Title: The Vigil and Other Stories
Author: Gita V Reddy
Publisher: Frog Books
ISBN: 978-93-82473-34-3
Number of Pages: 168
Price [INR] : 125
Genre: Fiction (Short Stories)
From the Blurb:
‘Delusions’ has Rohit, an actor par excellence, slipping into different characters even when he is not supposed to be acting. Devika, his fiercely loving wife, finds an unorthodox way to draw him out of his delusions.
In ‘The Square’, three successful painters hold an impromptu contest with their friend, who is unknown and a recluse. The result is expected or is it?
‘The Vigil’ is about Naina, a young expectant mother, who is also a very busy professional. She makes all arrangements for the birth of her child but finds she has missed out on something very vital. Is it too late to make amends?
‘A Lifetime’ is about the choices Tara makes when she falls in love under the ominous shadow of honour killing. Can she live with her choice?
Fifteen stories, myriad emotions, diverse characters, milieus, situations make The Vigil and other stories a compelling read.
Review : The Vigil and Other Stories is a collection of 15 short stories. I simply enjoyed reading these short stories as I found something interesting in each one of them. Each story has a different subject, a different style and perspective which explores diverse emotions. The stories are vivid and are written with clarity thereby giving insights of various human experiences.
The Vigil is a delightful collection with many flavours. Some stories compel you to think, some touch a chord with you and some simply thrill you. There’s humour and amusement, sadness and shock too!
In A Life Time and The Gift, the emotions of unrequited love and the resultant pain and agony are captured so beautifully.
Time and Space is a story of a woman who finds that her personal space is encroached by her grandchildren and how she finds a way to be assertive and gets back her time and space.
Sita’s Lives is an remarkable story of how Sita must have felt when her purity was questioned and she was made to pass through the fire and why she called upon her mother, Earth, to swallow her up, when her sons meet their father Rama.
Dreams Can Tell is another story that surprises and shocks.
The language of the book is simple and expression is very lucid and there is honesty is all the stories.
A light and interesting read, The Vigil and Other stories is highly recommended.
Rating : [usr 4 text=”false” size=20]
This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program. To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com
21 Responses
Wow! How do you get the time to write all of these! Book sounds great…must try to check it out!
LOL 😀 It’s easy, because, I enjoy reading and writing about them 🙂
You must check it out, Danny,I am sure you will enjoy it 🙂
Short stories allure me lot…and this collection seems so….will check it definitely…thanks for sharing
Then you must definitely go for The Vigil and Other stories, Sheela 🙂
Shilpa,
Let me see if our library has this book. If not, I will make suggestion to buy it. I am tempted to read it. Thanks.
Take care
You must check it out too 🙂
The collection sounds to be different and unique, might pick it up soon after all 🙂
I liked the diverse settings and plots and such varied emotions too. It is a good read, do pick it up, Richa 🙂
Interesting reviews. I am particularly interested in the expectant mother one! I am always in awe of women who can manage a baby and a demanding job at the same time! 🙂 will check the book out on kindle….
Do stop by my latest post too… 🙂
It is available on Kindle, Ash. 🙂
It has been a while since I read some good short stories, this one looks like a good collection to read. Thanks for this review, Shilpa.
Go for it, Beloo! 🙂
What a nice review, Shilpa. I’ll see if I can get hold of the book!
Thanks Vidya! Am sure you’ll like it as much as I did 🙂
I enjoy short stories so this seems a book I will like to read. Seems to be affordably priced too!
Yes and the Kindle price is even less 🙂
Life lessons….sounds like something I”ll LOVE TO BITS.
See, if you can lay your hands on this one, Michelle 🙂
Hey Shilpa,
I am so happy to read this book review for two reasons. One is that I love reading short stories and second, I rarely get to read good short story collection from Indian publishers. Some top literary agents I spoke with also told me that they don’t accept short story format from even talented writers because it is very difficult to sell in India whereas in the UK and the US, short stories command a lot of respect and there’s a ‘market’ for it. I am definitely grabbing a copy of this book.
Oh! I was not aware of this bias towards short stories. In fact, I just finished reading another Short Stories collection: Ebbs & Flows by Amitava Chaudhuri. Review is coming up tomorrow and it was a wonderful read too! Do check this one out, Swapna. Am sure you will love it too 🙂 And do share your feedback 🙂
loved the review, am not sure if it is in my library. have to check out. coming to shortstories, i have read a similar one by Ratna shekar Rao called the Purple lotus and other stories.