Next Door : Stories

Jahnavi Barua has, without a doubt, leaves an indelible mark and etched place for herself as a story teller with this collection of 11 short stories. Characters that evolves and comes to life are as rounded-easy-going- simple-complex as people can get, and they are far from being cardboardish. We come to love them through their highs and lows. Barua has birthed them with affection, care and compassion - very skillfully meandering her readers to will to understand and strike a conversation premising on empathy and forgivingness. The sense and and sensibilities of places and people from Assam finds space and attention with these beautifully written and curated stories in this collection. Stories are rife with elements of love, hope, passion, aspiration, heart-break, disappointments and predicaments that bring the characters to the scale of reality and we identify with them.We co-habit the space and time with these characters and they are not any more exotic or distanced or the "otherly" ,as most often than not, the Northeastern part of India appears to mainland Indian culture and social conversation. (I know that being a Northeasterner my self)Barua's simple sketchy narration and penchant for detailing of landscape and milieu add to the delight that the book is. In fact, at places in the book, more than the people, location and landscapes capture the centrestage and keeps us on the hook rooting for more.I personally recommend that this collection must adorn the shelves of any book lover.

It is very good... I liked the co ever of front page😊

Good

What is it about Jahnavi Barua's writing? Whatever she writes turns to gold, leaving the reader breathless, and infinitely richer.Beautiful, sensitive and heartwarming tales to tug at your heartstrings, as you connect to the simple, painful and poignant truths of life.This book has a mystical, surreal quality about it. It is as if the writer has delved so deep into her characters that they come out alive, skin and bones, breathing and heaving right beside you.I'm so glad, I discovered this sensitive, wonderful writer whose work I will forever look out for. ❤

Great book. A book that focuses on simple human values and nature and weaves it into a masterpiece

I enjoyed reading the book thoroughly. The stories were simple yet fun to read and it was a wonderful feeling to go back to the world I grew up in.