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Book Review: Farewell Season by Ashish Kalita

Farewell Season by Ashish Kalita is an absolutely extraordinary collection of nine short stories. As the title suggests, farewell is a prominent theme in the book; nearly all stories are built around the same scaffold. It explores the different dynamics of human emotions and tales of fate that are caught in the storm of circumstances. They eventually lead to farewell – some go ritually, while others are unwelcomed and tragic.



The broader theme of the book insists that farewells do have patterns, situations, intense feelings, subtle madness…but can we ever understand them behind the veils of emotional curtains? Ashish takes readers to the deeper levels of human psyche and narrates powerful stories about love, family bonding, friendship, quirks of fate, ironies of life, and so on. Another great aspect of the book is that it binds the readers with North Eastern cultural heritage and flavor, sprinkling the backdrop with cuisines, festivals, local jargons, etc.

The book commences with the story of a boy named Bokul who is haunted by a recurring nightmare in which his grandma turns into a witch. The story brilliantly captures fear, dilemma, and the tenderness of a school boy’s heart. But the interesting twist is that he isn’t a lone victim. There is a girl too from his class. Are they connected through a nightmare?

The second story Farewell Season is set in the bustling cosmopolitan culture of Delhi; it narrates the tale of an old Punjabi couple longing to see their son return from the USA…but that appears far from plausible…Then there is their shop caretaker Vijay who ignores his wedding to serve them. The tumultuous maze of human relationships is intriguing; it transcends bloodline. Ironically, near ones go away and strangers embrace.

The book may nudge you to cogitation; you may introspect about your choices and the life that you left behind. You may wonder how small situations shape us, change our perspectives and the course of our lives. Through a string of characters, the author depicts how small episodes from life teach us many things. The stories sound real, as though events from our own lives but with a tinge of fiction.

Each story has something to teach. From an intriguing plot to an engaging narrative, they convey the unspoken emotions, at times silently. The author’s command over the English language is commendable. So many life events and characters intertwined in their personal forte of choices and maze of circumstances, the book is a sheer delight with a medley of feelings. The stories have a sense of familiarity. They are relatable and to the point. Not to forget the interesting title and cover. A simple, light and intriguing book that you must pick! Makes up for a great weekend read. Highly recommended!

Buy from Amazon/Kindle


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