Paper Chor

by Varun Grover

Varun Grover’s magical language has impressed many youngsters. With this book, one could add children also to the list of his admirers. Seven stories. Mystery, thrill, wonder and dreams- his language retains the same magical quality in all genres. At times, he writes so little that the ideas seems to have trickled down to the tip of the language. Then there is no space for anything else. He tells a story in a way that it seems he has become one with the audience. Therefore, you keep finding yourself in the company of a reader. Not once does his descriptions of events and people become judgemental. This is an incredible feat. He just keeps feeding our curiosities. He does not create a suspense to suddenly interest the reader with a mystery. Instead, he lets the mystery unfold, which creates the space for the story to move forward.

60 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Varun Grover is an Indian stand-up comic and poet. Though he won the award for Best Lyricist at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015. He is also co-creator of Aisi Taisi Democracy. Grover was born in Sundernagar, Himachal Pradesh, to a school-teacher mother and army engineer father. His family is Punjabi. He spent his initial years in Sundernagar and Dehradun, Uttarakhand, before moving to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for his adolescent years. He studied civil engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, graduating in 2003.

Reviews

[Sumedha]

I started crying while going to bed because I was feeling low and unhappy. I was ready to sleep while I was still crying. I then decided to pick up 'Paper Chor' by Varun Grover urf Ashu that came to me some weeks ago through Ektara

It's been two hours since then. I feel satisfied, peaceful and a bit happy. I am glad I decided to read it as i can go to sleep with a calm mind now. Although I hate to have ruined my sleep cycle yet again but it was such a wonderful time to read it in complete silence while being curled up in a warm blanket.

पेपर चोर उन चार किताबों में से एक थी जो मैंने एकतारा से मँगवाई थी कुछ हफ़्तों पहले | पहली बार मैंने अपने लिए हिंदी किताबें खरीदी ऐसे ही पढ़ने के लिए और मुझे खुशी है की मैंने यह निर्णनए लिया | 'हरिहर विचित्र' और 'रेडियो' कभी नहीं भूल पाऊँगी | 'परमाणु बतख' को बहुत तेज़ी से पढ़ा क्योंकि वह आखरी कहानी थी और मुझे अंत तक पहुचने की जल्दी थी | 'पेपर चोर' एक वीडियो के द्वारा सुन चुकी थी लेकिन पढ़कर कुछ और बातें जानी | वैसे भी पढ़ने का मज़ा अलग हैं ओर सुनने का अलग | 'दिल दहला देने वाली अखबार' पढ़ते बहुत मज़ा आया |

I cannot not mention how wonderful Chandramohan Kulkarni's illustrations are in the book! Thank you Varun and Ektara Trust for providing me with a lovely companion for the night! :)

[Neha Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of this man, particularly the way he articulates his thoughts and captures them in his writings. Each story in the book is an ordinary piece from the canvas of his life, yet it feels extraordinary when you deep dive into that canvas through the little pieces. Every story will leave you with a food for thought in a very subtle way without being any preachy. Though it is difficult to choose, but my favourite story was ‘प्रमाणु बतख’, which beautifully introduces the three types of dreams, facets of research and the never ending quest for finding answers to our curiosities through the story of a young girl.
I loved the book!

[Muskaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories of ordinary people told with a charm. This was exactly it.
Was it a children's book? I don't care. I read it for Varun Grover and I was not disappointed.
Also read something in Hindi after a really long time and hope to continue (but not promising anything :p)

[Amit Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The effortless way in which Varun writes these endearing stories makes this a very good read. I bought it so I could read them to my daughter, but I got pulled into each story in the collection.

[Satdeep Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

ਇੰਨੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਆਈ ਕਿ ਹੁਣ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਕਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ! ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ, ਕੁਝ ਕੁ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।

[Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book has been a sheer delight. Written for children, yet there is so much to take from this book even for adults. Each story has a unique theme. Ranging from real life stories of partition to Sci-fi tales which portray questions about today’s war- frenzied world.

There is a subtle humour, lot of imagination and beautiful characterisation. Loved the way writer has used psychological aspects to narrate some of the stories.

One of the best children’s book I have ever read!

[Akash Kumar]

Super

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heard most of these stories in his live acts but always a fun read when you imagine things while reading them in Hindi!

[Vanshika Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

engaging. brilliant

[Akansha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been ages since I have read something in Hindi. I bought this book in the hopes that it would hold the same charm as those Panchatantra and Akbar Birbal ki kahaniya (stories) from my childhood. Sadly, it doesn’t; more so because I am older now. That charm, I believe will never come back. That’s just one of the things you lose as you grow up. It was an unrealistic expectation to begin with. Now, that doesn’t mean that the stories in this book are not good. Because they absolutely are and quite well written. They are not stories with over the top characters and climactic endings but stories with heart and soul. They are stories of humans and their everyday lives (with some exceptions). I am glad I picked it up, i enjoyed every minute of it!