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These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape: Stories
A fanatical collector of beetles finds out too late where his passion has led him. A woman out on a shopping spree in a glitzy mall finds she can’t go home again. A servant girl experiences a cruel loss of innocence when she eats something that wasn’t meant for her. In the sweltering heat of Bombay, a schoolgirl finds the ground slipping beneath her feet except when she’s watching Star Trek. Four friends meet for drinks one evening, only to find that their friendship is not what it seems. And, in the extraordinary title story, a student who has worshipped his teacher for decades comes to a terrible realization about him. Meanwhile, his old mentor is planning a cunning legacy of his own.
- GenresShort Stories
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Tejaswini Apte-Rahm
4 books21 followersTejaswini Apte-Rahm is an award-winning writer from Mumbai, India. Her novel of historical fiction, The Secret of More, won the Tata Literature Live! Book of the Year Fiction Award 2023. It was also shortlisted in 2023 for the JCB Prize for Literature, Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Award and Tagore Literary Prize, and longlisted for the Kalinga Literature Festival Award.
Her short story collection, These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape, was shortlisted in 2017 for the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize and the Tata-Nexon Literature Live! First Book Award.
She has co-authored an environmental education book for children, The Poop Book! , which was a Parag Honour Book 2020 and nominated for the Jarul Book Award 2021-22. It was translated into Tibetan in 2022.
Tejaswini's fiction has appeared in various publications including Helter Skelter, Himal Southasian, Mint Lounge, BLink and Six Seasons Review.
She has worked as a journalist and environmental researcher, and has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, Times of India and Asian Age.
She studied in Singapore and the UK, and has lived in Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Fiji and Azerbaijan. She currently lives in Germany.
Her short story collection, These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape, was shortlisted in 2017 for the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize and the Tata-Nexon Literature Live! First Book Award.
She has co-authored an environmental education book for children, The Poop Book! , which was a Parag Honour Book 2020 and nominated for the Jarul Book Award 2021-22. It was translated into Tibetan in 2022.
Tejaswini's fiction has appeared in various publications including Helter Skelter, Himal Southasian, Mint Lounge, BLink and Six Seasons Review.
She has worked as a journalist and environmental researcher, and has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, Times of India and Asian Age.
She studied in Singapore and the UK, and has lived in Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Fiji and Azerbaijan. She currently lives in Germany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 6, 2017
The book consists 9 main stories titled with different line and 9 sub-stories titled under "These circuses that sweep through the landscape". I would be frank and blunt, I skipped 2 main stories and 4 sub-story because I lost grip. I tried my best to finish them but I failed. So I decided to write the review and give justice to other stories.
Following are things that I liked about book:
- Comical part of "The Mall"
- Hidden romance between to ex from "Mili"
- Dark sides of characters from "Drinks at Seven"
- Mr. Ghosh and his hypothesis
- Mr. Poonawala's passion towards his profession
You can call me a mediocre reader but I was not able to gauge ending of few stories. Book lost it tempo at many places which have made me skip few pages.
But I think as a debut work, Tejaswini has done a splendid job. The main reason is character building. Even though it's collection of short stories, each story has given proper importance to the main character of that story, which is rare in short-stories.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/05...
Author Interview Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Following are things that I liked about book:
- Comical part of "The Mall"
- Hidden romance between to ex from "Mili"
- Dark sides of characters from "Drinks at Seven"
- Mr. Ghosh and his hypothesis
- Mr. Poonawala's passion towards his profession
You can call me a mediocre reader but I was not able to gauge ending of few stories. Book lost it tempo at many places which have made me skip few pages.
But I think as a debut work, Tejaswini has done a splendid job. The main reason is character building. Even though it's collection of short stories, each story has given proper importance to the main character of that story, which is rare in short-stories.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/05...
Author Interview Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2017/0...
August 3, 2017
These stories are magical and whimsical. You would love this book if you love stories of magical realism. If not you might find them too strange or bizarre to enjoy. There are realistic stories too but a majority of them have some fabulist elemnet in them. I really enjoyed the book.
Favourite stories are - Sandalwood, Cotton, House on hill and Drinks at seven.
A short description of the stories included in the collection can be found here - http://www.thebooksatchel.com/circuse...
Disclaimer : Much thanks to Aleph for sending me a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Favourite stories are - Sandalwood, Cotton, House on hill and Drinks at seven.
A short description of the stories included in the collection can be found here - http://www.thebooksatchel.com/circuse...
Disclaimer : Much thanks to Aleph for sending me a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2017
This review was first published on The Era I Lived In
The beauty of this anthology lies in the care for detail. Every story portrays a different scenario, touches upon the dark crevices of the human mind, gently tapping on the reader’s mind, evoking relatability to the emotions we often shy away from talking openly about.
The book is a collection of cleverly titled short stories of varying lengths that filled me with a disturbing, dark, melancholy feeling in the start. I was on the verge of giving up reading the book because an uncanny feeling of helplessness seemed to engulf me mid-way while reading The Mall (third story in the book). I’m glad I chose to finish the story and also the book because the way the story ended and the stories that followed unfurled, left me happy for having chosen to stay put.
The first story in the book Homo Coleoptera lost its mystic element because the ardent biology student in me guessed what was in store from the title itself. Thank God for Star Trek hit home for me as a single parent with the way it portrays the tempest of a child’s mind, an area of keen interest for me lately.
Cotton, Sandalwood and The Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape are my favorites. I strongly feel the book would have benefited by avoiding the last story from being titled as the title of the anthology.
I wish to congratulate the author in the successful portrayal of an array of characters who are closer to life yet are peculiar in their own right. The stories score high on spinning around myriad situations, touching upon an array of emotions where the protagonists scuffle with their own feelings and often fail to comprehend them.
The stories are open-ended leaving plenty of room for interpretation. They successfully make the reader eagerly wait for the author’s next work.
The book is a winner in the portrayal of vivid experiences in rich vocabulary, picturesque prose, lucid narration and characters that draw inspiration from an array of situations, individuals, and geographical locations.
The dark shades of every character bring to light the unseen, unspoken aspects of the human mind, that can be savored in every story of this anthology in a unique way. Overall the book wraps up with an Umami flavor once you put the book down.
I highly recommend this anthology to everyone who loves reading anthologies, are intrigued by the dark shades of the human mind and those who love marveling at open-ended short stories that’ll provide ample food for thought with every turn of a page.
The beauty of this anthology lies in the care for detail. Every story portrays a different scenario, touches upon the dark crevices of the human mind, gently tapping on the reader’s mind, evoking relatability to the emotions we often shy away from talking openly about.
The book is a collection of cleverly titled short stories of varying lengths that filled me with a disturbing, dark, melancholy feeling in the start. I was on the verge of giving up reading the book because an uncanny feeling of helplessness seemed to engulf me mid-way while reading The Mall (third story in the book). I’m glad I chose to finish the story and also the book because the way the story ended and the stories that followed unfurled, left me happy for having chosen to stay put.
The first story in the book Homo Coleoptera lost its mystic element because the ardent biology student in me guessed what was in store from the title itself. Thank God for Star Trek hit home for me as a single parent with the way it portrays the tempest of a child’s mind, an area of keen interest for me lately.
Cotton, Sandalwood and The Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape are my favorites. I strongly feel the book would have benefited by avoiding the last story from being titled as the title of the anthology.
I wish to congratulate the author in the successful portrayal of an array of characters who are closer to life yet are peculiar in their own right. The stories score high on spinning around myriad situations, touching upon an array of emotions where the protagonists scuffle with their own feelings and often fail to comprehend them.
The stories are open-ended leaving plenty of room for interpretation. They successfully make the reader eagerly wait for the author’s next work.
The book is a winner in the portrayal of vivid experiences in rich vocabulary, picturesque prose, lucid narration and characters that draw inspiration from an array of situations, individuals, and geographical locations.
The dark shades of every character bring to light the unseen, unspoken aspects of the human mind, that can be savored in every story of this anthology in a unique way. Overall the book wraps up with an Umami flavor once you put the book down.
I highly recommend this anthology to everyone who loves reading anthologies, are intrigued by the dark shades of the human mind and those who love marveling at open-ended short stories that’ll provide ample food for thought with every turn of a page.
February 6, 2017
What if you lost in perspiring crowds of mall only to realize that you cannot get home? What if your unhealthy passion about something turns out to be self-destructive? What if you’re madly in love with a popular singer who is dead years ago but you can’t seem to get over him?
These are the scenarios aptly captures in the form of short stories by very skilled author Tejaswinig Apte-Rahm.
An obsessive collector of beetles becomes self-destructive landing himself in a never-solving trouble. Short story named ‘The Mall’ aptly describes how a woman on a shopping spree entangles herself only to realize that she cannot go home. On the other hand, ‘The house on the hill’ describes the little girl’s innocence with a bit humor attached to it. ‘Drinks at Seven’ spills the beans about the friendship among four friends who meet up one evening for drinks & they realize what’s there on surface is not the same inside. Short story named after the character ‘Mili’ describes past lovers’ plight in depth leaving both high & dry in their present scenario.
These circuses that sweep through the landscape is a collection of 10 short stories that are high on imagination & powerful in every way. Each story serves a unique, refreshing tale with unexpected twist & turn. The author takes you on a whirlwind ride of emotions and fantasies. In 157 pages of book, you get to witness passion, obsession, greed, love, pain, fear & innocence.
The book has turned out extremely well & it’s a delight for readers. Alas, the stories are only 10. However, you enjoy every page as the time flies out of window very creatively.
Recommended for its powerful fantasies and rich language! Looks like authors dream-like fantasies worked well.
These are the scenarios aptly captures in the form of short stories by very skilled author Tejaswinig Apte-Rahm.
An obsessive collector of beetles becomes self-destructive landing himself in a never-solving trouble. Short story named ‘The Mall’ aptly describes how a woman on a shopping spree entangles herself only to realize that she cannot go home. On the other hand, ‘The house on the hill’ describes the little girl’s innocence with a bit humor attached to it. ‘Drinks at Seven’ spills the beans about the friendship among four friends who meet up one evening for drinks & they realize what’s there on surface is not the same inside. Short story named after the character ‘Mili’ describes past lovers’ plight in depth leaving both high & dry in their present scenario.
These circuses that sweep through the landscape is a collection of 10 short stories that are high on imagination & powerful in every way. Each story serves a unique, refreshing tale with unexpected twist & turn. The author takes you on a whirlwind ride of emotions and fantasies. In 157 pages of book, you get to witness passion, obsession, greed, love, pain, fear & innocence.
The book has turned out extremely well & it’s a delight for readers. Alas, the stories are only 10. However, you enjoy every page as the time flies out of window very creatively.
Recommended for its powerful fantasies and rich language! Looks like authors dream-like fantasies worked well.
February 7, 2017
These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape is a collection of stories by Teajswini Apte-Rahim. The author must be given full marks for the variety of topics around which she weaves her stories. Human conflict, both external as well as internal, is a predominant theme all the stories in this collection.
Homo Coleoptera is a story about an aging man and his wife who refuses to age. This makes the man insecure. The story ends with his tragic death.
Thank God for Star Trek tells the story of a troubled mother and her young daughter, from the daughter's perspective. The story shows how TV diffuses tensions at least for some time.
The Mall works very well as an experimental story. It depicts the depression, insecurities and feeling of being lost among a urban-goer very well.
The protagonist of the story Cotton is the cotton itself. In the story Drinks at Seven the issue of how suspicion as to infidelity crops up in a marriage is dealt with. Sandalwood is the story of a woman who after almost two decades of marriage is thrown out of the house because her husband wants to live with another man. Her existence is only for cooking the food which her children like.
These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape shows insecurities, rivarly and idiosyncrasies of aging men.
Having praised the author for dealing with a variety of topics and bringing the conflict very well, I must warn the readers that these stories are too prosiac and are difficult to comprehend. I was unable to understand the end of most of the stories. I feel the stories or for that matter any literary work must be perspicuous that the readers are able to understand it. The author utterly fails to make the meaning clear. Also a veil of gloom covers all the stories. You feel disturbed after reading these stories. This may be termed as success of the author, but it wont appeal to most of the readers.
Homo Coleoptera is a story about an aging man and his wife who refuses to age. This makes the man insecure. The story ends with his tragic death.
Thank God for Star Trek tells the story of a troubled mother and her young daughter, from the daughter's perspective. The story shows how TV diffuses tensions at least for some time.
The Mall works very well as an experimental story. It depicts the depression, insecurities and feeling of being lost among a urban-goer very well.
The protagonist of the story Cotton is the cotton itself. In the story Drinks at Seven the issue of how suspicion as to infidelity crops up in a marriage is dealt with. Sandalwood is the story of a woman who after almost two decades of marriage is thrown out of the house because her husband wants to live with another man. Her existence is only for cooking the food which her children like.
These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape shows insecurities, rivarly and idiosyncrasies of aging men.
Having praised the author for dealing with a variety of topics and bringing the conflict very well, I must warn the readers that these stories are too prosiac and are difficult to comprehend. I was unable to understand the end of most of the stories. I feel the stories or for that matter any literary work must be perspicuous that the readers are able to understand it. The author utterly fails to make the meaning clear. Also a veil of gloom covers all the stories. You feel disturbed after reading these stories. This may be termed as success of the author, but it wont appeal to most of the readers.
December 9, 2017
An exemplary contribution in the world of words. A gift to the literature and the readers, who always out on fishing for something worthy. An innocent and commendable effort by the author. It is an artistic creation.
‘These circuses that sweep through the landscape’ is a collection of 10 beautiful short stories. The stories from magic world to the human race; from characterize to one incident to whole lifetime, however it a pack of ten different stories unrelated to each other.
A short story is a journey in a short pool of words. It is called to be a short story because it is characterized to a particular situation like the story “The Mall” in which a lady is out on a shopping discover that she is stuck in a glitzy mall and could not find its way out. But when you look at the story “Sandalwood”, it illustrates the journey of a girl to a women, who gave seventeen years of her life to her family and all her efforts are discarded in a blink.
The stories have all the components to capture your nerves and seize you at one place. The language is impeccable and thoroughgoing and the stories embody picturesque description.
An unputdownable. Story after story you find yourself intrigued in the book. Every story is unique and brainy in its own way. One of the finest read of the year.
https://thereviewauthor.wordpress.com/
‘These circuses that sweep through the landscape’ is a collection of 10 beautiful short stories. The stories from magic world to the human race; from characterize to one incident to whole lifetime, however it a pack of ten different stories unrelated to each other.
A short story is a journey in a short pool of words. It is called to be a short story because it is characterized to a particular situation like the story “The Mall” in which a lady is out on a shopping discover that she is stuck in a glitzy mall and could not find its way out. But when you look at the story “Sandalwood”, it illustrates the journey of a girl to a women, who gave seventeen years of her life to her family and all her efforts are discarded in a blink.
The stories have all the components to capture your nerves and seize you at one place. The language is impeccable and thoroughgoing and the stories embody picturesque description.
An unputdownable. Story after story you find yourself intrigued in the book. Every story is unique and brainy in its own way. One of the finest read of the year.
https://thereviewauthor.wordpress.com/
February 18, 2017
Originally posted on Just Another Bookaholic
Review: 3.5/5
These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape is a collection of short stories written by Tejaswini Apte- Rahm. She is a writer from Mumbai who has lived in Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar & Bangladesh. She studied in Singapore & the UK and worked as an environmental researcher for 10 years. She was a journalist in Mumbai & has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, the Times of India & Asian Age. She currently lives in London & is a full time writer.
This anthology consists of 10 short stories, each of different kind. Starting with Homo Coleoptera is a story of a man who loves to collect beetles & his wife and how insecurity & suspicion ends a relationship. The second story is Thank God for Star Trek which is narrated from the view point of a small girl about her life which includes her relationship with her single mother & her school life. The third story’s title is The Mall which is about a shopaholic & how she survives in a mall when she finds out she can’t leave that place. The Girl Who Loved Dean Martin is the story about a girl who loves songs & voice of a deceased singer Dean Martin so much that she denies true love when she finds it. Cotton is the fifth story & one of the most intriguing story, its about the life of a woman which takes an unexpected turn at her 40th Birthday when she finds out she isn’t a human being at all. The next story is The House on the Hill is a bit downer for me after reading Cotton, its about the ignorance of a person about several things in the world. Drinks at 7 is the story of 4 friends & their realization about the hidden truth as they meet one day for drinks. Eight story Sandalwood is about the life of the protagonist & how her life took wild turn as her husband comes to terms that he is gay & decides to divorce her, another great read. Mili is the ninth story & is quite a normal story amidst all the other stories, its about what we all have went through once in our lives that is first love interest & the loss. The last story’s title is same as the book’s , These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape has been kept at last for obvious reasons because its amazing but the problem is that though as a whole the story is very good but the first half is quite boring.
The author has covered a wide range of topics in her book & that’s what makes it unique. The stories are written very well & will appear as roller coaster ride with lows & highs. Though one thing which seems odd to me is that many of the stories are quite difficult to grasp for average readers, though its commendable that the author has penned down quality stories but it should’ve been done in a more inclusive way so that average readers won’t feel lost. The language used, the title & the cover are to the point. Definitely a collection of stories which shouldn’t be missed.
Review: 3.5/5
These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape is a collection of short stories written by Tejaswini Apte- Rahm. She is a writer from Mumbai who has lived in Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar & Bangladesh. She studied in Singapore & the UK and worked as an environmental researcher for 10 years. She was a journalist in Mumbai & has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, the Times of India & Asian Age. She currently lives in London & is a full time writer.
This anthology consists of 10 short stories, each of different kind. Starting with Homo Coleoptera is a story of a man who loves to collect beetles & his wife and how insecurity & suspicion ends a relationship. The second story is Thank God for Star Trek which is narrated from the view point of a small girl about her life which includes her relationship with her single mother & her school life. The third story’s title is The Mall which is about a shopaholic & how she survives in a mall when she finds out she can’t leave that place. The Girl Who Loved Dean Martin is the story about a girl who loves songs & voice of a deceased singer Dean Martin so much that she denies true love when she finds it. Cotton is the fifth story & one of the most intriguing story, its about the life of a woman which takes an unexpected turn at her 40th Birthday when she finds out she isn’t a human being at all. The next story is The House on the Hill is a bit downer for me after reading Cotton, its about the ignorance of a person about several things in the world. Drinks at 7 is the story of 4 friends & their realization about the hidden truth as they meet one day for drinks. Eight story Sandalwood is about the life of the protagonist & how her life took wild turn as her husband comes to terms that he is gay & decides to divorce her, another great read. Mili is the ninth story & is quite a normal story amidst all the other stories, its about what we all have went through once in our lives that is first love interest & the loss. The last story’s title is same as the book’s , These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape has been kept at last for obvious reasons because its amazing but the problem is that though as a whole the story is very good but the first half is quite boring.
The author has covered a wide range of topics in her book & that’s what makes it unique. The stories are written very well & will appear as roller coaster ride with lows & highs. Though one thing which seems odd to me is that many of the stories are quite difficult to grasp for average readers, though its commendable that the author has penned down quality stories but it should’ve been done in a more inclusive way so that average readers won’t feel lost. The language used, the title & the cover are to the point. Definitely a collection of stories which shouldn’t be missed.
December 9, 2017
This is an absolutely fantastic collection of short stories. Equal parts morbid, dark and funny Tejaswini has a gift for words. Each story is compelling in it's own right. I had a great time reading this collection and look forward to more after this incredible debut
September 15, 2018
This review was originally published on https://trailsoftales620253622.wordpr...
here are a few such stories that remind you of the difference between seeing and looking.
And the of end of each story is just a beginning.
The beginning of an onslaught of questions in your mind.
How much of your life are you actually looking at while it passes by in front of you?
Tejaswini Apte-Rahm has framed these kind of beautiful stories and brought them all together in 'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' for us to to make sense of in our own way, and fit them into our sensibilities.
The 10 stories in this book are not really jolts of realization. Instead, they are slight and subtle nudges in the direction of contemplation.
I was awed by how Tejaswini Apte-Rahm took the most mundane and taken-for-granted aspects of human life and wove them into relatable stories.
For instance, the 2nd story 'Thank God for Star Trek' instantly transported me to, what I fondly recall as my Triple H memories.
(H= Horrendous
H= Homework
H= Hours).
This story introduces to Anshu, an 11 year old girl and her anxieties.
"Another Sunday, the dreaded day of homework and horrible anticipation of Monday."
She has to colour all the states of India and label them AND colour the sea around. And if that wasn't enough, she has to use
"-cool colours for cool states, hot colours for hot states."
Why would homeworks be so complicated?!
And don't even get me started on the obstacles Anshu faces when she finally sits down to do her homework. First she cannot find the appropriate colour pencil. Then, when she does locate it, the pencil turns out to be broken. And Anshu cannot find the sharpener! So she has to substitute it with another colour, not appropriate, all the while worrying that she might get a C for it.
Aaaaah!! Why is this so real?!
I loved the 3rd short story, "The Mall". The story is narrated by a woman trapped in a Mall, along with several others but everyone is so immersed in their own selves that they hardly notice each other. Now this woman loved shopping. So much so, that she rewards herself for finding things to buy, by buying more things whose purpose may never be decided. The description of her shopping had already tired me, so when she realized that she was trapped and going around in crazy circles, I was as claustrophobic as her.
"I felt I was re- breathing my own stale breath."
The shopping bags dangling on her arms ( I have no idea how can a human arm carry that many bags) which were a cause of excitement had started feeling like shackles and she was desperate to escape this labyrinth of a mall.
"I have been wandering in this shopping mall for about a year. My hair is stringy and my armpits are hairy, and in my many shopping bags are things I bought a long time ago with my credit card.
The last story which shares it's name with the title 'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' is not the only story that sees the world as a circus. Infact, every Story in here is about different Circuses. Circuses made of the distracted and distracting dance of insecurities, jealousy, pride, anxieties, obsessions or the refusal to let go of dependency.
'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' is a collection of sharp observations and potent understanding of human psyche. I truly enjoyed myself reading it. There wasn't a moment where I had to skim over.
Have you read this book? Let me know in the comments whether it lived up to your expectations.
Publication date: 10th December, 2016
Publishers: Aleph Book Company.
here are a few such stories that remind you of the difference between seeing and looking.
And the of end of each story is just a beginning.
The beginning of an onslaught of questions in your mind.
How much of your life are you actually looking at while it passes by in front of you?
Tejaswini Apte-Rahm has framed these kind of beautiful stories and brought them all together in 'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' for us to to make sense of in our own way, and fit them into our sensibilities.
The 10 stories in this book are not really jolts of realization. Instead, they are slight and subtle nudges in the direction of contemplation.
I was awed by how Tejaswini Apte-Rahm took the most mundane and taken-for-granted aspects of human life and wove them into relatable stories.
For instance, the 2nd story 'Thank God for Star Trek' instantly transported me to, what I fondly recall as my Triple H memories.
(H= Horrendous
H= Homework
H= Hours).
This story introduces to Anshu, an 11 year old girl and her anxieties.
"Another Sunday, the dreaded day of homework and horrible anticipation of Monday."
She has to colour all the states of India and label them AND colour the sea around. And if that wasn't enough, she has to use
"-cool colours for cool states, hot colours for hot states."
Why would homeworks be so complicated?!
And don't even get me started on the obstacles Anshu faces when she finally sits down to do her homework. First she cannot find the appropriate colour pencil. Then, when she does locate it, the pencil turns out to be broken. And Anshu cannot find the sharpener! So she has to substitute it with another colour, not appropriate, all the while worrying that she might get a C for it.
Aaaaah!! Why is this so real?!
I loved the 3rd short story, "The Mall". The story is narrated by a woman trapped in a Mall, along with several others but everyone is so immersed in their own selves that they hardly notice each other. Now this woman loved shopping. So much so, that she rewards herself for finding things to buy, by buying more things whose purpose may never be decided. The description of her shopping had already tired me, so when she realized that she was trapped and going around in crazy circles, I was as claustrophobic as her.
"I felt I was re- breathing my own stale breath."
The shopping bags dangling on her arms ( I have no idea how can a human arm carry that many bags) which were a cause of excitement had started feeling like shackles and she was desperate to escape this labyrinth of a mall.
"I have been wandering in this shopping mall for about a year. My hair is stringy and my armpits are hairy, and in my many shopping bags are things I bought a long time ago with my credit card.
The last story which shares it's name with the title 'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' is not the only story that sees the world as a circus. Infact, every Story in here is about different Circuses. Circuses made of the distracted and distracting dance of insecurities, jealousy, pride, anxieties, obsessions or the refusal to let go of dependency.
'These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape' is a collection of sharp observations and potent understanding of human psyche. I truly enjoyed myself reading it. There wasn't a moment where I had to skim over.
Have you read this book? Let me know in the comments whether it lived up to your expectations.
Publication date: 10th December, 2016
Publishers: Aleph Book Company.
March 11, 2017
Title: These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape
Author: Tejaswini Apte Rahm
Publisher: Aleph Book Company
Pages: 157
ISBN: 9789384067564
Price: 299 INR
‘These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape’ is a collection of 10 short stories of varied themes. The stories that we have in this debut collection of Tejaswini Apte Rahman are richly colored. Though the stories have been written exquisitely, not every other reader can appreciate their beauty.
About the Author
Tejaswini Apte- Rahm is from Mumbai. She studied in Singapore and the UK. Having worked as an environmentalist researcher for ten years, Tejaswini has been to Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh. She was a journalist in Mumbai and has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, the Times of India and Asian Age. Now she lives in London and is a full time writer.
Let us step into the Circus Ground…
From my own inference, the title These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape refers to the odd and peculiar plots of the stories that we have in the collection. The circuses here refer to the personal circuses that take place in our own lives. These are the circuses in which we are the Ring Master at one time and the Joker at some other time. And these personal circuses, according to me, are more astounding.
But sadly, reading about these circuses wasn’t as pleasing as watching an actual circus. We cannot strike a chord with some of the protagonists of the stories. Can you relate yourself with someone made of Cotton? Or can you imagine yourself lost in a Mall for months? Well, I couldn’t. In stories having such odd plots, I hope for a nice climax. But I wasn’t treated in that way.
Some stories become irritating at times, while some disappointed me at the end. One thing that I feel strongly is that these stories have the power to mentally disturb the readers. As a result, I had to shift to some other book to distract my mind.
I feel the stories have been arranged in a wrong way. The first 5 stories are the ones that not only I but most people (as I have read some reviews) didn’t like. One may think of not to proceed with next stories. But by moving ahead, we take the right decision. Because those are the pages where the real treasure lies buried. My favorite stories from the collection are: Sandalwood, Mili and the title story These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape.
I liked Sandalwood for the intriguing story line wherein a man, after 17 years of his marriage, discovers that he is a gay and cannot stay anymore with his wife. Mili is about the meeting of two ex- lovers after a long time, which I read with great interest. The title story is the one that I enjoyed reading the most. The reason being the point of view that keeps shifting.
The other performers in this Circus show includes a fanatic beetle-collector, a girl who loves a singer long dead, a small girl who escapes from reality by turning to TV. We have 4 friends (2 couples) who discover new dimensions of their friendship,one day when they meet for Drinks at Seven.
Although a debut collection, the stories have been written vividly. Two stories from the collection, Homo Coleptera and Sandalwood, have already appeared in some magazines.
Final Verdict
Though we cannot relate with most of the stories, the authoress has done a commendable job when it comes to writing. I feel an Introduction to the collection would have made it easier for average readers to comprehend the stories. I personally feel a book without intro is incomplete.
This collection, I feel, is not meant for everyone. But if one wants to experience the beauty of Tejaswini’s writing then this book is great. The cover of the book needs a special mention. It is the most beautiful amongst the ones that I own. It is illustrated by Priya Kuriyan. As far as the authoress and her upcoming works are concerned, I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next from the authoress.
My Rating: ***(3/5)
Read more such reviews at my blog: https://BooksNMyself.wordpress.com
Author: Tejaswini Apte Rahm
Publisher: Aleph Book Company
Pages: 157
ISBN: 9789384067564
Price: 299 INR
‘These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape’ is a collection of 10 short stories of varied themes. The stories that we have in this debut collection of Tejaswini Apte Rahman are richly colored. Though the stories have been written exquisitely, not every other reader can appreciate their beauty.
About the Author
Tejaswini Apte- Rahm is from Mumbai. She studied in Singapore and the UK. Having worked as an environmentalist researcher for ten years, Tejaswini has been to Serbia, Israel, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh. She was a journalist in Mumbai and has written for Screen, Hindustan Times, the Times of India and Asian Age. Now she lives in London and is a full time writer.
Let us step into the Circus Ground…
From my own inference, the title These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape refers to the odd and peculiar plots of the stories that we have in the collection. The circuses here refer to the personal circuses that take place in our own lives. These are the circuses in which we are the Ring Master at one time and the Joker at some other time. And these personal circuses, according to me, are more astounding.
But sadly, reading about these circuses wasn’t as pleasing as watching an actual circus. We cannot strike a chord with some of the protagonists of the stories. Can you relate yourself with someone made of Cotton? Or can you imagine yourself lost in a Mall for months? Well, I couldn’t. In stories having such odd plots, I hope for a nice climax. But I wasn’t treated in that way.
Some stories become irritating at times, while some disappointed me at the end. One thing that I feel strongly is that these stories have the power to mentally disturb the readers. As a result, I had to shift to some other book to distract my mind.
I feel the stories have been arranged in a wrong way. The first 5 stories are the ones that not only I but most people (as I have read some reviews) didn’t like. One may think of not to proceed with next stories. But by moving ahead, we take the right decision. Because those are the pages where the real treasure lies buried. My favorite stories from the collection are: Sandalwood, Mili and the title story These Circuses that sweep through the Landscape.
I liked Sandalwood for the intriguing story line wherein a man, after 17 years of his marriage, discovers that he is a gay and cannot stay anymore with his wife. Mili is about the meeting of two ex- lovers after a long time, which I read with great interest. The title story is the one that I enjoyed reading the most. The reason being the point of view that keeps shifting.
The other performers in this Circus show includes a fanatic beetle-collector, a girl who loves a singer long dead, a small girl who escapes from reality by turning to TV. We have 4 friends (2 couples) who discover new dimensions of their friendship,one day when they meet for Drinks at Seven.
Although a debut collection, the stories have been written vividly. Two stories from the collection, Homo Coleptera and Sandalwood, have already appeared in some magazines.
Final Verdict
Though we cannot relate with most of the stories, the authoress has done a commendable job when it comes to writing. I feel an Introduction to the collection would have made it easier for average readers to comprehend the stories. I personally feel a book without intro is incomplete.
This collection, I feel, is not meant for everyone. But if one wants to experience the beauty of Tejaswini’s writing then this book is great. The cover of the book needs a special mention. It is the most beautiful amongst the ones that I own. It is illustrated by Priya Kuriyan. As far as the authoress and her upcoming works are concerned, I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next from the authoress.
My Rating: ***(3/5)
Read more such reviews at my blog: https://BooksNMyself.wordpress.com
January 16, 2017
This review was initially published on
The Readdicts Book Blog
. For more reviews, go here.
Actual rating- 3.5
If there's one thing that's absolutely flawless and meticulous about These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes, it's the writing. Author Tejaswini Apte-Rahm's writing is so crisp, precise and completely amazing, that it made the book unputdownable. The writing reminded me so much of Meghna Pant, who is one of my favourite Indian writers, so that's commendable.
These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes has a total of ten short stories, that are each different from the other and take up an interesting subject. So in one book itself, we go from Star Trek to the mall to Dean Martin to homosexuality to teacher-student and servent-master relationships and what not. As a collection, this was very interesting and versatile because there is something for every taste and there's to bound to be a story that will stay with the reader long after putting the book down.
Short stories can be tricky because they leave you wanting more and can end up being incomprehensible because not everything can be explained in a few pages. For me, this collection was an exact 50-50 split between stories I liked and those I didn't really get. Of the ten, five stories really stood out for me as they were relatable and very well made. They were: The Mall, The Girl Who Loved Dean Martin, The House on the Hill, Sandalwood and Mili; these were wonderful, but of them all, Sandalwood is the one that I liked the most.
Overall, These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes is definitely worth a try because of the- and I repeat myself for the 100th time here- beautiful writing and the very detailed and precise story-telling. I would definitely recommend this book because there's something for everyone. Give it a go over the weekend or something because you're bound to have a good time exploring this one.
*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Aleph Book Company in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.
Actual rating- 3.5
If there's one thing that's absolutely flawless and meticulous about These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes, it's the writing. Author Tejaswini Apte-Rahm's writing is so crisp, precise and completely amazing, that it made the book unputdownable. The writing reminded me so much of Meghna Pant, who is one of my favourite Indian writers, so that's commendable.
These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes has a total of ten short stories, that are each different from the other and take up an interesting subject. So in one book itself, we go from Star Trek to the mall to Dean Martin to homosexuality to teacher-student and servent-master relationships and what not. As a collection, this was very interesting and versatile because there is something for every taste and there's to bound to be a story that will stay with the reader long after putting the book down.
Short stories can be tricky because they leave you wanting more and can end up being incomprehensible because not everything can be explained in a few pages. For me, this collection was an exact 50-50 split between stories I liked and those I didn't really get. Of the ten, five stories really stood out for me as they were relatable and very well made. They were: The Mall, The Girl Who Loved Dean Martin, The House on the Hill, Sandalwood and Mili; these were wonderful, but of them all, Sandalwood is the one that I liked the most.
Overall, These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes is definitely worth a try because of the- and I repeat myself for the 100th time here- beautiful writing and the very detailed and precise story-telling. I would definitely recommend this book because there's something for everyone. Give it a go over the weekend or something because you're bound to have a good time exploring this one.
*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Aleph Book Company in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.
February 2, 2017
These circuses that sweep through the landscape is a collection of short stories, which depicts different levels of life circus. The stories are metaphorical and imaginative. A beetle collector who in a fit of anger derived from suspicion mistreats his wife. In an attempt to reduce his wife, meets an unexpected twist of life. Anshu, who was late for doing her assignment, after a fateful night, her life changes.
A woman who sets out on an exorbitant shopping spree, gets lost in the mall. It's symbolism is commendable but towards the end the story became too dragging. The girl who lived Dean Martin, is the next story. I liked this one so much. Tejaswini has portrayed how the protagonist's obsessive admiration and love towards the singer affects her. A little girl who accidentally had something not meant for kids. The theme is good but suspense was obvious. A woman who realizes that her husband who fathered her kids is a homosexual, a group of friends who meet for drink realizes that their friendship was something else and a student realizes that the teacher who he adored is what he thought. Several emotionally challenging, intellectually stimulating scenarios can be seen.
With a crisp and tight narrative, author has proven her finesse in literary world. The stories and the backgrounds are variant and unique. No two stories are similar in anyway except the signature of the authoress. Not all the stories are equally brilliant. At some point the lack of variation in the narration makes the book monotonous.
The poetic musings of the stories are enchanting. The stories explore and elaborates the psyche of readers through the characters.
This review is in return of a free book from the Writers Melon
A woman who sets out on an exorbitant shopping spree, gets lost in the mall. It's symbolism is commendable but towards the end the story became too dragging. The girl who lived Dean Martin, is the next story. I liked this one so much. Tejaswini has portrayed how the protagonist's obsessive admiration and love towards the singer affects her. A little girl who accidentally had something not meant for kids. The theme is good but suspense was obvious. A woman who realizes that her husband who fathered her kids is a homosexual, a group of friends who meet for drink realizes that their friendship was something else and a student realizes that the teacher who he adored is what he thought. Several emotionally challenging, intellectually stimulating scenarios can be seen.
With a crisp and tight narrative, author has proven her finesse in literary world. The stories and the backgrounds are variant and unique. No two stories are similar in anyway except the signature of the authoress. Not all the stories are equally brilliant. At some point the lack of variation in the narration makes the book monotonous.
The poetic musings of the stories are enchanting. The stories explore and elaborates the psyche of readers through the characters.
This review is in return of a free book from the Writers Melon
January 25, 2018
You know, I am not quite sure what to make of this book - it was odd. I love short stories; it is difficult to put the kind I might really like or won’t into a box. At least, I try not to restrict myself by reading only a particular genre/kind or whatever have you (especially when it comes to short-form writing, I am more adventurous in my reading habits). However, the stories in this book - I did like a couple; some of the others felt like in the way of their telling, they meandered - ever so slightly.
Ah, just not sure what to make of this book!
These are the stories I did like: Homo Coleoptera; Sandalwood; Mili; and These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape.
The Mall; Cotton and Drinks at Seven are stories that were interesting but I felt like I needed to know more? I would like to re-read them again (at another time) to make sure. Overall, these stories reminded me of the ones your English textbook might have had; I’m thinking about a time back in school (8th, 9th grade, etc.). (This is a compliment!)
P.S. It was the cover that sucked me in; it is especially charming! (I stumbled upon this book at a bookstore, sometime ago - I finally felt inclined to get it, this past December.)
Ah, just not sure what to make of this book!
These are the stories I did like: Homo Coleoptera; Sandalwood; Mili; and These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape.
The Mall; Cotton and Drinks at Seven are stories that were interesting but I felt like I needed to know more? I would like to re-read them again (at another time) to make sure. Overall, these stories reminded me of the ones your English textbook might have had; I’m thinking about a time back in school (8th, 9th grade, etc.). (This is a compliment!)
P.S. It was the cover that sucked me in; it is especially charming! (I stumbled upon this book at a bookstore, sometime ago - I finally felt inclined to get it, this past December.)
May 23, 2017
This one is a mixed bag. While the author is clearly a fantastic writer, some of the stories didn't click with me. Most of the stories in this collection have this underlying darkness which works in some stories better than the others. The standout ones are definitely 'Drinks at 7', 'Cotton' and 'The Mall'.
May 8, 2017
This book is collection of short stories. Some are funny & few are complicated.
I gave three star rating as I was able to connect with some stories & some did not interest me.
However the concept of collection of stories is good.
I gave three star rating as I was able to connect with some stories & some did not interest me.
However the concept of collection of stories is good.
December 9, 2017
3.5 stars. A collection of whimsical, wistful and understated stories. Some are unique and some are cliche, and each ends on a slightly underwhelming note, very real and even routine. Just like life, which tends to always be slightly disappointing.
June 4, 2018
She tried.
Wicked and weird story ideas stunted by poor writing, limited creativity and way too many first world problems.
To add to our misery, there is a lot of persistent product placement, which gets nauseating after a while.
Wicked and weird story ideas stunted by poor writing, limited creativity and way too many first world problems.
To add to our misery, there is a lot of persistent product placement, which gets nauseating after a while.
March 11, 2017
Enjoyed it. Hoping to write a review soon
July 3, 2019
What a beautiful, beautiful set!
February 27, 2017
This book is a collection of short stories. The stories are different from regular short stories and they need a certain amount of intellect to understand them. A lot of readers might think that the stories finish abruptly, or one may think what was the story about or is there something amiss in each story?
There are a lot of brains to be channelized to realise what the stories are all about. If you are a fan of Chetan Bhagat type of novels, then you shouldn’t even try and read any of these stories, in all probability, you may not understand even a single one.
This book can be compared to art movies against bollywood commercial potboilers. Just as the former type of cinema is made with sole talent and skill, the latter depends on the entertainment value of the cast and story.
The stories for example, Homo Coleoptera, has dark shades, suspense and OMG factor till the very end. Thank God for Star trek is full of mystery. The Mall is straight out of a Hollywood horror flick. The girl who loved Dean Martin is a possessive love story. Drinks at Seven has a bit of romance and a bit of adultery. Sandalwood is a story of a mother of grown up teenagers, suddenly feeling unwanted. Mili is another story of love which didn’t meet a happy ending. And lastly, the title story, of an old man who has seen all the success in his life, realises that whatever he did is being destroyed , so why not destroy it himself.
Overall, it’s a good read, but do not expect commercial entertaining material in it. This is one book where every chapter which will make you think, make you scratch your brains and then move on to the next plot.
There are a lot of brains to be channelized to realise what the stories are all about. If you are a fan of Chetan Bhagat type of novels, then you shouldn’t even try and read any of these stories, in all probability, you may not understand even a single one.
This book can be compared to art movies against bollywood commercial potboilers. Just as the former type of cinema is made with sole talent and skill, the latter depends on the entertainment value of the cast and story.
The stories for example, Homo Coleoptera, has dark shades, suspense and OMG factor till the very end. Thank God for Star trek is full of mystery. The Mall is straight out of a Hollywood horror flick. The girl who loved Dean Martin is a possessive love story. Drinks at Seven has a bit of romance and a bit of adultery. Sandalwood is a story of a mother of grown up teenagers, suddenly feeling unwanted. Mili is another story of love which didn’t meet a happy ending. And lastly, the title story, of an old man who has seen all the success in his life, realises that whatever he did is being destroyed , so why not destroy it himself.
Overall, it’s a good read, but do not expect commercial entertaining material in it. This is one book where every chapter which will make you think, make you scratch your brains and then move on to the next plot.
February 24, 2017
I received a copy of this book through Writersmelon and it was the stunning cover and it’s equally intriguing title that caught my eye. I’m an avid lover of short stories and have a collection of at least 25 to 30 books by different authors and from different genres. From Guy Maupassant to Alfred Hitchcock, my array of short story collection is wide enough to put across the pure love I have for them.
These Circuses That Sweep Through The Landscape is a compilation of 10 beautiful stories that are spun around the realities and the illusions of human life. In every story, you meet characters that are battling their own inner demons and have somehow managed to be okay with them. From a craze driven beetle collector who’s own insecurity leads him into a quagmire of reckless thoughts and hatred to a little school girl who feels abandoned at home, her only hope being Star Trek, the emotions that the author managed to capture through her stunningly golden Web of words makes you live through those emotions yourself.
Book Cover
It’s quite difficult for a person to put out such detailed and most secretive thoughts so easily and that too for not one, but for characters that come from all walks of life. I saw myself echo the sentiments of the characters as the book progressed, the vocabulary pushing me to the edge of my emotional brim. It was the words that made the story come alive, the various phrases that hit me through the tangle of emotions and thoughts. I cried unabashedly because the words forced me to live through them as opposed to just reading them.
The stories are dark, delicious, tantalizing and stunningly crafted. Tejaswini Apte-Rahm is a true story teller who can make you fall in love with the way she puts her tales across and has definitely upped the bar of word craft for not only Indian authors but also of the various writers out in the world.
Over the last couple of days, I’ve savored the stories one by one as opposed to simply reading them in one go. I own over 800 books and I’ve read books more than a couple of times of that number but this one has shot into the top 10 books. EVER. A stellar 5 stars and if I could have, I would have rated it even more.
If you want to live a book as opposed to simply read one, buy it. Do it. Now. Go on, buy it! I promise you, you might just come back and thank me for it later!
These Circuses That Sweep Through The Landscape is a compilation of 10 beautiful stories that are spun around the realities and the illusions of human life. In every story, you meet characters that are battling their own inner demons and have somehow managed to be okay with them. From a craze driven beetle collector who’s own insecurity leads him into a quagmire of reckless thoughts and hatred to a little school girl who feels abandoned at home, her only hope being Star Trek, the emotions that the author managed to capture through her stunningly golden Web of words makes you live through those emotions yourself.
Book Cover
It’s quite difficult for a person to put out such detailed and most secretive thoughts so easily and that too for not one, but for characters that come from all walks of life. I saw myself echo the sentiments of the characters as the book progressed, the vocabulary pushing me to the edge of my emotional brim. It was the words that made the story come alive, the various phrases that hit me through the tangle of emotions and thoughts. I cried unabashedly because the words forced me to live through them as opposed to just reading them.
The stories are dark, delicious, tantalizing and stunningly crafted. Tejaswini Apte-Rahm is a true story teller who can make you fall in love with the way she puts her tales across and has definitely upped the bar of word craft for not only Indian authors but also of the various writers out in the world.
Over the last couple of days, I’ve savored the stories one by one as opposed to simply reading them in one go. I own over 800 books and I’ve read books more than a couple of times of that number but this one has shot into the top 10 books. EVER. A stellar 5 stars and if I could have, I would have rated it even more.
If you want to live a book as opposed to simply read one, buy it. Do it. Now. Go on, buy it! I promise you, you might just come back and thank me for it later!
February 18, 2017
In the last few years I have found myself to be more attracted towards non-fiction and hence it was with some trepidation that I picked These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape (Aleph, 2017). What attracted me towards this collection of short stories was the unusual title and the unusual cover design. This is the debut collection of stories by a London based writer, Tejaswani Apte-Rahm, who has spent her life in places as diverse as Serbia, Cambodia,Israel and Bangladesh besides India. Although the stories cover a wide range of themes, the common thread running through them is a dark and grim streak, at times bordering on the obscure and at times with a dash of humor. The stories will remain with you long after you’ve put the book down and don’t be surprised if you find yourself visiting some of the stories again. The range in the theme and in the story setting is truly amazing. If ‘Cotton’ deals with a lonely girl in a house who finds that the floor suddenly getting littered with white fluff and is determined to find the source of the same, ‘Drinks at Seven’ deals with the complex relationships and sexual undercurrents between two couples gathered for dinner. In the rousing opening story, ‘Homo Coleoptera’, the Beetle collector finds himself getting more and more tangled in a trap of his own making. However, the stories that follow, fail to live up to the expectations set by the opening story. In the title story, which happens to be the last in the collection, an ageing architect has a devious plan up his sleeve which he plans to unleash on his own masterpieces.
If you are looking for an easy read or a romantic adventure, this won’t be your cup of tea and you are recommended to give it a pass. Nonetheless, if dark and complex stories are your scene then you won’t be disappointed by this collection. Overall this is a promising debut and we should hear more about her in the future.
'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'
If you are looking for an easy read or a romantic adventure, this won’t be your cup of tea and you are recommended to give it a pass. Nonetheless, if dark and complex stories are your scene then you won’t be disappointed by this collection. Overall this is a promising debut and we should hear more about her in the future.
'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'
February 27, 2017
Short story writing is a tricky genre, something where even the most accomplished writers falter at times. Tejaswini Apte – Rahm’s novel “These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscapes” is one such collection of 10 short stories which explores various human tendencies, some real while some unbelievable.
Full marks to Tejaswini’s writing skills. She is excellent. Her eye for detailing is the USP of the book. It shows how minutely she observes life and its various aspects. As I said, writing short stories is a tricky genre, but she manages well.
I found few stories lacking the necessary connection. Apart from that, I don’t really have too many issues. I would definitely have liked it more had few of the plots been real rather that supernatural and fictional.
OVERALL, this collection of short stories is a mixed bag of sorts. The first five stories are okayish. There was a time when I was seriously considering whether or not to continue reading. However, I am glad I continued because the other 5 stories changed my opinion. They were really brilliant.
This one is a decent one time read for people who love reading short stories and those who anticipate something unexpected in plots.
Full marks to Tejaswini’s writing skills. She is excellent. Her eye for detailing is the USP of the book. It shows how minutely she observes life and its various aspects. As I said, writing short stories is a tricky genre, but she manages well.
I found few stories lacking the necessary connection. Apart from that, I don’t really have too many issues. I would definitely have liked it more had few of the plots been real rather that supernatural and fictional.
OVERALL, this collection of short stories is a mixed bag of sorts. The first five stories are okayish. There was a time when I was seriously considering whether or not to continue reading. However, I am glad I continued because the other 5 stories changed my opinion. They were really brilliant.
This one is a decent one time read for people who love reading short stories and those who anticipate something unexpected in plots.
February 24, 2017
It is short story collection consisting of 10 emotion filled and tension raging stories. This is my first short story reading in this year, and it is really mind boggling and engaging. The vocabulary of the author is really descriptive and amazing. Each story deals with human emotions/demons that we hide in some corner of our head&heart. The very first story homo cploepatra -is deep- intense more about possessivness. in her book you need to read carefully, or you may miss certain important points.Each story is like a short film unfolding right before your eyes.Certainly a book that keeps you hooked along till the last page. The cover, typeset and book quality is really delightful and adds to the experience of book reading. All the stories are way too amazing to be favourited. The flow of the stories is beautiful too, the imagery. It will be really amazing to see what else the author has in store for us.The stories are realistic and brilliant. Some stories felt a little less intense as the others, but it makes a good book. Recommended for every reader, it is a elaborative,gut kicking metaphors and awe-leaving stories with thoughts that we keep somewhere away buried deep down.
COVER- 4/5
OVERALL - 4/5
COVER- 4/5
OVERALL - 4/5
February 27, 2017
Please visit http://www.guptakaushal.in/2017/02/bo... to read the complete book review.
We are surrounded by people that we often ignore, intentionally or unintentionally and in return what we get is simple ignorance. What you sow, so shall you reap, stands true in this case. But, have we always ignored the people or we just lack attention? What do you think?
All the stories are very distinct from each other however, the emotions and the commotion within is consistent. The story Homo Coleoptera is about Mr. Ghosh and his love for beetles, which are his prized possession too. A happy and a peaceful marriage, however the confusion and doubt within him about a certain fact, deprives him of the happiness he enjoyed.
The stories are impressive in parts, revealing in some while the characters cry out in some. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading fictional short stories which revolve around various human emotions.
We are surrounded by people that we often ignore, intentionally or unintentionally and in return what we get is simple ignorance. What you sow, so shall you reap, stands true in this case. But, have we always ignored the people or we just lack attention? What do you think?
All the stories are very distinct from each other however, the emotions and the commotion within is consistent. The story Homo Coleoptera is about Mr. Ghosh and his love for beetles, which are his prized possession too. A happy and a peaceful marriage, however the confusion and doubt within him about a certain fact, deprives him of the happiness he enjoyed.
The stories are impressive in parts, revealing in some while the characters cry out in some. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading fictional short stories which revolve around various human emotions.
February 6, 2017
These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape is a collection of ten short stories which grabs the interest of the reader from the first page itself. The stories are very short but the impact they have on the reader is very powerful. Some of the stories can be said to be microtales, yet they did their job in impressing me.
Each and every story deals with the complex human emotions. They are intense, emotional and thoughtful that compel you to think about the complexity of human behaviour and psychology. The narration is so powerful with strong and vivid imagery that every story appears like a short film unfolding right before your eyes. The author has done a marvellous job in intriguing the readers’ interest. It is very difficult to engage and entertain a reader with a short story as they are supposed to give us a plot, substance, back story, emotions, characters, settings, etc. in a few pages. Yet at the same time they are required to stay with the reader long after s/he finishes the book. And I must say that the author has become successful in achieving this.
Another aspect of the about that impressed me was the variety of topics chosen by the author.
The writing style is crisp and to the point without the usage of any unnecessary prose. The language is simple and easily understandable yet engaging.
The cover of the book is very attractive. Simple yet elegant. There are not many pages in the book therefore can be finished in a single sitting. A quick read.
In a nutshell, “These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape” by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm is a highly engaging book that has all the ingredients of keeping the reader hooked to it from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Recommended to everyone who love reading good stories especially short stories dealing with complex human emotions.
Each and every story deals with the complex human emotions. They are intense, emotional and thoughtful that compel you to think about the complexity of human behaviour and psychology. The narration is so powerful with strong and vivid imagery that every story appears like a short film unfolding right before your eyes. The author has done a marvellous job in intriguing the readers’ interest. It is very difficult to engage and entertain a reader with a short story as they are supposed to give us a plot, substance, back story, emotions, characters, settings, etc. in a few pages. Yet at the same time they are required to stay with the reader long after s/he finishes the book. And I must say that the author has become successful in achieving this.
Another aspect of the about that impressed me was the variety of topics chosen by the author.
The writing style is crisp and to the point without the usage of any unnecessary prose. The language is simple and easily understandable yet engaging.
The cover of the book is very attractive. Simple yet elegant. There are not many pages in the book therefore can be finished in a single sitting. A quick read.
In a nutshell, “These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape” by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm is a highly engaging book that has all the ingredients of keeping the reader hooked to it from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Recommended to everyone who love reading good stories especially short stories dealing with complex human emotions.
December 9, 2017
I have always loved short stories and this is why am in a lookout always for short story collections. “These Circuses that Sweep Through the Landscape” is collection of ten short stories each one dealing with a strong human emotions and psychology. All the stories are highly engaging with a strong ability to connect with the readers. Every story is unique in its own way and intrigues the reader with wonderful language and vivid imagery. The best part of the book is that at no place you feel bored or the stories seem to be dragging. I hate unnecessary descriptions and stretchy stories that distract the readers from the main theme. And this book just masters the art to convey everything in the form of Clear, crisp, and concise writing.
I like reading books that have the capacity to involve the readers and provoke their imagination. And this book did exactly this to me.
All the ten stories in “These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes” is different from the other and take up an interesting subject. So in one book itself, we go from Star Trek to the mall to teacher-student and servant-master relationships and so on. In short, the topics touched varied emotions and were versatile offering something for every taste. The beauty of the book lies in the care for detail.
Talking about the cover of the book, it was better or should I say impressive in the paperback format. In my opinion, the online version did not succeed in catching my attention. It seemed a little bland and failed to stand out among the rest.
All in all, “These Circuses That Sweep Through The Landscape” is a captivating read and a sure page turner. Since there are not many pages in the book, it can be finished in a single setting during a weekend afternoon. Recommended to all short story lovers and those who like to read emotional and intense reads.
I like reading books that have the capacity to involve the readers and provoke their imagination. And this book did exactly this to me.
All the ten stories in “These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes” is different from the other and take up an interesting subject. So in one book itself, we go from Star Trek to the mall to teacher-student and servant-master relationships and so on. In short, the topics touched varied emotions and were versatile offering something for every taste. The beauty of the book lies in the care for detail.
Talking about the cover of the book, it was better or should I say impressive in the paperback format. In my opinion, the online version did not succeed in catching my attention. It seemed a little bland and failed to stand out among the rest.
All in all, “These Circuses That Sweep Through The Landscape” is a captivating read and a sure page turner. Since there are not many pages in the book, it can be finished in a single setting during a weekend afternoon. Recommended to all short story lovers and those who like to read emotional and intense reads.
February 3, 2017
Ten stories - each very different and each brilliant on its own. The best part of These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape has got to be the writing. Clear, crisp, and concise writing throughout the book. I had a great time reading the book as a whole.
If I had to pick favourites amongst the ten, they would be The House on the Hill, Sandalwood, and Mili.
Short stories are tricky. They are supposed to give us a plot, substance, emotions, characters, premise etc in a few pages. And they have to end in a way that makes the story linger on. The reader must want to read more of the story, yet understands the brilliance in keeping it short. Short stories tend to leave us wanting. These Sweep Through the Landscape by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm achieves that.
I would recommend These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm for anyone who loves short stories/clear and crisp writing/dark and complex emotions... the book has got a lot going for it. Just go ahead and read it.
For the full review, visit Frost At Midnite
If I had to pick favourites amongst the ten, they would be The House on the Hill, Sandalwood, and Mili.
Short stories are tricky. They are supposed to give us a plot, substance, emotions, characters, premise etc in a few pages. And they have to end in a way that makes the story linger on. The reader must want to read more of the story, yet understands the brilliance in keeping it short. Short stories tend to leave us wanting. These Sweep Through the Landscape by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm achieves that.
I would recommend These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscape by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm for anyone who loves short stories/clear and crisp writing/dark and complex emotions... the book has got a lot going for it. Just go ahead and read it.
For the full review, visit Frost At Midnite
December 9, 2017
It is short story collection consisting of 10 emotion filled and tension raging stories. This is my first short story reading in this year, and it is really mind boggling and engaging. The vocabulary of the author is really descriptive and amazing. Each story deals with human emotions/demons that we hide in some corner of our head&heart. The very first story homo cploepatra -is deep- intense more about possessivness. in her book you need to read carefully, or you may miss certain important points.Each story is like a short film unfolding right before your eyes.Certainly a book that keeps you hooked along till the last page. The cover, typeset and book quality is really delightful and adds to the experience of book reading. All the stories are way too amazing to be favourited. The flow of the stories is beautiful too, the imagery. It will be really amazing to see what else the author has in store for us.The stories are realistic and brilliant. Some stories felt a little less intense as the others, but it makes a good book. Recommended for every reader, it is a elaborative,gut kicking metaphors and awe-leaving stories with thoughts that we keep somewhere away buried deep down.
COVER- 4/5
OVERALL - 4/5
COVER- 4/5
OVERALL - 4/5
January 22, 2017
The story consists of some whimsical and some realistic stories. Some dark stories with funny bits and some complicated ones, this book is a cocktail of great stories. Extraordinary heady cocktail. These stories are out of ordinary just with their subject.
The author writes about a man who can win any contest with his will power. He tried to turn his wife into a bug just so that he can teach her a lesson. 'Homo Coleoptera' is inspired from 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka but a lot different from it.
In 'Cotton', a woman on her birthday decides to bake herself a cake and in the process realized that she is made up of cotton.
In 'Sandalwood', a housewife is asked by husband to leave their family because he just realized that he is gay and he would like to spend the rest of his life with the gay partner. The children do no want to give up the comfort of their large house and decide to live with their dad. The psychology of the woman is explored in the story with again a great ending.
'Drinks at seven' and 'These circuses that sweep through the landscape' are also well-written stories with surprising ends. There are several other worth reading.
The author writes about a man who can win any contest with his will power. He tried to turn his wife into a bug just so that he can teach her a lesson. 'Homo Coleoptera' is inspired from 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka but a lot different from it.
In 'Cotton', a woman on her birthday decides to bake herself a cake and in the process realized that she is made up of cotton.
In 'Sandalwood', a housewife is asked by husband to leave their family because he just realized that he is gay and he would like to spend the rest of his life with the gay partner. The children do no want to give up the comfort of their large house and decide to live with their dad. The psychology of the woman is explored in the story with again a great ending.
'Drinks at seven' and 'These circuses that sweep through the landscape' are also well-written stories with surprising ends. There are several other worth reading.
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