If - Neeru Nanda

I have always found short stories very appealing. And while I started writing them, a very naïve prejudice, that a short story is simple to write, has been rethought of. It is extremely difficult to build characters, show relationships and narrate a story.

Neeru Nanda, through various settings, achieves that end goal quite satisfyingly as a reader. But if you are the kind of a reader who likes reading a short story with a traditional framework of a beginning, a twist and a conclusion, then If might not be the book for you. Because while the stories are beautifully depicted, they are meant to touch your emotional sensibilities rather than introduce a problem and take it to a logical conclusion.

The writer explores different settings in her stories with the flair of an accomplished writer. You’d expect a debutant writer, to stick to his sphere and write stories on them. If I ever came out with a book, it would be difficult for me to write a story about a monk and do justice to the character and the story.

The writing is definitely that of an accomplished writer. A lazy writing style turns me off immediately and getting through the book feels like reading an essay of a twelve year old boy has written it simply out of the fear of a cane snapping on his knuckles if he didn’t write it.

If you are the more sensitive sorts, then you might run the risk of getting into a depression for some time going ahead since the stories in the book talk about solely the rough side of the protagonist’s lives. Some stories are hopeful, like Lonely, Not Dead, and The Ghost Writer. But those are all. The rest of the nine are so grim that they will rub away all silver linings you are capable of seeing.

The book is a quick read that you would get through in a 3-4 hour journey between cities or something. And the book will keep you entertained for the duration. On the other hand it is nothing too spectacular to rave about either.