Short Stories/Novellas
‘The tiger approached the bars and allowed Grandfather to put both hands around his head. Grandfather stroked the tiger’s forehead and tickled his ear, and, whenever he growled, smacked him across the mouth, which was his old way of keeping him quiet.’Animals can teach us more about love than we like to admit. They can often be exactly what you need after a long, hard day. A dog greeting you at the door, a cat curling up next to you in bed, are joys that are incomparable. They are intuitive, large hearted and often can be extremely amusing and can spark curiosity in humans.In Grandfather’s Private Zoo, Ruskin Bond brings together stories and personal essays that speak to this animal–human equation. He takes us into the world of talking crows, tigers who become your best friends, monkeys with an affinity for pearls and many more such amusing, often emotional, tales!
In dull and dusty Pipalnagar, each day is like another, and 'there is not exactly despair, but resignation'. Even the dreams here are small. Adrift among them, the narrator, Arun, a struggling writer of detective novels in Urdu, waits for inspiration to write a blockbuster. Meanwhile, he seeks reassurance in love, and finds it in unusual places: with the young prostitute Kamla, wise beyond her years; and the orphan Suraj, homeless and an epileptic, yet surprisingly optimistic about the future. this is a memorable story about small lives, with all the hallmarks of classic Ruskin Bond prose: nostalgia, charm, underplayed humour and quiet wisdom.
Cambridge Reading is a major reading scheme which provides stimulating books and support materials for the teaching of reading and the development of literacy throughout the primary years.
A collection of Ruskin Bond's six novels evoking nostalgia for time gone by This collection of six novels sparkles with the quiet charm and humanity that are the hallmarks of Ruskin Bond's writing. Evoking nostalgia for a time gone by; these poignant chronicles of life in India's hills and small towns describe the hopes and passions that capture young minds and hearts; highlighting the uneasy reconciliation of dreams and destiny. The six novels included in the collection are: The Room on the Roof Vagrants in the Valley Delhi Is Not Far A Flight of Pigeons The Sensualist A Handful of Nuts
A very different Ruskin Bond novel, now in a stunning new look. The Sensualist is the story of a man enslaved by his libido and spiralling twards self- destruction. Gripping, erotic, even brutal, the book explores the demons that its protagonist must grapple with before he is able to come to terms with himself. In this powerful and bold account of the pleasures and perils that attend a young man's coming of age, Ruskin bond displays his felicity in exploring the dark aspects of the human psyche. A compelling read, the Sensualist is a must have for all Ruskin Bond fans.
Since his childhood; Arun has secretly been in love with Susanna; his dangerously alluring neighbour; who becomes his friend despite the wide difference in their ages. But Susanna has a weakness for falling in love with the wrong men. Over the years; Arun watches as Susanna becomes notorious as the merry widow who flits from one marriage to another; leaving behind a trail of dead husbands. It is only a matter of time before he too begins to wonder if there is any truth to the slanderous gossip surrounding the woman he is in love with. In this gripping new novella of love and death; Bond revisits his previously published short story of the same name; included here in an appendix. This edition also features the screenplay Saat Khoon Maaf; based on this novella and written by award-winning film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj and Matthew Robbins.
When Bina shifts to a school in Nauti-which is a long way from Koli, her village-she must daily cross the mountain, the river and walk through the jungle to get there. She is accompanied by Prakash, a boisterous twelve year old, and Sonu, her excitable younger brother. Together, they have many adventures-from helping old Mr Mani save his potatoes from porcupines to visiting the town of Tehri; and from escaping a landslide to encountering a leopard in the jungle.A touching and warm story by Ruskin Bond, this beautifully illustrated book showcases life in the hills and the wonders of friendship and bravery.
Romi needs to reach home with medicine for his sick father. But the forest he has to travel across has caught fire and is a dangerous place full of falling trees, leaping flames and panicked animals. Will he make his way across safely? Ruskin Bond s classic tale of extraordinary courage comes alive in this special illustrated edition for young readers.
'When you have some time to spare, make a list of all the different insects that you can name. Imagine you knew the name of every kind of insect in India or even in the world. If you were to write them all down, it would take you at least a month, without stopping to sleep or eat, to complete your list.' In this delightful little book, Ruskin Bond writes about some of the most interesting insects, birds, trees and flowers he has observed. As a person with a deep and abiding connection with all things natural, he brings keen observation and delightful details into his pieces. From the butterfly, dragonfly, scorpion and ant lion to different varieties of cacti, semul trees, the jasmine flower and the wild flowers found in the Himalayan region, as well as birds of the hills and urban areas like Delhi, Bond describes them all. This book is a handy guide for anyone who is interested in exploring the natural world as well as all those who love reading about nature.
In the middle of the night, I woke to aoud rattling sound. A rat, perhaps? But no. As soon as I opened the cupboard door, out popped the skull”landing near my feet and bouncing away right across the drawing room.Ghosts and spirits, prets and jinns abound in this collection of stories. From the skull that refused to be given away to the spirits ofong dead hill-station residents and from the mysterious man you meet on a dark road to the malevolent presence at the bottom of a pond”these are some of Ruskin Bond's best stories about the supernatural. Dive under the covers,eave theights on andose yourself in these scary, funny and adventurous tales.
In the stillness of the air every tree, every leaf, every bough, every tendril of creeper and every petal of minute blossoms seemed to have been bewitched into an immobility perfect and final. Nothing moved on the river but the eight paddles that rose flashing regularly, dipped together with a single splash. . . Somewhere deep in the jungles, in a boat anchored on a lagoon, a man listens to the doomed love story of his friend and his dying lover. In an apple orchard, a philosopher tries hard to decipher the codes of love, little realizing that he is ruining his own chances. With stories from writers like O. Henry, Joseph Conrad, Guy de Maupassant, Anton Chekov and others, this collection brings alive the many shades of love, from the heartbreaking to the joyous.
'Remember the old road, The steep stony path That took us up from Rajpur, Toiling and sweating And grumbling at the climb, But enjoying it all the same.' From 'Remember the Old Road' by Ruskin Bond Sometimes, a journey can be of discovery. And, in this compilation, Ruskin Bond has discovered hair-raising stories of other people's journeys, taken many many years ago. Bond describes the old track from Rajpur to Mussorie, surrounded by Oak trees and colonial buildings in 'The Kipling Road'. Braving blizzards and bandits, M. Huc takes a momentous journey to Ladakh in 'Journey to the Forbidden City', while Osa Johnson, the only woman adventurer in the book, gives her awe-inspiring account of cannibals in 'A Woman Among Cannibals'. Be it travelling for shikar or search for new lands or just for survival, this book is packed with action!
‘Unable to stand the whole weary and sordid business, Mr Fennimore hit upon a solution. Loading his revolver, he moved to his wife’s bedside and shot her through the head.’ It is the many myths and legends that make a place interesting. With the beautiful tales of nature’s gifts, there exist stories of nature’s wrath. There exist stories of spooky, haunted houses and of forests where ghosts dwell. There will be naysayers who will deny the existence of the paranormal, but it is the mystery of the unknown that attracts a traveller to a destination. In Legends of the Hill, Ruskin Bond puts together a selection of stories and personal essays that take us into this world of the unknown that lives among the majestic hills. From girls who disappear from dilapidated train stations and murder mysteries that remain unsolved, to lovers who live on as ghosts—a world of intrigue awaits!
‘But Miss Gamla did not like small boys. Or big boys, for that matter. She placed us high on her list of pests, along with monkeys (who raided her kitchen), sparrows (who shattered her sweetpeas) and goats (who ate her geraniums). We did none of these things, being strictly fun-loving creatures; but we did make a lot of noise, spoiling her afternoon siesta.’ We often look back at our time as children and think about them as the good old days—days full of mischief, wonder, curiosity and adventure. These are the days when we form lifelong bonds and make memories that become our balm on the hard days that life throws at us. These are the carefree days of galivanting, letting your imagination run wild and formulating grand plans. In Boys Will Be Boys, Ruskin Bond puts together a collection of stories and personal essays that capture the magical days of childhood. From adventures with wild animals and running amuck in ponds to finding ways of surviving algebra, a world of adventure awaits!
‘She was there every morning, chasing butterflies, stalking squirrels and mynahs, her voice brimming with laughter, her slight figure flitting about between the trees.’ Childhood memories are cherished by everybody. They are a reminder of a simpler time, a time when we easily appreciated the mundane, when excitement and joy were aplenty and when little caused us worry or even fear. Every experience of childhood is unique and special and only as adults do we realize how little we let come in our way to fully enjoying life in those days of unbothered pleasure. In And Girls Will Be Girls, Ruskin Bond anthologizes short stories and personal essays that speak to this unbridled delight. Whether it was a cricket match that changed a life, or an umbrella that became a friend, or nostalgia over old love—this book has something for everybody!
‘After class hours, or whenever I was free, I would slip into the library and sit amongst these hundreds of books, reading them, arranging them, cataloguing them or just being with them. Here I made many lifelong friends.’ There are many who as they grow older, long to reach out to their friends from school. And then there are others who are lucky enough to have friends from school as a constant presence in their life. As we grow older and embrace (or at least try to) the myriad aspects of adult life, we often like to look back at our school days and reminisce about ‘simpler times’. The bonds we make in school are some of the most cherished relationships of our life, and are often what brings us solace on a hard day. In My School on the Hill , Ruskin Bond brings us a collection of short stories that remind us of the beauty, the excitement, the joy, the confusion and the love we felt as schoolgoing children. From cricket matches in random empty fields, to Boy Scouts adventures, to finding peace in the quiet school library—this book has something for anyone looking for a moment of joy.
'I followed my heart instead of my head. It is something I have done all my life.' Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, Ruskin embarks on a literary journey and reaches England after charting unknown waters. Greeted by the uncertainties of a new city, he muses over his loneliness, switches jobs, falls in love, befriends the ocean and relentlessly chases a big dream! What follows next is the metamorphosis of a journal entry into a novel as we time-travel to the fascinating events that led to the making of his iconic book, The Room on the Roof . Capturing memorable experiences from young Ruskin's life, Listen to Your Heart is an inspiration for aspiring young writers, a meditation on embracing fears, seizing every opportunity but most importantly living one's dreams.
‘I’ve come to see you,’ she said. ‘For a long, long time, I hope.’ And I took her by the hand and led her into my home, my garden of books. And that was how Kiran came into my life. […] If you meet her, she will tell you about the garden of dreams…perhaps she will take you there some day, for she is a girl who can make dreams come true. In a world that treasures ‘being realistic’ more than daydreaming, we sometimes forget that the only way to aim higher is to daydream a little—how do we have ambition without a little hope? It is at times like this when we should remember the desires of your youth. How we dreamed bigger than we could afford to; how we leapt and then thought of the fall.