Book Review : Unlikely Tails by Mani Padma

Book Cover: 

The book cover is just needs a second attention to understand what's the picture is about. It perfectly blends with the title revealing very little about the contents of the book. It is just perfect to keep the curiosity going among readers. I am sure one would pick this book from bookshelf for it’s diverse cover.

About the Author: 

Mani Padma is from Assam, now based in Delhi. She is a full-time government doctor part time mother and sometime a punner plus writer. Her stories and articles have appeared in online magazines and websites, Women's Era and in a couple of anthologies. Unlikely Tails happens to be her solo debut.

She loves to be brief and has a compromised attention span, which is the reason she has never attempted a novel but hopes to do so in future if she finds the motivation to do so.

Contents: 

The book comprises of 17 short stories, which are though crisp yet leaves no stone unturned in conveying a message to the readers. Her stories are expressions of womanhood under going colorful hue of life. The style of framing the stories is unique and keeps the readers grooved throughout. The titles of the chapters are apt and meaningful talking very less about the story.

The tales woven by Mani Padma in the form of short stories are truly magical and ends with a twist. The characters came out beautifully in every story.

The explanations in the story titled "The End" regarding different 'Rasa' or situations and how a women stumbles yet smiles and moves ahead is explained very beautifully.  Womankind is a celebration and every story defines it. The characters of Kinky Kaur her fight to become famous or be it Bhaavya a wife who loves her family or a character of a daughter in story "Mamma's House" who want gift happiness to her mother portrays great strengths.

Really loved the thought provoking style of the author that is absorbed easily. Various shades of woman with unexpected revelations are the strength of the book. The author conveys a great message that it is difficult to understand a woman though we know them. And yes every story brings in a character gripped in certain circumstances and how differently the reactions or more precisely the decisions made vary as per the situations.

One of my favorites was the story titled "Connections" as the writer has narrated the story starting from end taking us towards the start revealing the sections one by one.

I enjoyed the read thoroughly and I am looking for more books unearthed by the author. The stories depict the incidents next door with praiseworthy narrating style. Loved the tagline: "Fuel it, Curb it, Channelize it, Control it, The power to choose is in your hands and ultimately you can give it the ending you want."

Final word:
Finally I would say that Unlikely Tails is for someone who is looking for some thought provoking, crisp, short stories which touches our heart.

Book Details:

Title: Unlikely Tails

Genre: Fiction  

Publishing House: Creative Crows Publishers LLP
ISBN-13:978-93-84901-60-8
Price:650 INR

Rating:4.5/5

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@Meenal