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Crazy Times with Uncle Ken

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Who doesn t like an eccentric uncle? Whenever Uncle Ken arrives at Grandma s house, as he does frequently, there is trouble afoot! He drives his car into a wall, is chased by a swarm of bees and attacked by flying foxes. Uncle Ken s misadventures provide huge doses of laughter and will be enjoyed by all Ruskin Bond fans.

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2011

54 people are currently reading
674 people want to read

About the author

Ruskin Bond

680 books3,563 followers
Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

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5 stars
227 (50%)
4 stars
138 (30%)
3 stars
66 (14%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
10 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Khushboo Azad.
2 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2012
If you want to laugh...it is the best! An awesome book with light mood short stories. Lovely language, capturing description and easy tone. One of the best books to lift up your spirits. I just love Mr. Ruskin Bond's writing skills.
Profile Image for Dany.
266 reviews86 followers
February 5, 2019
I always laugh so much with this book. Uncle ken and his adventures are damn funny. Uncle ken himself is a good laughing person with his bald head and bizarre whistles.

I loved how Ruskin bond just stays behind us and tells us the story with a beautiful visualisation.

I've read it only one time like 3 years ago. (I know that's not a lot but that's the first time i read it) I remember almost every single detail of uncle ken. His cure to bald head , trying to repair the car , whistling a tune and especially the one where he takes a bunch of ppl as a tour guide. Seriously , read this guys. It's hilarious 😂
8 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2022
Delightful, humourous book. An amazing light read.
Profile Image for Nikhilraj.
33 reviews8 followers
September 3, 2013
You may have read most of the stories in some other Ruskin Bond books. Ruskin Bond succeeded in bringing to life,the witty bachelor, who is famous for his enthusiasm for mistakes. Ruskin Bond, as a 10yr old boy, observes the way his Uncle responds to the never ending problems he had to face in his life, . Strangely Ken seems to me like a person who loves to face so much problems in life.
Profile Image for Elf.
88 reviews11 followers
February 18, 2014
The Inimitable Ruskin Bond takes us back again to his childhood, but he as always stays kind of in the background in this one even as he highlights his crazy Uncle Ken and the wacko adventures (ordinary life turned upside down by a man who loves going through life 'zigzag')that Uncle Ken is propelled into, often not of his own seeking. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Abhishek Singh.
118 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2020
39. CRAZY TIMES WITH UNCLE KEN

The genre of the book is funny adventure. Ruskin bond shows how uncle Ken lives his life and all his adventures ,will he fall into trouble? This is a very fun book filled with humour. Check this article about 40 Best Ruskin Bond Books! https://dailybugle.in/ruskin-bond-boo...
Profile Image for Ujjwal.
92 reviews
May 24, 2011
A really great book. With Funny and interesting stories of Ruskin Bond's childhood and his Uncle Ken.For all ages.
Profile Image for Hriday.
Author 1 book28 followers
March 17, 2013
Excellent, breezy, blissful and funny read. Ruskin Bond's usual yarn on simple, everyday topics charms the reader as always.
Profile Image for Dhiksha.
20 reviews
April 13, 2013
I would give this book a 3.7 as the writing style was good and the story which is basically short instances from the author's life was extremely funny.
Profile Image for Saurabh Kumar.
Author 1 book19 followers
March 10, 2014
A great book with great illustrations by Vishal Thakkar. Ruskin Bond dazzles once again!
Profile Image for Goblin Reaper .
271 reviews
November 19, 2020
"After this, Uncle Ken retired from the butterfly business, insisting tiger-hunting was safer."

An eccentric uncle. We all have one of those, don't we? The narrator accounts for the stories of his life with Uncle Ken and of his misfortunes, including his uncle's inability to hold a job for more than a year, are in this little book.
This is one of the only few books which I've read multiple times and have never gotten bored. It brings me tears of laughter every time I read through the (hilarious) tales of Uncle Ken's life. He has experienced everything— from driving a car through a wall to getting troubled by a ghost. Keeping aside the fact that he is isn't the most responsible adult (it isn't hard at all, we'd be laughing too much to remember that), Uncle Ken's adventures surely makes us gleeful. I loved the way Ruskin Bond portrays the narrator as a young yet mischievous boy with a curiosity which rivals that of a cat. It is also incredibly amusing how the young nephew likes to get under his Uncle's skin. Despite those times, Uncle Ken still mentions that the narrator is his favorite nephew.
Another thing that warmed my heart is how the narrator enjoys his summer holidays in his grandmother's house. From climbing trees to devouring everything grandma cooks, it reminded me of my time at my grandmother's house. Bond's writing, for the very reason, makes me feel homely.
Uncle Ken's nor anyone else's character is something to be analyzed in depth. The book loses its charm if you can't ignore the faults of Uncle Ken or start reading in-depth. The book is (only) the creamy layer that should be smeared upon our faces. Otherwise, we will fail to find it funny.
It is a very lighthearted read and just brings us pure joy. If you love an eccentric uncle's misadventures (who doesn't?), Ruskin Bond has it covered with his charming writing. A go-to book if you need a good laugh.
Profile Image for Ekta Kubba.
229 reviews8 followers
August 16, 2020
If you want to laugh hard, go for this book. The adventures, ahmmm no, misadventures of Uncle Ken are certain to take you on a laughter ride. He is the most weird, eccentric and inimitable character out of the pen of Mr. Bond ( and no wonder, all his characters are based on reality). Ruskin Bond has labelled him 'scatterbrained'. And he definitely is one.

You must have read about uncle Ken in different books of Ruskin sir. This book is a collection of every tale of uncle Ken ever written by Mr. Bond. Uncle Ken is one such person whom you'll definitely not idealize. But still he is a wonderful company. He makes you feel lively.

There's not even a single page where you don't feel like laughing, except in the end. The end will definitely sadden you because you suddenly realise that the book has come to an end and the laughter ride has ended. This book is eqyally enjoyable for people of all ages. I think everyone should read this book, because everyone has a right to have a good laugh.
Profile Image for Ekta Kubba.
229 reviews8 followers
November 25, 2020
If you want to laugh hard, go for this book. The adventures, ahmmm no, misadventures of Uncle Ken are certain to take you on a laughter ride. He is the most weird, eccentric and inimitable character out of the pen of Mr. Bond ( and no wonder, all his characters are based on reality). Ruskin Bond has labelled him 'scatterbrained'. And he definitely is one.

You must have read about uncle Ken in different books of Ruskin sir. This book is a collection of every tale of uncle Ken ever written by Mr. Bond. Uncle Ken is one such person whom you'll definitely not idealize. But still he is a wonderful company. He makes you feel lively.

There's not even a single page where you don't feel like laughing, except in the end. The end will definitely sadden you because you suddenly realise that the book has come to an end and the laughter ride has ended. This book is eqyally enjoyable for people of all ages. I think everyone should read this book, because everyone has a right to have a good laugh.
Profile Image for Keerti.
19 reviews
September 1, 2017
This book is guaranteed to make you laugh!! Ruskin Bond has done it again.
1 review
July 4, 2020
It's very funny 😂 and best thing to laugh😂
Profile Image for Ananya Patra.
23 reviews
April 5, 2023
Always, loved the flow and stories 😁 if i was a kid i would like it even more.
9 reviews
December 26, 2024
OMG veryyyy good book ! One of the reasons i love Ruskin Bond!!!!! Y is this not popular yetttt!!! This is very niceeeeee~! veryyy humorous book!!
Profile Image for Saranya Dhandapani.
Author 2 books177 followers
July 5, 2022
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Book 33 of 2022- Crazy times with Uncle Ken
Author- Ruskin Bond

“In a world that has no time for losers,to be a survivor is something of an achievement” and Uncle Ken is one crazy hilarious survivor.

“The Zigzag way-is the diagonal between heart and reason. When you zigzag, you are not choosing what to see in this world, but you are giving the world a chance to see you!”

At this point, most of you know that I’m an ardent fan of Ruskin Bond. His grandpa, his grandma’s pickle and his dad, his pet animals and his friends..Readers got to knew all about his Kith and kins through his words and stories. This book is his journey with his Uncle “Ken”.

After reading a couple of short stories about uncle Ken in the Rusty series..@ has aptly chosen this book as our May Book of the month. Couldn’t be more grateful for that!

Anyone would fall in love with uncle Ken after reading just one page about him. He is so fun and someone who enjoys life as it comes but add his own crazy elements to every aspects of life. I finished this book in one go and re-read a couple of times whenever I felt low.

With every books I read, I end up going “awe” because of Mr Bond’s witty and beautiful story writing skill. It’s truly a god’s gift♥️

It’s okay to lose sometimes in life. “Because as Uncle Ken would readily admit, where would we be without losers?”

If you’re looking for a short yet beautiful read or a cozy read or a funny read or a relaxing book, pls read this beauty🥺
Profile Image for Dhwani.
687 reviews25 followers
July 9, 2022
Of all the TV series that I’ve watched, one thing has stayed common in all. My favourite characters have always been the quirky eccentric ones; then be it Phoebe from FRIENDS or Kramer from Seinfeld or Dwight from The Office US or Sheldon from TBBT. This is the reason I believe I’ve enjoyed reading this book on Uncle Ken.

#BOTMJune by the @ruskinbondbookclub , Crazy Times With Uncle Ken by Ruskin Bond is about his Maternal Uncle Ken who is a precious precious human being 😂

Always up to something or the other, Uncle Ken and his adventures will make you laugh uncontrollably. I recommend this book!
Profile Image for Rithvik Shankar.
Author 1 book1 follower
December 19, 2022
After I finished reading the book, I had no words. The book couldn't have been funnier and calling Uncle Ken funny may be an understatement. I think the word synonymous with his character is 'eccentric'- eccentric and nothing else. The way Ruskin Bond delivered the whole thing was just astounding. The way each chapter was structured was very commendable indeed. This book makes me want to read more of these funny books of Ruskin Bond. All in all, this is a treasure trove of humor and laughter, and I had a splendid time reading it.
Profile Image for Rohit .
25 reviews
January 3, 2017
Words don't do justice to the quaint cozy world of Ruskin Bond's childhood. This is not just a book for children, it's one of those books that is necessary reading for anyone who enjoys childish hijinks. It's funny, sad and nostalgic in equal measure. It takes us back to the times when everything was so simple, yet so beautiful
Profile Image for Anand.
12 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2015
Ruskin Bond here reminisces his childhood days which were full of lasting memories all thanks to his ever falling-into-problem uncle. It's a very light hearted book. A laughter medicine for all ailing minds, of all ages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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