Book Review - Afsaane by Ameya Bondre

Afsaane by Ameya Bondre

A Collection of Short Stories

Ameya's writing is achingly beautiful, at every level. He chooses the perfect words, crafts sentences that make your heart feel too big for your chest, and repeatedly surprises--repeatedly offers up the thing that's both unexpected and exactly right. Ameya is strong on characterization and descriptions of places.
  • Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
  • Genre: Short Stories
  • First Publication: 2019
  • Language: English

Book Summary: Afsaane by Ameya Bondre

A sky-blue paper bird glued to a mirror. A handmade book on music to be gifted. A pair of mud-brown tea cups without handles. A shelf to hoard dying memories. A little home tucked away in a remote village. A haunting voice after boarding an empty bus…

The images on the cover belong to people whose stories are packed in this book: A man who meets his lost friend in a new world. A seeker who resists everyone to reach an unwanted place. Lovers that separate, only to find some hope. A failed artist who finds another voice. A new entrant in a home who creates turmoil. A cheated girl who makes a desperate call. A shattered man who pegs on a sudden dreamy trip.

“It had killed us… this one moment of weakness. The moment when I lost all my faith in her, my control on my impulse, and my grip on the knife.” – ‘Not in the Dark’ from Afsaane

With eleven stories of unrequited love, hope, acceptance, heart breaks or just needs, ‘Afsaane’ will tug at your heartstrings and open windows to people that experience unusual situations in far too usual lives.

 

Book Review: Afsaane by Ameya Bondre

Strange and real, Afsaane by Ameya Bondre provokes thought and amazement at every turn. Across eleven tales, a wide cast of characters, mostly unusual and of color, navigate through reality full of hope, love, loss, memory and desire.

The stories in Afsaane are magical in that they each contain something not-quite-of-this world. And Ameya uses it to elevate the questions he’s grappling with here: what we make of memory, and what it makes of us, the nature of love and longing, of connection, between human beings. This is an amazing, beautiful book.

“The viciously crooked Raag challenged her, note by note, but she held it firmly. There she leaned at the window, just before the driver’s seat, soaking in the breeze that freed her to sing, or so I thought.” -‘Dreams’ from Afsaane

The settings are very localized, very Indian. The situations and their plots seem easily transferable to other places: they present an individual dealing with whatever life has put on their tray. Without much ado, these stories pay homage to the arbitrariness we have to deal with, daily.

Without being overtly philosophical I must say that Ameya knows the crisis of life and the battles fought each day. He shows how the greatest of our conflicts are not without, but within and all the regrets and desires that consume us, gradually but definitely. Afsaane by Ameya Bondre has all the intricacies of life and its simple pleasures, the bliss of a happy marriage and the pain of unrequited love. This book has everything we call “LIFE”, nothing is missing and nothing forgotten.

“She could deflect my remarks – she could play with the spoon and the rice slipping in and out of it, or reposition her plate. She could tuck away an errant lock of hair behind her ear… or divert the conversation to an earlier remark, which she did.” – ‘Long Lost’ from Afsaane

Ameya’s writing is achingly beautiful, at every level. He chooses the perfect words, crafts sentences that make your heart feel too big for your chest, and repeatedly surprises–repeatedly offers up the thing that’s both unexpected and exactly right. Ameya is strong on characterization and descriptions of places. His tight writing paradoxically evokes whole worlds of culture, time, history, and real, breathing characters.

More on this topic

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

  • Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
  • Genre: Short Stories
  • First Publication: 2019
  • Language: English

Readers also enjoyed

Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

Dive into Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben, a gripping psychological thriller exploring deception, redemption, and long-buried secrets. This review examines its dual timeline, character depth, and social commentary.

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Explore Harlan Coben's gripping thriller 'Fool Me Once,' where psychological suspense and intricate mysteries meet. Dive into this detailed review of deception, trauma, and secrets.

A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford

Discover the captivating sequel, A Sky of Emerald Stars by A.K. Mulford. This Golden Court series installment weaves identity, resilience, and political intrigue into a stunning YA fantasy narrative.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

Dive into A.K. Mulford’s A River of Golden Bones, a young adult romantic fantasy full of magic, royal intrigue, and themes of identity and love. A compelling start to the Golden Court series.

After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico

Discover the emotional depth and intricate family dynamics in Lauren E. Rico's "After the Ocean." A tale of love, loss, and redemption, this novel combines mystery and emotional storytelling in a compelling dual-timeline narrative.

Popular stories

Ameya's writing is achingly beautiful, at every level. He chooses the perfect words, crafts sentences that make your heart feel too big for your chest, and repeatedly surprises--repeatedly offers up the thing that's both unexpected and exactly right. Ameya is strong on characterization and descriptions of places.Afsaane by Ameya Bondre