Twenty- five Seven

A bland cup of coffee – Unlikely Tails: Book Review

November 8, 2017

When I was asked by Blogadda if I wanted to review “Unlikely Tails” by Mani Padma, I jumped at the chance because I am lagging behind miserably in my Goodreads Challenge. Imagine I can’t even muster up 12 books when I’d promised myself just two books a month? That’s nothing short of shameful.

So I grabbed the chance to read this book and was quite surprised when I received a thin envelope containing a signed copy by the author.

Actually, I was thrilled that it was so slim. I would be able to finish it in one night itself! It would be a quick if not easy read. Besides , I love reading Indian authors whose books I can generally relate to with ease.

And the cover with its intriguing shaggy tail had me wondering if it was a book of doggy stories. I love doggy stories. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. The word tails was a pun and actually signified a twist in the tale. For indeed, each of these tales has an unexpected ending.

The Book :

Dr. Mani Padma, the author of the book has written this small anthology of short stories. Drawing on her experiences, Mani Padma tells stories that have a completely unpredictable end. The stories themselves are quite straightforward with very believable characters. I personally feel that doctors like lawyers have a ring side view of humanity with their constant interaction with people particularly those with problems. And problems as we all know appeal to humanity.

However, despite the particularly spirited and endearing heroines , there is something missing in the book.

Though the stories all deal with human relationships that are flawed, there is a strong leaning towards unrequited love and an undercurrent of mockery of all things traditional ( the arranged marriage for example). So while the endings may be unexpected, the situations are pretty trite. And the situations that are unusual are downright bizarre like the stories “Dead-End” , “Broken Heart” and”In Pursuit of Fame”.

I really enjoyed “Pammi’s Escort Service” and “Dull-Iance”, though this last story could have been written in more refined language. But then perhaps the heroine did have a brusque manner bordering on rudeness.

One thing is for sure, Mani Padma does manage to hook your attention . And the best part is that the stories are so short that you can finish off the book in half an hour or so. Surprisingly, I did so too!

Honest opinion

To tell you the truth, the book seemed more a collection of blog posts that have been published as a book. I also feel that part of the reason this book doesn’t scintillate is the sloppy editing. A case in point : On page 55, the author writes

“He felt fresh the next morning. He put on some freshly washed clothes……” Surely the editor could have helped with a better choice of words?

On the other hand, the pedestrian writing and simple words make this book easy to understand.

[bctt tweet=”Perhaps that’s why this book will appeal to readers like me who don’t have the luxury of time to read. ” username=”via unishta”]

You can buy this book at book stores near you or online via Amazon

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
Cheers#WordlessWednesday

November 8, 2017

The family was enjoying a celebratory lunch in the garden when the family dog decided that she needed to be part of the party too! We were speechless as she downed the glass of gin and tonic that someone had left down .

[bctt tweet=”Who said dogs and drinks don’t mix?” username=”via unishta”]

Joining Esha on #WordlessWednesday.
Lunch box memories#FlavoursomeTuesdays

November 8, 2017

Yesterday my computer was down and I missed my #FlavoursomeTuesdays post . But before it gets to next Tuesday I’d like to post this memory of my lunch box that sparked my quest for the perfect Prawn Pullao.

The lunch box is an important part of every child’s life and mine was particularly so. This is because my mom really gave me the yummiest food. Of course every mother makes the yummiest food, but I actually had to take TWO lunch boxes to school. One was for me and the other was for my friends. Especially on days when the food was yummy like the every other Monday my brother and I had prawn pullao.

For many years I actually had lunch at school but in the last year of school, I preferred carrying it with me and eating at my desk. This was because the last year was very busy with extra work which often carried on to the lunch break. So my mom, who taught in another school had to get up even before the crack of dawn and get our lunches organised. This was because her own school began at 7 am.

But my mom had a formula for lunch which was quite practical and simple really – packing up the left overs from dinner. On days that there weren’t any, a quick sandwich, fruit and some cut cucumbers and carrots would do. Those were of course rare…..

The Monday Morning Lunch Box

Monday lunches were almost always great because Sunday dinners were fantastic. And there was once a time when we had Biryani one weekend and Prawn curry the next. That’s when Prawn Curry was upcycled as Prawn Pullao in the Monday Morning Lunch Box.

This was so popular that even on days we had no curry, my mom would cook up the prawn pullao as it cooked really fast.

When we graduated from school, the lunch boxes automatically stopped and the prawn pullao was forgotten till one Sunday we remembered how simply yummy the Prawn Pullao was. We pestered our mother to hunt out the recipe in one of her numerous diaries that doubled up as cook books. Sadly, this was one recipe she hadn’t scribbled down and the recipe remains lost till today.

In search of the recipe

That was the beginning of a new game in our lives – trying out different combinations of prawn, spice and rice to get that perfect prawn pullao. A flavoursome rice where the prawns were just tender, the spices just right and the taste still unforgettable.

And as the fragrance of prawn simmering in the pot assailed my senses, I wondered if I’ve finally got the taste of the unforgettable prawn pullao.

I’ll have to write this recipe down and share it with my brother to see if it measures up to the original.

Do you have a food memory that makes you want to try a hundred recipes just to re-create the original?

Would love to hear from you . Do join Shilpa and me on #FlavoursomeTuesdays with your droolworthy memories of food.

Till next Tuesday!