Rusty Comes Home: Signed As Rusty Vol 5

Rusty #5

by Ruskin Bond

Rusty Comes Home chronicles Rusty's exploits after his return from London, as he explores Delhi, Dehra and the small, dusty town of Shahganj before settling down in Mussoorie, making his living as a writer, revelling in his beloved hills. This collection contains some captivating stories about Rusty's friends and fleeting acquaintances, about human nature and the supernatural. He meets a motley bunch of people including Suresh, a disabled child with whom Rusty strikes up a close bond, Uncle Bill, who makes it his habit to poison people with arsenic, and the incredible Jimmy, a jinn who can extend his arms at will to infinite lengths.Full of charming and idiosyncratic characters, these stories of love, loss and adventure will appeal to readers of all ages.

Genres: Fiction, Indian Literature

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

Reviews

[Sohini Sarker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book more than four times. :) I love it.

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hill men go to the plains to make a living. I had come to the hills to try and make mine.

This book is a collection of short and beautiful stories. All of them are wrapped with friendship and nostalgia. There are a few elements of fleeting acquaintances, wildlife, human nature (in general), and supernatural (since the stories are in the hills.) The book will make you warm even on the coldest night.

Ruskin Bond turned 85 this month. When asked how he was, he replied -

"I have always been very backward. I write by hand instead of working on a computer. I listen to the radio instead of watching the television. I don’t know how to operate a cell phone…Also, sometimes, I read books upside down. If I have to read a modern novel, I will read the last chapter first, usually that’s enough. And sometimes, I walk backwards!"

His mannerism (and stories) have always brought a big smile on my face.

My favorite stories are The Night Train at Deoli, He Said It With Arsenic, The Trouble with Jinns and Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! Eventually, Rusty comes up with a couple of nice poems as well along with his typical philosophical stuff.

Loneliness is of value to the poets.

[Yamini Chadha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always start with positives - that's the policy I follow, at least try to.

Ruskin Bond, on any given day, is in my "comfort read" zone given that the stories are mostly oriented towards India or parts of India and are completely easy to follow, I can mostly relate to them at any time. Some of them may even have been part of my growing years as well - especially the ones dealing with ghosts and such. And with "Rusty Comes Home" it was the same.
As I started reading the book, I came across a line I love on the first page itself - "Life is too short to take in all of them". Though the context here was in terms of authors - old and new - this line itself is a universal truth and can be used in varied situations. And that is part of what I like about RB’s stories...you got to find and realize the hidden gems; they will be so much ingrained in the story that you may miss them altogether in the narration but will be left with a satisfying feeling after having read them; a feeling akin to the one you get when you enjoy a lovely rainy day with a cup of steaming coffee/tea in your hands. You feel light after reading the book.

The narrative is simple. The stories are mostly well-drawn out though sometimes you will feel it is just too short - barely when the story begins and you start enjoying it, it ends and leaves you with a feeling that author has tried to cram much more into a small period of time and into a very limited number of pages. You may feel there could have been more of the story. You still long to read a bit more detailed description of the surroundings, of the people in the story. Somehow I didn't feel engaged with it, the book didn't need me to focus my mind to it, didn't engross me to the core and thus I felt oddly comforted with the familiarity of the people and places, and yet could miss reading the details in there. I love his style of writing though.

The book is about when Rusty returns from London, and explores Delhi, Dehra and Shahganj before settling down in Mussoorie. The stories focus on his friend's, acquaintances and other people he encounters. Apart from few which you will be forced to take a double take on and ask yourself is that possible, the rest of the stories are very realistic and gives an impression that these actually happened and captures the reality in some respect. That I believe is the best part of the book - the realistic feeling.

If you love gentle stories, do pick this up.

[Shreya Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while I was in India. Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. I found this novel in my cousin’s bookshelf. She had many unread books. I read Rusty Comes Home. I enjoyed reading this. It sort of reminded me of life as writer. Imagine moving back to Dehradun from London. This novel covers the beauties of India and highlights Indian literature. After reading Rabindranath Tagore’s short story collection, I felt ready to read this book. I haven’t actually read any Indian books. I read foreign literature books. This was a unique read with an adventurous twist. This is what I think.

[Manogna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book according to me is somewhere between a 2.5 to a 3 star book. I wouldn't say I loved the book, but I don't hate it either. The stories follow the journey of the boy Rusty through many years and his association and dissociation with people at each stage of his life. This would please people who have a keen eye for detail. For someone expecting a strong plots ,this will be of less interest.

[Bharat Chhabra]

Just one word - beautiful.

[Tushar Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book lovely book 🤩

[SN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Simple and heartfelt, stories that are deep and memorable, beautifully written as always.

[Bharadwaja Penumaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breezy walk in the valley with RUSTY.
Light read and spectacular narration.

[Neeraj Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous read.

[thas · Rating 5 out of 5]

so heartwarming and comforting! ❤️

[Saranya Dhandapani · Rating 5 out of 5]

#169
Book 10 of 2023-Rusty comes home
Author-Ruskin Bond

“Yesterday I was sad,and tomorrow I may be sad again,but today I know that I’m happy.I want to live on and on.I feel that life isn’t long enough to satisfy me.”

This is definitely my most favourite book from the entire “Rusty” series. Rusty comes home,to his beloved hills. But this time, he has no plan of leaving again. He returns from London,and he explores Delhi,Dehra and finally makes Mussoorie his home.

Every study in this volume is so unique and haven’t read before in his other books. It was so real,with his very own elements of little joys,wittiness and humour. It was as if I lived and experienced all of it.When he felt lonely,I’ve also felt the same.This book made me miss my childhood days,made me embrace the past and my life a little extra. This also reminded me of my home town,mountains,my garden.

Finished this book in one-go.Couldn’t really keep the book down after started resisting.It’s a beautiful journey and an experience in itself. I smiled,laughed and cried a little. My heart felt both heavy and lighter after finishing the book.

#ruskinbondbookclub #rustyseries #ruskinbondbooks #ruskinbond

[Namratha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond belongs to that tribe of gentle but potent writers who make you nostalgic for places you have never visited, and you experience the dull ache of days and people gone by with the same melancholy and wistfulness that Mr.Bond infuses into his short stories.

Rusty returns from London, meanders around Delhi, Shahganj, Dehra, and finally sets down roots in his beloved Mussoorie. And as he does so, the reader is treated to an anthology of entertaining anecdotes on old acquaintances, potential mates, new friends, and even the odd ghost and Jinn.

The stories range from the amusing to the macabre, from tigers to fresh-faced beauties, from staunch friends who go on to be more loyal than blood to relatives who drop by with arsenic in their luggage and vile intentions in their hearts.

Tart and cheeky, heartfelt and emotional, Mr.Bond covers it all…with flair and a deft understanding of human nature.

[Prashant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Ruskin Bond's books is a rewarding experience, a reward of accomplishment of reading a beautiful book. Rusty comes home is one more book that makes your reading experience joyful and nostalgic. The last book in Rusty series, Rusty comes home is Rusty's journey back to India - his hometown Dehra and then his struggle for becoming a writer. His stay in Delhi, Shahganj and finally Mussorie is filled with heart felt episodes of nostalgia. Especially Rusty's stay in Delhi reminded me of movie - Delhi-6. The night train at Deoli, Binya Passes by, Story of Madhu are some of the memorable chapters in this book. Among all chapters, Binya passes by is a beautiful story with touch of supernatural elements. The descriptions of mountain sides, lichi trees, village belle are immensely beautiful. I highly recommend this Rusty book to all the Ruskin Bond readers.

[Ekta Kubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good book. It is the fifth book in the Rusty series. The book carries from Rusty's struggles to be a writer. It covers his time spent in Delhi to his finally shifting to the hils. He freelanced from Dehra, then explored lanes of Delhi- old as well as new- shifted to Shahganj for a while, and then settled in the hills around Mussoorie because,
"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."
All the stories are classic, masterpieces by the master story writer. These will take you to a comfort zone. My favourite from this book is 'From Small Beginnings', where Ruskin Bond's alter ego Rusty meets Prem for good. The book presents a beautiful read. A must read for Ruskin Bond's fans.

[Manvi]

i want to read it

[Kumuda]

Rusty Comes Home

[Anne-Trine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too simple... More of a children's book.