When we talk about our routine life, the first thought we have is that it must be boring, it must be uninteresting, there would hardly be moments of happiness and probably more misery than we can think of, but the author Tirtho Banerjee captures the powerful and beautiful moments of life which happen in between all this ordinariness in his short story collection, “Bonds.” In his collection, he not only captures moments that become memories but also those that become lessons never to be forgotten. “Bonds” is one such book that embodies the essence of the mundane in everyday life. The people who feature in it come from a variety of backgrounds; the stories have unique subjects, and each one offers readers pensive moments. These are the moments when readers consider how an ordinary event can impact a person and to what extent.
“Bonds” features stories that explore beauty in the ordinary and how it is bonds, old or newly created, that form the fragment of the life of any person. Whether it is about life after death, or death being connected to something else, or people standing at the crossroads of critical decision making, or people in a second innings of their lives, “Bonds” explores beauty in simplicity, the mundane and what may not seem like something that could be a part of a short story collection. Through “Bonds,” the author also reinforces the fact that every life and every person has a story, however it may be. If listened to carefully, it will always sound beautiful.
At the same time, “Bonds” explores the problems, sorrows, and happy little moments of people at different stages of their lives, and how, unexpectedly, they form bonds they cherish throughout their lives. It will primarily appeal to readers who see life in its routine and try to understand it in depth rather than just enjoying it on the surface. The stories it covers are heartwarming, relaxing to the mind, and sometimes food for the soul as well. They also have the potential to give a person a shift in perspective on life and the bonds they have with it. In its simplicity, this collection is powerful in that manner.
Stories like “You Did It, Gyan” and “Rainy Day” present heartwarming accounts of people going through their lives with the passage of time, while “Nasreen” is about embracing a second innings. Probably the most moving of the stories is “That Girl on the Train,” as it connects the life we see with the one that no longer exists. Likewise, every story written presents life at different junctures where people also have to make difficult decisions, which is featured in “The Bench,” “The Dream Project,” and Different Battles.”
This book is recommended to all readers who seek to understand beauty in the ordinary and desire to meet real people through fiction, offering heartwarming accounts and stories that feature universal human predicaments. It would be a refreshing experience altogether.
