Journey Down the Years

by Ruskin Bond

As a novelist and storyteller, I have always drawn upon my memories of places that I have known and lived in over the years. More than most writers, perhaps, I find myself drawing inspiration from the past—my childhood, adolescence, youth, early manhood... The stories and the poems float in through my window, float in from the magic mountains, and the words appear on the page without much effort on my part.

Ruskin Bond has been writing for over sixty years, in the course of which he has come to be known for his simple and witty writing style. These twenty-five stories form a delightful collection of some of his non-fiction sketches, his interaction with the natural world, and his life in small towns that has given him some of his biggest stories.

Bond’s journey as a writer has been a remarkable one and these stories show the master storyteller at his very best.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2017

About the author

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

Reviews

[Raksha Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a Bond book is like living in a reverie of sorts. I got this book through The Sunday Book Club on Twitter after a delightful conversation about Bond and his books on his birthday. And what a wonderful gift this was, a writer greatest gift to his readers are his books. I wish I could give him something as precious as his words someday. This book is a collection of some nice anecdotes and events close to his heart, the fact that they keep appearing in one book or the other made me arrive at that conclusion. Reading and rereading them makes them all the more interesting and enchanting.

[Sankalpita (bookGeeks India) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book comprises 25 such pieces, spanning an eclectic range of subjects. From contemplations on winds and shade to observations on railway platforms and mountainsides, from reflections on the mighty Ganges to descriptions of various pilgrimage spots, from sounds and fragrances to wildflowers and trees, and from birds and bloodsuckers to nostalgic journeys down memory lane, this book has something to offer to everyone.

Read the detailed review on India's No. 1 Bookish Platform - https://www.bookgeeks.in/journey-down...

[Shwe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is a collection of 25 short stories drawing inspiration from nature & his past experiences. Bond has a way of writing which engages the reader and makes them relive the moments.. Some stories were better than the other and over all a light heartwarming stories...

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet 25 writings of this anthology is delight to reader with the style of Ruskin Bond.

[Ankan Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A short, simple light read, full of life and solace as expected from any of Ruskin Bond's writings. The book contains 25 short accounts of the author's varied experiences of living in the Himalayan hills. I have always loved the way his writings are so close to nature. It seems as if Mr. Bond shares an imperceptible bond with the trees, birds, insects, animals, winds, rains, snows and rivers of the mountains. One can smell the smells, hear the sounds, feel the coziness and see the colors of the Himalayas in these writings. The simplicity of his thoughts and language feel so inviting and comforting. These stories, all knit together with a string of humility, are emblematic of the lines, "What is this life, if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare." Bond draws magic out of the Himalayan breeze, and inks it down for us to take a sip when we are tired of our rushing days. I wish I could enjoy life the way he lays down in these stories, heedless of the fleeting time, but mindful of the otherwise neglected nuances of nature. I would have given 4 stars, but I am being frugal for three reasons - 1) The stories (non-fiction memoirs) are really very short, giving one a feeling of incompleteness at times. I wanted them to continue longer. A few stories did seem to end abruptly. 2) Quite a few of them felt repetitive, with the same descriptions of scenes.
3) Seeing the title I felt the stories would span over the writer's lifetime, but they were mostly concentrated to his present life in the hills. Only two or three delved into his past days. I felt a bit let-down because of that.

[Neeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

'This won't do', I told myself the other day. 'I must have flowers!'

Ruskin Bond breathes, eats and lives nature. Through his love for woods and solitude, he weaves such pretty tales. In this book, he talks about his life in London and his eagerness to return to India. He shares descriptions about secret springs and vivid flower patches in woods. He names trees as his brothers and talks about his adventures with the adventure wind. You have human visitors, his cottage in the woods is often visited by mantis, squirrels, bats and birds. He shares with us how he discovered his love for reading. And when winter arrives he tells us about brown, dry woods and his sadness at the lack of blooming flowers. He must have flowers, he decides. Daydreaming about Mughal gardens in Kashmir, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, tropical gardens in Florida, he sets off in search of beautiful gardens in his town. Reading a Ruskin Bond book is truly like being one with nature.

[Omkar Joshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the preface(Author's Note) says, the book is collection of the stories built upon Bond's old manuscripts, cuttings etc. Accordingly, these are assorted chapters than a complete journey covered in a book. There are several repetitions e.g: 'The Last Walnut', 'Gran's Kitchen'. The book isn't as engrossing as other Bond works but does have likeable chapters e.g: 'My Limehouse Adventure', 'Trees are my Brothers', 'Of Rivers and Pilgrims'. Some illustrations per chapter, or at least few of them, would have been delighting.
While I won't rate it as a 'must have', it won't harm either ;)

[Omkar Joshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the preface(Author's Note) says, the book is collection of the stories built upon Bond's old manuscripts, cuttings etc. Accordingly, these are assorted chapters than a complete journey covered in a book. There are several repetitions e.g: 'The Last Walnut', 'Gran's Kitchen'. The book isn't as engrossing as other Bond works but does have likeable chapters e.g: 'My Limehouse Adventure', 'Trees are my Brothers', 'Of Rivers and Pilgrims'. Some illustrations per chapter, or at least few of them, would have been delighting.
While I won't rate it as a 'must have', it won't harm either ;)

[Shrinath Sridhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not every time you read a book when you feel that you are actually in the shoes of the author, yet also feel like you are having a personal conversation with him on some of the finest things on earth: nature and people. And when the author happens to be Ruskin Bond, you are bound to melt in his journey, for though it appears to be his words, it largely holds the glimpses from the experiences that each of us have had so far in the journey of life. A book that delights you in every page that you read.

[Fiza Pathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing & sublime read. Ruskin Bond never ceases to amaze me. Loved this book. I recommend it to all Ruskin Bond fans & those who want a quick read while waiting for their flight, at the doctor's or to pass a rainy afternoon.

[Somdutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Ruskin Bond reminisces his days in England, his childhood and the flora and fauna of some of the places he has lived or spent some time. Written in beautiful, simple language his writing is a treat to the senses.

[Divij Sood · Rating 5 out of 5]

AS always, a pleasure to read Ruskin Bond. In few words he brings out the joy of living a life close to nature. His writing style makes me feel nostalgic about a life that I've never had - but would love to live.

[Mishuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful series of short stories which the author narrates, is his life, his experiences, his favorite things.
From the wonderful and a favourite of nearly all book readers , here is Ruskin Bond's beautiful journey in his own words.

[Koushiki Chowdhury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would prefer his fiction much more than this . But still being a big Ruskin bond fan 💕 I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the same ease and happiness ...

[Prashant Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Bond book with many short stories (some of which I had read earlier).

[Vp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book .. light reading

[Deepak Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read for all the nature lovers. He transcends you right into the nature with his such minute observations.

[Gublichandji Buginath · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is like a warm hug.