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Amma's Pickle Collection and other stories
A collection of stories about the many surprises life springs on us. An old woman storing pickles on her balcony, a villager during the lockdown, a meticulous doctor at his clinic, a husband who suspects his wife of infidelity and a woman unable to conceive a child.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2022
About the author
Debeshi Gooptu
32 books17 followersAuthor of six novels and innumerable short stories. Writes an urban blog on life in Gurgaon.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 28, 2023
A very short book with 5 stories which fits the bill for a perfect light read. The stories are written well although they all are very predictable. The author has used very simple everyday language and simple settings
1) Amma’s pickle collection — This story started out very well detailing a old lady’s pickle making in her son’s house in the city. I felt this story had lot of scope for improvement. Somehow it ended up too abruptly. I couldn’t get what the author was trying to convey
2) The day the trains stopped — The story starts off when the mode of transport between places were stopped during CoVid. Story of a daily wager Malati working in a tea shop while dealing with a drunk husband and caring for a young child. This story has been dealt beautifully and the ending was really good
3) Flowers for the dead — This brings forth the age old evil of physical harassment but somehow didn’t hit the bulls eye
4) Cuckoo — Good execution but very predictable
5) Mother’s Milk — Good execution but the setup was little far fetched
Overall a one time light read. My rating - 3.25 rounded to 3
1) Amma’s pickle collection — This story started out very well detailing a old lady’s pickle making in her son’s house in the city. I felt this story had lot of scope for improvement. Somehow it ended up too abruptly. I couldn’t get what the author was trying to convey
2) The day the trains stopped — The story starts off when the mode of transport between places were stopped during CoVid. Story of a daily wager Malati working in a tea shop while dealing with a drunk husband and caring for a young child. This story has been dealt beautifully and the ending was really good
3) Flowers for the dead — This brings forth the age old evil of physical harassment but somehow didn’t hit the bulls eye
4) Cuckoo — Good execution but very predictable
5) Mother’s Milk — Good execution but the setup was little far fetched
Overall a one time light read. My rating - 3.25 rounded to 3
March 21, 2024
"Amma's Pickle Collection and Other Stories" is a short collection (less than 50 pages) featuring five short stories that celebrate the most ordinary and humble of Indians. It's a book that shines a light on the underdogs of society, championing their cause, their struggles, and their everyday lives.
Every tale prompts reflection on the inequalities of the world, highlighting the stark differences between people who live side by side every day—be it family members, coworkers, or acquaintances. These stories aren't necessarily happy ones, but they do offer a brief yet captivating glimpse into human lives.
Read the detailed review on India's No. 1 Book Blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/ammas-pickle...
Every tale prompts reflection on the inequalities of the world, highlighting the stark differences between people who live side by side every day—be it family members, coworkers, or acquaintances. These stories aren't necessarily happy ones, but they do offer a brief yet captivating glimpse into human lives.
Read the detailed review on India's No. 1 Book Blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/ammas-pickle...
September 19, 2022
Finished reading 'Amma's Pickle Collection and other stories' by
Debeshi Gooptu.
It's a collection of 5 short stories. Good ones. They're not happy stories; they're dark, twisted and thought-provoking. Debeshi is a wonderful storyteller, and her writing is so neat and crisp.
Debeshi Gooptu.
It's a collection of 5 short stories. Good ones. They're not happy stories; they're dark, twisted and thought-provoking. Debeshi is a wonderful storyteller, and her writing is so neat and crisp.
December 12, 2023
Review of a diverse five-story book, each story evoking different emotions. The reviewer's favourite is Mother's Milk, while Flowers for the Dead is less engaging. Cuckoo has the potential for a feature film.
It is a diverse, five-story book, each evoking different emotions, with Mother's Milk being my favourite.
Review of a diverse, five-story book, starting with a Shakespearean quote, evoking emotions.
Short and sweet- That's how I'd describe this book. It's a collection of five distinct stories, each one a unique experience that will pique your curiosity. Debeshi's decision to open the book with lines from William Shakespeare was a touch I particularly appreciated.
"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and
ill together: our virtues would be proud if our
faults whipped them not, and our crimes would
despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues."
Amma's Pickle paints the picture of a widowed mother who lives with her son after selling her house. It's not a tale of sorrow but a familiar narrative we see in our daily lives. The story is imbued with empathy and emotion that will touch your heart.
The Day the Train Stopped is another beautiful story of a woman trying to make ends meet after her husband loses his job in Corona and becomes an alcoholic. However, I found the end absolutely abrupt.
Flowers for the Dead is my least favourite read. I just couldn't get hooked on it. I found it to be a piece of news rather than a story.
Cuckoo, a love triangle tale, started with promising excitement. I had high expectations for this one, but it unfolded predictably. Despite this, I found pleasure in reading it. It's the only story in the collection with a lighter tone, and I believe it has the potential to captivate audiences as a feature film if further developed.
Mother's Milk is a story about a woman working in a doctor's clinic. It is the last story of the collection and the one that touched me the most. Debeshi has curated it with the precision of a surgeon, and it delivers what it intends to.
Debeshi's writing is lucid, and she knows how to swiftly move her plot. It is a quick and captivating read.
It is a diverse, five-story book, each evoking different emotions, with Mother's Milk being my favourite.
Review of a diverse, five-story book, starting with a Shakespearean quote, evoking emotions.
Short and sweet- That's how I'd describe this book. It's a collection of five distinct stories, each one a unique experience that will pique your curiosity. Debeshi's decision to open the book with lines from William Shakespeare was a touch I particularly appreciated.
"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and
ill together: our virtues would be proud if our
faults whipped them not, and our crimes would
despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues."
Amma's Pickle paints the picture of a widowed mother who lives with her son after selling her house. It's not a tale of sorrow but a familiar narrative we see in our daily lives. The story is imbued with empathy and emotion that will touch your heart.
The Day the Train Stopped is another beautiful story of a woman trying to make ends meet after her husband loses his job in Corona and becomes an alcoholic. However, I found the end absolutely abrupt.
Flowers for the Dead is my least favourite read. I just couldn't get hooked on it. I found it to be a piece of news rather than a story.
Cuckoo, a love triangle tale, started with promising excitement. I had high expectations for this one, but it unfolded predictably. Despite this, I found pleasure in reading it. It's the only story in the collection with a lighter tone, and I believe it has the potential to captivate audiences as a feature film if further developed.
Mother's Milk is a story about a woman working in a doctor's clinic. It is the last story of the collection and the one that touched me the most. Debeshi has curated it with the precision of a surgeon, and it delivers what it intends to.
Debeshi's writing is lucid, and she knows how to swiftly move her plot. It is a quick and captivating read.
April 5, 2024
Debeshi Gooptu’s ‘Amma’s Pickle Collection and Other Stories’ is a compelling anthology that delves into the intricacies of ordinary Indian lives with extraordinary depth. The collection, comprising five short stories, is a testament to Gooptu’s prowess as a storyteller. Her prose is crisp and neat, each word carefully chosen to weave narratives that are as dark and twisted as they are thought-provoking.
The stories are far from the conventional happy endings we often seek; instead, they challenge the reader to confront the stark realities of life. Gooptu celebrates the underdogs of society, bringing to light their struggles and triumphs in a world rife with inequality. The tales are powerful and unexpected, often leaving the reader with a punch in the gut just when they start to settle into the familiarity of the characters.
What makes this collection stand out is its ability to make the mundane extraordinary. Gooptu’s characters are stark and honest, touching upon various human emotions from despair to joy. The stories linger long after the last page is turned, prompting a reevaluation of the everyday people we encounter but seldom consider.
In less than 50 pages, ‘Amma’s Pickle Collection and Other Stories’ leaves a lasting impact, making one yearn for more. It’s a poignant read, insightful and beautifully crafted—a must-read for those who appreciate the power of short stories to reveal profound truths about our world.
The stories are far from the conventional happy endings we often seek; instead, they challenge the reader to confront the stark realities of life. Gooptu celebrates the underdogs of society, bringing to light their struggles and triumphs in a world rife with inequality. The tales are powerful and unexpected, often leaving the reader with a punch in the gut just when they start to settle into the familiarity of the characters.
What makes this collection stand out is its ability to make the mundane extraordinary. Gooptu’s characters are stark and honest, touching upon various human emotions from despair to joy. The stories linger long after the last page is turned, prompting a reevaluation of the everyday people we encounter but seldom consider.
In less than 50 pages, ‘Amma’s Pickle Collection and Other Stories’ leaves a lasting impact, making one yearn for more. It’s a poignant read, insightful and beautifully crafted—a must-read for those who appreciate the power of short stories to reveal profound truths about our world.
May 10, 2024
"Amma's Pickle Collection and Other Stories" is a book with five short stories about regular people in India. The stories show how they deal with life's ups and downs.
In one story, an old grandma loves making pickles and remembers her childhood in the village. Another story is about a mom struggling to take care of her child alone. A doctor faces a tough decision when a man needs help. A man worries about his wife's actions, and a sad story contrasts rich and poor families.
These tales may not be very exciting, but they make you think about the people around you. The writing is good but could use some improvements. Overall, the stories are touching and show the realness of everyday life.
In one story, an old grandma loves making pickles and remembers her childhood in the village. Another story is about a mom struggling to take care of her child alone. A doctor faces a tough decision when a man needs help. A man worries about his wife's actions, and a sad story contrasts rich and poor families.
These tales may not be very exciting, but they make you think about the people around you. The writing is good but could use some improvements. Overall, the stories are touching and show the realness of everyday life.
April 17, 2025
This book belongs in the garbage. It's not worth to be put in the garbage. It's a 5 stories full of poo!
I wasted my time reading this one!ugg the frustration.
This is a toxic book. It's just horrible. It's got 5 stories in there all of them are sad and bad and worse and it's a shitcan!
Here I was on a holiday and I wanted to pick up a nice book about stories that happened in India and I wanted it to be a short story. I came across this book.
The first story was alright. And everything after that is full of poo!
Don't pick up or even read this. I will save you the trauma! .
Yuck!
Rating: needs to be flushed down the toilet. -100
I wasted my time reading this one!ugg the frustration.
This is a toxic book. It's just horrible. It's got 5 stories in there all of them are sad and bad and worse and it's a shitcan!
Here I was on a holiday and I wanted to pick up a nice book about stories that happened in India and I wanted it to be a short story. I came across this book.
The first story was alright. And everything after that is full of poo!
Don't pick up or even read this. I will save you the trauma! .
Yuck!
Rating: needs to be flushed down the toilet. -100
November 25, 2023
Book review:
Book name: Amma's pickle collection and other stories
Author: Debeshi Gooptu
Pages: 43
Rating: 5/5
🌸The book holds a collection of Short Stories which are a slice taken from the lives of different people.
🌸The stories are so realistic and I believe those are real ones.
🌸Different stories from different lives of different people, the author has given a glimpse of experience.
🌸I personally loved all the short stories and my favourite were Amma's Pickle and Mother's Milk.
🌸 A wonderful book to read!
Book name: Amma's pickle collection and other stories
Author: Debeshi Gooptu
Pages: 43
Rating: 5/5
🌸The book holds a collection of Short Stories which are a slice taken from the lives of different people.
🌸The stories are so realistic and I believe those are real ones.
🌸Different stories from different lives of different people, the author has given a glimpse of experience.
🌸I personally loved all the short stories and my favourite were Amma's Pickle and Mother's Milk.
🌸 A wonderful book to read!
November 18, 2022
Week 37 Book 32
Amma's pickles by Debeshi Gooptu
Rating: 3/5
A super quick read, this is a collection of short stories with twists and turns and shocking/cliffhanger endings... Debeshi is a master storyteller... I love her imagination and writing style. Leaves me wanting more!
Amma's pickles by Debeshi Gooptu
Rating: 3/5
A super quick read, this is a collection of short stories with twists and turns and shocking/cliffhanger endings... Debeshi is a master storyteller... I love her imagination and writing style. Leaves me wanting more!
October 11, 2022
A beautiful collection of stories where human emotions range from hopelessness and despair to light and joy. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the short stories.
March 13, 2024
I have been in love with short stories as they have the power to explain the mundane things. I enjoyed reading this collection, it leaves you wanting more.
June 5, 2025
1.5 🌟
Only one story seemed to make sense
Rest all of them had the most abrupt endings
Not worth reading
Only one story seemed to make sense
Rest all of them had the most abrupt endings
Not worth reading
August 9, 2024
A perfect commute read!:) Enjoyed all the 5 short stories. 👍
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews