a multitude of stories rather than the cold route of truth – seems to be a simile for the stories at hand.
If the description of Karuthupuzha reminds you of Malgudi -- another fictional, South Indian small town – it is not a surprise. There are many similarities in how we imagine both. The reference to R K Narayan’s Malgudi stories is in fact encouraged by the publisher itself, finding its place on the back cover blurb. But to understand Bhattathiri as a derivative of Narayan would be harsh. Karuthupuzha is an organic creation, and if it resembles Malgudi, it is only because there was something evergreen in Malgudi that persists in a much different shade in Karuthupuzha.
The originality in Bhattathiri’s stories and the high control that he exhibits mark a fresh burst in the contemporary scene. In 'Music and Love' and 'The Rationalist and his Wife', characters' starting positions with respect to a given issue is completely reversed by the end, and at no point does Bhattathiri's hold on the transformation loosen. We are convinced, through the circumstances that the writer creates in the story, that the responsive changes in characters were both necessary and probable. This sounds simple, but is terribly difficult to achieve.
Without a doubt, Bhattathiri has raised the bar for Indian debutantes. He has a lightness of touch that makes even a story describing torture (‘Paachu and the Arrogant Tuft’) end in a burst of laughter. The strongest story in the collection, ‘The Wife’s Leg’, in which the rice-mill owner Mothalali cultivates his insecurities with regards to his much-younger wife, invites multiple readings.
In almost every story of Manu Bhattathiri’s debut short story collection, ‘Savithri’s Special Room & Other Stories’, a surprising personification lights up the page. Like how a jackfruit tree suppresses a giggle on the very first page of the first story, ‘The Cold’; or how a bedbug poses a relevant question to The Cold’s protagonist; or how a star cunningly adds ‘a little quirk’ to the thinking of Eeppachan Mothalali, the protagonist in ‘The Wife’s Leg’; or how a fly sits on the rim of a glass of tea in ‘A True Liar’ and greedily ‘rubs its hands together’ – these minor events stand out in the otherwise controlled stories as scintillas of magic, the moments where Bhattathiri deliberately and deftly unshackles our mind from realism and prepares us for the unique atmosphere of his stories.
All nine stories in the collection are based in the fictional town of Karuthupuzha, apparently somewhere in South India. Karuthupuzha signifies a unique sort of Indian middle – it feels neither urban nor rural, neither staid nor frenetic, neither out of pace with the times nor too concerned with the so-called after-effects of modernity. It is, in many ways, a town in a delightful stasis (I use the word in only the positive sense). If the spilling over of characters across stories suggests a restriction of space, bringing to mind a great Indian village, the unique concerns of the characters inform us of the possibility that the Indian countryside might always have been urban in mindset. In the second story of the collection, ‘The Man Who Knew God’, a character proposes more than one origination myth apropos the town. This uniquely Indian property – the ability to ground belief in a multitude of stories rather than the cold route of truth – seems to be a simile for the stories at hand.
If the description of Karuthupuzha reminds you of Malgudi -- another fictional, South Indian small town – it is not a surprise. There are many similarities in how we imagine both. The reference to R K Narayan’s Malgudi stories is in fact encouraged by the publisher itself, finding its place on the back cover blurb. But to understand Bhattathiri as a derivative of Narayan would be harsh. Karuthupuzha is an organic creation, and if it resembles Malgudi, it is only because there was something evergreen in Malgudi that persists in a much different shade in Karuthupuzha.
The originality in Bhattathiri’s stories and the high control that he exhibits mark a fresh burst in the contemporary scene. In 'Music and Love' and 'The Rationalist and his Wife', characters' starting positions with respect to a given issue is completely reversed by the end, and at no point does Bhattathiri's hold on the transformation loosen. We are convinced, through the circumstances that the writer creates in the story, that the responsive changes in characters were both necessary and probable. This sounds simple, but is terribly difficult to achieve.
Without a doubt, Bhattathiri has raised the bar for Indian debutantes. He has a lightness of touch that makes even a story describing torture (‘Paachu and the Arrogant Tuft’) end in a burst of laughter. The strongest story in the collection, ‘The Wife’s Leg’, in which the rice-mill owner Mothalali cultivates his insecurities with regards to his much-younger wife, invites multiple readings.
January 9, 2017
I decided to read Manu Bhattathiri’s collection after reading two of his short stories online. ‘The Cold’ published in The Caravan read like a satire. The protagonist is filled with an urge to do charity but finds so many excuses and hurdles in his path that he eventually doesn’t. The story is well-written, attention-gripping, humorous and relatable. It is also the first story in Bhattathiri’s collection.
The other story I read by him was ‘The biggest enemy of rain’ in The Bombay Literary Magazine. A hilarious story- his trademark and a very relatable one too. These lines got me rofl-
‘But the romance in his head vaporized somewhat when Kavitha polished a shocking amount of rice, more pieces of fried chicken than a man could eat and three ice-creams of different flavours. He could see the waiters, who were his subordinates, nudge each other and giggle and build a story for later.
This behavior was borne out of one curious trend, which I have seen in many of our families. Gopi, too, learned it soon after his marriage. It was simply that his wife Kavitha had a mother who had always taught her, right from when she was very small, that the whole point of a girl’s life was to get married. You needed to work towards it, she said. You needed to observe certain rules. Eat less so that you don’t put on weight, talk softly as becomes a girl of good upbringing, do not show your teeth while laughing, do not stare at people however curious they make you, avoid talking or laughing loudly in the presence of young men, always show an interest in womanly duties like washing vessels and cleaning the table, never come out of your room in the morning without taking a bath first, and many more. Her mother told her that it was tough observing all these, yes, but the reward was that you needed to observe them only until you were married. The moment you tied the knot – provided you tied it on the right man – you were free. All the effort towards getting a good husband would have paid off then, and you had a lifetime of relaxation ahead.
Now that Kavitha was married, she was free. During the months following the wedding Gopi saw that his wife was exercising her newfound freedom almost every moment, rapidly letting go the beautiful, nubile girl he had fallen for.’
This is only a slice of Bhattathiri’s satirical style you see here. The stories in his book make you laugh, ponder, smile, cry. The title story made me cry. Bhattathiri has a way of holding his reader’s attention. The characters have unique attributes. I have often thought of writing stories with characters possessing one unique attribute each but it is challenging and Bhattathiri does it very well. These stories also read to me like moral stories. You will find traces of righteousness, love, jealousy, ego and others in his stories.
There is a love story in the collection in which the humour reminded me of South Indian movies I have seen. The essence of Kerala is there throughout the book- coconut oil, tapioca etc.
Another striking feature of his stories- inanimate objects have life, so does nature, animals and other creatures. Every element in his story is alive and conspiring or whispering or wondering. It only adds to the mystery and beauty of Karathupuzha, the imaginary place.
The other story I read by him was ‘The biggest enemy of rain’ in The Bombay Literary Magazine. A hilarious story- his trademark and a very relatable one too. These lines got me rofl-
‘But the romance in his head vaporized somewhat when Kavitha polished a shocking amount of rice, more pieces of fried chicken than a man could eat and three ice-creams of different flavours. He could see the waiters, who were his subordinates, nudge each other and giggle and build a story for later.
This behavior was borne out of one curious trend, which I have seen in many of our families. Gopi, too, learned it soon after his marriage. It was simply that his wife Kavitha had a mother who had always taught her, right from when she was very small, that the whole point of a girl’s life was to get married. You needed to work towards it, she said. You needed to observe certain rules. Eat less so that you don’t put on weight, talk softly as becomes a girl of good upbringing, do not show your teeth while laughing, do not stare at people however curious they make you, avoid talking or laughing loudly in the presence of young men, always show an interest in womanly duties like washing vessels and cleaning the table, never come out of your room in the morning without taking a bath first, and many more. Her mother told her that it was tough observing all these, yes, but the reward was that you needed to observe them only until you were married. The moment you tied the knot – provided you tied it on the right man – you were free. All the effort towards getting a good husband would have paid off then, and you had a lifetime of relaxation ahead.
Now that Kavitha was married, she was free. During the months following the wedding Gopi saw that his wife was exercising her newfound freedom almost every moment, rapidly letting go the beautiful, nubile girl he had fallen for.’
This is only a slice of Bhattathiri’s satirical style you see here. The stories in his book make you laugh, ponder, smile, cry. The title story made me cry. Bhattathiri has a way of holding his reader’s attention. The characters have unique attributes. I have often thought of writing stories with characters possessing one unique attribute each but it is challenging and Bhattathiri does it very well. These stories also read to me like moral stories. You will find traces of righteousness, love, jealousy, ego and others in his stories.
There is a love story in the collection in which the humour reminded me of South Indian movies I have seen. The essence of Kerala is there throughout the book- coconut oil, tapioca etc.
Another striking feature of his stories- inanimate objects have life, so does nature, animals and other creatures. Every element in his story is alive and conspiring or whispering or wondering. It only adds to the mystery and beauty of Karathupuzha, the imaginary place.
August 6, 2016
A collection of tender, exceptionally well-crafted stories set in a fictional small town in Kerala. A self-assured debut.
September 6, 2024
We have a predecessor of R.K.Narayan.
May 6, 2018
Have you read Malgudi Days?
Did you like it?
If both the answers are in affirmative, you need to pick up this book. ASAP.
No, these stories are not pastiche emulating the style or narratives of the great R.K. Narayan. But they are also based on a fictional place peopled by extremely believable characters. Not all of those characters are likeable. Nor are all the stories equally good. But the nine interlinked stories in this book, which collectively create a fascinating world of their own, do succeed in telling some superb tales.
The stories included here are:
1. The Cold: What happens when a miser, engrossed with his own misery, decides to gift something?
2. The Man Who Knew God: Why does a Philosopher rise in the eyes of the society? And how does he fall?
3. Peachy and the Arrogant Tuft: Can the almighty Police Officer accept the fact that he is about to retire? What's his reaction?
4. The Wife's Leg: Perhaps the most visceral and heartbreaking story of this collection, this one I would leave you to find.
5. A True Liar: When does an artist create something which is NOT "art for art's sake"?
6. Savithri's Special Room: How does one deal with pain? The answer lies in the open, only to be seen.
7. Music and Love: The most romantic and feel-good story that I found here.
8. The Rationalist and His Wife: A sharp, scathing, heart-wrenching story of gain, pain, loss, and something beyond.
9. The Scandal: A brutal yet tender conclusion of this saga of Karuthupuzha.
Once again, I would submit, if you are an admirer of short stories involving real characters involved in mature narratives, this book is a must-read.
Highly Recommended.
Did you like it?
If both the answers are in affirmative, you need to pick up this book. ASAP.
No, these stories are not pastiche emulating the style or narratives of the great R.K. Narayan. But they are also based on a fictional place peopled by extremely believable characters. Not all of those characters are likeable. Nor are all the stories equally good. But the nine interlinked stories in this book, which collectively create a fascinating world of their own, do succeed in telling some superb tales.
The stories included here are:
1. The Cold: What happens when a miser, engrossed with his own misery, decides to gift something?
2. The Man Who Knew God: Why does a Philosopher rise in the eyes of the society? And how does he fall?
3. Peachy and the Arrogant Tuft: Can the almighty Police Officer accept the fact that he is about to retire? What's his reaction?
4. The Wife's Leg: Perhaps the most visceral and heartbreaking story of this collection, this one I would leave you to find.
5. A True Liar: When does an artist create something which is NOT "art for art's sake"?
6. Savithri's Special Room: How does one deal with pain? The answer lies in the open, only to be seen.
7. Music and Love: The most romantic and feel-good story that I found here.
8. The Rationalist and His Wife: A sharp, scathing, heart-wrenching story of gain, pain, loss, and something beyond.
9. The Scandal: A brutal yet tender conclusion of this saga of Karuthupuzha.
Once again, I would submit, if you are an admirer of short stories involving real characters involved in mature narratives, this book is a must-read.
Highly Recommended.
December 11, 2016
reminiscent of a simpler time where magic was possible
December 23, 2019
Looks like I have a new favourite author - Manu Bhattathiri.
December 18, 2018
I picked this book after reading so many raving reviews. To be honest, I was quite impressed after reading the first story in the collection. Manu Bhattathiri's writing is excellent and it was really a whiff of fresh air for me. The sentences like "the tree shook a little and suppressed a giggle" made me smile like a foolish, infatuated girl. As I moved to the next story, I started getting a deja vu feel. Haven't I seen or read this characters somewhere else? As I progressed further, the feeling became so strong and after completing about four stories(Light enters my brain very slowly, my friends!), I identified what is bothering me with this anthology. To those who have grown up watching the Malayalam movies of 80's and early 90's, Karuthupuzha and its inhabitants are very familiar and if they are the quintessential Malayali, these characters will be like family. Come on, we Malayalis cannot engage in a conversation without quoting the dialogues from such movies, right? So it seems like the author has knowingly or unknowingly colored his stories with the shades of such films and its characters. I can't really pin point those films and characters, but whoever have watched a good deal of old Malayalam movies can really understand what I am talking about. To conclude, these stories lack the very vital thing - originality.
There are many who compares author's writing with that of R.K.Narayan. Both wrote about the life of ordinary people in small town. As far as I am concerned, the similarity starts and ends there.
If you are a non malayali who have no idea about the cult malayalam movies of yesteryears, you will find this anthology very interesting and gripping. I would totally recommend it to you. And if you are anything like me, go and watch an old, feel good Malayalam movie please.
There are many who compares author's writing with that of R.K.Narayan. Both wrote about the life of ordinary people in small town. As far as I am concerned, the similarity starts and ends there.
If you are a non malayali who have no idea about the cult malayalam movies of yesteryears, you will find this anthology very interesting and gripping. I would totally recommend it to you. And if you are anything like me, go and watch an old, feel good Malayalam movie please.
December 7, 2021
I have been drawn into the beautiful quotidian world of Karuthupuzha with this set of stories with cross-linking characters. Even though all the stories are standalone and could be enjoyed on their own, when you finish the book, you'd remember a collective story of this little town, as if the town itself has become a character. In that sense, there is a sequence in which you should read these stories, however, Bhattathiri could as well jumble these all up, name them as chapter 1,2,3,... so on and we have our own version of Hopscotch. A must read. I look forward to read more Bhattathiri in the coming months.
July 29, 2023
This book is a visual treat! With its vivid and descriptive writing, it imerses you in the captivating little town of Karuthupuzha. The characters are so amusing, and each story is replete with humour and words of wisdom. The ending is wholesome and heartwarming, when all the characters come together. Definitely a must-read!
December 16, 2024
gorgeous
March 21, 2018
I was traveling yesterday and my travel companion was this anthology by Manu Bhattathiri.
It's not a big book; I finished in the three hours that my flight lasted. But, it leaves you with a big feeling.
Savithri's Special Room opens with a random discussion about winters in the village of Karuthapuzha. Apparently, it gets very cold. And it'll take you through the stories of the one year from that winter to almost the next.
The description of Karuthapuzha is not given until the second story which is in fact one of my favourites. Because it felt like the most honest and least story-like. In a way, it felt like the author was inadvertently infusing his character into Murali. Of course, I might be entirely wrong.
But, that brings me to the characters themselves and holy heavens, are they special!
From the cruel Mothalali to the calm Vasu Appoopan and the uselessly sensitive George Kutty to saviour of the day Chamel, each of them stands out in a way that's entirely their own. The women in these stories are not bystanders, but real people with emotions and barriers and beliefs entirely their own. Savithri who's everybody's grandmother, Shanta who keeps appearing as the maid of every house, Acchu whom I fell in love with too and the simple, beautiful Amminikutty- they all have their own lives and own minds. They might worship their husbands, they might prescribe to notions that are not very 21st century, but, that's who they are and so, even if you're inclined to, you won't judge them for it.
All these people clash with each other and conflicts arise easily. But, they're also solved easily since there's work to be done and meals to be prepared.
Karuthapuzha is a strange place. It's held in the age-old beliefs and superstitions, but mired in extreme practicality and day-to-day struggle to survive. Tree-climbing for tapping toddy is a bright career option as much as the city is looked upon as mysterious and ambiguous. A good wedding is celebrated as much as a good death. And beliefs are held with ease, released with difficulty, but respected nonetheless.
It's a typical Indian village; but one with the openness of mind to accept an atheist, with the willingness to entertain a pornography-selling old age home, and with the audacity to have philosophical discourses across a table in the toddy shop.
So, stories come aplenty from such inconsistencies and each story is a raw gem that makes you smile, that touches your heart and that recalls to you the olden days when only R K Narayan could make you feel this way with his Malgudi Days.
BOTTOMLINE: What else can I say that I haven't already said above...oh yes, I can say that I recommend it. I strongly recommend it. Even if the person sitting next to you looks at you strangely because you're laughing to yourself, I recommend that you visit Karuthapuzha and lose yourself in its vagaries for as long as it lasts.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
It's not a big book; I finished in the three hours that my flight lasted. But, it leaves you with a big feeling.
Savithri's Special Room opens with a random discussion about winters in the village of Karuthapuzha. Apparently, it gets very cold. And it'll take you through the stories of the one year from that winter to almost the next.
The description of Karuthapuzha is not given until the second story which is in fact one of my favourites. Because it felt like the most honest and least story-like. In a way, it felt like the author was inadvertently infusing his character into Murali. Of course, I might be entirely wrong.
But, that brings me to the characters themselves and holy heavens, are they special!
From the cruel Mothalali to the calm Vasu Appoopan and the uselessly sensitive George Kutty to saviour of the day Chamel, each of them stands out in a way that's entirely their own. The women in these stories are not bystanders, but real people with emotions and barriers and beliefs entirely their own. Savithri who's everybody's grandmother, Shanta who keeps appearing as the maid of every house, Acchu whom I fell in love with too and the simple, beautiful Amminikutty- they all have their own lives and own minds. They might worship their husbands, they might prescribe to notions that are not very 21st century, but, that's who they are and so, even if you're inclined to, you won't judge them for it.
All these people clash with each other and conflicts arise easily. But, they're also solved easily since there's work to be done and meals to be prepared.
Karuthapuzha is a strange place. It's held in the age-old beliefs and superstitions, but mired in extreme practicality and day-to-day struggle to survive. Tree-climbing for tapping toddy is a bright career option as much as the city is looked upon as mysterious and ambiguous. A good wedding is celebrated as much as a good death. And beliefs are held with ease, released with difficulty, but respected nonetheless.
It's a typical Indian village; but one with the openness of mind to accept an atheist, with the willingness to entertain a pornography-selling old age home, and with the audacity to have philosophical discourses across a table in the toddy shop.
So, stories come aplenty from such inconsistencies and each story is a raw gem that makes you smile, that touches your heart and that recalls to you the olden days when only R K Narayan could make you feel this way with his Malgudi Days.
BOTTOMLINE: What else can I say that I haven't already said above...oh yes, I can say that I recommend it. I strongly recommend it. Even if the person sitting next to you looks at you strangely because you're laughing to yourself, I recommend that you visit Karuthapuzha and lose yourself in its vagaries for as long as it lasts.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
March 8, 2021
'Savithri's special room and other stories' by Manu Bhattathiri presents a set of stories from an imagery town of Kerala called Karuthupuzha.
All these stories are slices of lives of people hailing from the same town. Karuthapuzha's people have quirks of numerous hues which makes the reading journey both amusing & intriguing equally.
Right from the legends behind the name of the town to the drunkard loitering on the streets, this book talks as if it nosily eavesdropped from people & gossip right back into our ears. It speaks discreetly about vices & virtues; merry & misery ; gay & grief ; sciences & sorceries ; longings & lastings of the town.
An accountant's sudden quirk of genouristy ; suprise attention towards the philosophical discourses of a common man ; Karuthupuzha's strict inspector in the last leg of his service ; tumulting bond between rich man of the town & his young wife ; a driver's art of telling lies & make believe his fellow men ; an old couple's anxious preparations of food on the long waited arrival of their son & his family ; love story of a teenage singer & her jobless graduate partner ; unexpected upheveals faced by a carpenter turned rationalist ; a ridiculous scandal that changed the fate of spinster servant of the town. All these are the stories of the ilk of Karuthupuzha who conviniently lead lives in their own shell, but break & come out of it when time & situation demands.
Manu Bhattathiri 's writing is so attractive & addictive and also his absolute fresh , folk lore-like writing style added glint to the mundane lives of Karuthupuzha. I totally loved reading each & every story. I felt more like reading a novel rather than a short story collection as all the characters intersperse often in every story. Though there has been criss- cross of characters in the stories , nothing is missed incase if the stories were read in the given order or else picked at random - here, the brilliance in writing of the author could be observed.
But I personally reccomend to read the last story after reading the others. If not one would miss the satisfaction of happy endings of all the stories which taste tangy-sweet like a perfectly edible first lot of ripe mangoes reaped in the summer.
All these stories are slices of lives of people hailing from the same town. Karuthapuzha's people have quirks of numerous hues which makes the reading journey both amusing & intriguing equally.
Right from the legends behind the name of the town to the drunkard loitering on the streets, this book talks as if it nosily eavesdropped from people & gossip right back into our ears. It speaks discreetly about vices & virtues; merry & misery ; gay & grief ; sciences & sorceries ; longings & lastings of the town.
An accountant's sudden quirk of genouristy ; suprise attention towards the philosophical discourses of a common man ; Karuthupuzha's strict inspector in the last leg of his service ; tumulting bond between rich man of the town & his young wife ; a driver's art of telling lies & make believe his fellow men ; an old couple's anxious preparations of food on the long waited arrival of their son & his family ; love story of a teenage singer & her jobless graduate partner ; unexpected upheveals faced by a carpenter turned rationalist ; a ridiculous scandal that changed the fate of spinster servant of the town. All these are the stories of the ilk of Karuthupuzha who conviniently lead lives in their own shell, but break & come out of it when time & situation demands.
Manu Bhattathiri 's writing is so attractive & addictive and also his absolute fresh , folk lore-like writing style added glint to the mundane lives of Karuthupuzha. I totally loved reading each & every story. I felt more like reading a novel rather than a short story collection as all the characters intersperse often in every story. Though there has been criss- cross of characters in the stories , nothing is missed incase if the stories were read in the given order or else picked at random - here, the brilliance in writing of the author could be observed.
But I personally reccomend to read the last story after reading the others. If not one would miss the satisfaction of happy endings of all the stories which taste tangy-sweet like a perfectly edible first lot of ripe mangoes reaped in the summer.
January 28, 2022
This is Karuthupuzha, a fictional town I fell in love with, that has many legends to its name. A town that is bestowed with beauty of nature and quirkiness of its inhabitants.
Karuthupuzha is the place you sure feel like you had lived in. It is a place of variegate humans, oh let me tell you how, here we have a PoliceInspector with an amazing tuft on top of head (muffled laugh) who invariably thinks that he is the law of town, StoryTellers who makes people forget their siesta, Innate Liers who lie just for the delight of lying, HandMaids&Spinsters whose heart craves for scandals, lovers (a whole lot of them) who fuel these scandals, dwarf who serves as the official rumour spreader of the town, daredevil bus driver who thinks that the only bus of town as his own circus and himself as circus master, slimy newspaper recycler whose songs can improvise any situation relishing in insulting people, town drunk, good for nothing adults, rationalists, humans who knows(or they say so) Gods, few blessed people who are always kind to everyone, and even a NailGulper who gulped a dozen nails and made it alive!
Here, every one is both insane and simple, someone always do the most unexpected thing, someone always falls in love, someone always picks fight with someone else, all in all, the town toddy shop dwellers and the riverside washerwomen never runs out of things to speak of. Noone, noone is sparred from the OneMind of Karuthupuzha, it's just a matter of their turn!!
This novel made me laugh out loud heartily! I absolutely enjoyed it! I fell in awe with some characters, grinned at a few happy endings! Karuthupuzha is a place where I'd love to live in!!
Karuthupuzha is the place you sure feel like you had lived in. It is a place of variegate humans, oh let me tell you how, here we have a PoliceInspector with an amazing tuft on top of head (muffled laugh) who invariably thinks that he is the law of town, StoryTellers who makes people forget their siesta, Innate Liers who lie just for the delight of lying, HandMaids&Spinsters whose heart craves for scandals, lovers (a whole lot of them) who fuel these scandals, dwarf who serves as the official rumour spreader of the town, daredevil bus driver who thinks that the only bus of town as his own circus and himself as circus master, slimy newspaper recycler whose songs can improvise any situation relishing in insulting people, town drunk, good for nothing adults, rationalists, humans who knows(or they say so) Gods, few blessed people who are always kind to everyone, and even a NailGulper who gulped a dozen nails and made it alive!
Here, every one is both insane and simple, someone always do the most unexpected thing, someone always falls in love, someone always picks fight with someone else, all in all, the town toddy shop dwellers and the riverside washerwomen never runs out of things to speak of. Noone, noone is sparred from the OneMind of Karuthupuzha, it's just a matter of their turn!!
This novel made me laugh out loud heartily! I absolutely enjoyed it! I fell in awe with some characters, grinned at a few happy endings! Karuthupuzha is a place where I'd love to live in!!
March 2, 2024
Feels like Malgudi Days
This is collection of short stories all set in the fictional town of Karuthupuzha which translates literally to "Black River". In this small town live many interesting people each with their own story but also loosely connected to other residents.
The stories are all about little joys and learnings of life. Each story has a nuanced wisdom delivered through it, each story has a satisfying heartwarming end. In a few pages that each story gets, you would feel the entire range of emotions a story can evoke in you. Each story would make you want to visit the place and meet the character in person. There is so much warmth in the way it is written you'd feel like you've turned in a kid listening to your grandmother sharing stories from her life.
And the Characters! I will remember each character for a long time. They feel so natural, so born from the earth, someone with whom you could have a long slow conversation about life. I sincerely enjoyed each one of them.
A must must read. Simply ace storytelling!
This is collection of short stories all set in the fictional town of Karuthupuzha which translates literally to "Black River". In this small town live many interesting people each with their own story but also loosely connected to other residents.
The stories are all about little joys and learnings of life. Each story has a nuanced wisdom delivered through it, each story has a satisfying heartwarming end. In a few pages that each story gets, you would feel the entire range of emotions a story can evoke in you. Each story would make you want to visit the place and meet the character in person. There is so much warmth in the way it is written you'd feel like you've turned in a kid listening to your grandmother sharing stories from her life.
And the Characters! I will remember each character for a long time. They feel so natural, so born from the earth, someone with whom you could have a long slow conversation about life. I sincerely enjoyed each one of them.
A must must read. Simply ace storytelling!
November 8, 2021
A charming little novel about a fictional town with its slew of relatable but quirky characters and the fantastical that exists in the everyday life.
October 5, 2021
The author has weaved together 9 short stories about people and life in a small fictional town probably in Kerala, India. It is the characters / protagonists of each story (many of whom incidentally find repeat mentions in other stories also).
Stories that need to be mentioned include: (i) The Cold about Kunjomon and his desire to do charity; (ii) Paachu and the Arrogant Tuft about a retiring policeman; (iii) Savithri's Special Room about an old couple waiting eagerly for the visit of their grandson and events that follow the cancellation of the visit; (iv) Music & Love about George Kutty and his love interest Acchu; (v) The Rationalist and his Wife about Ponnappan - the carpenter who's circumstances forced him to turn from a "rationalist" to a "believer in powers of Gods"; and (vi) The Scandal, about a woman named Shanta and the rumours about her.
Worth a reading!
Stories that need to be mentioned include: (i) The Cold about Kunjomon and his desire to do charity; (ii) Paachu and the Arrogant Tuft about a retiring policeman; (iii) Savithri's Special Room about an old couple waiting eagerly for the visit of their grandson and events that follow the cancellation of the visit; (iv) Music & Love about George Kutty and his love interest Acchu; (v) The Rationalist and his Wife about Ponnappan - the carpenter who's circumstances forced him to turn from a "rationalist" to a "believer in powers of Gods"; and (vi) The Scandal, about a woman named Shanta and the rumours about her.
Worth a reading!
April 9, 2021
Really amazing collection of stories, a must-read for all fiction lovers.
I discovered manu after I read his second book, which is a Novel, again based on this imaginary remote town or small village called Karuthupuzha.
Although it is a short story collection, still the stories are connected to each other through the frequent references to characters appearing in each of the story.
Every story is a nice little tale of an interesting incident that happens in this place.
Once again, I must say that the writing reminds me of Malgudi. I sincerely hope that Manu comes up with more tales based on this imaginary town.
I also hope that he switches to a full time writing career so that he can produce more such masterpieces in future.
I discovered manu after I read his second book, which is a Novel, again based on this imaginary remote town or small village called Karuthupuzha.
Although it is a short story collection, still the stories are connected to each other through the frequent references to characters appearing in each of the story.
Every story is a nice little tale of an interesting incident that happens in this place.
Once again, I must say that the writing reminds me of Malgudi. I sincerely hope that Manu comes up with more tales based on this imaginary town.
I also hope that he switches to a full time writing career so that he can produce more such masterpieces in future.
June 22, 2017
All of Manu Bhattathiri’s stories lend themselves to ‘family-entertainer’ screenplays in films where the formula is set with an agreeable plot and the applause is reserved for the punchlines and the song sequences. It’s a pity that such great writing style delivered such prosaic stories. But considering his incredible eye for detail and penchant for irony, his next book will definitely be on my to-be-read list. Read my full review on the news minute: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/...
May 6, 2017
3.5/5
Karuthupuzha and its various inhabitants bring back memories of childhood summer holidays and old television and movies and leave you nostalgic. Some of the stories are quite good, and the whole bunch is amusing.
When you tell the truth you are just a messenger carrying what is given to you, but when you lie, you are a creator, a god even. In your believers you have created followers of a different reality, one of your own making.
Karuthupuzha and its various inhabitants bring back memories of childhood summer holidays and old television and movies and leave you nostalgic. Some of the stories are quite good, and the whole bunch is amusing.
December 25, 2025
A decent book of short stories, centered around the lives of ordinary people in the small town of Karuthupuzha. I don't get the comparison to R K Narayan's Malgudi, which BTW, is on a league of its own (and incomparable, if you ask me). I think the author tried to capture the magic of Malgudi, but I honestly don't see it. However, I did like a couple of stories. Overall, give it a go for a breezy, lighthearted, but ultimately, forgettable read.
April 29, 2019
The stories are all beautiful knitted with each other.. different lives.. different stories! M sure karuthapuzha n all its incomparable characters are going to stay with me..for quiet a long time! Each story while ending..either gives us a thought to ponder..or a peaceful smile! I jus enjoyed reading every line of this book!
October 2, 2018
Narration, characters and twists in the stories are worth every second of your time. Such a good book!!
January 23, 2019
A wonderfully refreshing read!! Faintly reminds me of the great R.K Narayan 😀
June 17, 2020
Story telling akin to Basheer's or Marquez where seemingly independent stories revolve around a small town, with recurring characters.
December 20, 2016
After a long time, I read a good collection of short stories. The whole collection is set in a small village Karuthupuzha. Every sentence made me travel to the village and 'judge' its actors in a way Manu (author) wanted me to. Without any hesitation, I would simply say- through the stories I was living along with the actors and experiencing their life. It's very simple yet beautiful!
September 8, 2025
Loved reading the book.
The stories are set in a quaint little village called Karuthupuzha and various characters come alive delightfully.
The stories are set in a quaint little village called Karuthupuzha and various characters come alive delightfully.
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