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Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories
FIVE STORIES FIVE CHARACTERS ONE BOOK
Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya and the Author himself are the five lead characters in five different stories. The stories portray the situations they faced in their lives. Do they come out on top defying all odds? The answer lies within.....
Sneha is a beautiful, brilliant, typical young girl studying in high school. She goes on a school trip and due to her curious nature gets trapped in a supernatural event that leads to a curse upon herself. Can she save herself?
Arun gets a lucrative government job and is posted in a place where he goes through an unexplainable experience. After coming back for holidays, he himself narrates his experience that leaves his friends shocked. What actually happened there?
Arijit works in a reputed software company. One day, he is lost on the highway without any kind of memory of how he came there. He searches around for his answers... Will he be able to find the answers?
Shreya is a teenager of modern age. Caught in love, lust, lies, money, jealousy, hatred she embarks on a journey of her own that leads her to doom. Can she survive?
The Author writes the story of a girl that he never wished to love. The girl also loved him, so he says but did she really? So, What was the problem? Reena was the love of his life or is she still? Does Reena still love him?
There is a connection among the five and what is that connection?
So many questions and answers are only five in number. Read the book to find out........
Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya and the Author himself are the five lead characters in five different stories. The stories portray the situations they faced in their lives. Do they come out on top defying all odds? The answer lies within.....
Sneha is a beautiful, brilliant, typical young girl studying in high school. She goes on a school trip and due to her curious nature gets trapped in a supernatural event that leads to a curse upon herself. Can she save herself?
Arun gets a lucrative government job and is posted in a place where he goes through an unexplainable experience. After coming back for holidays, he himself narrates his experience that leaves his friends shocked. What actually happened there?
Arijit works in a reputed software company. One day, he is lost on the highway without any kind of memory of how he came there. He searches around for his answers... Will he be able to find the answers?
Shreya is a teenager of modern age. Caught in love, lust, lies, money, jealousy, hatred she embarks on a journey of her own that leads her to doom. Can she survive?
The Author writes the story of a girl that he never wished to love. The girl also loved him, so he says but did she really? So, What was the problem? Reena was the love of his life or is she still? Does Reena still love him?
There is a connection among the five and what is that connection?
So many questions and answers are only five in number. Read the book to find out........
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2018
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 11, 2018
I loved all the stories. This book has a collection of 5 short stories, well written and ends with suspense. I cannot stop thinking about the stories. They were so unique and very interesting. I recommend this book to everyone. ❤
June 12, 2023
An absolutely suspenseful creation of five riveting stories and exhilarating characters at its best.
This book entails an absorbing, mysterious, suspenseful and fervently thrilling package of stories. The author has done a good job on storytelling part as he has kept it so short which could expand to hundreds of pages. It's an unputdownable read where you will come across strange characters and quaint ambience surrounding them which will altogether give you thrills one at a time.
In the beginning, it might seem a monotonous read, the same World building, surreal narratives of an average suspense thriller and infact even when I started reading, it took me certain amount of time to get engrossed in it but once one starts becoming familiar with the tale and the nuisances of the characters it becomes an unforgettable read.
One saga with five stories with five badlems yet one connecting dots. A young beautiful high school going girl, Sneha, lands up into a curse after getting herself trapped in a supernatural event. Further, Arun had some inexplicably shocking experiences in a quaint place where he's posted by the government. Another guy, Arijit who works in a reputed software company found himself lost on the highway totally oblivious of why and where he is. Shreya, a teenager drown in love, lust, lies, money, jealousy, hatred, she steps on a journey which lands herself into a nowhere to go.
All the more, adding some more suspense and spice into the saga, the author pens down his own love story and a girl whom he never wished to love. The girl also loved him, so he says but did she really? So, What was the problem? Reena was the love of his life or is she still? Does Reena still love him?
Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya and the Author himself are the five lead characters in five different stories. The stories portray the situations they faced in their lives. Do they come out on top defying all odds? You will have to delve deep into the story to have all the answers, fun and not to forget, thrills.
The chapters are written with such great precision that one can easily visualise them. The book is bit fast-paced and laden with astounding plot twists which somewhere down the line makes it more adrenalising. The entire plot is intensely engaging. Some more work could be done on the story part lessing the amount of description according to me. Though I really liked the way all the characters and places who were scattered throughout the plot came together to make a surreal suspenseful read. An absolutely suspenseful creation of five riveting stories merging into one and exhilarating characters at its best. Do give it a fun read.
This book entails an absorbing, mysterious, suspenseful and fervently thrilling package of stories. The author has done a good job on storytelling part as he has kept it so short which could expand to hundreds of pages. It's an unputdownable read where you will come across strange characters and quaint ambience surrounding them which will altogether give you thrills one at a time.
In the beginning, it might seem a monotonous read, the same World building, surreal narratives of an average suspense thriller and infact even when I started reading, it took me certain amount of time to get engrossed in it but once one starts becoming familiar with the tale and the nuisances of the characters it becomes an unforgettable read.
One saga with five stories with five badlems yet one connecting dots. A young beautiful high school going girl, Sneha, lands up into a curse after getting herself trapped in a supernatural event. Further, Arun had some inexplicably shocking experiences in a quaint place where he's posted by the government. Another guy, Arijit who works in a reputed software company found himself lost on the highway totally oblivious of why and where he is. Shreya, a teenager drown in love, lust, lies, money, jealousy, hatred, she steps on a journey which lands herself into a nowhere to go.
All the more, adding some more suspense and spice into the saga, the author pens down his own love story and a girl whom he never wished to love. The girl also loved him, so he says but did she really? So, What was the problem? Reena was the love of his life or is she still? Does Reena still love him?
Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya and the Author himself are the five lead characters in five different stories. The stories portray the situations they faced in their lives. Do they come out on top defying all odds? You will have to delve deep into the story to have all the answers, fun and not to forget, thrills.
The chapters are written with such great precision that one can easily visualise them. The book is bit fast-paced and laden with astounding plot twists which somewhere down the line makes it more adrenalising. The entire plot is intensely engaging. Some more work could be done on the story part lessing the amount of description according to me. Though I really liked the way all the characters and places who were scattered throughout the plot came together to make a surreal suspenseful read. An absolutely suspenseful creation of five riveting stories merging into one and exhilarating characters at its best. Do give it a fun read.
July 6, 2023
"Prelude" is a captivating book that weaves together five distinct stories, each centered around a different character, yet interconnected by an underlying mystery. The author masterfully crafts a plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end, as they eagerly unravel the secrets and dilemmas faced by Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the Author himself.
The plot is diverse and intriguing, offering a blend of supernatural events, unexplained experiences, personal quests, and complicated relationships. Each character's journey is filled with obstacles, uncertainties, and emotional turmoil, providing a rich tapestry of human experiences and challenges. The author skillfully navigates these narratives, building suspense and raising thought-provoking questions throughout.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their strengths, vulnerabilities, and desires shining through. Readers will find themselves rooting for Sneha's salvation, Arun's revelation, Arijit's self-discovery, Shreya's survival, and the Author's pursuit of truth and love. Each character's distinct voice and personal growth add depth and authenticity to the overall narrative.
The narration is engaging and immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring the settings and events to life. The author's use of language is evocative, drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of the characters and enhancing their connection to the story. The pacing is well-maintained, keeping readers on their toes and ensuring they remain invested in the unfolding mysteries.
Overall, "Prelude" is an enthralling book that seamlessly blends multiple storylines into a cohesive and captivating narrative. It showcases the author's talent for storytelling, character development, and evocative prose. Fans of suspenseful tales with intertwining plots and relatable characters will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this book.
The plot is diverse and intriguing, offering a blend of supernatural events, unexplained experiences, personal quests, and complicated relationships. Each character's journey is filled with obstacles, uncertainties, and emotional turmoil, providing a rich tapestry of human experiences and challenges. The author skillfully navigates these narratives, building suspense and raising thought-provoking questions throughout.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their strengths, vulnerabilities, and desires shining through. Readers will find themselves rooting for Sneha's salvation, Arun's revelation, Arijit's self-discovery, Shreya's survival, and the Author's pursuit of truth and love. Each character's distinct voice and personal growth add depth and authenticity to the overall narrative.
The narration is engaging and immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring the settings and events to life. The author's use of language is evocative, drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of the characters and enhancing their connection to the story. The pacing is well-maintained, keeping readers on their toes and ensuring they remain invested in the unfolding mysteries.
Overall, "Prelude" is an enthralling book that seamlessly blends multiple storylines into a cohesive and captivating narrative. It showcases the author's talent for storytelling, character development, and evocative prose. Fans of suspenseful tales with intertwining plots and relatable characters will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this book.
July 9, 2023
This book sounds absolutely captivating, mysterious, and thrilling! It's impressive how the author has managed to condense such a rich and expansive story into a shorter format. From your description, it seems like an unputdownable read that offers a series of intriguing tales with a touch of the supernatural.
It's intriguing to hear that the beginning may initially appear monotonous, but as readers become acquainted with the story and its nuances, it becomes an unforgettable experience. The interconnectedness of the five stories, each featuring its own set of challenges and mysteries, adds depth to the overall narrative. The introduction of characters like Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and even the author himself, brings a diverse range of perspectives and situations to the forefront.
The inclusion of the author's own love story adds an extra layer of intrigue and suspense. The question of whether Reena truly loves him and the complexities surrounding their relationship heighten the anticipation. It seems like there's a blend of love, lust, lies, and other emotions that the characters grapple with, making their journeys all the more captivating.
The precision with which the chapters are written, allowing readers to vividly visualize the scenes, is commendable. The fast-paced nature of the book, coupled with surprising plot twists, adds an extra dose of adrenaline to the reading experience. While you mention that some adjustments could be made to the story aspect, I appreciate how all the characters and places eventually come together to create a surreal and suspenseful read
It's intriguing to hear that the beginning may initially appear monotonous, but as readers become acquainted with the story and its nuances, it becomes an unforgettable experience. The interconnectedness of the five stories, each featuring its own set of challenges and mysteries, adds depth to the overall narrative. The introduction of characters like Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and even the author himself, brings a diverse range of perspectives and situations to the forefront.
The inclusion of the author's own love story adds an extra layer of intrigue and suspense. The question of whether Reena truly loves him and the complexities surrounding their relationship heighten the anticipation. It seems like there's a blend of love, lust, lies, and other emotions that the characters grapple with, making their journeys all the more captivating.
The precision with which the chapters are written, allowing readers to vividly visualize the scenes, is commendable. The fast-paced nature of the book, coupled with surprising plot twists, adds an extra dose of adrenaline to the reading experience. While you mention that some adjustments could be made to the story aspect, I appreciate how all the characters and places eventually come together to create a surreal and suspenseful read
November 20, 2018
This is a review of the book PRELUDE by @Swarup Talukdar
Prelude is a collection of five different short stories, unique in its own way.
My personal favorite is The curse-
The curse is a story of a school going girl who went to a jungle for her excursion and found herself lost in an abandoned structure where she faces the wrath of kama-El-Ra, a god of demonic origin.
Why did kama-El -Ra curse her?
Who was he?
It is a story of a young boy named Arun who works for 'The Indian railways'. During his posting in Dhingri, he encounters a strange person in that railway station which left him mull over who was the person?
Lost.
The story speaks about Arijit,a MBA from IIM Kolkata, who along with friends encounters a fatal car accident in the highway at midnight. But no one seemed to believe him. Why did his statement stand out from others??
The Gone girl.
Shreya, the main protagonist of the story ends hooking up with Sumit, her best friend Ankita's ex boyfriend, who at last betrayes her. Who was the true love of Shreya's life?
The girl I never wished to love.
Here, the author narrates a soul broken story of his life where the love of his life has transformed herself from an Angel to a blood and money sucking monster. Why did she do that to him?
Read the story to know more about it ..
My views: The stories are very interesting and grabs the reader's attention to the fullest. The author have woven a world of fantasy and imagination through the book.
Prelude is a collection of five different short stories, unique in its own way.
My personal favorite is The curse-
The curse is a story of a school going girl who went to a jungle for her excursion and found herself lost in an abandoned structure where she faces the wrath of kama-El-Ra, a god of demonic origin.
Why did kama-El -Ra curse her?
Who was he?
It is a story of a young boy named Arun who works for 'The Indian railways'. During his posting in Dhingri, he encounters a strange person in that railway station which left him mull over who was the person?
Lost.
The story speaks about Arijit,a MBA from IIM Kolkata, who along with friends encounters a fatal car accident in the highway at midnight. But no one seemed to believe him. Why did his statement stand out from others??
The Gone girl.
Shreya, the main protagonist of the story ends hooking up with Sumit, her best friend Ankita's ex boyfriend, who at last betrayes her. Who was the true love of Shreya's life?
The girl I never wished to love.
Here, the author narrates a soul broken story of his life where the love of his life has transformed herself from an Angel to a blood and money sucking monster. Why did she do that to him?
Read the story to know more about it ..
My views: The stories are very interesting and grabs the reader's attention to the fullest. The author have woven a world of fantasy and imagination through the book.
November 3, 2018
“I have always wondered why emotions exist in the
first place. Why has God given us this thing of beauty
that exists in our hearts giving us joy and sorrow? ”
Book is the collection of five short stories.
The Curse - this is the story of a girl, Sneha who goes out for school excursion and faces some strange events in the jungle, the story is about the horrified journey of her.
Second is, Who Was He ? - Arun, who is Station Master, and he is the victims of supernatural event !
Third is, Lost - this is the story about Arijit who faced an accident on the highway . but no one is believing him. Why ? For this you have to read the book !
Fourth is, The Gone Girl - the story is of Shreya, who got cheated in love !
And the last one is, The girl I never wished to love - it is the personal experience of the author towards love.
All stories were good ! But I personally like the first two and the last story, they are really good . Language was very easy and simple to read .
If you like reading short stories, then do pick this up.
first place. Why has God given us this thing of beauty
that exists in our hearts giving us joy and sorrow? ”
Book is the collection of five short stories.
The Curse - this is the story of a girl, Sneha who goes out for school excursion and faces some strange events in the jungle, the story is about the horrified journey of her.
Second is, Who Was He ? - Arun, who is Station Master, and he is the victims of supernatural event !
Third is, Lost - this is the story about Arijit who faced an accident on the highway . but no one is believing him. Why ? For this you have to read the book !
Fourth is, The Gone Girl - the story is of Shreya, who got cheated in love !
And the last one is, The girl I never wished to love - it is the personal experience of the author towards love.
All stories were good ! But I personally like the first two and the last story, they are really good . Language was very easy and simple to read .
If you like reading short stories, then do pick this up.
December 30, 2018
This is a collection of short stories by Swarup Talukdar which are initiations that'll lead on to become a full novel.
Being the debut book of author, he has done a very good job in the plotting and planning the stories. They all have their own vibes and deal paranormal elements, love, betrayal and such issues.
It is a very well plotted book but I hope that the writing style of the author will improve in his upcoming novels.
It is a light read and I ask you to pick it up if you want a break from heavy and intense reads!
Writing style and cover designing of the book could have been better.
I rate it 3/5 stars.
Being the debut book of author, he has done a very good job in the plotting and planning the stories. They all have their own vibes and deal paranormal elements, love, betrayal and such issues.
It is a very well plotted book but I hope that the writing style of the author will improve in his upcoming novels.
It is a light read and I ask you to pick it up if you want a break from heavy and intense reads!
Writing style and cover designing of the book could have been better.
I rate it 3/5 stars.
October 16, 2018
I don't exactly read short stories, but I went for this because I always liked the title when I came across. And I must say, by the end of the book, I was captured by the author's ability to make connections and curious to know more about it. Five short and quick reads of different kinds, and it's a feast for all genres! Do try reading this for sure!
October 17, 2018
Prelude is a collection of 5 different short stories of different genre.. Each story Is well written and interesting...the author has written it so well that as a reader you can't stop reading these stories... Eagerly waiting for the complete novel of each story 😍😍
October 25, 2018
Aptly named Prelude, cause duh it is a prelude to the stories that are about to come out to play soon, this short apetiser has the capability to make you hungry for more.
Five different stories, each unique and interesting in their own way make this mini-book so worth your while. It took me roughly 2 hours to finish but the after effects are still there. Amazing penmanship, this book can be called the perfect teaser to the upcoming book cause it ticks all the boxes in the teaser department. It's short, to the point, gives you enough to pique your interest but the whole story. For that you gotta wait for the book to come out.
I had a real nice time reading this one.
You have horror, from petty everyday ghosts to mythical evil ones, you have romance and heart break, you have friendship and betrayal and you have a unique take on things. Each story gives you a clear understanding of what wonders are waiting for you when you finally get it.
So I, Manali Dey, will love to give Swarup Talukdar a big shout out.... These teeny miney teasers have been amazing. Really looking forward to the book called The Sign of Five cause the Prelude was an all stars.
Five different stories, each unique and interesting in their own way make this mini-book so worth your while. It took me roughly 2 hours to finish but the after effects are still there. Amazing penmanship, this book can be called the perfect teaser to the upcoming book cause it ticks all the boxes in the teaser department. It's short, to the point, gives you enough to pique your interest but the whole story. For that you gotta wait for the book to come out.
I had a real nice time reading this one.
You have horror, from petty everyday ghosts to mythical evil ones, you have romance and heart break, you have friendship and betrayal and you have a unique take on things. Each story gives you a clear understanding of what wonders are waiting for you when you finally get it.
So I, Manali Dey, will love to give Swarup Talukdar a big shout out.... These teeny miney teasers have been amazing. Really looking forward to the book called The Sign of Five cause the Prelude was an all stars.
November 9, 2018
Thanks to @author_swarup_talukdar for providing the ebook to me . .
I loved the stories. All the short stories made my day . I loved they read . The stories were really good mainly the story " The girl I never wished to love " . I was in love with the story .
.
.
It's quite appreciated for the author to write such amazing , heart touching stories and composing them collectively as a book.
.
The writing style was very easy and in a lucid and gripping way . Anyone can be in love with short stories after reading them once .
.
.
I think , you just give it a try . I am sure you guys will not be bored.
.
I loved the stories. All the short stories made my day . I loved they read . The stories were really good mainly the story " The girl I never wished to love " . I was in love with the story .
.
.
It's quite appreciated for the author to write such amazing , heart touching stories and composing them collectively as a book.
.
The writing style was very easy and in a lucid and gripping way . Anyone can be in love with short stories after reading them once .
.
.
I think , you just give it a try . I am sure you guys will not be bored.
.
December 11, 2018
'Prelude' by Swarup Talukdar is a collection of five short stories. Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Sheya and the author are the five lead characters in five different stories. They are stuck in different situations and have different experiences.
❤
The first story is titled as curse. In this story, Sneha visits the forest alone at night during her school trip and out of curiosity gets stuck in a supernatural event. In her curiousity, she awoke the demonic god Kama-el-ra who agreed to give her a wish in exchange of her virginity. Will she agree to give her virginity? If not, then what will happen next?
❤
The second story is titled as Who was he? Arun gets a government job as a station master at Dhingri(Bihar). After coming back to his hometown, he shares his experience with his friends during reunion and they are equally stunned and surprised. Read the story to find out what happened to him?
❤
The third story is titled as Lost. The story begins with the accident of Arijit and his two friends. Arijit was conscious and went to call someone for help when he saw that his friends were unconscious. But when he came back with the police, his friends disappeared. Is he dreaming? If not, where did his friends go?
❤
The fourth story is titled as The Gone Girl. Shreya has fallen in love with her best friend's boyfriend but her best friend is not aware of it. What will happen when her best friend comes to know about it?
❤
The fifth story is titled as Man's bitter experience in love. The author falls in love with a girl that he never wished to love. But did she also love him?
My take-
1⃣The stories are thrilling and interesting and end in suspense.
2⃣I loved the first three stories the most.
3⃣The last two stories are quite relatable.
4⃣It is a short book of 50pages which is again an advantage.
5⃣I completed it in one sitting.
❤
The first story is titled as curse. In this story, Sneha visits the forest alone at night during her school trip and out of curiosity gets stuck in a supernatural event. In her curiousity, she awoke the demonic god Kama-el-ra who agreed to give her a wish in exchange of her virginity. Will she agree to give her virginity? If not, then what will happen next?
❤
The second story is titled as Who was he? Arun gets a government job as a station master at Dhingri(Bihar). After coming back to his hometown, he shares his experience with his friends during reunion and they are equally stunned and surprised. Read the story to find out what happened to him?
❤
The third story is titled as Lost. The story begins with the accident of Arijit and his two friends. Arijit was conscious and went to call someone for help when he saw that his friends were unconscious. But when he came back with the police, his friends disappeared. Is he dreaming? If not, where did his friends go?
❤
The fourth story is titled as The Gone Girl. Shreya has fallen in love with her best friend's boyfriend but her best friend is not aware of it. What will happen when her best friend comes to know about it?
❤
The fifth story is titled as Man's bitter experience in love. The author falls in love with a girl that he never wished to love. But did she also love him?
My take-
1⃣The stories are thrilling and interesting and end in suspense.
2⃣I loved the first three stories the most.
3⃣The last two stories are quite relatable.
4⃣It is a short book of 50pages which is again an advantage.
5⃣I completed it in one sitting.
March 4, 2019
information
Title: Prelude
Author: Swarup Talukdar
Pages:50
Genre: Short Stories
review
The book is a collection of 5 different short stories-‘The Curse”, “Who was he?”,”Lost”, “The Gone Girl”, “The Girl I wished I never loved”.It is the first book in the series of “The sign of Five”
The curse discusses the journey of a schoolgirl on an excursion facing unusual circumstances. The plot of the story is quite gripping. It displays the fear and the pain of the main protagonist Sneha beautifully. The theme of the story is astounding.
“Who was he?” revolves around who Arun who finds himself stuck in a weird situation and how he is affected by that. It discusses some supernatural events.
“Lost” revolves around Arijit trying to figure out how he landed in an accident and roams around streets to find answers to all his questions.
“The Gone Girl” revolves around “Shreya”, a teenage girl experiencing love an relationships. Though the situations are displayed nicely at some points I thought the situations were a little dramatic. I felt like the protagonist was taking some stupid decisions.
“The Girl I wished I never loved” discusses the true events in author’s life.
Each story leaves the reader with questions. Author has done great work putting the thrill in the stories.♡
Title: Prelude
Author: Swarup Talukdar
Pages:50
Genre: Short Stories
review
The book is a collection of 5 different short stories-‘The Curse”, “Who was he?”,”Lost”, “The Gone Girl”, “The Girl I wished I never loved”.It is the first book in the series of “The sign of Five”
The curse discusses the journey of a schoolgirl on an excursion facing unusual circumstances. The plot of the story is quite gripping. It displays the fear and the pain of the main protagonist Sneha beautifully. The theme of the story is astounding.
“Who was he?” revolves around who Arun who finds himself stuck in a weird situation and how he is affected by that. It discusses some supernatural events.
“Lost” revolves around Arijit trying to figure out how he landed in an accident and roams around streets to find answers to all his questions.
“The Gone Girl” revolves around “Shreya”, a teenage girl experiencing love an relationships. Though the situations are displayed nicely at some points I thought the situations were a little dramatic. I felt like the protagonist was taking some stupid decisions.
“The Girl I wished I never loved” discusses the true events in author’s life.
Each story leaves the reader with questions. Author has done great work putting the thrill in the stories.♡
July 3, 2023
Short stories are always my favourite. They are rejuvenating my mind. This is one of them. The book contains five different short stories from different genres with five different protagonists. In the first story, Sneha is an excellent student who is lovely, smart, and average looking. She travels on a school excursion and, because of her innate curiosity, becomes entangled in a paranormal incident that makes her curse herself. Can she fight for herself? In the second one, Arun receives an attractive government position and is assigned to a location where he has a remarkable time. He recounts his story to his pals after returning for the holidays, who are horrified. What exactly transpired there? In the third one, Arijit is employed at a reputable software firm. He suddenly finds himself stuck on a highway with no knowledge of how he got there. He looks for solutions. Will he be able to discover the solutions? In the fourth one, Shreya is a contemporary adolescent. Wrapped up in love, passion, deception, money, jealousy, and enmity, she sets out on a personal adventure that will bring her to ruin. Can she endure? At last, The writer tells the tale of a girl he has never desired to fall in love with. He claims that the girl also loved him, but did she really? What then was the issue? Was Reena still his true love or was she his first love? Reena, does she still love him?
This book constitutes a compelling, enigmatic, exciting, and intensely exhilarating collection of stories. In spite of the fact that it might have been hundreds of pages long, the author did a superb job of narrative by keeping it so brief. It's a highly addictive book where you'll encounter odd individuals and the charming atmosphere around them, which will all offer you shocks one at a time. Readers should be interested in each subsequent twist and turn since every narrative has a suspenseful ending. The fiction the author writes is infused with a sense of reality in his stories. He is demonstrating that people are far more than their outward appearances suggest. If you want to know more about his writings, grab this book.
This book constitutes a compelling, enigmatic, exciting, and intensely exhilarating collection of stories. In spite of the fact that it might have been hundreds of pages long, the author did a superb job of narrative by keeping it so brief. It's a highly addictive book where you'll encounter odd individuals and the charming atmosphere around them, which will all offer you shocks one at a time. Readers should be interested in each subsequent twist and turn since every narrative has a suspenseful ending. The fiction the author writes is infused with a sense of reality in his stories. He is demonstrating that people are far more than their outward appearances suggest. If you want to know more about his writings, grab this book.
August 15, 2023
Short stories often deliver a powerful punch in a small amount of time, providing emotional impact and thought-provoking moments. The limited length allows readers to experience a complete story arc in one sitting, giving a sense of closure and satisfaction. Additionally, the brevity can lead to creative and imaginative storytelling that challenges all.
Thus in the book, ‘Prelude’ by Swarup Talukdar, we see how the author has tried to bring together a collection of five different stories that all revolve around distinct main characters, with no common thread binding them together whatsoever, yet there is this promise of connection that can be discovered by readers in the end.
Among the captivating collection, ‘‘The Curse’’ stood out as my favorite due to its insightful message. It effectively illustrates that life can present us with challenging circumstances that might seem insurmountable. However, in these moments of adversity, rather than succumbing to despondency or surrendering to defeat, the story advocates for the pursuit of potential solutions.
Embracing a proactive mindset and maintaining a hopeful outlook, even when the odds appear grim, can pave the way for positive outcomes. Ultimately, the narrative encourages us to believe that by resiliently confronting difficulties and maintaining faith in a better outcome, we have the capacity to shape our own happiness.
The quote from the book that particularly resonated with me was, ‘‘I forgave her, because in love, that is what we do and move on. I moved on. But my love remained’’, which truly shows how love is not always about achieving but sometimes, it can also be about giving.
All the stories in the book are intriguing because they deliver a compact narrative experience. And even though their brevity certainly does challenge the author to convey depth with limited words, it also leads to sparking imagination and encouraging readers to fill in gaps. Hence, I am going to give this FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 23, 2018
I tried hard to keep in my mind that this book is the author's first book but I couldn't appreciate the hard work because of how basic and tedious the writing style and storylines were.
I couldn't connect with any of the story because the descriptions and the plots were so vague with no symbolic imagery whatsoever.
Every character was two dimensional and belonged to a story with repetitive themes of alcohol, cigarette and sex which I found pointless. You can do better than that, seriously!
The first two stories had an inclination towards the horror genre but to be honest there was not even 1% of horror in it. Horror, according to me, is the hardest genre to write and you have to know what you're doing with the plot which I think was something the author missed. It was as if I was reading a monologue.
The third story was so uninteresting that I couldn't read it even after trying at least four times.
The fourth story— I don't even know what to say. A 25 year old man and a 16 year old teenage girl having sex is something I can never find romantic. I don't ever want to read a story with a theme like this. Call me a prude or whatever.
The fifth story had somewhat better descriptions than the other ones but I wish the author was more clear about the plot.
I finished the book in less than one hour because of the easy language and short chapters. The stories weren't hooking at all.
I've only one thing to say to the author, if you want to do something, better do it right or not do it all. I'm sorry if I sound harsh but I don't want to sugarcoat anything.
P.S: This book needs heavy editing.
Read full review on blog: www.whatireadandreviewed.wordpress.com
I couldn't connect with any of the story because the descriptions and the plots were so vague with no symbolic imagery whatsoever.
Every character was two dimensional and belonged to a story with repetitive themes of alcohol, cigarette and sex which I found pointless. You can do better than that, seriously!
The first two stories had an inclination towards the horror genre but to be honest there was not even 1% of horror in it. Horror, according to me, is the hardest genre to write and you have to know what you're doing with the plot which I think was something the author missed. It was as if I was reading a monologue.
The third story was so uninteresting that I couldn't read it even after trying at least four times.
The fourth story— I don't even know what to say. A 25 year old man and a 16 year old teenage girl having sex is something I can never find romantic. I don't ever want to read a story with a theme like this. Call me a prude or whatever.
The fifth story had somewhat better descriptions than the other ones but I wish the author was more clear about the plot.
I finished the book in less than one hour because of the easy language and short chapters. The stories weren't hooking at all.
I've only one thing to say to the author, if you want to do something, better do it right or not do it all. I'm sorry if I sound harsh but I don't want to sugarcoat anything.
P.S: This book needs heavy editing.
Read full review on blog: www.whatireadandreviewed.wordpress.com
March 4, 2019
PRELUDE by author SWARUP TALUKDAR is a book of five short stories. The book is very aptly titled as these stories are preludes of a series of five novels. This seemed like a real good idea to me. Stories, at the moment, are giving good enough to pique your interest and compels you to wait for the series. At the same time they are not giving away too much to keep the suspense and curiosity alive.
The five stories are completely different from each other.
THE CAVE is the story of a curious teenager, Sneha, who during one of her school trips comes across a supernatural experience and was cursed. Does the curse go with her all her life, as predicted?
WHO WAS HE? is another story having a supernatural background. An Assistant Station Master, Arun, on a lonely railway station comes across a strange man and the events that follow shocks him.
LOST is a story of Arijit, who meets a fatal accident and struggling to figure out if it was a dream or reality.
THE GONE GIRL is the story of a girl who is cheated in love.
THE GIRL I NEVER WISHED TO LOVE is the story of bitter experience in love.
All the five stories are different from each other and close to life. Love, hate, fear, regret, curiosity are the emotions that everyone has at some point of time.
The language, as author himself claimed, is simple and comprehensible.
The note on which each of the story ended heightens the curiosity to read the book as and when it is out.
I am looking forward to the entire series and will surely love to read it.
Thanks to author Swarup for providing with a review copy in exchange of an honest review.
Thanks to author Swarup for providing with a review copy in exchange of an honest review.
August 24, 2023
Book: Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories (The Sign of Five Book 1)
Author: Swarup Talukdar
Review: Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of five lead characters - Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the Author himself. In this enthralling collection of stories, each character faces unique challenges and situations that shape their destinies. From supernatural events and unexplainable experiences to modern-age struggles with love, lust, lies, and more, the book explores the depths of human emotions and resilience.
The author's ability to weave intricate plots around each character kept me engrossed from start to finish. The diverse range of challenges faced by Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the Author himself created an engaging narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover the connections between them.
The vivid descriptions and relatable emotions made it easy for me to empathize with their struggles and victories. As I delved into each story, I found myself experiencing the thrill of Sneha's supernatural encounter, the mystery behind Arun's unexplainable experience, Arijit's quest for answers, Shreya's modern-age dilemmas, and the Author's complicated love story.
Author: Swarup Talukdar
Review: Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of five lead characters - Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the Author himself. In this enthralling collection of stories, each character faces unique challenges and situations that shape their destinies. From supernatural events and unexplainable experiences to modern-age struggles with love, lust, lies, and more, the book explores the depths of human emotions and resilience.
The author's ability to weave intricate plots around each character kept me engrossed from start to finish. The diverse range of challenges faced by Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the Author himself created an engaging narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover the connections between them.
The vivid descriptions and relatable emotions made it easy for me to empathize with their struggles and victories. As I delved into each story, I found myself experiencing the thrill of Sneha's supernatural encounter, the mystery behind Arun's unexplainable experience, Arijit's quest for answers, Shreya's modern-age dilemmas, and the Author's complicated love story.
June 12, 2023
It's a short introductory novella which consists just an introduction to the new novel series ' The Sign of Five'
This book has 5 short stories.
Each story has new characters and a new plotline.
Every story has suspense building from the beginning to just make you ready for what's coming next.
Swarup has a passion for writing. Which can be seen in his writing.
I want to congratulate him, on his first step towards his writing.
In his stories, he is portraying the world beyond good-bad, black- white and happy-sad.
Each story ends in suspense so readers should be curious about the next twist and turn.
His stories have the essence of truthfulness with his fictional imagination.
He is showing people are much more than they appear from the outside.
I liked this kind of book that breaks the wall of typical fashion of writing patterns.
The author has just written this to bring a novel series for his audience.
The book has a few spellings error.
But nothing as much serious which cannot be improved and edited.
And it's good to go.
As the author mentioned about the upcoming novel series.'The sign of five'. All the best for that.
This book has 5 short stories.
Each story has new characters and a new plotline.
Every story has suspense building from the beginning to just make you ready for what's coming next.
Swarup has a passion for writing. Which can be seen in his writing.
I want to congratulate him, on his first step towards his writing.
In his stories, he is portraying the world beyond good-bad, black- white and happy-sad.
Each story ends in suspense so readers should be curious about the next twist and turn.
His stories have the essence of truthfulness with his fictional imagination.
He is showing people are much more than they appear from the outside.
I liked this kind of book that breaks the wall of typical fashion of writing patterns.
The author has just written this to bring a novel series for his audience.
The book has a few spellings error.
But nothing as much serious which cannot be improved and edited.
And it's good to go.
As the author mentioned about the upcoming novel series.'The sign of five'. All the best for that.
November 9, 2023
📚Book Review 📚
Just finished reading "Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories" by Swarup Talukdar takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the author himself. Each character faces unique challenges, creating a tapestry of diverse narratives that keep you hooked. Sneha's supernatural encounter, Arun's mysterious experience, Arijit's memory loss, Shreya's modern-day struggles, and the author's complex love story all contribute to a rich and engaging read.
✍️Author Swarup Talukdar skillfully weaves these tales, leaving readers intrigued by the interwoven connections between the characters. The stories not only explore individual hardships but also hint at a larger, underlying link among them. Talukdar's storytelling is crisp and evocative, keeping the suspense alive till the end.
✍️In conclusion, "Prelude" offers a thought-provoking exploration of human experiences, with well-crafted plots and a subtle thread connecting the characters. A must-read for those who enjoy a blend of mystery, romance, and the complexities of life.
Just finished reading "Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories" by Swarup Talukdar takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the author himself. Each character faces unique challenges, creating a tapestry of diverse narratives that keep you hooked. Sneha's supernatural encounter, Arun's mysterious experience, Arijit's memory loss, Shreya's modern-day struggles, and the author's complex love story all contribute to a rich and engaging read.
✍️Author Swarup Talukdar skillfully weaves these tales, leaving readers intrigued by the interwoven connections between the characters. The stories not only explore individual hardships but also hint at a larger, underlying link among them. Talukdar's storytelling is crisp and evocative, keeping the suspense alive till the end.
✍️In conclusion, "Prelude" offers a thought-provoking exploration of human experiences, with well-crafted plots and a subtle thread connecting the characters. A must-read for those who enjoy a blend of mystery, romance, and the complexities of life.
July 12, 2023
Prelude is a short read that can be read in one go. In this book , the author has given us only the exciting bits and glimpse of the book that he'll be writing in near future.
So basically it's 5 different stories with very different characters but somehow the underlying storyline seems close..
Here, the short stories are thrilling, mysterious and the last one resembles author's story too.
The first story might look superstitious but then sometimes it is what it is.
Author leaves the readers to keep guessing and yet doesn't reveal anything much in the book for now.
I'm waiting eagerly to read the upcoming book to understand what really happens to all of them and how they're interconnected.
Coverpage could have been a little more appealing!
Good and simple usage of the language.
The title is justified.
So basically it's 5 different stories with very different characters but somehow the underlying storyline seems close..
Here, the short stories are thrilling, mysterious and the last one resembles author's story too.
The first story might look superstitious but then sometimes it is what it is.
Author leaves the readers to keep guessing and yet doesn't reveal anything much in the book for now.
I'm waiting eagerly to read the upcoming book to understand what really happens to all of them and how they're interconnected.
Coverpage could have been a little more appealing!
Good and simple usage of the language.
The title is justified.
June 12, 2023
'Prelude' by Swarup Talukdar is an intriguing collection of five short-stories . His stories mainly depicts the scenerios they faced in their daily lives. And it portraits their struggle how they ovrercome the hurdles of life.
Well, I must say one of the most thought-provoking collection of stories I have ever read till now. In limited number of pages, author has given us a chance to explore such a wide range of emotions from love to chills. Everything comes in fraction of seconds.
The language of the book is lucid and straight-forward with remarkable usage of vocabulary. Cover of the book is simple and elegant with mind-blowing narrative. Overall, If you are looking for some short and crispy collection of stories then this book is highly recommended for you.
Must read❤❤
Well, I must say one of the most thought-provoking collection of stories I have ever read till now. In limited number of pages, author has given us a chance to explore such a wide range of emotions from love to chills. Everything comes in fraction of seconds.
The language of the book is lucid and straight-forward with remarkable usage of vocabulary. Cover of the book is simple and elegant with mind-blowing narrative. Overall, If you are looking for some short and crispy collection of stories then this book is highly recommended for you.
Must read❤❤
September 2, 2023
Prelude by Swarup Talukdar -Seemingly different yet the five stories with eerie plot twists and supernatural context are sure gripping.
Aptly named Prelude, the collection of five short stories is an introduction to a longer piece of fiction that will soon follow. Prelude by Swarup Talukdar centers around five protagonists— Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the author himself. ©
Read the entire review here 👇
https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
Aptly named Prelude, the collection of five short stories is an introduction to a longer piece of fiction that will soon follow. Prelude by Swarup Talukdar centers around five protagonists— Sneha, Arun, Arijit, Shreya, and the author himself. ©
Read the entire review here 👇
https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
November 7, 2024
Prelude (meaning - start)
.
.
.
Author- Swarup Talukdar
Pages- 50
.
.
Basically this book is consist of 5 uncomplete stories and this is the start of novel ' the sign of five'.
.
.
This book is divided into 5 short stories and these stories are finished with suspense.
.
.
1. The curse - story of a inquisitive girl sneha, who went to a jungle with her peers and teachers. Where she went in Temple and interestingly she read a name 'Kama-El-Ra' written in sanskrit and it is the name of demon. In her curiosity she called that demonic power, unluckily that appeared in front of her. 'Kama-El-Ra' agreed to fulfill her 1 wish but in the exchange of virginity. It is interesting to read that will sneha agree or disagree?
.
2. Who was he ? - story start with a reunion of old friends. But become interesting when one of the friend Arun shared her horrible or horror experience with his friends. That he experienced when he was working at Dhingri (Bihar) railway station. Where he met a person who came very suddenly from where he didnot know also where he went ? No one saw that person except him. He is still confused that who was he actually?
.
3. Lost- story start with the accident of arijit and his two friends. Arijit was consciousness but his friends vishal and suman were not. He had walked out from his car and walked some mile, then police came there and asking him question , they thought that he was criminal. He told them about his accident and they agreed to go with him on that place but he was in shock when he saw there's no one in the car. Is he dreaming ? If no, Where his friends gone?
.
4. The gone girl- it's a story of shreya who fell in love with her ankita's boyfriend who had turned his ex. Sumit the guy who also love shreya, he told her many times, but firstly she was reluctant but after some time she agreed to him that she also love him. She never told ankita about this. Is ankita learn about this? Is sumit really love shreya?
.
5. The girl I never wished to have- it's a kind of love story of a heart break. And I know many people who relate to this story.
.
.
.
Author- Swarup Talukdar
Pages- 50
.
.
Basically this book is consist of 5 uncomplete stories and this is the start of novel ' the sign of five'.
.
.
This book is divided into 5 short stories and these stories are finished with suspense.
.
.
1. The curse - story of a inquisitive girl sneha, who went to a jungle with her peers and teachers. Where she went in Temple and interestingly she read a name 'Kama-El-Ra' written in sanskrit and it is the name of demon. In her curiosity she called that demonic power, unluckily that appeared in front of her. 'Kama-El-Ra' agreed to fulfill her 1 wish but in the exchange of virginity. It is interesting to read that will sneha agree or disagree?
.
2. Who was he ? - story start with a reunion of old friends. But become interesting when one of the friend Arun shared her horrible or horror experience with his friends. That he experienced when he was working at Dhingri (Bihar) railway station. Where he met a person who came very suddenly from where he didnot know also where he went ? No one saw that person except him. He is still confused that who was he actually?
.
3. Lost- story start with the accident of arijit and his two friends. Arijit was consciousness but his friends vishal and suman were not. He had walked out from his car and walked some mile, then police came there and asking him question , they thought that he was criminal. He told them about his accident and they agreed to go with him on that place but he was in shock when he saw there's no one in the car. Is he dreaming ? If no, Where his friends gone?
.
4. The gone girl- it's a story of shreya who fell in love with her ankita's boyfriend who had turned his ex. Sumit the guy who also love shreya, he told her many times, but firstly she was reluctant but after some time she agreed to him that she also love him. She never told ankita about this. Is ankita learn about this? Is sumit really love shreya?
.
5. The girl I never wished to have- it's a kind of love story of a heart break. And I know many people who relate to this story.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews