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The Storyteller's Tale
While Afghan warlord Ahmed Shah Abdali plunders 18th century Delhi, a wandering storyteller fleeing the carnage happens across an isolated casbah a day's ride from the city. When the beautiful and lonely lady of the manor invites him to stay and share a story, his grief at the destruction of his glorious city spills forth in a story of two brothers, Taka and Wara - wolf and boy - a tale of love and loyalty, hurt and distrust. The storyteller is amazed when the lady, or Begum, responds with a tale of her own, of Aresh and Barab, and a friendship that transcends death. Transfixed by their storytelling duel and shocked by the discovery of forbidden love, the pair draw out their stories in order to delay the moment of their parting. Part fable, part fantasy, "The Storyteller's Tale" captures the twilight of the Mughals and transports the reader to the stunning setting of an unforgettable brief encounter. Adapting ancient traditions of storytelling, skilfully weaving history and the lives of ordinary people in a landscape of war and devastation, Ahmad's finely drawn tale draws from the great folklore traditions of "One Thousand and One Nights" and the "Tales of Genji".
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Omair Ahmad
13 books12 followersOmair Ahmad was educated in Saudi Arabia, India and the US. He has worked as a political adviser on Kashmir, national and international security and legislative issues, as well as working as a journalist in the US, the UK and India. He is the author of The Storyteller’s Tale, Sense Terra and Encounters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 20, 2009
http://sandyi.blogspot.com/2009/05/st...
On first glance, this is an easy book to like. It's all of 125 pages and we all like crisp, short reads, don't we. Also, this has to be one of the most elegant covers I've seen in a while, and prettily laid out text too.
Yet, this novel by journalist turned writer Omair Ahmad left me with mixed feeling. I liked the concept of the book, but I couldn't help feeling a bit non plussed at the end of it.
Set in the 18th century, the author recounts the tale of a weary, heart-broken storyteller who wants to escape from the misery of seeing his beloved city -Delhi - being plundered by Afghan Ahmad Shah Adbali. With pain in his heart and no one to talk to, he takes off to another place riding on a stolen horse. He finds himself before a casbah, where a Begam and her retinue of servants take him in. The begam's husband is away - probably looting Delhi, as the storyteller resentfully assumes. But he's enamoured by her looks and hence accepts the hospitality.
Soon there begins a game of wits between the begam and the storyteller, with each telling a story that mirrors their state of mind. The storyteller starts with a very dark story about a wolf and a boy. It's a tragic tale of mistrust resulting from unrequited love that leads to a violent end. The begam is startled by the cynicism of the tale and offers to recount another story of her own. Her story is about filial love that passes the test of time, in spite of the impossibility of their worlds.
The storyteller is thrilled. He's finally met his match - someone who he can talk to through stories. The storyteller's next story takes the begam's tale - a fable about two brothers, one rich and the other poor - and he infuses into it a part of his distraught world. The story brings out his angst at his city being destroyed, a beauty that can never be restored. He knows the tale is too close for comfort for the begam but he reasons, 'who else can one tell the truth to if not the one who you love'
The begam responds with a story of her own and their last few tales gently tether towards a kind of forbidden love, alluding to their own secret feelings. These two strangers make a connection, sharing their innermost thoughts, veiled in stories. The storyteller's tales convey pain and loss...and a desperate need to get things off his chest since he finds an intellegent and a sensitive listener in the begam. On the other hand, the begam's story touches on how love can transcend power equations, probably gently alluding to herself and the storyteller.
The whole 'story within a story' narrative is interesting, even if it's just a reworking of your fables in Panchatantra and Arabian Nights. But frankly, I found the stories a little tepid, and they don't manage to resonate with their real lives all that much. There's a certain 'disconnect' between the characters and the stories they narrate. So you might just find things a bit hazy.
In essence, this could be like sending a question for an Agony Aunt column where you wish to express your concern but don't want to be identified or judged. So in real life most people tend to camouflage the question in interesting ways or then simply pass it off as 'friend's problem. Somehow, the begam and storyteller's exchange of tales doesn't come across as a game. The element of mischief is lacking and even otherwise, there's very little humour here.
However, what this book ultimately testifies is the power of human imagination and expression in an atmosphere of terror and how it always manages to find an outlet in art.
A word about Ahmad's writing. It flows well and he keeps it very simple (almost sparse). For the kind of genre this is - a novella set in a period- it could have done with a little more ornate style of writing. I missed William Darlymple's eloquence here.
My final thoughts are that the book left me intrigued, even if I was not entirely entertained by it.
On first glance, this is an easy book to like. It's all of 125 pages and we all like crisp, short reads, don't we. Also, this has to be one of the most elegant covers I've seen in a while, and prettily laid out text too.
Yet, this novel by journalist turned writer Omair Ahmad left me with mixed feeling. I liked the concept of the book, but I couldn't help feeling a bit non plussed at the end of it.
Set in the 18th century, the author recounts the tale of a weary, heart-broken storyteller who wants to escape from the misery of seeing his beloved city -Delhi - being plundered by Afghan Ahmad Shah Adbali. With pain in his heart and no one to talk to, he takes off to another place riding on a stolen horse. He finds himself before a casbah, where a Begam and her retinue of servants take him in. The begam's husband is away - probably looting Delhi, as the storyteller resentfully assumes. But he's enamoured by her looks and hence accepts the hospitality.
Soon there begins a game of wits between the begam and the storyteller, with each telling a story that mirrors their state of mind. The storyteller starts with a very dark story about a wolf and a boy. It's a tragic tale of mistrust resulting from unrequited love that leads to a violent end. The begam is startled by the cynicism of the tale and offers to recount another story of her own. Her story is about filial love that passes the test of time, in spite of the impossibility of their worlds.
The storyteller is thrilled. He's finally met his match - someone who he can talk to through stories. The storyteller's next story takes the begam's tale - a fable about two brothers, one rich and the other poor - and he infuses into it a part of his distraught world. The story brings out his angst at his city being destroyed, a beauty that can never be restored. He knows the tale is too close for comfort for the begam but he reasons, 'who else can one tell the truth to if not the one who you love'
The begam responds with a story of her own and their last few tales gently tether towards a kind of forbidden love, alluding to their own secret feelings. These two strangers make a connection, sharing their innermost thoughts, veiled in stories. The storyteller's tales convey pain and loss...and a desperate need to get things off his chest since he finds an intellegent and a sensitive listener in the begam. On the other hand, the begam's story touches on how love can transcend power equations, probably gently alluding to herself and the storyteller.
The whole 'story within a story' narrative is interesting, even if it's just a reworking of your fables in Panchatantra and Arabian Nights. But frankly, I found the stories a little tepid, and they don't manage to resonate with their real lives all that much. There's a certain 'disconnect' between the characters and the stories they narrate. So you might just find things a bit hazy.
In essence, this could be like sending a question for an Agony Aunt column where you wish to express your concern but don't want to be identified or judged. So in real life most people tend to camouflage the question in interesting ways or then simply pass it off as 'friend's problem. Somehow, the begam and storyteller's exchange of tales doesn't come across as a game. The element of mischief is lacking and even otherwise, there's very little humour here.
However, what this book ultimately testifies is the power of human imagination and expression in an atmosphere of terror and how it always manages to find an outlet in art.
A word about Ahmad's writing. It flows well and he keeps it very simple (almost sparse). For the kind of genre this is - a novella set in a period- it could have done with a little more ornate style of writing. I missed William Darlymple's eloquence here.
My final thoughts are that the book left me intrigued, even if I was not entirely entertained by it.
October 19, 2015
I think the concept of this book is pretty cool.But,I also feel that the story is pretty simplistic.Some might feel its simplicity is its USP.Also,some of the stories here are folk tales which I have already read before as a kid,probably in the Panchatantras. This book is well conceived and takes one beyond the narrated word. While there's no doubt that Omair Ahmad is a tremendously talented writer who has created some beautiful images through his sentences, this book just didn't click the way I hoped it would.Probably,should have kept my expectations low.
January 28, 2019
3.5 stars
January 5, 2015
What a beautiful book. I absolutely loved it. This book belongs to a genre which is uniquely Indian (by Indian I mean South Asian). The author takes the tradition of story-telling which was such an important feature of our society and weaves this book out of it. The book follows all features of oral story telling tradition, in which the listener is not a passive listener but an active member. The listener listens to the story, interprets it in his or her own unique way and then retells the story. To call it retelling would not be an accurate depiction of the process that happens here. It is actually another telling of the same story. More tangents are generated and more questions are raised. This process continues.
The author, in the way he narrates the story also, used a similar technique. The reader in the book is not a passive reader but actively engaged. The stories narrated in the book can be interpreted in many ways and the author leaves that process completely on to the reader. I think it is a very interesting way of telling a story and a genre that should be explored more by Indian and Pakistani authors. It seems as if Omair Ahmad is immersed in the South Asian culture and understands the tradition of story-telling which he then exploits in the book. Great job.
The author, in the way he narrates the story also, used a similar technique. The reader in the book is not a passive reader but actively engaged. The stories narrated in the book can be interpreted in many ways and the author leaves that process completely on to the reader. I think it is a very interesting way of telling a story and a genre that should be explored more by Indian and Pakistani authors. It seems as if Omair Ahmad is immersed in the South Asian culture and understands the tradition of story-telling which he then exploits in the book. Great job.
June 19, 2022
The plot of the story was heard of in folk tales.
Loved the way it was presented, its multiple layers built on and dissected within the book.
Loved the way it was presented, its multiple layers built on and dissected within the book.
September 24, 2022
With the flavor of a classic tale.
A nice interlude between readings that I think could have been so much more, but still okay.
I enjoyed it because it reminded me of my favorite childhood stories.
A nice interlude between readings that I think could have been so much more, but still okay.
I enjoyed it because it reminded me of my favorite childhood stories.
March 13, 2012
Once upon a time, Omair Ahmad finished writing a piece, put down his pen, pondered for a while, and then picked it up again.. "Kahani abhi baaki hain, mere dost.. Kahani abhi baaki hain..." he smiled. And 'The Stroyteller's Tale' was born. A majestic demonstration of how no story is ever truly finished, this 119 page unputdownable draws the reader into the depths of love, loyalty, friendship, anguish, need, betrayal, sacrifice and loss.. until the last 2 pages leave you awestruck, leave you facing yourself...
June 11, 2010
This book made me cry three times, which is incredible in such a short book. This author's words slip off the page and into your mouth like a breeze.
December 31, 2015
In the 18th century, Ahmad Shah Abdali leads one of his frequent invasions of India, and attacks Delhi. The capital is laid waste. Escaping from the devastation and massacre of his beloved city, a poet-cum-storyteller flees into the land of the Rohillas. There, he seeks and receives shelter in a haveli, a mansion whose master is away. Away, as the storyteller discovers to his dismay and disgust, raiding Delhi.
But the absent Mirza’s beautiful Begum is there, and she—chaperoned by her servants—grants refuge to the man. In exchange for a story. A story which he tells, of an ostracized woman who runs away to live in the forest, where she brings up (alongside her own child), a motherless wolf cub. The story, of deep love and betrayal, stirs up the Begum, who responds with a story of her own. A story of two boys, one the son of an Amir, the other the son of a woodcutter, who are brought up together as brothers…
And so it goes on, for one more round of story followed by story, each story connected in some way to the one that precedes it.
Omair Ahmad’s lovely little novella fascinated me from the moment I read the blurb itself. The Storyteller’s Tale is not just the four tales that the storyteller and the Begum exchange; it is also the story of the storyteller himself, and of the Begum, both of them recounting—to what extent, we can only surmise—their own lives through their stories. These are moving stories, stories of everyday emotions: of love and devotion, of sacrifice and betrayal and hatred. Of lust, blood-lust, of belonging and longing.
What I especially liked about these stories—besides the content of them—was the language and the style. Ahmad’s writing is a brilliant example of very accomplished but simple writing: it isn’t pretentious or vague. It says, in simple and telling words, what life is all about. After the leave-taking (the storyteller said) there is the leaving. And once you have left, you discover the ten thousand things that you still carry—memories of touch, scent and sight.
Oddly reminiscent of Sa’adi’s Bostan and Golestan, really: interesting stories, well told, and with a deep understanding of the human heart.
But the absent Mirza’s beautiful Begum is there, and she—chaperoned by her servants—grants refuge to the man. In exchange for a story. A story which he tells, of an ostracized woman who runs away to live in the forest, where she brings up (alongside her own child), a motherless wolf cub. The story, of deep love and betrayal, stirs up the Begum, who responds with a story of her own. A story of two boys, one the son of an Amir, the other the son of a woodcutter, who are brought up together as brothers…
And so it goes on, for one more round of story followed by story, each story connected in some way to the one that precedes it.
Omair Ahmad’s lovely little novella fascinated me from the moment I read the blurb itself. The Storyteller’s Tale is not just the four tales that the storyteller and the Begum exchange; it is also the story of the storyteller himself, and of the Begum, both of them recounting—to what extent, we can only surmise—their own lives through their stories. These are moving stories, stories of everyday emotions: of love and devotion, of sacrifice and betrayal and hatred. Of lust, blood-lust, of belonging and longing.
What I especially liked about these stories—besides the content of them—was the language and the style. Ahmad’s writing is a brilliant example of very accomplished but simple writing: it isn’t pretentious or vague. It says, in simple and telling words, what life is all about. After the leave-taking (the storyteller said) there is the leaving. And once you have left, you discover the ten thousand things that you still carry—memories of touch, scent and sight.
Oddly reminiscent of Sa’adi’s Bostan and Golestan, really: interesting stories, well told, and with a deep understanding of the human heart.
May 8, 2015
The only thing wrong with this short book is that I would happily have read more of these cleverly intertwined moral tales.
October 25, 2025
Ein Geschichtenerzähler muss aus der zerstörten Heimat fliehen und taucht unter am Hof des Aggressors. Dort erwartet ihn ein böses Spiel um sein Leben, das im Erzählen von Fabelhaftem ausgetragen wird. Die Geschichten wiederum, die in diesem Kontext entstehen, sind bald ein eigener, miteinander verwobener Kosmos.
All das klingt nach der Kategorie Märchen für Erwachsene, und nicht selten gibt es da Schauderhaft-Besinnliches zu lesen. Nicht hier. In Ton und Erzählhaltung leicht und allegorisch, ein wenig exotisch natürlich auch fürs europäische Gemüt, verbirgt sich eine 100% kitschfreie Erzählung über Identität und Herkunft, über Klassengesellschaft, Zuschreibung und Dissoziation, intelligent wie die großen Romane von Max Frisch zum selben Thema. Einzig der zweiseitige Epilog serviert noch zuckrige Yogi-Tee-Weisheiten, die weder ich noch diese tolle Novelle gebraucht hätten. Schmälert den Abgang, aber das gesamte Leseerlebnis keinesfalls.
Ein äußerst glücklicher Zufallsfund aus dem ö. Bücherschrank, in deutscher Übersetzung nicht auf GR gelistet, von einem Kleinsverlag, der sich auf Literatur aus Indien spezialisiert hat (Drapaudi).
All das klingt nach der Kategorie Märchen für Erwachsene, und nicht selten gibt es da Schauderhaft-Besinnliches zu lesen. Nicht hier. In Ton und Erzählhaltung leicht und allegorisch, ein wenig exotisch natürlich auch fürs europäische Gemüt, verbirgt sich eine 100% kitschfreie Erzählung über Identität und Herkunft, über Klassengesellschaft, Zuschreibung und Dissoziation, intelligent wie die großen Romane von Max Frisch zum selben Thema. Einzig der zweiseitige Epilog serviert noch zuckrige Yogi-Tee-Weisheiten, die weder ich noch diese tolle Novelle gebraucht hätten. Schmälert den Abgang, aber das gesamte Leseerlebnis keinesfalls.
Ein äußerst glücklicher Zufallsfund aus dem ö. Bücherschrank, in deutscher Übersetzung nicht auf GR gelistet, von einem Kleinsverlag, der sich auf Literatur aus Indien spezialisiert hat (Drapaudi).
February 26, 2020
"Yeh dil kab ishq ke qabil raha?/ kahan isko dimagh-o-dil raha hai?
When has this heart been capable of loving?/when has it had the
intelligence [to play the game] of love, this heart of mine?"
This book was an unexpected surprise for me, I was actually rooting for it to disappoint me but the opposite happened! The book is a very short read you can finish it in an hour. Even though the book is a short one it has content which is intense and thought-provoking. That's what I love about certain books, the might be really short reads but the quality of literature is remarkable!
A storyteller wandering around in wilderness, chances upon a casbeh and that's how the story begins!
a tale with the richness of culture and heartache for one's city!
When has this heart been capable of loving?/when has it had the
intelligence [to play the game] of love, this heart of mine?"
This book was an unexpected surprise for me, I was actually rooting for it to disappoint me but the opposite happened! The book is a very short read you can finish it in an hour. Even though the book is a short one it has content which is intense and thought-provoking. That's what I love about certain books, the might be really short reads but the quality of literature is remarkable!
A storyteller wandering around in wilderness, chances upon a casbeh and that's how the story begins!
a tale with the richness of culture and heartache for one's city!
May 5, 2011
Highlights the art of story telling. Well conceived and takes one beyond the narrated word.
December 15, 2015
Brilliantly conceived. Beautifully written. This book is a delight to read.. It's poetry in motion and unlike anything that I have read before.
April 5, 2017
The thing about stories is that there is always the other side of the same story from the perspective of the one you have touched in some way positive or negative, In a life changing or a forgettable way. There are always layers to be peeled in stories specially the ones that run deep, that are rich in experience and the lives that they describe or touch.
Omair Ahmed brings to life a timeless tale of love and suspicion and of desire and loss through different lenses. Yes the stories seem simplistic but they do move the reader to view the same plot from different eyes.
I wish he had added more Urdu poetry to the prose and also told the story from the perspective of the mother whose sons Arrah and Barab are the protagonists in the book.
Omair Ahmed brings to life a timeless tale of love and suspicion and of desire and loss through different lenses. Yes the stories seem simplistic but they do move the reader to view the same plot from different eyes.
I wish he had added more Urdu poetry to the prose and also told the story from the perspective of the mother whose sons Arrah and Barab are the protagonists in the book.
March 7, 2021
It's a nice enough book, with the type of Coelho-esque writing that's popular in our part of the world. I liked that it was about the art of storytelling itself, and it was short enough to read quickly.
August 9, 2016
Book-hoarding is probably the worst possible bane of being a bibliophile. Or a boon, depending on how one tends to view it; but right now, running out of shelf space I need to stick with the former. At the start of every month, I tend to assess the tsundoku tsituation ( if it can be pronounced sundoku why can't situation be tsituation ? Please entertain my pathetic attempt at wordplay, this one time) and condemn myself to book-buying bans (which don't work for obvious reasons). This time around , instead of just ignoring the whimpers and pleas of these books while I filled my amazon cart with more books, I turned my back on the cart and decided to actually read something from the pile.
The tiniest of the lot was The Storyteller's Tale which evoked absolutely no memory of when and how I had come to acquire this book. Unknown author and all, but an alluring cover ( full marks to the cover designer). The blurb is interesting too - reminded me of one of my unfinished works gathering virtual dust. As I read the prologue biting down my thoughts and proceeded to the first chapter, I closed the book shut. I came to the realisation that this most definitely has been a rushed purchase at an airport; because there is no friggin way I could have picked up something that read like this if I had bothered to read the prologue. To elucidate, even though the look and feel of the book does make it seem like the writer and publishers meant serious business, the book's narrative is just meh . The narrative lacks flavour or rather possesses an overpowering flavour of amateurishness. Sentences after sentences placed in manner to display smooth transition but the effort , too forced. The circumstances addressed way too hurriedly, without a proper stage setup.
To those who may find my proclamations snobbish, sample these excerpts :
"The storyteller shook his head as the memory of the chit-chat over the last few days came back with irritating clarity."
'Chit-chat' and 'irritating clarity' . Really ? Is this a status update on Facebook?
I am all for supporting amateur writers but amateur doesn't mean mediocrity. Or lazy writing. I almost contemplated abandoning the book at this point, but flipping through the rest of the pages and seeing that it was quite a short read, I told myself that I would give this book a chance of ten more pages before I decided the fate of this 'beautiful' looking book. I grit my teeth through phrases such as 'simply uncaring', 'brutalized again and again', 'entreaties again and again' , 'it will pass the time', 'he had never had wealth', ' this unwillingness to bend' - I mentally corrected all the sentences. What's with the usage of 'again and again'. Has the writer or the editor never come across the word 'repeatedly' ?
By this point, you all might be wondering as to why I even bothered reading the rest of the book. Seeing how the Indian literature scene these days is mostly filled with a deluge of misogynistic or misandric books in the name of romance , or mythological retellings, I really wanted to see how different this book was from the rest as advertised in the blurb. I must say, after a while , I somehow started to ignore the grammatical/sentence structuring quirks because the storytelling did take-off. I won't say that it reached soaring heights, but the retold folktales did ruffle a few feathers of nostalgia. While the story of Taka, Wara is a direct adaptation of the mongoose story, the Aresh-Barab story was interesting and interweaving of both these stories, an appreciable attempt. I agree with other reviews which say the idea is good, but the execution fails. Quite miserably.
Rating : 2.25
P.S : I just read that the writer has worked as a journalist in the US, UK and India. Knocking off 0.25 from the rating. Definitely expect better writing.
Final rating : 2
The tiniest of the lot was The Storyteller's Tale which evoked absolutely no memory of when and how I had come to acquire this book. Unknown author and all, but an alluring cover ( full marks to the cover designer). The blurb is interesting too - reminded me of one of my unfinished works gathering virtual dust. As I read the prologue biting down my thoughts and proceeded to the first chapter, I closed the book shut. I came to the realisation that this most definitely has been a rushed purchase at an airport; because there is no friggin way I could have picked up something that read like this if I had bothered to read the prologue. To elucidate, even though the look and feel of the book does make it seem like the writer and publishers meant serious business, the book's narrative is just meh . The narrative lacks flavour or rather possesses an overpowering flavour of amateurishness. Sentences after sentences placed in manner to display smooth transition but the effort , too forced. The circumstances addressed way too hurriedly, without a proper stage setup.
To those who may find my proclamations snobbish, sample these excerpts :
"The storyteller shook his head as the memory of the chit-chat over the last few days came back with irritating clarity."
'Chit-chat' and 'irritating clarity' . Really ? Is this a status update on Facebook?
I am all for supporting amateur writers but amateur doesn't mean mediocrity. Or lazy writing. I almost contemplated abandoning the book at this point, but flipping through the rest of the pages and seeing that it was quite a short read, I told myself that I would give this book a chance of ten more pages before I decided the fate of this 'beautiful' looking book. I grit my teeth through phrases such as 'simply uncaring', 'brutalized again and again', 'entreaties again and again' , 'it will pass the time', 'he had never had wealth', ' this unwillingness to bend' - I mentally corrected all the sentences. What's with the usage of 'again and again'. Has the writer or the editor never come across the word 'repeatedly' ?
By this point, you all might be wondering as to why I even bothered reading the rest of the book. Seeing how the Indian literature scene these days is mostly filled with a deluge of misogynistic or misandric books in the name of romance , or mythological retellings, I really wanted to see how different this book was from the rest as advertised in the blurb. I must say, after a while , I somehow started to ignore the grammatical/sentence structuring quirks because the storytelling did take-off. I won't say that it reached soaring heights, but the retold folktales did ruffle a few feathers of nostalgia. While the story of Taka, Wara is a direct adaptation of the mongoose story, the Aresh-Barab story was interesting and interweaving of both these stories, an appreciable attempt. I agree with other reviews which say the idea is good, but the execution fails. Quite miserably.
P.S : I just read that the writer has worked as a journalist in the US, UK and India. Knocking off 0.25 from the rating. Definitely expect better writing.
Final rating : 2
February 20, 2015
How often do you read a book which is about stories? No, I don't mean 'how often do you read books about books?'I mean books about stories, and stories within a story,stories encapsulated within each other making us believe that there is more to every tale than we can ever imagine?
This is exactly what The Storyteller's Tale is about! Set in India at a time when Delhi was the centre for turmoil (not that it isn't even now!), this book is about an evening spent by the Storyteller with a Begum in a storytelling competition while Delhi is being plundered.
As Delhi burns and bleeds, the Begum and the Storyteller invent different aspects for the same story making this book one of those rare tomes which talk not about the author or the characters but about the wonder we call 'Storytelling'.
This is exactly what The Storyteller's Tale is about! Set in India at a time when Delhi was the centre for turmoil (not that it isn't even now!), this book is about an evening spent by the Storyteller with a Begum in a storytelling competition while Delhi is being plundered.
As Delhi burns and bleeds, the Begum and the Storyteller invent different aspects for the same story making this book one of those rare tomes which talk not about the author or the characters but about the wonder we call 'Storytelling'.
May 28, 2010
Lately I seem to be reading a lot of books which I love the idea of...a bit less so than the actual finished product. This book is one of them, but as you can see from my generous 4 star rating, it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of it too much. Firstly, reading this book made me realize how wonderful 'novellas' are sometimes as opposed to a whopping great big 600 page tome. It's almost like reading a very long short story, or a poem. I adored the setting of this book-that brought to my attention the fact that I have unfairly dismissed 'historical' fiction for no good reason whatsoever. Finally, the writing itself- in places a little too sparse and contrived (simultaneously, if that's possible)- but undeniably beautiful and reminiscent of a wonderful, moralistic fairy tale.
August 31, 2010
This is a lovely book. It is the 1700s in India, and a storyteller - running from the destroyed city of Delhi - arrives at a casbah where a well off woman puts him up for the night. He recites a story, which so moves the begum, she responds with a tale of her own. Thus begins a beautiful, multilayered story described through the exchange of tales. Beautiful.
January 30, 2010
A tour-de force in new Indian writing...It's brilliant read, unlike anything you have read before. Omair weaves magic with his collection of fables with a prose that is dignified and earnest. It is a book that one can recommend to their grandparents as well as a twelve year old nephew or niece.
May 5, 2012
Started very interesting, some nice and unexpected twists, an interesting story in 1700 India and easy to read in a real story tellers mood. I only did not really come to the point of my chair however still encouraged to read more writers from less expected corners of the globe.
September 29, 2014
This is a beautiful book. I picked it up at random from the library and I'm so glad I did. This is a clever and subtly woven story about stories and the very art of storytelling itself. It deals with friendship, honour, love and betrayal and draws the reader in inextricably.
November 8, 2015
This lean novella is a story of storytelling as a form of love.
It is the tale of a brief love affair between two improbable lovers who only make contact through the tales they tell. The stories themselves entwine into each other in surprising ways. I enjoyed it.
It is the tale of a brief love affair between two improbable lovers who only make contact through the tales they tell. The stories themselves entwine into each other in surprising ways. I enjoyed it.
July 29, 2012
An absolutely incredible book. The writing is enhanting and the stories take you inside yourself. One of the best work of fiction I have ever read.
April 4, 2015
extra star for the three 'shayaris'...a plain book with a lot of poetic verses/phrases/paras.
May 22, 2019
2019B23
The Storyteller's tale by Omair Ahmed This story is a beautiful prose of how two people get attracted to each other, confess their love and part ways with a promise to honor their love for life - all in a span of two days, all without actually having a conversation but just with the exchange of different version of same story.
A beautiful story of forbidden love between a storyteller and begum of a Mirza. They embody the characters of their own stories and goes through a plethora of emotions. Though the exchange happens among a people of Mirza's court but it seems as if there are only two of them.
What makes this exchange ever so beautiful is how they pick threads from each other story and narrate the same story again and again with a different perspective. It's a glorious battle of wits where both of them win the other by finally surrender to each other's declaration of love.
I would love to read more of such tales. It was a wondrous experience.
The Storyteller's tale by Omair Ahmed This story is a beautiful prose of how two people get attracted to each other, confess their love and part ways with a promise to honor their love for life - all in a span of two days, all without actually having a conversation but just with the exchange of different version of same story.
A beautiful story of forbidden love between a storyteller and begum of a Mirza. They embody the characters of their own stories and goes through a plethora of emotions. Though the exchange happens among a people of Mirza's court but it seems as if there are only two of them.
What makes this exchange ever so beautiful is how they pick threads from each other story and narrate the same story again and again with a different perspective. It's a glorious battle of wits where both of them win the other by finally surrender to each other's declaration of love.
I would love to read more of such tales. It was a wondrous experience.
August 29, 2019
An alluring riveting story where two protagonist communicate through their tales.The Storyteller witnessed the plundering of his majestic City Delhi, unable to bear the devastation any longer he took refuge in the land of Rohillas.But little did he realised the cruel twist of fate, the house which sheltered him belong to the very person who looted his beloved City. The Begum Mirza's wife on the other hand tied by the norms, feel suffocated exiled in her own home.
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The notion of love, friendship, betrayal, revenge, lust and trust magnified through the tales, sets one thinking about the fine line baring the wrong from the right. The need for belonging and longing for a close one many a times wrecks one's life.
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The hauntingly beautiful tales with deep set morales will stay with the readers for a long times.I found few stories bearing a close resemblance to the tales I read in Panchatantra.
:
The notion of love, friendship, betrayal, revenge, lust and trust magnified through the tales, sets one thinking about the fine line baring the wrong from the right. The need for belonging and longing for a close one many a times wrecks one's life.
:
The hauntingly beautiful tales with deep set morales will stay with the readers for a long times.I found few stories bearing a close resemblance to the tales I read in Panchatantra.
July 28, 2021
The concept of this book clearly outshined its execution. I wish it were more elaborate, the dialogue of the stories and how the emotions evolved should have been more nuanced. Some of them felt contrived, especially the storyteller's response-stories - this in itself could have been a terrific way of showing the woman's manipulation by a very masculine predator, but I have the feeling this was not intentional.
I read the Hungarian edition and the language felt too modern, not subtle enough, so I'm not sure whether or not something was lost in translation.
It felt like a simple sketch of a great story (of stories) it could have been. Worth the read, though, it definitely stirred something.
I read the Hungarian edition and the language felt too modern, not subtle enough, so I'm not sure whether or not something was lost in translation.
It felt like a simple sketch of a great story (of stories) it could have been. Worth the read, though, it definitely stirred something.
August 6, 2020
Omair Ahmad’s ‘The Storyteller’s Tale’ is a story of love, friendship, family and deceit. You will get used to the connotations, but yeah it made me feel like I am reading a poem. Is the meaning this? Does the storyteller wants to say this? Is this really happening or is it a fragment of the character’s imagination? A lot of questions there and so few answers :) It is not just a simple story, it is the storyteller’s tale !
Rated: 2.5/5 stars 🌟
Rated: 2.5/5 stars 🌟
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