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SPINNER OF THE TWISTED TALE: A wondrous tale of a storyteller's life
Two charred crows, a swatted spider and guilt weighing heavily on the conscience. The signs are evident and Nalini knows that. She needs to tell the story now… So what if it contains an ugly secret. She knows that life, otherwise, won’t ease its strong, claustrophobic clasp. Coming after a hiatus of ten years, there’s excitement in four generations of family - and friends - spread across the globe. The old storyteller is finally telling a tale. Many are ready to converge on to the village of Govindapuram. Those who grew up on her stories can’t wait to hear another from her. Others who haven’t heard her can’t understand the strange excitement: who’s ever heard of taking leave and crossing seven seas just to listen to a story! But no one is aware that this is going to be unlike the thousands of stories she had narrated over eight decades. It would be unlike the therapeutic story that saved her cousin Vaibhavi’s life, the prophetic story regarding Vaidehi’s marriage or the climax of an incomplete story she told the travelling Italian who had traversed half the planet to listen to that small part. Nalini often wonders if the stories are mere reflections of life as everyone believes or is it the other way round? Weaving many stories within the main story, Spinner of the Twisted Tale is a peep into the enchanting world of a storyteller. Part real, part surreal, it is a story to not just read, but also marvel at and cherish.
330 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2018
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Rajessh M Iyer
9 books7 followersA media professional for over two decades, Rajessh M Iyer is a storyteller and has been a part of many media houses, notable being Magna Publications, Macmillan India, and Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd., in various capacities like Chief Editor, Creative Head, and CEO. He is the author of two books for children: Nanha Natkhat: Tales of Little Krishna and Valiant Warriors. He has also authored five novels: the Amazon India #1 bestseller, Evading the Shadows, a fictional spy thriller set during the Mahabharata; Hari and Friends—A Holi Adventure, a nostalgic, coming-of-age story set in India of the ’80s; Spinner of the Twisted Tale, a wondrous story of a storyteller’s life; Karmic Souls, a love story amidst spiritual awakening; Mind Whisperer, a fictional retelling of the last four days in the life of Karna during the Mahabharata War; Uncle Pai, biography of Mr. Anant Pai, the man who created the iconic Amar Chitra Katha, Jabberwockiers, a poignant tale of a father and daughter relationship and The Scarlet Horizon, an unusual view at one of the events of the Mahabharata. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, son, and father. For more details on the author, please visit his website: www.rajesshmiyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 28, 2018
The book begins with the note, "stories if told well, open up the cosmos". Nalini the protagonist keeps saying this umpteen times, but also adds that the badly told stories would shrink the universe. The art of weaving stories was natural to Nalini right when she was born in this world. It was like as if it came in an unstoppable flow gushing out of her eyes. Somewhere filled with a promise of faraway land and some very contrast with nothing in it for a fantasy element. The plots were intricately interwoven if not listened carefully a casual listener might miss out on chances of understanding the inner meaning.
The story resonates between present and the past. At present Nalini is over 90 years with a frail, weakened body but the enthusiasm and the sparkle in the eyes never faded away.
The novel has a wide array of characters, too many I would say which kind of makes it a little hard to remember who is who. But thanks to the family tree the author has presented in the beginning makes it easier for us to make the reference.
Nalini is the fourth generation granddaughter of the priest family, headed by Ramalingam. He was the head priest. Slowly due to old age and senility people in the village and the family noticed strange behavior. He started blabbering inane things and was not confronted by anyone in family due to fear. He started repeating that he was the new initiate in the story telling chain. HE was eventually confined to the vavvaal kaamra in his ancestral house that he himself had built.
He started narrating innumerable stories and on his deathbed he calls his grandson (“Crow feet” Mahadevan) and whispers that he wishes to tell him some tales and a after a long pause he continues that one day he will That was when he breathed his last.
It is then the grandson awaits his daughter in law to deliver the story teller(Nalini). He has a wide grin every time he sees her. She reciprocates the same. She started picking up too many words to build up her vocabulary as she has the habit of going through her brothers books; which is not something normal to be developed by a toddler.
As she aged two, her grandfather breathed her last mentioning” why didn’t you tell me?I will come to you one day to listen to you”. None new what he meant.
Nalini was brought up in the vavaal kaamra of Ramalingam. She had strange audiences constantly keeping an eye on her. The spark in Nalini when she started telling stories was triggered when she couldn’t accept the one told by her mom. She immediately corrected and started narrating one herself. Thus began the journey of a story teller. Nalini’s story telling sessions became a daily ritual. Gathering around her she would begin narrating a story every night.
Soon she grew up, the ritual continued and her audiences too. She even cured ailments with her story telling. Then came a time that she was married off and settled in Raipur. The husband is a monosyllabic person who hardly takes notice of her at home. But her story telling continues with her neighborhood friends and also her in laws who are glad listening to her. Frequently she visited her in laws and her ancestral home in her village where she would continue with the story telling sessions.
Nalini’s cousin Vaidehi was not happy with her story telling capabilities right from the beginning. And when Nalini recited a story just before Vaidehi got married there were numerous coincidences that happened in Vaidehi’s life thereafter which led to her blaming Nalini for her misfortunes.
Resonating between past and present, there are number of stories short and long of different genres narrated by Nalini. There were so many that they could be published as a separate book.
Nalini’s frequent companion from childhood is breathlessness. Sometimes she could manage and sometimes the attacks were severe. But the urge in her to tell stories never died.
What is the long pending confession that she’s carried with her comprise of, who is it about? is the climax.
The Spinner of the twisted take has so many intricately woven tales in between that give you another glimpse of what life actually is. Each story has an inner meaning.
Nalini’s stories do a lot of wonders by completing an incomplete story of a Italian traveler, curing Vaibhavi’s ailment, of all genres to her children who would not agree in unison for a single genre, her monosyllabic husband.
The vocabulary is crisp and clear. Definitely could be termed a gripping suspense.
The story resonates between present and the past. At present Nalini is over 90 years with a frail, weakened body but the enthusiasm and the sparkle in the eyes never faded away.
The novel has a wide array of characters, too many I would say which kind of makes it a little hard to remember who is who. But thanks to the family tree the author has presented in the beginning makes it easier for us to make the reference.
Nalini is the fourth generation granddaughter of the priest family, headed by Ramalingam. He was the head priest. Slowly due to old age and senility people in the village and the family noticed strange behavior. He started blabbering inane things and was not confronted by anyone in family due to fear. He started repeating that he was the new initiate in the story telling chain. HE was eventually confined to the vavvaal kaamra in his ancestral house that he himself had built.
He started narrating innumerable stories and on his deathbed he calls his grandson (“Crow feet” Mahadevan) and whispers that he wishes to tell him some tales and a after a long pause he continues that one day he will That was when he breathed his last.
It is then the grandson awaits his daughter in law to deliver the story teller(Nalini). He has a wide grin every time he sees her. She reciprocates the same. She started picking up too many words to build up her vocabulary as she has the habit of going through her brothers books; which is not something normal to be developed by a toddler.
As she aged two, her grandfather breathed her last mentioning” why didn’t you tell me?I will come to you one day to listen to you”. None new what he meant.
Nalini was brought up in the vavaal kaamra of Ramalingam. She had strange audiences constantly keeping an eye on her. The spark in Nalini when she started telling stories was triggered when she couldn’t accept the one told by her mom. She immediately corrected and started narrating one herself. Thus began the journey of a story teller. Nalini’s story telling sessions became a daily ritual. Gathering around her she would begin narrating a story every night.
Soon she grew up, the ritual continued and her audiences too. She even cured ailments with her story telling. Then came a time that she was married off and settled in Raipur. The husband is a monosyllabic person who hardly takes notice of her at home. But her story telling continues with her neighborhood friends and also her in laws who are glad listening to her. Frequently she visited her in laws and her ancestral home in her village where she would continue with the story telling sessions.
Nalini’s cousin Vaidehi was not happy with her story telling capabilities right from the beginning. And when Nalini recited a story just before Vaidehi got married there were numerous coincidences that happened in Vaidehi’s life thereafter which led to her blaming Nalini for her misfortunes.
Resonating between past and present, there are number of stories short and long of different genres narrated by Nalini. There were so many that they could be published as a separate book.
Nalini’s frequent companion from childhood is breathlessness. Sometimes she could manage and sometimes the attacks were severe. But the urge in her to tell stories never died.
What is the long pending confession that she’s carried with her comprise of, who is it about? is the climax.
The Spinner of the twisted take has so many intricately woven tales in between that give you another glimpse of what life actually is. Each story has an inner meaning.
Nalini’s stories do a lot of wonders by completing an incomplete story of a Italian traveler, curing Vaibhavi’s ailment, of all genres to her children who would not agree in unison for a single genre, her monosyllabic husband.
The vocabulary is crisp and clear. Definitely could be termed a gripping suspense.
September 19, 2018
Well, when I first picked up this book I thought that it is going to be a memoir or semi-autobiography of someone who I don’t know. Well, it isn’t a memoir or biography. After reading the preface/prologue, the first impression that formed within me that now a good long mega story is going to be narrated through this old lady Nalini and then I read the short story of Dilip falling in love with Daisy, I assumed the story has been started. Well, it wasn’t like that also.
As I re-read the prologue, I came to know that the story is about a storyteller Nalini. She is ninety years old and was on a sabbatical from her stories for around ten years. And there are people gathering from different countries to listen to the last story she has in store for all of them. That last story holds the real charm and suspense of the novel.
As you coarse through the book, you will get hold over the story of Nalini i.e. from birth to old age. She picks up the art of storytelling since her early childhood days and continues the same all her lifetime, except some spells of time when she was forced to stop owning to various reasons. She is a fine storyteller and people around her get acquainted to her stories and conform in the fact that she is a genius narrator. But still there are some episodes that turn the plot otherwise, like Vaidehi, her cousin, never likes her stories and her popularity. There is some unspoken antagonism between both, the same goes to Raipur when Nalini gets married to Subbu. Even Nalini’s children, not all, think that she is a dabbler, not a prolific storyteller. On the other hand, we have a spider, two crows, trees and some intangible forces that have become inevitable listeners of her stories. The kind of pressure and responsibility Nalini feels towards storytelling is something that keeps her at times cathartic and at many instances it disturbs her. Through her stories, many people got their vistas opened, valuable advice and lessons and even health, however there is someone who, may be unwittingly, gets under the repercussion of opposing her stories. And there is a punishment for that person. Advancing silently, this book is a must read for all who love the silent stories making their way through the dagger of intensity.
As I re-read the prologue, I came to know that the story is about a storyteller Nalini. She is ninety years old and was on a sabbatical from her stories for around ten years. And there are people gathering from different countries to listen to the last story she has in store for all of them. That last story holds the real charm and suspense of the novel.
As you coarse through the book, you will get hold over the story of Nalini i.e. from birth to old age. She picks up the art of storytelling since her early childhood days and continues the same all her lifetime, except some spells of time when she was forced to stop owning to various reasons. She is a fine storyteller and people around her get acquainted to her stories and conform in the fact that she is a genius narrator. But still there are some episodes that turn the plot otherwise, like Vaidehi, her cousin, never likes her stories and her popularity. There is some unspoken antagonism between both, the same goes to Raipur when Nalini gets married to Subbu. Even Nalini’s children, not all, think that she is a dabbler, not a prolific storyteller. On the other hand, we have a spider, two crows, trees and some intangible forces that have become inevitable listeners of her stories. The kind of pressure and responsibility Nalini feels towards storytelling is something that keeps her at times cathartic and at many instances it disturbs her. Through her stories, many people got their vistas opened, valuable advice and lessons and even health, however there is someone who, may be unwittingly, gets under the repercussion of opposing her stories. And there is a punishment for that person. Advancing silently, this book is a must read for all who love the silent stories making their way through the dagger of intensity.
November 10, 2018
Spinner Of The Twisted Tale: A wondrous tale of a storyteller’s life is an amazing story of Nalini- a Storyteller. I loved the plot of the story. It’s amazing with lots of twists and turns. The author has beautifully narrated Nalini’s journey and her point of view.
The narration is crisp and engaging till the very end. It’s a bit heavy read in the start, as we proceed it’s a page-turner. One can easily relate to the story. With each chapter, the story keeps building great. There are various themes used by the author. I loved the way the author described each and every emotion.
There are various stories narrated by Nalini which are like life lessons. The characters that the author made are strong and interesting. I loved Nalini’s character the most. The language used by the author is simple and easy. The writing style of the author is lucid and gripping. The narration keeps the reader invested in.
The title and the cover of the book are beautiful. The blurb of the book is apt. Overall. it’s a wonderful read full 0f love, fun and lessons. A strong plot, crisp narration and astounding characters make it an interesting read.
The narration is crisp and engaging till the very end. It’s a bit heavy read in the start, as we proceed it’s a page-turner. One can easily relate to the story. With each chapter, the story keeps building great. There are various themes used by the author. I loved the way the author described each and every emotion.
There are various stories narrated by Nalini which are like life lessons. The characters that the author made are strong and interesting. I loved Nalini’s character the most. The language used by the author is simple and easy. The writing style of the author is lucid and gripping. The narration keeps the reader invested in.
The title and the cover of the book are beautiful. The blurb of the book is apt. Overall. it’s a wonderful read full 0f love, fun and lessons. A strong plot, crisp narration and astounding characters make it an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews