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BLUE SKY WHITE CLOUD
A defenceless male elephant calf, born on the grasslands of the great Brahmaputra River, grows into a formidable tusker, journeying through the verdant green hills of northeastern India and Burma. With him, we walk through the vastness of the Indo-Malayan rainforests as he attempts to understand the humans who have irretrievably changed the jungles he roams.
Hira Singh, a forest guard in the Nadhia Wildlife Sanctuary, crosses paths with a female leopard who is facing shrinking forests in the hills that are her home. Their lives closely mirror each other’s, following similar patterns of love and loss, as fate resolves to bring the two together, perhaps for the last time.
Nadia, a wildlife biologist researching geese, travels to Mongolia, where she tags two geese: Blue Sky and White Cloud. As the birds fly southwards over the Himalayas, she meets Vivek, India’s Minister of State for Environment. Their instantaneous friendship soon takes Vivek to a lush valley at the base of the soaring Himalayas, where he must make a decision that will impact the lives of all around him.
With beautiful illustrations and rich prose, the three novellas in Blue Sky, White Cloud narrate stories from the perspectives of man and beast, showing us that, much like us, animals, too, have extraordinary stories to tell.
Hira Singh, a forest guard in the Nadhia Wildlife Sanctuary, crosses paths with a female leopard who is facing shrinking forests in the hills that are her home. Their lives closely mirror each other’s, following similar patterns of love and loss, as fate resolves to bring the two together, perhaps for the last time.
Nadia, a wildlife biologist researching geese, travels to Mongolia, where she tags two geese: Blue Sky and White Cloud. As the birds fly southwards over the Himalayas, she meets Vivek, India’s Minister of State for Environment. Their instantaneous friendship soon takes Vivek to a lush valley at the base of the soaring Himalayas, where he must make a decision that will impact the lives of all around him.
With beautiful illustrations and rich prose, the three novellas in Blue Sky, White Cloud narrate stories from the perspectives of man and beast, showing us that, much like us, animals, too, have extraordinary stories to tell.
212 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 5, 2022
“She came down from the hills through the shifting colours of autumn. She moved like an illusion, like smoke, or water, weaving soundlessly among the big, dark woody boles of the ancient oaks, their leaves now the colour of copper and rust.”
Strangely, this reminded me of Rudyard Kipling’s jungle stories, not so much in themes but in settings; how a story starts and ends among trees and hills and wild beasts, hardly venturing into human civilization. Within these three novella, Ghosh introduces us to a wild north Indian Elephant, a wandering leopard in the hills and to a pair of Mongolian geese. Through them, we see the landscapes of Asia, the high altitudes of Himalaya, the verdant greens of Burma, the passages of migratory birds and learn the everyday lives of these beings, both on earth and in the sky. The writing is extremely poetic and descriptive, Ghosh takes all the opportunity to describe the rolling slopes of hills, the settling mist, the first rain of monsoon, the view of mountains from above. And these are the moments, in these contagious paragraphs does the book shine the most, to see nature and wildlife untouched by humanity. As the book focuses on animals, their natural surroundings and the consequence of human interference, there isn’t much to the plot or story. The first novella River Storm is the weakest of the three while the second Spirit Of The Hills is the strongest and my personal favourite. As for the last, Blue Sky White Cloud is the most environmental as it partly deals with a dam construction which puts a Himalayan valley in danger. On the whole,I enjoyed all the novella to varying degrees.
Strangely, this reminded me of Rudyard Kipling’s jungle stories, not so much in themes but in settings; how a story starts and ends among trees and hills and wild beasts, hardly venturing into human civilization. Within these three novella, Ghosh introduces us to a wild north Indian Elephant, a wandering leopard in the hills and to a pair of Mongolian geese. Through them, we see the landscapes of Asia, the high altitudes of Himalaya, the verdant greens of Burma, the passages of migratory birds and learn the everyday lives of these beings, both on earth and in the sky. The writing is extremely poetic and descriptive, Ghosh takes all the opportunity to describe the rolling slopes of hills, the settling mist, the first rain of monsoon, the view of mountains from above. And these are the moments, in these contagious paragraphs does the book shine the most, to see nature and wildlife untouched by humanity. As the book focuses on animals, their natural surroundings and the consequence of human interference, there isn’t much to the plot or story. The first novella River Storm is the weakest of the three while the second Spirit Of The Hills is the strongest and my personal favourite. As for the last, Blue Sky White Cloud is the most environmental as it partly deals with a dam construction which puts a Himalayan valley in danger. On the whole,I enjoyed all the novella to varying degrees.
May 3, 2022
I’ve often wondered what would the world be like if even animals could talk to us and communicate their emotions.
Nirmal Ghosh has beautifully portrayed that in this book - coexistence of humans and animals.
The book is a collection of 3 novellas which narrates the stories from the perspective of both humans and animals. An elephant who tries to understand the changes made to his jungle, a leopard who’s facing shrinking forests and 2 geese who flies around the Himalayas, through them, the author has tried to explore the vast emotions of the animals.
Beautifully written, I loved every single page of the book. The detailing is on point and I could actually feel myself exploring the nature. This book actually taught me a lot and I would definitely recommend this to each and every reader out there.
Nirmal Ghosh has beautifully portrayed that in this book - coexistence of humans and animals.
The book is a collection of 3 novellas which narrates the stories from the perspective of both humans and animals. An elephant who tries to understand the changes made to his jungle, a leopard who’s facing shrinking forests and 2 geese who flies around the Himalayas, through them, the author has tried to explore the vast emotions of the animals.
Beautifully written, I loved every single page of the book. The detailing is on point and I could actually feel myself exploring the nature. This book actually taught me a lot and I would definitely recommend this to each and every reader out there.
June 1, 2022
Empathy is the need of the hour because we don't care about the aftermath of our actions. Hence, Blue Sky, White Cloud states the obvious yet the untertoned narrative pinches more than convey anything directly. It's heart wrenching to read about a young elephant calf who is born to become formidable and make way for his survival, fighting tooth and nail (quite literally) to have a peaceful existence. It's even more distressing to see a leopard voice out the sorrows and feel helpless. Much like humans, the animals, too, are shown to have emotions that are bottled up till the heart decides to make a move.
Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
April 18, 2022
Blue sky white cloud is one of my favourite books from April. This was my first brush by Nirmal Ghosh’s work and I became a fan! Read on to know my thoughts on this book. I finished this book in a single sitting and was so impressed.
~
Growing up in Nasik, there were many instances of बिबट्या (leopards) entering residential areas and attacking the locals. My father always used to say, why are we blaming that innocent animal? It’s us who have enroached on it’s rightful home, we humans are to blame. And how right it is! We have reduced the green jungles and erected a concrete jungle in it’s place.
Blue sky, white cloud is a collection of three novellas focusing on animals, the coexistence of humans and animals and the feelings and emotions they go through. I have often wondered, if animals could talk, what will they say about us?
We seldom read about wildlife in books and this book bridges the gap beautifully.
Every novella does justice to the emotions felt by the animals and also allows the reader to look at them from a different lens.
~
Animals too feel loneliness, angst, security and the beautiful prose by Ghosh will leave you stunned. Soak in nature, be friends with the animals in this book and learn and unlearn some things through this book!! So glad I read it 🌸💜
4⭐️
~
Growing up in Nasik, there were many instances of बिबट्या (leopards) entering residential areas and attacking the locals. My father always used to say, why are we blaming that innocent animal? It’s us who have enroached on it’s rightful home, we humans are to blame. And how right it is! We have reduced the green jungles and erected a concrete jungle in it’s place.
Blue sky, white cloud is a collection of three novellas focusing on animals, the coexistence of humans and animals and the feelings and emotions they go through. I have often wondered, if animals could talk, what will they say about us?
We seldom read about wildlife in books and this book bridges the gap beautifully.
Every novella does justice to the emotions felt by the animals and also allows the reader to look at them from a different lens.
~
Animals too feel loneliness, angst, security and the beautiful prose by Ghosh will leave you stunned. Soak in nature, be friends with the animals in this book and learn and unlearn some things through this book!! So glad I read it 🌸💜
4⭐️
April 19, 2022
It's been a while I read a book in a sitting. Clearly, my favorite book of the year, so far.
.
What vivid descriptions, what beautiful evocative imageries, what lush story-telling, what a brilliant show of compassion for wildlife and nature, what a heart-wrenching view of the plight of animals due to growing urbanization, what an introduction to the lesser-known kinder side of nature's most ferocious, and oh, my God, what a spectacular depiction of the rare amiable bonds between humans and animals!
.
The writing, the few central characters, the settings, the narratives from animal POVs, everything in these novellas is a sheer delight which proves the prodigy the author is. At every level, this book is a perfectly charming thus, a memorable read.
.
Do grab this book asap, read it asap, and then tell me if it doesn't make you want to drop everything and pack your bags for a walk in the woods.
.
Thanking Aleph Book Company for the reviewer's copy. :)
.
What vivid descriptions, what beautiful evocative imageries, what lush story-telling, what a brilliant show of compassion for wildlife and nature, what a heart-wrenching view of the plight of animals due to growing urbanization, what an introduction to the lesser-known kinder side of nature's most ferocious, and oh, my God, what a spectacular depiction of the rare amiable bonds between humans and animals!
.
The writing, the few central characters, the settings, the narratives from animal POVs, everything in these novellas is a sheer delight which proves the prodigy the author is. At every level, this book is a perfectly charming thus, a memorable read.
.
Do grab this book asap, read it asap, and then tell me if it doesn't make you want to drop everything and pack your bags for a walk in the woods.
.
Thanking Aleph Book Company for the reviewer's copy. :)
May 2, 2022
The book is a collection of three novellas with a common theme – change. Each of the stories dwells into how we, as humans, have changed our world and the kind of effect it has had on animals. Every story also talks about an unsaid connection between an animal and a human, spreading over the years.
The first story talks about an elephant who, as a calf, faced human wrath and escaped, and the way it shaped his future reactions to humans in general.
The second is about a leopard who has lost everyone she knows and is constantly targeted for existing. Many who do not understand the rules of wildlife end up scaring and cornering the big cats and are in turn, mauled, and so the cycle continues.
The third of a valley, where Nadia Qureshi once tagged two birds in hope of researching their migration movements.
All three stories are written less in dialogue and more in narration, shifting focus from one point of view to another, showing a story in sphere. With a detailed style, the writer brings to focus the surroundings in which the animals and humans grew alike and special attention to the forests as the landscape changes.
While the stories are enjoyable, the details seemed too much and breaks in my reading experience. I was excited for the illustrations but they felt like an afterthought and didn’t add anything to the story. The length of the stories felt unnecessarily long, and the flow of writing suffered in my opinion.
The first story talks about an elephant who, as a calf, faced human wrath and escaped, and the way it shaped his future reactions to humans in general.
The second is about a leopard who has lost everyone she knows and is constantly targeted for existing. Many who do not understand the rules of wildlife end up scaring and cornering the big cats and are in turn, mauled, and so the cycle continues.
The third of a valley, where Nadia Qureshi once tagged two birds in hope of researching their migration movements.
All three stories are written less in dialogue and more in narration, shifting focus from one point of view to another, showing a story in sphere. With a detailed style, the writer brings to focus the surroundings in which the animals and humans grew alike and special attention to the forests as the landscape changes.
While the stories are enjoyable, the details seemed too much and breaks in my reading experience. I was excited for the illustrations but they felt like an afterthought and didn’t add anything to the story. The length of the stories felt unnecessarily long, and the flow of writing suffered in my opinion.
June 12, 2022
The book is made up of three stoThe writer uses a thorough manner to bring to life the environments in which animals and humans grew up, with special emphasis paid to the forests as the landscape changes. I loved this story and would recommend everyone to read this story as it clearly focuses the perspectives of animals and humans. I enjoyed all three novellas ❤️.ries that all have the same theme: transition. Each story focuses on how we, as humans, have altered our environment and the impact this has had on animals. Every story also includes an unspoken connection between an animal and a human that has developed over time.
Every story in this book depicts a confrontation between roving nature and advancing humans. Wandering beasts have a propensity of upsetting the peaceful coexistence that has existed for the longest period. Unfortunate situations, such as diminishing woodlands causing a food shortage, which leads to urban violence, portray the reality of ostensibly peaceful coexistence.
Every story in this book depicts a confrontation between roving nature and advancing humans. Wandering beasts have a propensity of upsetting the peaceful coexistence that has existed for the longest period. Unfortunate situations, such as diminishing woodlands causing a food shortage, which leads to urban violence, portray the reality of ostensibly peaceful coexistence.
February 18, 2023
She moved like an illusion, like smoke, or water, weaving soundlessly among the big, dark woody boles of the ancient oaks, their leaves now the colour of copper and dustThree intense and distressing stories about man-animal conflict. Increased encroaching on the natural habitat of animals by humans finds the latter coming out second best. The conflict is beautifully narrated from the viewpoints of an elephant in Assam, a leopard in the foothills of the Himalayas and a pair of bar-headed geese on their mind-boggling high altitude migration above the Himalayas from Mongolia to Delhi.
And through the trees, the storm wind howled, and the grass bent under its force and the lash of the rain until it seemed to Ronesh that the whole wilderness was mourning with him.The bar-headed geese
The air here contains less than half the oxygen content at sea level. Bar-headed gees fly at the limits of life, beyond what mountaineers call the 'death zone' - an elevation higher than the black ravens of the crags, higher than the great Himalayan griffon that cruises the tall spores looking for carrion and prey, taking them clear over across the massive mountains, and down into the plains of India.And after this arduous journey conquering nature, dodging jet-liners, the geese sadly succumb to the rapacity of humans
Wheeling around the field to gain height, watching the figures below making a noise, they initially failed to notice the high-tension wires strung across the fields, hanging from pylons marching across the plains, partially hidden in the fog.All the stories will move you to tears.
The lead goose did see them at the last second and, with a honk of warning to the rest of the flock following close behind and alongside, he managed to clear them. The rest somehow managed to get above them as well.
The rest, except for BH7.
White Cloud slammed into the wired and was briefly entangled in them. Then there was a bright flash and she was dead, instantly, her heart giving out.
Crumpled into a ball, she hit the ground, convulsed once and lay lifeless on the field.
Bh6 turned and came down for her, landing nearby. He walked to where she lay. There was no sign of any life. He stood there for a while.
His companion of ten years was gone.
June 29, 2022
‘Blue Sky, White Cloud’ delves into the genre of environmental fiction, giving birth to three novellas, each of which contain animals and nature as much as they contain human sentiments. What gets created is a symbiosis between us and our animal counterparts in the woods, juxtaposition of urbanization with wildness. Compassion, kindness, loss, dislocation—the book dives deep into the primitivity of these emotions, showing us how we are products of the natural evolution after all.
A lot provokes thought throughout the book. But the most crucial of them comes to be the interaction between man’s engagement with nature, and how they get treated in return. Are these ‘animal stories’ ? Truly, yes. The animals here bask in a central speciality, and much of the book goes in locating their importance in the fabric of the story. Geography, sustainability, wildlife conservation, habitat loss—all of these get discussed periodically, making the stories invested more in the context than the plot. Readers must have read many stories of hunting expeditions and wildlife sightings, but they might not have read stories so gleefully engrossed in pure natural symbiotic living.
Each of the readers reading ‘Blue Sky, White Cloud’ will appreciate the seeming verbosity of the writing, which is indeed hard to miss. The author perhaps wanted to channelize a large part of his creative potential in the grand descriptions of nature and weather, and he does so quite remarkably. The narrations are shaped well, formed and supported with pillars of understanding of the professed subject. The trail of the story suffers at times, the proposed theme getting lost in the repeated waves of wordiness and linguistic ornamentation. In the end however, it becomes worth it. The novellas have the capacity to remain memorable to reader perceptive enough.
Thanks Aleph Book Company for the copy.
A lot provokes thought throughout the book. But the most crucial of them comes to be the interaction between man’s engagement with nature, and how they get treated in return. Are these ‘animal stories’ ? Truly, yes. The animals here bask in a central speciality, and much of the book goes in locating their importance in the fabric of the story. Geography, sustainability, wildlife conservation, habitat loss—all of these get discussed periodically, making the stories invested more in the context than the plot. Readers must have read many stories of hunting expeditions and wildlife sightings, but they might not have read stories so gleefully engrossed in pure natural symbiotic living.
Each of the readers reading ‘Blue Sky, White Cloud’ will appreciate the seeming verbosity of the writing, which is indeed hard to miss. The author perhaps wanted to channelize a large part of his creative potential in the grand descriptions of nature and weather, and he does so quite remarkably. The narrations are shaped well, formed and supported with pillars of understanding of the professed subject. The trail of the story suffers at times, the proposed theme getting lost in the repeated waves of wordiness and linguistic ornamentation. In the end however, it becomes worth it. The novellas have the capacity to remain memorable to reader perceptive enough.
Thanks Aleph Book Company for the copy.
July 17, 2024
‘Listen, you wanted to hear them…listen….’
‘Listening intently, after a few seconds she picked up the sound, high above them.
‘You hear that? ‘ her father said.
‘That’s the greylag geese. ‘
The geese were talking, she heard them in the dark bowl of the moonless sky. Short, slightly harsh honks, back and forth.
~
Blue Sky White Cloud, is like an oasis to the parched wanderer, a surreal discovery that changes the course of the journey. Three beautifully written novellas with gorgeous illustrations and profoundly rich prose travelling through feral environs make this collection an aesthetic marvel.
I have seldom come across narratives that paint wildlife in kaleidoscopic intricacy, one that amazes with the slightest change in stance. Every story from this collection is an encounter between meandering wildlife and encroaching humans. The habitual wandering beasts often disturb the co-existence that sustained itself for the longest time ever. Unfortunate circumstances of decreasing forests creating dearth of food, leading to urban attacks depict the reality of the supposed peaceful co-existence.
Though fictional, the stories portray the perspectives and realizations felt and experienced by animals whilst they encounter human beings; sensations of fear, apprehension, security, calm, loneliness, contentment make themselves evident with the empathetic details in the narration.
Flawlessly portrayed, this book trails slowly soaking in the atmospheric wonders of nature, in all its moods. Simply one of the best reads this year and a book I’m highly recommending.
‘Listening intently, after a few seconds she picked up the sound, high above them.
‘You hear that? ‘ her father said.
‘That’s the greylag geese. ‘
The geese were talking, she heard them in the dark bowl of the moonless sky. Short, slightly harsh honks, back and forth.
~
Blue Sky White Cloud, is like an oasis to the parched wanderer, a surreal discovery that changes the course of the journey. Three beautifully written novellas with gorgeous illustrations and profoundly rich prose travelling through feral environs make this collection an aesthetic marvel.
I have seldom come across narratives that paint wildlife in kaleidoscopic intricacy, one that amazes with the slightest change in stance. Every story from this collection is an encounter between meandering wildlife and encroaching humans. The habitual wandering beasts often disturb the co-existence that sustained itself for the longest time ever. Unfortunate circumstances of decreasing forests creating dearth of food, leading to urban attacks depict the reality of the supposed peaceful co-existence.
Though fictional, the stories portray the perspectives and realizations felt and experienced by animals whilst they encounter human beings; sensations of fear, apprehension, security, calm, loneliness, contentment make themselves evident with the empathetic details in the narration.
Flawlessly portrayed, this book trails slowly soaking in the atmospheric wonders of nature, in all its moods. Simply one of the best reads this year and a book I’m highly recommending.
April 19, 2022
Want to know a story from animals pov this book gives you exactly what you need a perspective on life from the lenses of animals and birds, it's a well-researched book, which instantly connects you to the characters their emotions, hardships, and life in the wild.
The author has done incredible work by showcasing the life's that we all are aware of but yet unknown.
This novel takes you through a different journey which is amazing altogether. The book is divided into three novellas showcasing the not-so-ordinary life of animals and birds. Also, the book contains beautiful illustrations in between the chapters, which makes it more interesting to visualize.
It is a page turning novel with a lot to learn and understand about the how different every living beings lives are.
This a story of animals and humans, narrated in a extraordinary manner.
I highly recommend you to read this wonderful fictional book!
The author has done incredible work by showcasing the life's that we all are aware of but yet unknown.
This novel takes you through a different journey which is amazing altogether. The book is divided into three novellas showcasing the not-so-ordinary life of animals and birds. Also, the book contains beautiful illustrations in between the chapters, which makes it more interesting to visualize.
It is a page turning novel with a lot to learn and understand about the how different every living beings lives are.
This a story of animals and humans, narrated in a extraordinary manner.
I highly recommend you to read this wonderful fictional book!
May 16, 2023
A lovely ensemble of 3 novellas .. the first two describe human impact on animal environment in a manner which evokes sympathy for the animal.. the third part tries to redeem human action, but it felt like a rushed story. Overall, thought provoking book with excellent descriptions of the geography and animal mindset. Easily red in a day.
October 9, 2022
I enjoyed reading it. It is moving, almost lyrical and talks about the animals who we are familiar with but know very little about them.
August 17, 2024
This is a beautifully written book. I think everyone should read it at least once. It holds the power to turn a normal human being into a wildlife advocate.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews