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_askthebookbug 's review for:
Essential Items
by Udayan Mukherjee
• r e v i e w •
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I read Dark Circles by Udayan Mukherjee last year and was surprised by the emotions it managed to invoke within me. He makes it easier for readers to connect with his stories either through his easy use of language or by the relatability of the stories. His newest work Essential Items is written in similar lines, focusing on the ongoing pandemic situation. The past eight months haven't been easy and while most of us are managing to work from the comfort of our homes, we often forget that there are other sets of people who are barely managing to survive. This book of short stories covers a wide range of people, from the senior citizens to the migrant workers to the privileged ones. It was a breezy read and makes one think about how fragile and volatile the world has become.
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The first story speaks of the cycle of life through two men who work in crematory ghats. The shrewdness with which they are forced to adapt to the pandemic in order to make more money than usual before the ghats are closed may sound unfair but seems valid once we think about it. As I read along, Udayan speaks of thousands of migrant workers who weren't allowed to go back to their villages and once they did, they often felt unwanted while their neighbours and friends maintained their distance. Most of the workers weren't paid either as their bosses kept the funds to guarantee their return. He refers to the privileged ones who aren't much affected by the pandemic and of senior citizens who have to rely on online portals or volunteers to seek help. I wouldn't want to delve too much into the varieties of stories but my favourite of all is most definitely Essential Items and Shelter From The Storm.
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The stories aren't all gloomy and dark. Amidst crisis, as it so happens, there are white knights who strive to assist others and when I read such stories, they made me smile. Humans and their incessant ability to adapt to any given situation, their empathy and understanding ability are so crisply written in this book. Amidst this inconvenient situation that we have been living in, one must be kinder to others for they may be carrying an invisible burden. This book of ten stories was extremely effortless to read all the while making one think about how much our lives have changed this year. We take things and people for granted only to realise later that almost nothing is permanent. Essential Items may not be a critical read but it does serve its purpose in making one feel that they aren't alone during this dire time.
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Rating : 4.2/5.
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I read Dark Circles by Udayan Mukherjee last year and was surprised by the emotions it managed to invoke within me. He makes it easier for readers to connect with his stories either through his easy use of language or by the relatability of the stories. His newest work Essential Items is written in similar lines, focusing on the ongoing pandemic situation. The past eight months haven't been easy and while most of us are managing to work from the comfort of our homes, we often forget that there are other sets of people who are barely managing to survive. This book of short stories covers a wide range of people, from the senior citizens to the migrant workers to the privileged ones. It was a breezy read and makes one think about how fragile and volatile the world has become.
.
The first story speaks of the cycle of life through two men who work in crematory ghats. The shrewdness with which they are forced to adapt to the pandemic in order to make more money than usual before the ghats are closed may sound unfair but seems valid once we think about it. As I read along, Udayan speaks of thousands of migrant workers who weren't allowed to go back to their villages and once they did, they often felt unwanted while their neighbours and friends maintained their distance. Most of the workers weren't paid either as their bosses kept the funds to guarantee their return. He refers to the privileged ones who aren't much affected by the pandemic and of senior citizens who have to rely on online portals or volunteers to seek help. I wouldn't want to delve too much into the varieties of stories but my favourite of all is most definitely Essential Items and Shelter From The Storm.
.
The stories aren't all gloomy and dark. Amidst crisis, as it so happens, there are white knights who strive to assist others and when I read such stories, they made me smile. Humans and their incessant ability to adapt to any given situation, their empathy and understanding ability are so crisply written in this book. Amidst this inconvenient situation that we have been living in, one must be kinder to others for they may be carrying an invisible burden. This book of ten stories was extremely effortless to read all the while making one think about how much our lives have changed this year. We take things and people for granted only to realise later that almost nothing is permanent. Essential Items may not be a critical read but it does serve its purpose in making one feel that they aren't alone during this dire time.
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Rating : 4.2/5.