Ten Tangled Tales: Short Stories

by Suduhita Mitra Sankhe

Unsettling Stories from Unheard Voices. These stories traverse through the lives of ten ordinary individuals living in the USA and India (Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Varanasi, and remote Arunachal Pradesh) but they all have one thing in common - their unexpected and convoluted reality. Sometimes regular life can be wicked! Hello Sunshine!   In Minnesota, amidst the Covid19 pandemic, a neighborhood is scared about a different omen of death. What can be worse than the pandemic itself?   Mirror Mirror on the wall   A story unfolds in suburban Mumbai, leaving everyone perplexed. There is a schizophrenic husband with an illicit affair, and there is his crazy wife, who is supposedly hatching a plan to kill him. Who are they really? Only their mirror seems to know.   Two truths and a lie   In an affluent Kolkata neighborhood, an old man recites a story about the famous Kohinoor diamond, forcing the protagonist to question the present narrative.   The Perfect Storm   On a stormy night in remote Arunachal Pradesh, a lady in distress, a lone driver, and an escaped psychopath cross paths momentarily. Who will survive this short encounter?   And More..
If you love reading books by Roald Dahl and Ruskin Bond, you will love these twisted tales. *** "Intriguing collection with a surprising twist. Highly recommended for literature collections for the contemporary Indian writings." - Midwest Book Reviews "It is a short story reader’s delight! All stories cover a range of emotions, experiences, and settings; giving one the sensation of seeing a great deal of the world and the people who inhabit it, without moving an inch. A great satisfying collection all in all!" - Ushasi Sen Basu – Author Kathputli & A Killer Amongst Us "Suduhita has beautifully penned the various facets of human life in urban societies through love, marriage, agony, jealousy, conspiracy, and human psychology." - Prof. Tamo Mibang, Former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Central University

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life never was a fairy tale, otherwise we would not need them! Modern life seems more and more fraught with anxiety and uncertainty for the young and that is at the heart of these stories. Sometimes modern jobs and technology do not help the inner life of the characters. There are generational conflicts aplenty.

I love the author’s use of ghosts and the feel of traditional Indian supernatural mixed with contemporary life. That gives a special texture to some crafty ideas. This is a first book and I’d like to see a novel next.

[Puja M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how every story is different and captures the essence of different places around the world. The stories had an unexpected turn in the end, which made it the next story even more intriguing. Great job

[Ruchita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading all the short stories in this book. The stories were captivating and brilliantly written.

[Punam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better books that I have read by an Indian author after a long time. It is a page-turner, pacy and a very great read. I liked the ideas used in each of the short stories as they deal with the current problems of our younger generations. Highly recommend it to anyone wanting to read a good bunch of short stories!

[Aditya V · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the book that I finally was able to read in couple of days. Perfect tangled stories, didn't anticipate any of the story endings. The compelling part for me was how the stories were written.

Must buy for anyone who loves short stories with unexpected endings. Hope the author comes up with more such tangled tales.

[John Hilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved to read collections of 50s- and 60s-era ghost stories as a kid in the 1970s. Those collections back then relied on suspense, strange twists, and surprise endings for impact, and many were so much fun that I still remember them in detail, forty years later. The pen-and-ink illustrations accompanying those stories were part of the charm back then as well.

I found the same charm in these tangled tales. There are ghost stories here (including one very familiar trope an alternate version of which may or may not be featured in the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure")—and stories of magic, loss, love, and at least one cursed mirror.

Better yet, the history, religion, superstitions, and culture of India frame these stories, giving even those embodying familiar tropes a unique and interesting flavor.

And just as in those old books of ghost stories I loved as a kid, each story here is headed with a hand-drawn illustration—by the author's talented husband, no less.

I do wish the book had been edited a little more thoroughly prior to publication as the text stumbles regularly over grammar and syntax. The use of the "For-with-a-comma" in the title is an example. There are odd turns of phrase here and there and misused verbs that require a steady stream of reader forgiveness from beginning-to-end.

Nevertheless, these tangled tales are so much fun that it was not difficult for me to do that. I would welcome the opportunity to read a longer length piece by this author (properly edited).

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. A free read for Kindle from Amazon.

So the "real" readers know that fairy tales aren't all that warm and fuzzy. For example, Cinderella's stepmother cuts a toe off one daughter's foot and a heel off the other to make the glass slipper fit. These tales have a dark side to them, and sometimes the hero(ine) comes through and sometimes the boogie man does. (I just finished reading The Paris Hours, where a puppeteer has very gruesome endings to his shows.)

Good writing, bonus line drawings and footnotes explain different Indian customs or gods that the US reader may not know. In every case the length was perfect for a short story.

I didn't know the Goddess Durga was a Goddess of War (against evil and demonic forces that threaten peace and prosperity).

[Readlikeagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because of the dark twists and turns. The stories are quite imaginative and I really liked the way things panned out. The endings were something that was left for the readers to interpret and that added a little more food for thought for readers. There was never a dull moment in any of the stories. I also liked the illustrations at the beginning of each of the stories. I would love to read more by this author.

[Leigh Poe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories and they definitely portray that life is NOT a fairy tale. These stories are good for YA and older, and each showed creativity and uniqueness. I particularly liked the story that focused on ordering a 'surprise' from the dark web, and as with most of the other stories, I found the ending to be an interesting surprise! Overall, a fun and entertaining read with appropriate length for each of the stories told.

[Anuja Thorat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story is a bite-sized journey into the unknown, expertly weaving a web of intrigue that captivates from the very first line. Few stories are nerve cracking and electrifying whilst few will leave you contemplating.
From the grim urban landscape of Mumbai , Minnesota to the dense forests of Arunachal and mystic lanes of Varanasi the author effortlessly navigates us through her fast paced stories.
Collection is must read for those looking for quick heart pounding adrenaline rush

[Priyanka S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved short stories because you can complete your reading before going to sleep ! :)

Loved this one - All 10 stories were very unique, and kept me on the hook to know what was going to happen in the end of each story. Completely unexpected endings, which is always a treat for every reader.

[Jane Taylor]

The ten short stories in this book are set mainly in India, although not exclusively, and they contain elements of the mysticism and the history of that great land while at the same time dealing with some very modern problems of the digital age. I found each tale fascinating and was eager each time to find out what the twist would be at the end. I was 100% hooked. 5 stars

[Debarati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading ‘Ten Tangled Tales’ & now I am really looking forward to the next book from Suduhita.

Each short story is a reading delight and covers variety of detailed characters/scenarios. Twists at the climax keeps you intrigued all through out.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unsettling” is the right word for these stories. They were sometimes dark and shocking with a hint of reality in them. I specially liked the fact that the ending was left to readers to fathom. That makes this book a great read for book clubs too!! A must read I would say.

[Myst · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are unique. I liked the way the author showed the lives of people living in India and in the US. It was a good mix of cultural insights which made the stories come alive. A must read I would say.

[DReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stories are so different and fascinating !! Specially liked the one on Aghoris.

Overall its a book that covers a wide range of human emotions, misfortune, hardships and loss through its ten tales.

[Elis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. They roped you in, I read the book in one sitting! My favorites were "Hello Sunshine", "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall", and "The Perfect Storm". I've been liking spooky stuff lately.

[Priti Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if u like short stories. Beautifully describes Indian lifestyle.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author had a great writing style!

[Yuvashree P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the "Two Truths and a Lie" segment. That story was VERY good!

[Rajnish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book pretty quickly. The stories are not very long and things kept happening in every page. It was an interesting read and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who like stories with a twist.

[A.X.Y. Grace]

Love the inclusivity

This collection of short stories by Suduhita Mitra was a surprisingly pleasant read, especially on commutes to work. There are stories which depicted a range of genres, from various forms of love, to mystery and cultural traditions that introduce readers to a glimpse of India.