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Eight - Fantastical Tales From Here, There & Everywhere: Around the World Collection
What if… anything was possible?
What really lurks beneath the humdrum and the mundane, the ubiquitous and the familiar? And what if you came face to face with it?
Enter a world where goddesses descend to earth, mythical creatures materialise out of thin air, ghosts mean well, and limbs have minds of their own. In a series of tales that explore the fantastical and the surreal, the lives of ordinary people are upturned by bizarre incidents and mysterious happenings.
Are you ready for a taste of some marvellously magical cake?
What really lurks beneath the humdrum and the mundane, the ubiquitous and the familiar? And what if you came face to face with it?
Enter a world where goddesses descend to earth, mythical creatures materialise out of thin air, ghosts mean well, and limbs have minds of their own. In a series of tales that explore the fantastical and the surreal, the lives of ordinary people are upturned by bizarre incidents and mysterious happenings.
Are you ready for a taste of some marvellously magical cake?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2021
28 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Poornima Manco
15 books59 followersPoornima is an award-winning novelist whose short stories have been published in The Guardian and The Telegraph newspapers in the UK. Born and raised in India, she still retains a deep connection to her motherland, which reflects in all her stories and books. Poornima lives in the UK with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 12, 2022
I saw a couple of favourable reviews for this book and decided to pick it up. While I like short stories, I read very few every year. This book was a good change – the stories are engrossing and progress very easily.
The eight stories are all in different countries & cultures. There is a liberal sprinkling of local words. It adds a touch of cuteness to the stories, though it feels forced in a few cases. The stories are quite diverse and cover many themes – romance, relationships, hope, fantasy & some basic sci-fi.
The stories I liked best are:
- The Invisible Staircase - the first story and unusual for me as I hardly read romance but it had a fine touch of charm.
- Lala Lakshmi - nice life lessons, while still being subtle & not preachy.
- A Thank you would be nice - has the touch of the implausible but had an element of surprise which I liked.
Some other good stories were:
- The Butterfly Effect - tragedy turning into hope and finding lost relationships.
- Idol - a pop star receives some unexpected advice as she pursues her dreams
- The Perfect Wife - somewhat jaded dialogues & poor character development, but has some elements of surprise & relationship message.
I did not much enjoy reading: Osterhase & New Year, New You.
Most of the stories are very good, do the difficult job of covering diverse cultures and almost none are predictable. A book well worth a read. Recommended!
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher and the author for a free electronic review copy.
The eight stories are all in different countries & cultures. There is a liberal sprinkling of local words. It adds a touch of cuteness to the stories, though it feels forced in a few cases. The stories are quite diverse and cover many themes – romance, relationships, hope, fantasy & some basic sci-fi.
The stories I liked best are:
- The Invisible Staircase - the first story and unusual for me as I hardly read romance but it had a fine touch of charm.
- Lala Lakshmi - nice life lessons, while still being subtle & not preachy.
- A Thank you would be nice - has the touch of the implausible but had an element of surprise which I liked.
Some other good stories were:
- The Butterfly Effect - tragedy turning into hope and finding lost relationships.
- Idol - a pop star receives some unexpected advice as she pursues her dreams
- The Perfect Wife - somewhat jaded dialogues & poor character development, but has some elements of surprise & relationship message.
I did not much enjoy reading: Osterhase & New Year, New You.
Most of the stories are very good, do the difficult job of covering diverse cultures and almost none are predictable. A book well worth a read. Recommended!
Thanks to BookSirens, the publisher and the author for a free electronic review copy.
December 21, 2021
The title and the tagline of this book tell you precisely what this book has: eight fantasy stories from around the world. But is that ever enough in a review? Aren’t you always curious to know more? Read on to see if the book does justice to every part of its name.
“Eight”: The number of the stories in this little anthology was just right for me. Not too many, not too few. I read a story a day, but each tale is so different from each other than even if you read it in a go, you won’t find it repetitive.
“Fantastical”: Often assumed to be only the adjective form of ‘fantasy”, “fantastical” actually contains a broader meaning: strange, bizarre, outworldly. Every story in this book fits most of these adjectives as each has some content from out of this world, literally. Don’t take this to be your typical fairies and dragons kind of fantasy. Each tale has a specific magical element and in almost all cases, the magic is unexplained. (As it must be; how is it “magic” otherwise?) But the stories are set in our actual world and hence better fit into “magical realism” than “fantasy” as a genre.
“Tales”: Yeah, well… self-explanatory. Short stories. Divided across about 200 pages, each story received enough attention from the author. Hence each main character was carved well enough, each tale had a definite structure (not necessarily your traditional start-middle-end), and each one had enough food for thought.
“From Here, There & Everywhere”: Every tale is set in a separate location from across the world. This further ensures that your interest levels stay sustained as the use of the local language and in some cases, the culture and places, adds to the distinctiveness of each story. So the story set in Germany has some lines in German, the one in Argentina has Spanish words, and so on. While this works wonderfully for most of the stories, it seems a little forced at times.
Here’s my brief feedback on the eight tales.
As you can see, I enjoyed almost all of the stories in this book. Pick it up whenever you want some light and quick and magical. Recommended for sure.
My rating: 4.25 shiny stars (the average of the ratings mentioned above.)
Before I forget, I must add: I simply loved that cover design. Such a perfect fit for the book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts about it. Thank you very much for this opportunity to read and review your work, Poornima. 😊
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
“Eight”: The number of the stories in this little anthology was just right for me. Not too many, not too few. I read a story a day, but each tale is so different from each other than even if you read it in a go, you won’t find it repetitive.
“Fantastical”: Often assumed to be only the adjective form of ‘fantasy”, “fantastical” actually contains a broader meaning: strange, bizarre, outworldly. Every story in this book fits most of these adjectives as each has some content from out of this world, literally. Don’t take this to be your typical fairies and dragons kind of fantasy. Each tale has a specific magical element and in almost all cases, the magic is unexplained. (As it must be; how is it “magic” otherwise?) But the stories are set in our actual world and hence better fit into “magical realism” than “fantasy” as a genre.
“Tales”: Yeah, well… self-explanatory. Short stories. Divided across about 200 pages, each story received enough attention from the author. Hence each main character was carved well enough, each tale had a definite structure (not necessarily your traditional start-middle-end), and each one had enough food for thought.
“From Here, There & Everywhere”: Every tale is set in a separate location from across the world. This further ensures that your interest levels stay sustained as the use of the local language and in some cases, the culture and places, adds to the distinctiveness of each story. So the story set in Germany has some lines in German, the one in Argentina has Spanish words, and so on. While this works wonderfully for most of the stories, it seems a little forced at times.
Here’s my brief feedback on the eight tales.
1. The Butterfly Effect – Argentina - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A girl has sworn off dancing after her tango-loving mother left her. But her prosthetic leg seems to have a will of its own. Beautifully written. The end felt complete yet abrupt. Maybe I was enjoying the story so much that I wanted more.
2. Osterhase – Germany - 🌟🌟🌟💫
Nine year old Stefan encounters the Osterhase (Easter Bunny) on one Easter. But the Osterhase has come to dole out not easter eggs but wisdom. I liked the idea but the story felt like it could have explained more. Some ideas are raised but not fully developed. My least favourite story from the book.
3. The Invisible Suitcase – France - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫.
Ottilie and her cat Minou set up Café L’amour with only one purpose in mind: to provide a happy ending for one chosen patron. A really sweet and touching story that has the potential to be developed into a novella. Maybe we could also have an episodic series with more of Ottilie’s successful romantic interferences.
4. New Year, New You – Egypt - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
An interview with a Pharaoh’s slave, but set in the modern time period. Interesting premise. Though I could figure out where it was going, it was still fun to read. A tad too slow.
5. Idol - S. Korea - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Heejin dreams of being a K-pop star but is the journey worth the destination? Loved how this story used contemporary K-pop to drive a point.
6. The Perfect Wife - Hong Kong - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
When thrice-divorced fifty-something billionaire is fed up of women, he asks the most trusted inventor in his employ to build him a custom-made perfect wife. Absolutely loved this! A perfect blend of sci-fi and contemporary drama.
7. Lala Lakshmi – India - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
A Diwali version of a very, very famous Christmas classic. I don't want to reveal the name here as it will be a direct spoiler. But I’ll just say, though I know the original tale almost by heart and hence I guessed the direction this story would take, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. Brilliantly moulded to the Indian ambience.
8. A Thank You Would Be Nice – USA - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(The title itself gets 10 stars from me. So many of us forget this simple act of saying 'thank you', whether online or offline.)
Elaine, a flight purser whose idea of service goes much beyond flights. This starts off very simply until you reach the one sentence that clarifies what Elaine does – it will make you do a double take for sure. A very interesting read, though I would have enjoyed a bit more magic in it. It seemed quite straightforward compared to the rest of the stories.
As you can see, I enjoyed almost all of the stories in this book. Pick it up whenever you want some light and quick and magical. Recommended for sure.
My rating: 4.25 shiny stars (the average of the ratings mentioned above.)
Before I forget, I must add: I simply loved that cover design. Such a perfect fit for the book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts about it. Thank you very much for this opportunity to read and review your work, Poornima. 😊
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
February 3, 2022
*Link to the full review updated*
4 stars
One Liner: An enjoyable collection of eight stories from around the world.
Eight is a collection of eight stories with hints of magic, the afterlife, and otherworldly presence in each story. The non-human characters steer the stories in one way or another and create a beautiful reading experience.
Here’s a quote I loved before we see a glimpse of the stories. It aligns with what I believe about the present and the future.
Stories Listed as Per the Order of the Book
The Invisible Suitcase (France): Similar to dark chocolate- bittersweet and soulful.
Osterhase (Germany): Stefan’s life journey from being a boy to a man (it sure wasn’t easy for him).
The Butterfly Effect (Argentina): Mariposa cannot run away from Tango, no matter how much she hates it.
New Year, New You (Egypt): A soul that transcends over generations and decides to share his story at last.
Idol (South Korea): The world of K-Pop is much more than the fans and aspirants see. The best in the book.
The Perfect Wife (Hong Kong): A 50+ billionaire quest for the perfect woman gives him more than he bargained for.
Lala Lakshmi (India): This Diwali will change Lakshmi Chand forever, and he knows to be grateful for it.
A Thank You Would Be Nice (USA): Elaine, a 60-something flight purser knows how to deal with rude and thankless passengers, and it’s not what you think.
The stories are diverse enough to keep us interested from start to finish. The book has a few misses, too but gives a good impression overall. The cover is fondant on the cake (pun intended); perfect for the book.
P.S: Can’t help but wonder about the choice of countries. A majority of them stand out for being ‘exotic’. ;)
I received a complimentary copy from the author, Mango Tree Publications, and BookSirens. All views expressed are my own.
********
Read the full review here
4 stars
One Liner: An enjoyable collection of eight stories from around the world.
Eight is a collection of eight stories with hints of magic, the afterlife, and otherworldly presence in each story. The non-human characters steer the stories in one way or another and create a beautiful reading experience.
Here’s a quote I loved before we see a glimpse of the stories. It aligns with what I believe about the present and the future.
“Look at the future with one eye firmly fixed on the past. Everything is cyclical. It comes around again and again, and if you are perceptive enough, you will recognize the patterns.”
Stories Listed as Per the Order of the Book
The Invisible Suitcase (France): Similar to dark chocolate- bittersweet and soulful.
Osterhase (Germany): Stefan’s life journey from being a boy to a man (it sure wasn’t easy for him).
The Butterfly Effect (Argentina): Mariposa cannot run away from Tango, no matter how much she hates it.
New Year, New You (Egypt): A soul that transcends over generations and decides to share his story at last.
Idol (South Korea): The world of K-Pop is much more than the fans and aspirants see. The best in the book.
The Perfect Wife (Hong Kong): A 50+ billionaire quest for the perfect woman gives him more than he bargained for.
Lala Lakshmi (India): This Diwali will change Lakshmi Chand forever, and he knows to be grateful for it.
A Thank You Would Be Nice (USA): Elaine, a 60-something flight purser knows how to deal with rude and thankless passengers, and it’s not what you think.
The stories are diverse enough to keep us interested from start to finish. The book has a few misses, too but gives a good impression overall. The cover is fondant on the cake (pun intended); perfect for the book.
P.S: Can’t help but wonder about the choice of countries. A majority of them stand out for being ‘exotic’. ;)
I received a complimentary copy from the author, Mango Tree Publications, and BookSirens. All views expressed are my own.
********
Read the full review here
November 1, 2021
Eight Fantastical Tales from Here, There and Everywhere is a collection of short stories by Indian author, Poornima Manco. The tales are set in Argentine, Germany, France, Egypt, Korea, Hong Kong, India and USA.
The Butterfly Effect: Mariposa’s mother Lucia, a tango dancer like Mari’s abuela, Elena, danced out of her life when she was four, causing her to swear off dancing. Raised by her loving abuelo in a little B&B in Puerto Iguazu, Mari lost her leg in a motorbike accident at eighteen. Her prosthetic leg, when it is fitted, seems to have a will of its own about dance. 4/5
Osterhase: the Easter that Stefan turns nine, he encounters a larger-than-life Osterhase – Easter Bunny – in his grandparents’ yard. It has plenty of advice, not just about finding a basket of chocolate eggs, but about life, and it won’t be the last time the Osterhase dispenses wisdom. 4/5
The Invisible Suitcase: when Ottilie and her cat Minou set up their Café L’amour in a dusty Paris street, they have one purpose in mind. Minou selects the recipient of their endeavours on the first day, but a month on, while customers clamour for their pistachio financiers, Elodie Aubert, illustrator of G G Boucher’s delightful children’s books, has not yet found love. 5/5
New Year, New You: a young man travels to Egypt to interview the ghost of the Pharaoh’s slave. But is his motive really just curiosity? 5/5
Idol: K-pop trainee Heejin aspires to K-pop stardom, but on a rooftop one sleepless night she encounters the ghost of her idol, Byeol, once lead singer of Starcrossed. What she learns doesn’t temper her ambition, but gives her a different sense of purpose. 4/5
The Perfect Wife: thrice-divorced fifty-year-old billionaire Alex Wang sets his trusted employee, Joseph Cai to work on building him a tailor-made wife, a HumTech wife who will have all the best qualities of his exes, but none of the flaws. For whom, though, is this perfect wife made-to-order? 4/5
Lala Lakshmi: the late Papat Chand Mithaiwala’s halwai shop is run with an iron hand by his grandson, Lakshmi. A dispute over packaging in the run-up to Diwali shows what a ruthless businessman he is, forcing his manager to stay late despite the man’s worry over his sick daughter. But that night he is visited by ghosts: first his grandfather, then the god always the object of his prayers. An Indian version of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. 4/5
A Thank You Would Be Nice: her diatribe about her invisibility marks Elaine as an angry and embittered woman. This sixty-year-old flight attendant is fed up with unappreciative customers. Elaine is also a serial killer whose victims sicken and die post-flight: best not to be persistently rude, intolerant or obnoxious on her flights. 5/5
These eight tales, often clever and insightful, are enjoyable and entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Books Go Social.
The Butterfly Effect: Mariposa’s mother Lucia, a tango dancer like Mari’s abuela, Elena, danced out of her life when she was four, causing her to swear off dancing. Raised by her loving abuelo in a little B&B in Puerto Iguazu, Mari lost her leg in a motorbike accident at eighteen. Her prosthetic leg, when it is fitted, seems to have a will of its own about dance. 4/5
Osterhase: the Easter that Stefan turns nine, he encounters a larger-than-life Osterhase – Easter Bunny – in his grandparents’ yard. It has plenty of advice, not just about finding a basket of chocolate eggs, but about life, and it won’t be the last time the Osterhase dispenses wisdom. 4/5
The Invisible Suitcase: when Ottilie and her cat Minou set up their Café L’amour in a dusty Paris street, they have one purpose in mind. Minou selects the recipient of their endeavours on the first day, but a month on, while customers clamour for their pistachio financiers, Elodie Aubert, illustrator of G G Boucher’s delightful children’s books, has not yet found love. 5/5
New Year, New You: a young man travels to Egypt to interview the ghost of the Pharaoh’s slave. But is his motive really just curiosity? 5/5
Idol: K-pop trainee Heejin aspires to K-pop stardom, but on a rooftop one sleepless night she encounters the ghost of her idol, Byeol, once lead singer of Starcrossed. What she learns doesn’t temper her ambition, but gives her a different sense of purpose. 4/5
The Perfect Wife: thrice-divorced fifty-year-old billionaire Alex Wang sets his trusted employee, Joseph Cai to work on building him a tailor-made wife, a HumTech wife who will have all the best qualities of his exes, but none of the flaws. For whom, though, is this perfect wife made-to-order? 4/5
Lala Lakshmi: the late Papat Chand Mithaiwala’s halwai shop is run with an iron hand by his grandson, Lakshmi. A dispute over packaging in the run-up to Diwali shows what a ruthless businessman he is, forcing his manager to stay late despite the man’s worry over his sick daughter. But that night he is visited by ghosts: first his grandfather, then the god always the object of his prayers. An Indian version of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. 4/5
A Thank You Would Be Nice: her diatribe about her invisibility marks Elaine as an angry and embittered woman. This sixty-year-old flight attendant is fed up with unappreciative customers. Elaine is also a serial killer whose victims sicken and die post-flight: best not to be persistently rude, intolerant or obnoxious on her flights. 5/5
These eight tales, often clever and insightful, are enjoyable and entertaining.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Books Go Social.
January 10, 2022
One of my reading goals for this year is to read more books by Indian authors and this book came in so handy after reading wonderful review from my friend Roshni
This is an anthology of 8 short stories and is set in different parts of the world. Of course, as the title suggests the stories have an element of fantasy in them. The best part about these stories is that the fantasy is more with real life and real people.
The stories are set everywhere in the world from India to Hong Kong, the mystical Egypt, romantic Paris and other lovely places. The use of local language in the dialogues and the plot makes the stories more interesting.
Loved most of the stories, The Butterfly Effect was really good but felt the ending was hurried. I wished it to pull along a little more. Idol is a story which most of us know about the plot and the message the story is trying to send but still it’s pretty good. Lala Lakshmi is so well adapted to Indian living and culture. Needless to say, I loved all the stories even though couple of them fell little short of my expectations.
Go ahead and give it a read . I am sure you will not be disappointed
This is an anthology of 8 short stories and is set in different parts of the world. Of course, as the title suggests the stories have an element of fantasy in them. The best part about these stories is that the fantasy is more with real life and real people.
The stories are set everywhere in the world from India to Hong Kong, the mystical Egypt, romantic Paris and other lovely places. The use of local language in the dialogues and the plot makes the stories more interesting.
Loved most of the stories, The Butterfly Effect was really good but felt the ending was hurried. I wished it to pull along a little more. Idol is a story which most of us know about the plot and the message the story is trying to send but still it’s pretty good. Lala Lakshmi is so well adapted to Indian living and culture. Needless to say, I loved all the stories even though couple of them fell little short of my expectations.
Go ahead and give it a read . I am sure you will not be disappointed
February 21, 2025
Wow! I really loved reading this. Each story was unique and refreshing, with new fascinating concepts. I really liked the writing style, and I enjoyed learning bits and pieces about new countries. Would definitely read this again. ❤️
December 28, 2021
Eight fantastical stories from all around the world - what's not to love? Especially if someone loves short stories?
When I saw the book on Netgalley, I jumped to request it. I had heard great reviews about Poornima Manco's "A Quiet Dissonance". So, needless to say, I was excited for this book too. (Plus, the cover <3 ).
Here are my ratings based on each story:
1. The Butterfly Effect
Mariposa meets with an unfortunate accident in which she loses her leg. She gets a prosthetic leg. But, to her horror, she begins dancing the tango - the very dance form she had sworn never to perform. How she comes around this new predicament forms the rest of the story. It was the weakest story for me in the book. According to me, it shouldn't have been the first story. I really couldn't identify or empathize with Mariposa.
2 stars.
2. Osterhase
Osterhase means Easter bunny in German. In this story, an Easter bunny appears inexplicably and guides Stefan through his life. The story was good and very touching but no explanation about why the bunny reveals itself at specific intervals or chooses Stefan.
3 stars.
3. The Invisible Suitcase
One of my very favourite stories from the book. Ottilie comes to Paris with her grumpy cat, Minou, to set up a cafe. This is no ordinary cafe and these are no ordinary people. In fact, the cafe has been set up for a very specific purpose. I loved the warmth of the story and the happy ending (I am a sucker for warm, romantic stories, after all, or so it seems). Plus marks for a cute cat.
4.5 stars.
4. New Year, New You
An inquisitive journalist ends up interviewing an old Pharaoh's servant. Though I guessed the ending long before the midpoint, it was still gripping. Dark and macabre, with a dash of humour.
4 stars.
5. Idol
A South Korean group is training to become the next pop sensation. In the world of cutthroat competition and backstabbing, Heejin comes across a friend who wants to help her. Will she listen to this friend and give up her ambition or will she remain to fulfill her dream? A great story using K-pop as a background.
3.5 stars.
6. The Perfect Wife
A multimillionaire wants the perfect wife. So what does he do? He designs one for himself! With lots of twists and turns, this one was a thrilling read. Loved it!
4.5 stars.
7. Lala Lakshmi
This was also one of my favourites not only because it is based in India but also because it is a retelling of one of the most touching tales of all time.
5 stars.
8. A Thank You Would Be Nice
Of course, a thank you would be nice. But especially if you are in the service industry. This is the last story and my absolute favourites because of the way it starts and then takes a very unexpected turn.
10 stars!
Overall, an enjoyable book to be savoured with a cup of coffee (or tea or wine, choose your poison) and wrapped in a blanket.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
When I saw the book on Netgalley, I jumped to request it. I had heard great reviews about Poornima Manco's "A Quiet Dissonance". So, needless to say, I was excited for this book too. (Plus, the cover <3 ).
Here are my ratings based on each story:
1. The Butterfly Effect
Mariposa meets with an unfortunate accident in which she loses her leg. She gets a prosthetic leg. But, to her horror, she begins dancing the tango - the very dance form she had sworn never to perform. How she comes around this new predicament forms the rest of the story. It was the weakest story for me in the book. According to me, it shouldn't have been the first story. I really couldn't identify or empathize with Mariposa.
2 stars.
2. Osterhase
Osterhase means Easter bunny in German. In this story, an Easter bunny appears inexplicably and guides Stefan through his life. The story was good and very touching but no explanation about why the bunny reveals itself at specific intervals or chooses Stefan.
3 stars.
3. The Invisible Suitcase
One of my very favourite stories from the book. Ottilie comes to Paris with her grumpy cat, Minou, to set up a cafe. This is no ordinary cafe and these are no ordinary people. In fact, the cafe has been set up for a very specific purpose. I loved the warmth of the story and the happy ending (I am a sucker for warm, romantic stories, after all, or so it seems). Plus marks for a cute cat.
4.5 stars.
4. New Year, New You
An inquisitive journalist ends up interviewing an old Pharaoh's servant. Though I guessed the ending long before the midpoint, it was still gripping. Dark and macabre, with a dash of humour.
4 stars.
5. Idol
A South Korean group is training to become the next pop sensation. In the world of cutthroat competition and backstabbing, Heejin comes across a friend who wants to help her. Will she listen to this friend and give up her ambition or will she remain to fulfill her dream? A great story using K-pop as a background.
3.5 stars.
6. The Perfect Wife
A multimillionaire wants the perfect wife. So what does he do? He designs one for himself! With lots of twists and turns, this one was a thrilling read. Loved it!
4.5 stars.
7. Lala Lakshmi
This was also one of my favourites not only because it is based in India but also because it is a retelling of one of the most touching tales of all time.
5 stars.
8. A Thank You Would Be Nice
Of course, a thank you would be nice. But especially if you are in the service industry. This is the last story and my absolute favourites because of the way it starts and then takes a very unexpected turn.
10 stars!
Overall, an enjoyable book to be savoured with a cup of coffee (or tea or wine, choose your poison) and wrapped in a blanket.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
February 22, 2022
I have never expected that this book could turn out to be such a delightful read!. I am glad that i did give this book a try even though i am not much fan of a short story but wow! this book nailed it in keeping me entertained and engrossed!. It even left me with all sorts of mixed emotions.
I loved the author's level of creativity and imaginations in weaving an assortment and range to the stories. Yes, that's what this author did so well through the stories by giving some interesting 'range' or varieties to the stories set from eight different countries; Argentina, Germany, France, Egypt, Korea, Hong Kong, India and multiple locations.
In all the stories, i noticed the elements of magical realism or supernatural in them like a prosthetic leg that moves on its own, the magical Easter bunny and even a ghost!. There is even some dark, thrilling and suspenseful element in some of the stories like in A Thank You Would Be Nice which is quite dark and mysterious to me about a senior stewardess with sinister and murderous intents of avenging on anyone who ill-treats her and crossed the boundaries.
The author also ingenuously constructed some spin-offs or adaptations from some of the popular classic masterpieces such as Lala Lakhsmi which is an Indian version of The Christmas Carol and The Perfect Wife which is i believed an adaptation from The Frankenstein with a twist which to me was clever and entertaining. Instead of creating one monster, the author created 'two monsters'!.
I just loved how the author reinvented these classic masterpieces by weaving her own interpretations,creativity and imaginations in them which to me are witty. In all these stories, they are some kind of moral values/lessons to be learned as well. The themes of some of the stories somehow interlinked or have some kind of similarity with each other such as some troubled and rebellious teens coming from a broken family or someone who is affected by a sense of loneliness,separation or death.
My only quirk is that some of these stories ended or jumped abruptly without any explanations and one left me confused yet the story is dark and sinister in a conversational style and keeps me guessing and wondering what that 'thing' is? Is it a mummy or a parasite? But it does sound like the author's version of The Mummy from The Mummy film.
In conclusion, this book is suitable for you if you are looking for a nice short escapade and wants to be lost in your own wild imaginations. I'd be delighted to read more books by the author which infact she has already published a number of interesting books prior to this one. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I rated this book a 4.5🌟 for the efforts and creativity of the author.
I loved the author's level of creativity and imaginations in weaving an assortment and range to the stories. Yes, that's what this author did so well through the stories by giving some interesting 'range' or varieties to the stories set from eight different countries; Argentina, Germany, France, Egypt, Korea, Hong Kong, India and multiple locations.
In all the stories, i noticed the elements of magical realism or supernatural in them like a prosthetic leg that moves on its own, the magical Easter bunny and even a ghost!. There is even some dark, thrilling and suspenseful element in some of the stories like in A Thank You Would Be Nice which is quite dark and mysterious to me about a senior stewardess with sinister and murderous intents of avenging on anyone who ill-treats her and crossed the boundaries.
The author also ingenuously constructed some spin-offs or adaptations from some of the popular classic masterpieces such as Lala Lakhsmi which is an Indian version of The Christmas Carol and The Perfect Wife which is i believed an adaptation from The Frankenstein with a twist which to me was clever and entertaining. Instead of creating one monster, the author created 'two monsters'!.
I just loved how the author reinvented these classic masterpieces by weaving her own interpretations,creativity and imaginations in them which to me are witty. In all these stories, they are some kind of moral values/lessons to be learned as well. The themes of some of the stories somehow interlinked or have some kind of similarity with each other such as some troubled and rebellious teens coming from a broken family or someone who is affected by a sense of loneliness,separation or death.
My only quirk is that some of these stories ended or jumped abruptly without any explanations and one left me confused yet the story is dark and sinister in a conversational style and keeps me guessing and wondering what that 'thing' is? Is it a mummy or a parasite? But it does sound like the author's version of The Mummy from The Mummy film.
In conclusion, this book is suitable for you if you are looking for a nice short escapade and wants to be lost in your own wild imaginations. I'd be delighted to read more books by the author which infact she has already published a number of interesting books prior to this one. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I rated this book a 4.5🌟 for the efforts and creativity of the author.
September 15, 2022
The title and subtitle tell you exactly what to expect here!
The book contains eight short stories, set in Argentina, Germany, France, Egypt, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and the USA. All of the stories contain elements of mythology, fable or the paranormal and all are superbly written; beautifully evocative of the different settings, cultures and character profiles they are presenting.
My personal favourites were the more overtly magical stories – Mari and her dancing leg in ‘The Butterfly Effect’, Ottilie and Minou with their Café L’amour in ‘The Invisible Suitcase’, and the Diwali take on a classic festive tale in ‘Lala Lakshmi’.
Some of the other stories were a little too slow-paced for me (‘New Year, New You’), or left me wanting more details than we were given (‘Osterhose’ and ‘A Thank You Would Be Nice’).
This is a diverse collection of uncanny stories, giving a fascinating taste of eight different locations, eight different mythologies; ideal for a quick easy read for lovers of the mystical and otherworldly.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
The book contains eight short stories, set in Argentina, Germany, France, Egypt, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and the USA. All of the stories contain elements of mythology, fable or the paranormal and all are superbly written; beautifully evocative of the different settings, cultures and character profiles they are presenting.
My personal favourites were the more overtly magical stories – Mari and her dancing leg in ‘The Butterfly Effect’, Ottilie and Minou with their Café L’amour in ‘The Invisible Suitcase’, and the Diwali take on a classic festive tale in ‘Lala Lakshmi’.
Some of the other stories were a little too slow-paced for me (‘New Year, New You’), or left me wanting more details than we were given (‘Osterhose’ and ‘A Thank You Would Be Nice’).
This is a diverse collection of uncanny stories, giving a fascinating taste of eight different locations, eight different mythologies; ideal for a quick easy read for lovers of the mystical and otherworldly.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
January 25, 2022
The cover of this book is cute and aesthetic as ever, reminds of the "is this cake or not" trend.
Moving forward to the actual review of the insides, of eight different unrelated stories, spread across various cultures, presenting unique characters. I enjoyed each story, the effort in coming with distinct cast of characters each with their own moral dilemma and internal struggles, isn't easy and poornima manco has excuted just that in a great manner.
Getting a taste of every culture by teleporting from chapter to chapter.
Recommended to short- story readers or anyone in general who would like a light, face paced, and one sitting book.
"I received an advance review copy for free from booksiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily"
Moving forward to the actual review of the insides, of eight different unrelated stories, spread across various cultures, presenting unique characters. I enjoyed each story, the effort in coming with distinct cast of characters each with their own moral dilemma and internal struggles, isn't easy and poornima manco has excuted just that in a great manner.
Getting a taste of every culture by teleporting from chapter to chapter.
Recommended to short- story readers or anyone in general who would like a light, face paced, and one sitting book.
"I received an advance review copy for free from booksiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily"
May 21, 2022
The book is by an author I had not read before, but the cover and the intriguing prospect of different stories from across the world was a big draw. It took me some time to work my way through the books for one main reason, even though the length of the stories is short, it takes a while for the content to make sense and the depth of the narrative to get to you. I can only vouch for the authentic tone of the Indian version, but each did feel like they were based in a whole other country, with its own internal workings. There is a magical realism element that runs its course through all the tales, and that is precisely what the title proclaims at the beginning. I decided to list all the stories because there were just eight of them!
The Butterfly Effect: The first story is of an Argentinian girl who has been labelled by her town as the ‘poor’ one. Not monetarily, but the one who has very little going well for her. This is further cemented by one major accident. Dance and the attraction/distaste to it are the main undercurrents dealt with. It was an interesting start to the story, although I did not like this as much as some of the others.
Osterhase: This is based in Germany, with one boy running into the Easter Bunny (not the cuddly version) when he visited his grandparents. This event occurs at various stages of his life, questioning his choices in life. It is also a good vehicle for us to follow his entire life from his childhood. I found it more intriguing than the previous one, the magical part slightly darker, as are the thoughts processed here.
The Invisible Suitcase: This instalment was a lot like Chocolat or other similar stories with slightly varying magic. I would have not enjoyed it as much if not for the central love story. It carries the story by itself, even without the help of the ‘helpers’.
New Year, New You: This story was nothing like I expected, which made me enjoy it a lot more. It is much darker than any of the previous narrations and is based out of Egypt. I will not talk about the plot since the revelations during the initial pages were probably the most startling, and that might be the main reason I liked it!
Idol: This was probably the story I liked least (even though it had some pretty good moments). It focuses on a girl who is part of the K-Pop auditions talking to another who once was part of them. She starts to question everything around her, and she assumes certain things about her roommates and co-participants. I found the characters opening up to be the highlight here since it is always easy to assume one knows how people are going to behave and then realise they were completely wrong.
The Perfect Wife: This was more Sci-Fi than anything else. A rich Chinese man has had two wives and has had a brilliant idea. He decides to do something about his loneliness. I did not enjoy the actual ‘twist’ as much as the differing viewpoints. He talks about his previous wives – then we get to meet them as well. This helps provide perspective and rounds of the story in a better fashion.
Lala Lakshmi: I do not just like this story because it is the Indian story of the lot. I liked it best also because it was a well-done take on the Christmas Carol. It was cute in that sense. I always like redemption arcs and this was a pretty reliable and believable one. We have a rich Sweet Shop owner who has started cutting corners in the name of making more money. The heartlessness obviously becomes clear to him by the end.
A Thank You Would Be Nice: I felt like I have read this type of story before. A disgruntled and slightly older air hostess is taking a form of revenge on ill-mannered people.
The stories may not be completely unique, but the writing is pretty fluid and was a breeze to read. I would definitely recommend the author to others and would pick up another book by her.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
The Butterfly Effect: The first story is of an Argentinian girl who has been labelled by her town as the ‘poor’ one. Not monetarily, but the one who has very little going well for her. This is further cemented by one major accident. Dance and the attraction/distaste to it are the main undercurrents dealt with. It was an interesting start to the story, although I did not like this as much as some of the others.
Osterhase: This is based in Germany, with one boy running into the Easter Bunny (not the cuddly version) when he visited his grandparents. This event occurs at various stages of his life, questioning his choices in life. It is also a good vehicle for us to follow his entire life from his childhood. I found it more intriguing than the previous one, the magical part slightly darker, as are the thoughts processed here.
The Invisible Suitcase: This instalment was a lot like Chocolat or other similar stories with slightly varying magic. I would have not enjoyed it as much if not for the central love story. It carries the story by itself, even without the help of the ‘helpers’.
New Year, New You: This story was nothing like I expected, which made me enjoy it a lot more. It is much darker than any of the previous narrations and is based out of Egypt. I will not talk about the plot since the revelations during the initial pages were probably the most startling, and that might be the main reason I liked it!
Idol: This was probably the story I liked least (even though it had some pretty good moments). It focuses on a girl who is part of the K-Pop auditions talking to another who once was part of them. She starts to question everything around her, and she assumes certain things about her roommates and co-participants. I found the characters opening up to be the highlight here since it is always easy to assume one knows how people are going to behave and then realise they were completely wrong.
The Perfect Wife: This was more Sci-Fi than anything else. A rich Chinese man has had two wives and has had a brilliant idea. He decides to do something about his loneliness. I did not enjoy the actual ‘twist’ as much as the differing viewpoints. He talks about his previous wives – then we get to meet them as well. This helps provide perspective and rounds of the story in a better fashion.
Lala Lakshmi: I do not just like this story because it is the Indian story of the lot. I liked it best also because it was a well-done take on the Christmas Carol. It was cute in that sense. I always like redemption arcs and this was a pretty reliable and believable one. We have a rich Sweet Shop owner who has started cutting corners in the name of making more money. The heartlessness obviously becomes clear to him by the end.
A Thank You Would Be Nice: I felt like I have read this type of story before. A disgruntled and slightly older air hostess is taking a form of revenge on ill-mannered people.
The stories may not be completely unique, but the writing is pretty fluid and was a breeze to read. I would definitely recommend the author to others and would pick up another book by her.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
October 2, 2021
I have a slight bias for short stories so I was pretty excited to read another book of short stories. These were indeed fantastic tales from everywhere. Eight stories- fantastic, magical, real, or a combo of all I would say. Please note there may be spoilers below.
1. The Butterfly Effect – For me this was one the of weakest. Story of Mariposa who experiences a devastating accident and what transpires after. I found it dragged a little and I had a hard time trying to connect to Mariposa. While I did greatly sympathize with her I just couldn’t get into the story. 2 stars
2. Osterhase – Osterhase I believe means Easter Bunny in German. The story takes place in Cologne, Germany and follows the whole life of Stefan divided in a few segments. Sort of a “life lessons” type of story with a fairy tale mix. 3 stars
3. The Invisible Suitcase – This was one of my favorites. A special woman and equally special cat arrive in Paris and open a café/bakery just in time for Valentine’s and try to spread love through their baked goods. That’s all I will say without spoiling it. Definitely read this one. 4 stars
4. New Year, New You – A nice spin on a very old Egyptian folk tale. I wish some things were explained better, there were some confusing parts. 2 stars
5. Idol – This story takes place in South Korea. Heejin, is an idol trainee, which is a K-Pop band type of star. She is with a group of similar young teen girls. She’s visited by a ghost who has something she must do and a curious Heejin wants to know what it is. 2 stars
6. The Perfect Wife – A story we’ve heard, read, and seen before but still always good to see or read it. A very rich and powerful man aims to build a perfect wife. Can it be done? Does he succeed? You find out. 3 stars
7. Lala Lakshmi – An Indian take on A Christmas Carol during the Diwali holiday. Since A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite books I really enjoyed this. I won’t lie, I got a little teary-eyed. This was a nice little story and kudos to the author for being able to fit it in a short story. 4 stars
8. A Thank You Would Be Nice – Awesome story. Starts off in on direction then totally surprised me. The most chilling stories are always the ones that can actually be real and this is one of them. 4 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Mango Tree Publications for providing me with with the ebook copy for my honest review.
1. The Butterfly Effect – For me this was one the of weakest. Story of Mariposa who experiences a devastating accident and what transpires after. I found it dragged a little and I had a hard time trying to connect to Mariposa. While I did greatly sympathize with her I just couldn’t get into the story. 2 stars
2. Osterhase – Osterhase I believe means Easter Bunny in German. The story takes place in Cologne, Germany and follows the whole life of Stefan divided in a few segments. Sort of a “life lessons” type of story with a fairy tale mix. 3 stars
3. The Invisible Suitcase – This was one of my favorites. A special woman and equally special cat arrive in Paris and open a café/bakery just in time for Valentine’s and try to spread love through their baked goods. That’s all I will say without spoiling it. Definitely read this one. 4 stars
4. New Year, New You – A nice spin on a very old Egyptian folk tale. I wish some things were explained better, there were some confusing parts. 2 stars
5. Idol – This story takes place in South Korea. Heejin, is an idol trainee, which is a K-Pop band type of star. She is with a group of similar young teen girls. She’s visited by a ghost who has something she must do and a curious Heejin wants to know what it is. 2 stars
6. The Perfect Wife – A story we’ve heard, read, and seen before but still always good to see or read it. A very rich and powerful man aims to build a perfect wife. Can it be done? Does he succeed? You find out. 3 stars
7. Lala Lakshmi – An Indian take on A Christmas Carol during the Diwali holiday. Since A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite books I really enjoyed this. I won’t lie, I got a little teary-eyed. This was a nice little story and kudos to the author for being able to fit it in a short story. 4 stars
8. A Thank You Would Be Nice – Awesome story. Starts off in on direction then totally surprised me. The most chilling stories are always the ones that can actually be real and this is one of them. 4 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Mango Tree Publications for providing me with with the ebook copy for my honest review.
October 7, 2021
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a collection of eight short stories set in various countries including Germany, India, South Korea, France, etc. I'm blown away by the diverse settings in the stories, as well as the exceptional vocabulary of Poormina Manco. I felt like I was reading a book of modern fairy tales!
There are some stories that I enjoyed more than others, but overall, this book is a delight to read.
This book is a collection of eight short stories set in various countries including Germany, India, South Korea, France, etc. I'm blown away by the diverse settings in the stories, as well as the exceptional vocabulary of Poormina Manco. I felt like I was reading a book of modern fairy tales!
There are some stories that I enjoyed more than others, but overall, this book is a delight to read.
October 11, 2021
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Especially the first few stories, I remember reading it on my break at work and not being able to stop myself from telling my co-worker all about it.
(I received this book as an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) on Reedsy Discovery and this is the review I gave.)
Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere weaves its way through eight short stories each laced with elements of fantasy and magical realism. Each tale is different and most have a moral to the story/a life lesson or a moment to pause and reflect without being too preachy. Each story follows fairly well-written characters and is written in a simple but elegant style that suggests the hand of a seasoned author.
The most enjoyable element of this book for me was the unveiling of the magical twist in each story, it was done quite subtly and this is why I enjoyed the writing style of the author. Also, as a sucker of romance I enjoyed the elements of love and finding love in a few of the stories. The stories also include characters from multiple cultures and ethnicities giving the book a more grounded feeling. The diversity was not forced but was meaningful to each story. It is evident that the author put a great deal of effort into research for each story and this was a breath of fresh air.
Although each story differed from the other, I found that some characters had a very similar tone of voice despite them being very different people from very different backgrounds. This was bit off-putting and was the only part I couldn't enjoy in the book.
Because it is made up of short stories, the plots are not connected and this might throw off readers that are used to novels which include a lot of character development and that are plot-driven. However, I recommend this because it is a light and delightful read and each story, though short, is a fantastical world on its own. It is clear that the author has a lot to offer and I look forward to reading more of their stories.
(I received this book as an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) on Reedsy Discovery and this is the review I gave.)
Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere weaves its way through eight short stories each laced with elements of fantasy and magical realism. Each tale is different and most have a moral to the story/a life lesson or a moment to pause and reflect without being too preachy. Each story follows fairly well-written characters and is written in a simple but elegant style that suggests the hand of a seasoned author.
The most enjoyable element of this book for me was the unveiling of the magical twist in each story, it was done quite subtly and this is why I enjoyed the writing style of the author. Also, as a sucker of romance I enjoyed the elements of love and finding love in a few of the stories. The stories also include characters from multiple cultures and ethnicities giving the book a more grounded feeling. The diversity was not forced but was meaningful to each story. It is evident that the author put a great deal of effort into research for each story and this was a breath of fresh air.
Although each story differed from the other, I found that some characters had a very similar tone of voice despite them being very different people from very different backgrounds. This was bit off-putting and was the only part I couldn't enjoy in the book.
Because it is made up of short stories, the plots are not connected and this might throw off readers that are used to novels which include a lot of character development and that are plot-driven. However, I recommend this because it is a light and delightful read and each story, though short, is a fantastical world on its own. It is clear that the author has a lot to offer and I look forward to reading more of their stories.
August 5, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
First off, I was going to give this book 3 stars, but I loved two of the short stories in this book. Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere by Poornima Manco is a collection of eight short stories that blend the real world with the fantastical. According to the description, you can "enter a world where goddesses descend to earth, magical creatures materialise out of thin air, ghosts mean well, and limbs have minds of their own."
Here is an excerpt from "Idol," the 5th story:
"Heejin can I tell you something?
"Yes?"
"I don't want to do this anymore."
"Really?"
"All I ever wanted to do was sing. I don't like the rest of it - the dancing, the performing. I am not like Sun Hee or even you. All the girls here, they like the limelight. I hate it!"
"Then what are you going to do?"
"My training ends in another month. I will decline their contract and return home."
Overall, Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere is a collection of short stories, but there were two standouts for me. The first short story that I loved was the 5th one entitled "Idol" which is about the K-pop industry and what happens when the ghost of a former K-pop idol returns to help out a current trainee. It's clear the author knows a lot about the K-pop industry, and as a K-pop fan, I enjoyed this one so much. The 6th story, a sci-fi story set in the future, features a man of Chinese descent and how he attempts to build the perfect robot girlfriend. I enjoyed this story as well. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!
First off, I was going to give this book 3 stars, but I loved two of the short stories in this book. Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere by Poornima Manco is a collection of eight short stories that blend the real world with the fantastical. According to the description, you can "enter a world where goddesses descend to earth, magical creatures materialise out of thin air, ghosts mean well, and limbs have minds of their own."
Here is an excerpt from "Idol," the 5th story:
"Heejin can I tell you something?
"Yes?"
"I don't want to do this anymore."
"Really?"
"All I ever wanted to do was sing. I don't like the rest of it - the dancing, the performing. I am not like Sun Hee or even you. All the girls here, they like the limelight. I hate it!"
"Then what are you going to do?"
"My training ends in another month. I will decline their contract and return home."
Overall, Eight - Fantastical Tales from Here, There & Everywhere is a collection of short stories, but there were two standouts for me. The first short story that I loved was the 5th one entitled "Idol" which is about the K-pop industry and what happens when the ghost of a former K-pop idol returns to help out a current trainee. It's clear the author knows a lot about the K-pop industry, and as a K-pop fan, I enjoyed this one so much. The 6th story, a sci-fi story set in the future, features a man of Chinese descent and how he attempts to build the perfect robot girlfriend. I enjoyed this story as well. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!
August 4, 2023
The Invisible Suitcase
This short story tells of a Cinderella like love at first sight and the unexpected magic of a cat (Minou), its owner (Ottilie), and the allure of love's unexpected healing for two.
Osterhase
Telling a life story from childhood to a ver well deserved happy ending...the good, the bad, the heartache and the love in between that never dies.
The Butterfly Effect
Learning that life takes you on a journey...no matter the socioeconomic status or location and forgiveness has a way of "the missing parts of me fall into place".
New Year, New You
Truth of history as told from a soul jumper. Best advice ever - look at the future with one eye firmly fixed on the past. Everything is cyclical. It comes around again and again, and if you are perceptive enough, you will recognise the patterns.
Idol
Sometimes the life you seek is not the life you want. And if you do end up in the life you want, look out for those behind you. Use your position to make it better.
The Perfect Wife
This story is a more of warning lesson. Be grateful for what you have and who you have cause no matter what you do you can never ever recreate love, warth aand truth.
Lala Lakshmi
This paid homage to A Christmas Carol...the lesson always is when living in the present, be able to look back and see the good in your actions and you always leave an imprint on everyone you meet.
A Thank You Would Be Nice
This is the perfect warning story that should be a mandatory read about being a good customer!! (wink wink...lol).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This short story tells of a Cinderella like love at first sight and the unexpected magic of a cat (Minou), its owner (Ottilie), and the allure of love's unexpected healing for two.
Osterhase
Telling a life story from childhood to a ver well deserved happy ending...the good, the bad, the heartache and the love in between that never dies.
The Butterfly Effect
Learning that life takes you on a journey...no matter the socioeconomic status or location and forgiveness has a way of "the missing parts of me fall into place".
New Year, New You
Truth of history as told from a soul jumper. Best advice ever - look at the future with one eye firmly fixed on the past. Everything is cyclical. It comes around again and again, and if you are perceptive enough, you will recognise the patterns.
Idol
Sometimes the life you seek is not the life you want. And if you do end up in the life you want, look out for those behind you. Use your position to make it better.
The Perfect Wife
This story is a more of warning lesson. Be grateful for what you have and who you have cause no matter what you do you can never ever recreate love, warth aand truth.
Lala Lakshmi
This paid homage to A Christmas Carol...the lesson always is when living in the present, be able to look back and see the good in your actions and you always leave an imprint on everyone you meet.
A Thank You Would Be Nice
This is the perfect warning story that should be a mandatory read about being a good customer!! (wink wink...lol).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2024
DNF. It was, for me, literally unreadable, thanks to one writing/editing choice. Throughout the stories, she uses foreign words, and every time, there's a footnote to a translation. The constant superscripts - and there are a lot of them - really broke up the flow of the story.
Most of them were, to my mind, unnecessary. You don't need to tell me that negatif means negative, or that café means coffee. Even if I didn't speak French, the words would be completely clear in context. I don't speak Dutch, but I didn't need to look up a single one of the Dutch words. And there's no logic to why our characters use occasional foreign words - it's as if I were to say that when I've finished writing this review, I shall get up from my chaise, and go and drink a cup of tea in the jardin. That doesn't make me sound French, it just sounds wrong.
If you think your readers will understand the foreign words, there's no need to explain them. If you don't think they'll understand, don't use them.
Most of them were, to my mind, unnecessary. You don't need to tell me that negatif means negative, or that café means coffee. Even if I didn't speak French, the words would be completely clear in context. I don't speak Dutch, but I didn't need to look up a single one of the Dutch words. And there's no logic to why our characters use occasional foreign words - it's as if I were to say that when I've finished writing this review, I shall get up from my chaise, and go and drink a cup of tea in the jardin. That doesn't make me sound French, it just sounds wrong.
If you think your readers will understand the foreign words, there's no need to explain them. If you don't think they'll understand, don't use them.
October 4, 2021
I have read many books by this author, and loved them all - this one is another great read. Short story collections are a rarity these days, but deliver so much and Ms. Manco knows how to take limited space and deliver maximum interest. All 8 stories involve a bit of the supernatural, but in a manner that is not overly done and can be interpreted in a spiritual and emotional sense and thus deliver a story that one can relate to. All 8 stories are also interpretations of Love, for self, parents, friends and humankind in general. Ms. Manco's style is evident in each one - she not only can give you a fully formed and encompassing store in a short space, but she gives you a story that you cannot put down, and that will surprise you and amaze you throughout. I highly recommend all her books - this one especially! And when you're done with this one, if you weren't already a fan, you will be! You'll find all her work equally engrossing and fabulous!
October 1, 2021
Eight is a collection of short stories and it was amazing. Each story was different and took place in a different country with very different protagonists.
There was an element of supernatural in each of them.
I believe that every reader can find at least one story that appeals to them as the range of emotions was very wide. There were stories that were moving while some were disturbing but all were beautifully written.
This is a read that I strongly recommend and as for me I'm really glad to have discovered this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was an element of supernatural in each of them.
I believe that every reader can find at least one story that appeals to them as the range of emotions was very wide. There were stories that were moving while some were disturbing but all were beautifully written.
This is a read that I strongly recommend and as for me I'm really glad to have discovered this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 3, 2021
I think this is Poornima’s best work to date. There are eight fantastical stories set all over the world spanning different cultures and races. I enjoyed the depth that Poornima brings with the details in each story. I would have to say that I enjoyed the darker tales more. I think they had more of a punch to them. I think my favorites were - “ A Thank You Would Be Nice”
“A New Year New You” “ The Perfect Wife” and “The invisible Suitcase “ . This collection has something for everyone and there is always the joy of discovery when you move out of your preferred genre. I received an ARC for a honest review.
“A New Year New You” “ The Perfect Wife” and “The invisible Suitcase “ . This collection has something for everyone and there is always the joy of discovery when you move out of your preferred genre. I received an ARC for a honest review.
November 12, 2021
EIGHT is a wonder-filled collection of short stories -- as fully imagined, as concrete and involving as any fiction I have ever read. The magic is lightly done and yet transformative -- and ultimately is simply one powerful ingredient when supporting the love, the lives, and the relationships between the characters. I was particularly struck by the simple and yet deeply felt settings. Ultimately, I felt transported to a different world with each story, completely satisfied, but happy to remain in that specific place. I received an advance reader review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily and free of bias.
April 7, 2022
I received an ARC copy of Eight - Fantastical Tales From Here, There & Everywhere in return for an honest review. With this set of tales I had the unusual experience of reading a collection in which every story was as good as every other story, and these were very good stories. There was the right touch of fabulism, there was originality (even in the story that was a riff on "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens), there were engaging characters, and there was a pleasant, old-fashioned storytelling kind of voice that I very much enjoyed. The fact that each story took place in a different location/culture made for a very compelling kaleidoscopic effect. A very fun read.
October 5, 2021
Whenever I read one of Manco's stories, I'm excited for an entertaining reading experience that flows cleanly from the page. She did not disappoint! Sharp writing and careful use of telling. It's rather addicting to flip through each page.
Compared to Manco's previous works, which were mostly based in India, Eight is globe-hopping collection of short stories. Each one basks in their appropriate culture, slipping in a few fun language cues. Rather enjoyed the fairy tale feeling to a few of them. Some felt like fancied up urban legends. Even a bit of horror!
While at times the casual tone works in a story's favor, other times the cultural explorations felt surface level. For instance in Idol the dark realities of the K-pop industry are touched and given focus. The ending felt hopeful too. Yet I didn't feel the grueling training for auditions and their hours of practice. They somehow felt glazed over. We were observers rather than living in the idol housing, and it was a jarring disconnect given the ending message.
For me, I'd like longer takes on The Invisible Suitcase and A Thank You Would Be Nice. The premises were fascinating, but I felt like they could have been stretched out. Or turned into serials rather than limited to one story.
Eight was a short stop for joyful creative adventures. I'm excited to see how far Manco has gone with her writing, and she's only getting better. Hope to read more soon!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Compared to Manco's previous works, which were mostly based in India, Eight is globe-hopping collection of short stories. Each one basks in their appropriate culture, slipping in a few fun language cues. Rather enjoyed the fairy tale feeling to a few of them. Some felt like fancied up urban legends. Even a bit of horror!
While at times the casual tone works in a story's favor, other times the cultural explorations felt surface level. For instance in Idol the dark realities of the K-pop industry are touched and given focus. The ending felt hopeful too. Yet I didn't feel the grueling training for auditions and their hours of practice. They somehow felt glazed over. We were observers rather than living in the idol housing, and it was a jarring disconnect given the ending message.
For me, I'd like longer takes on The Invisible Suitcase and A Thank You Would Be Nice. The premises were fascinating, but I felt like they could have been stretched out. Or turned into serials rather than limited to one story.
Eight was a short stop for joyful creative adventures. I'm excited to see how far Manco has gone with her writing, and she's only getting better. Hope to read more soon!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 1, 2021
This is my 2nd book from Manco and I absolutely loved this one. Manco is able to write from the perspective of any character--male, female--any nationality. This book is a collection of eight stories that are set around the world. Each has a bit of supernatural element to them. Manco really has a knack for finding the voice of the country or region. My favorite story of Eight has to be the one with the German Easter bunny--I'm talking a man-sized, talking bunny. I also loved the airline stewardess story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 13, 2021
Another fantastic collection of stories from Poornima Manco! Eight beautiful and delicious stories, very different from each other,but all with a bit of the surreal about them. I found they all touched me, loved them all, but "Osterhase" was really beautiful and very moving. " New Year, New You" is brilliant and clever. I very much enjoyed " A Thank You Would Be Nice", very relatable. MS Manco's beautifully descriptive writing and all the wonderful locales she uses bring each tale alive,I feel Im right there. "Eight" is a beautiful and joyful read. (ARC).
December 12, 2021
In a collection of eight short stories from India, one finds a commonality in themes, characters, and cultural gems that unite people around the globe. Each story can stand entirely on its own as expected. However, the collection surprises one with the wide range of emotions drawn out by each story. This is a delightful collection where each person will have a favorite among them and for a different reason than any other reading them. Enjoy the collection that enthralls the universal readers!
June 15, 2023
The eight short stories are:
- The Invisible Suitcase
- Osterhase
- The Butterfly Effect
- New Year, New You
- Idol
- The Perfect Wife
- Lala Lakshmi
- A Thank You Would Be Nice
The stories feature different languages, from French to German, and make for an engaging read. They are descriptive and delve into life and death, explore mystery and life choices, and are quick to read. My favourites are The Invisible Suitcase, New Year, New You, and A Thank You Would Be Nice.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
- The Invisible Suitcase
- Osterhase
- The Butterfly Effect
- New Year, New You
- Idol
- The Perfect Wife
- Lala Lakshmi
- A Thank You Would Be Nice
The stories feature different languages, from French to German, and make for an engaging read. They are descriptive and delve into life and death, explore mystery and life choices, and are quick to read. My favourites are The Invisible Suitcase, New Year, New You, and A Thank You Would Be Nice.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 9, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was the best collection by the author I have read yet, I enjoyed these stories more for a wide range of reasons including them being set in a wide range of countries as well as then being much more positive then some of the authors other collections which contain stories than just had dark endings. These stories were fun which is always nice to find in a collection of stories.
This was the best collection by the author I have read yet, I enjoyed these stories more for a wide range of reasons including them being set in a wide range of countries as well as then being much more positive then some of the authors other collections which contain stories than just had dark endings. These stories were fun which is always nice to find in a collection of stories.
February 15, 2022
Poornima Manco names this collection of stories appropriately. Eight takes the reader through various locations and holidays while expanding the global vocabulary by inserting various phrases and words in several languages. The reader will not only indulge in truly fantastical tales, but also a cultural experience, although putting it down in the middle of a story tends to cause a drop in the plot thread that a re-read will call for. Otherwise, enjoy a cultural globe trotting experience.
October 21, 2022
One of the reasons I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez is because of the magic realism. These 8 short stories take place in different countries and while dealing with very serious subjects (disability, addiction, loss, loneliness...) each of them has a touch of magic realism that makes it very easy to get immersed in them. It would benefit of some notes to translate/explain certain words, but the absence doesn't stop you following the story.
This was a #NetGalleyARC read
This was a #NetGalleyARC read
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