Latest news with #TheBlueUmbrella
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Ruskin Bond books
'Memory is a writer's best friend,' Ruskin Bond writes in his latest book, a charming collection of vignettes and ruminations drawn from a life lived quietly, gracefully and always on his own terms. While the book, which hit the bookstores on May 19th, Bond's 91st birthday, is a definite must-buy, there are others by this beloved writer that you shouldn't miss. Here are some of them The Room on the Roof Written when Bond was just 17, this charming bildungsroman chronicles the adventures of a 16-year-old orphaned Anglo-Indian boy, Rusty, who runs away from home. Along the way, he makes deep, abiding friendships, experiences love and heartbreak, and garners life-enriching experiences, with his coming-of-age journey spilling into Bond's next book, Vagrants In The Valley. The Room on the Roof, which went on to win the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957, is also a portrait of post-independence Dehradun, taking you straight into the heart of the markets, bylanes, food and culture of this town, located on the foothills of the Himalayas. A Flight of Pigeons Set in Shajahanpur, around the time of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, A Flight of Pigeons tells the story of a young girl, Ruth Labadoor, who witnesses her father being murdered in front of her in a church by the mutineers and is forced to go into hiding with her family. The book, which was made into a film, Junoon, by Shyam Benegal, details how the family survives this turbulent period. Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the Himalayas 'It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape,' writes Bond in his 1993 book Rain In The Mountains: Notes From The Himalayas, a semi-autobiographical selection of musings, essays, poems and stories, chosen from writing created over a twenty-five-year period, between the seventies and the nineties. In Grandfather's Garden A personal favourite that always leaves me chortling and wanting more, In Grandfather's Garden has a vast selection of unforgettable characters, both human and non-human. These include the rather high-strung Aunt Mabel, an incredibly annoying Uncle Ken, an extremely cool Grandfather with a penchant for snakes and crocodiles and a long-suffering, though fairly level-headed, grandmother. The Blue Umbrella Published in 1992, The Blue Umbrella, set in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, is a lovely little book about a little mountain girl named Binya and the dainty blue umbrella she falls in love with, offering a deeply immersive jaunt through small-town India.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
5 must-read Ruskin Bond books every child should dive into
For seven decades, Ruskin Bond has enthralled readers with stories extolling the simple joys of small-town life and the wonders of nature. His tales, often set in Mussoorie and Dehradun, are a window into simple joys, fleeting friendships, and childhood wonder. In Bond's world, the real adventures lie not in grand battles or sweeping quests, but in friendships struck up on railway platforms, trees quietly growing in backyards, and the secret pools hidden away in forests. If you're introducing a young reader to Bond's world for the first time, these five books offer the perfect entry points: each a masterpiece that nurtures the imagination and a lifelong love for storytelling. 1. The Blue Umbrella In a tiny Himalayan village, a young girl named Binya becomes the proud owner of a dazzling blue umbrella, stirring jealousy among the villagers. With its simple narrative and rich emotional undercurrents, The Blue Umbrella is a beautiful parable about kindness, forgiveness, and learning to let go. 2. The Cherry Tree When Rakesh plants a cherry seed in his grandfather's garden, he embarks on a journey of nurturing and patience that mirrors the slow unfolding of childhood itself. The Cherry Tree teaches children the rewards of perseverance and care. 3. The Thief In this coming-of-age story, a young runaway thief finds unexpected kindness from a man who offers him not just shelter, but trust and education. The Thief is a compelling reminder that second chances have the power to change lives. 4. Ghost Trouble What happens when a homeless ghost moves in with a lively young boy? Part comic romp, part environmental cautionary tale, Ghost Trouble delivers thrills and laughs while gently raising questions about how we treat the natural world around us.
