New Crossroads

by Suhail Ali

ONE THING IS CERTAIN IN LIFE-NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE WAVES OF SURPRISE AND CHANGE. IN NEW CROSSROADS , SUHAIL ALI OFFERS A DELIGHTFUL COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES THAT PROVIDE INTERESTING GLIMPSES OF THE LIVES AND EXCITING TIMES OF A NEW GENERATION IN INDIA. Julie is the prettiest nurse at a research hospital in New Delhi, but she desperately wants to lose weight. When she learns that patient Babu Ram lost twenty pounds in ninety days, she begins an inquiry that leads her to discover the shocking secret that instigated Babu's journey to a special diet. Mohan Rao is a retired professor of history at a leading university in Hyderabad. When his son refuses to honor his wishes, Mohan must face the reality of his own past. Bhakteshwar Prabhu is a hostel warden and an important man to everyone associated with New Engineering College. Now, he must interview his successor - and finds a surprising candidate in the process. The short tales in New Crossroads capture the mood of a society in transition and reflect on an emerging consciousness shaped by rapid and fascinating social changes.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2010

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE short stories so I was super excited to pick up this small collection of short stories by new author Suhail Ali. All of these stories take place in India and the title of the book, New Crossroads, is meant to illustrate the complicated changes that are taking place in India today, as the country continues to shift into a major global economic player. The main tension that exists in each story in this collection is the tension between the older traditional generations, and the new generation, which seems to have fully embraced a western capitalistic way of living. Ali's stories are filled with incredibly vivid images and characters that are shockingly complex considering the brevity of their stories. I did find myself saddened by the end of reading the collection though as it leaves one with the impression that so many of the ugly aspects of western capitalistic culture are making their way through a country rich in its own cultures and traditions. Of course, one doesn't have to read this collection of short stories to be aware of what is happening in modern India. I look forward to reading more of Ali's stories and am quite appreciative of his first efforts.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I know that you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover but how gorgeous is this cover? The bright colors and the cool traditional Indian picture definitely got me a little excited to read this book. India is definitely on my travel Bucket List so I get excited whenever I can find a book to take me there. This book definitely fit the bill.

This is a very short book but it packs a punch. I'm usually not a fan of short stories but this collection is really good. You're introduced to some interesting characters in a really interesting setting. You get a taste for some of things going on in India and how rapidly things are changing, which is really cool.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a way to travel without leaving your couch, this book is a great start.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads First Reads winner

New Crossroads is a collection of short stories, that turn out to be quite funny and humorous that you end up laughing while reading along, about how certain things are taking place within India, as well as the rapid growth and expansion of change within the nation.

Honestly, if you're looking for a nice laugh or something light to brighten up your day, this is the book for you. Suhail Ali has done an amazing job of retaining the joy and excitement one feels while reading one story into the next, all the way till the very last one.

Overall, I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more of Ali's work in the near future!

[Vimal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous collection of short stories. If you like funny, comical and somewhat "Seindfeld-ish" stores, this one is for you. If you happen to be involved with outsourcing/BPO/IT field, you will further appreciate the situations from real world that are captured in a very humorous way. Luckily, the author does a good job of keeping the stories short and that keeps up the excitement, though at places the stories could have been shortened.

Overall, good enjoyment and a fun read written in clear and straight-forward style.

[Lamya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This book was an okay collection of short stories centered on the transition of the old generation to the new generation - how mindsets change with time. I was able to understand the themes/underlying thoughts in the stories mainly because my family hails from the Indian subcontinent. However, it seems unlikely that readers who have no connection to that culture will fully understand it. Basically, I felt that this book was geared towards a particular audience and isn't as versatile as I thought it would be.

[Ingrid Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, resonant, accessible short stories. Even though I didn't know much about Indian culture going into this one, I still fully enjoyed it!

Full review here: http://thebluebookcase.blogspot.com/2...