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Potpourri
Fiction
Potpourri is an eccentric mix of stories and poems.
Potpourri is an eccentric mix of stories and poems.
- GenresPoetry
83 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2018
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 30, 2018
An absolutely stunning and moving collection of short stories and poems. It may be a quick read to you but it will leave an impression on your heart. Beautiful little stories that moved me to tears, made me happy to the point of elation and also made me sad. The characters were very well written and stories were exceptional. An absolute bargain for a work of art.
January 29, 2018
Review to come soon! I loved this book!
January 18, 2018
This book took me on an amazing journey. I found it enlightening to see a world through a different set of eyes. The author, Anusha VR born in India has allowed me to experience a mixture of cultures through her tales and flash fiction as her characters both familiar and unfamiliar entertained and scared me.
Stories of nasty fairies, evil children, a serial killer and a odd librarian. I look forward to reading more work by the author.
Stories of nasty fairies, evil children, a serial killer and a odd librarian. I look forward to reading more work by the author.
January 26, 2018
MAKING YOUR BLOOD RUN COLD
Another excellent collection of stories from independent publisher Chapeltown Books, who are giving authors of quirky fiction a voice. This collection by Anusha VR will make your blood run cold, touch you at some wonderfully appropriate endings (am loathe to say more - no spoilers here!), and entertain you. I read the book in one sitting on a train journey and was gripped by each story. Well done, Anusha! She also gives some evocative descriptions despite a limited word count, flash fiction being what it is, and opens eyes to other worlds and viewpoints. A great achievement and I hope Anusha will be producing a follow-up book in due course.
Another excellent collection of stories from independent publisher Chapeltown Books, who are giving authors of quirky fiction a voice. This collection by Anusha VR will make your blood run cold, touch you at some wonderfully appropriate endings (am loathe to say more - no spoilers here!), and entertain you. I read the book in one sitting on a train journey and was gripped by each story. Well done, Anusha! She also gives some evocative descriptions despite a limited word count, flash fiction being what it is, and opens eyes to other worlds and viewpoints. A great achievement and I hope Anusha will be producing a follow-up book in due course.
February 24, 2018
Book Title: Potpourri
Author: Anusha VR
Format: Kindle
Total Number of Pages: 82
Publisher: Chapeltown Books
Sold By : Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published Date: 7th Jan 2018
Price: $ 2.93
ASIN: B078WD8JCM
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Potpourri ' is interesting and doesn't give any hint about the story in the book.
Book Cover :
The book cover image is a beautiful photograph of a flower (though looks like a desert flower) with scallop type things around, but doesn't give any idea about the book.
About the book:
The book revolves around travel to various places with each different story. The cross cultural bonds between various places in the form of short stories and poems and very nice. Few sequences unfold a great surprise as the book progresses.
Characters:
The characters in the stories are nicely written.
Narration:
The narration is very nice and wonderful..
Language and Vocabulary:
Good language and grammar is used.
My Final Verdict—
A onetime definite read.
Book title: 4/5
Book Cover: 3/5
About the book: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language and Vocabulary: 4/5
I personally rate the book 4 out of 5
January 26, 2018
Impressive. I don't give 5 stars, I'll give 4.5 to this one.
I finished reading in few hrs. Interesting stories; some dark & negative, though. Few people might be uncomfortable with it but I think it's okay.
Detailed review on blog
http://www.artihonrao.net/2018/01/rev...
I finished reading in few hrs. Interesting stories; some dark & negative, though. Few people might be uncomfortable with it but I think it's okay.
Detailed review on blog
http://www.artihonrao.net/2018/01/rev...
January 15, 2018
The antologies that are discussing are wide in range from pet lover to corporate sell out taming a croc to mystery of missing children and librarian ghost... And poems this make it a perfect compilation of a book.... reading thid one is like watching short web series
March 4, 2018
★★★★½
I really enjoyed this myriad collection of short stories with their seemingly random themes that made every one of them unique. The title is absolutely fitting.
Some of the pieces are a mix of horror and supernatural while some are simple slice of life kind of stories. Some are only a few sentences long and read like flash fiction while others have a few pages devoted to them. There are some poems in it as well, but I was mostly taken in by the short stories.
Most of the stories have a twist near the end that provides it with a new sense of understanding. And even though, some of the twists seemed predictable to me, they did not take away from the enjoyment factor.
The writing is good, simple and even picturesque at times. The narrative is precise and engaging. A good effort altogether. I'd definitely recommend it.
My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this myriad collection of short stories with their seemingly random themes that made every one of them unique. The title is absolutely fitting.
Some of the pieces are a mix of horror and supernatural while some are simple slice of life kind of stories. Some are only a few sentences long and read like flash fiction while others have a few pages devoted to them. There are some poems in it as well, but I was mostly taken in by the short stories.
Most of the stories have a twist near the end that provides it with a new sense of understanding. And even though, some of the twists seemed predictable to me, they did not take away from the enjoyment factor.
The writing is good, simple and even picturesque at times. The narrative is precise and engaging. A good effort altogether. I'd definitely recommend it.
My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2018
1.5/2 stars
Thanks to the publisher for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that this was a good effort. I enjoyed the topics that were being touched upon. I just wish... it was better.
I'll start this review of on a positive note; I really loved two of the stories. One was "Stillness" and the other was "A Perfect Family". That last one was chilling and the first one disturbing. If only all the others were written like that.
I think the main issue was that it seemed as though the author was trying too hard. I mean that in the way that modern poetry has become a bit of a joke. It seemed as though she was looking for that plot twist and mysterious ending for every single book, and that was repetitive.
I honestly don't know what else to say. I was bored for the remainder of this book but I do believe that the author has undeniable talent that just needs some crafting to create masterpieces. :)
All in all, this collection has potential but needs editing and more subject density. I didn't feel that "deep" and "emotional" prospect.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that this was a good effort. I enjoyed the topics that were being touched upon. I just wish... it was better.
I'll start this review of on a positive note; I really loved two of the stories. One was "Stillness" and the other was "A Perfect Family". That last one was chilling and the first one disturbing. If only all the others were written like that.
I think the main issue was that it seemed as though the author was trying too hard. I mean that in the way that modern poetry has become a bit of a joke. It seemed as though she was looking for that plot twist and mysterious ending for every single book, and that was repetitive.
I honestly don't know what else to say. I was bored for the remainder of this book but I do believe that the author has undeniable talent that just needs some crafting to create masterpieces. :)
All in all, this collection has potential but needs editing and more subject density. I didn't feel that "deep" and "emotional" prospect.
February 23, 2018
The book moves around varied topics and are as short as half a page. The meaning behind the stories goes very deep.
The stories are crisp in a language that can be understood easily. The twists in the stories are unexpected and they just change the whole outlook of the story. But some happy endings would have been welcome.
The book has been well written and it does not feel that this is a work of fiction.
The stories are crisp in a language that can be understood easily. The twists in the stories are unexpected and they just change the whole outlook of the story. But some happy endings would have been welcome.
The book has been well written and it does not feel that this is a work of fiction.
February 5, 2018
Potpourri is a collection of flash fiction, short stories, and poems. There's an element of surprise lurking around every page and turn of the story. The short poem stings right where it's supposed to sting. The vocabulary used- it's impressive. The editing is perfect. So why is my rating 3 Stars only? Because while reading I couldn't help but feel that I have read it somewhere. I don't know exactly but it's like maybe I have read the writer's posts or blog in the past? Who knows. Stories live and haunt us for a lifetime.
I took a lot of time to retrospect on this book. It was fun to read this book and I absolutely recommend reading it once, twice and again. It's a good collection of tiny dark, sparkly stories.
If you love reading on your Kindle and you are up for few Óh Wow' stories and ideas, you will surely enjoy this book.
* This review is done in exchange for a free Kindle copy of the book from the publisher. This my honest opinion about the book. Have fun reading.
I took a lot of time to retrospect on this book. It was fun to read this book and I absolutely recommend reading it once, twice and again. It's a good collection of tiny dark, sparkly stories.
If you love reading on your Kindle and you are up for few Óh Wow' stories and ideas, you will surely enjoy this book.
* This review is done in exchange for a free Kindle copy of the book from the publisher. This my honest opinion about the book. Have fun reading.
February 9, 2018
A huge thanks to the publisher for giving me this book to read and review.
To be honest, it won't be something I would pick up because I am someone who judge a book by its cover. But since people gave good reviews, I was a bit intrigued.
It's a mixture of poetry and short stories. Like super short that it takes only 2 pages max. They all come with a twist and a bit dark which I love.
I think there's two poetry about loving your body which I haved mixed feeling about. I understand that we want to love the body we're born in but I'm also a fan of fit bodies. Do you know how awesome it is to be fit? Probably 'cause I'm hyper, so weight gain is such a pain 'cause you can't move around just as fast.
My favourite story would be the one where the mum has post-partum depression. Creepy~
To be honest, it won't be something I would pick up because I am someone who judge a book by its cover. But since people gave good reviews, I was a bit intrigued.
It's a mixture of poetry and short stories. Like super short that it takes only 2 pages max. They all come with a twist and a bit dark which I love.
I think there's two poetry about loving your body which I haved mixed feeling about. I understand that we want to love the body we're born in but I'm also a fan of fit bodies. Do you know how awesome it is to be fit? Probably 'cause I'm hyper, so weight gain is such a pain 'cause you can't move around just as fast.
My favourite story would be the one where the mum has post-partum depression. Creepy~
May 5, 2018
It is an intriguing collection of short stories and poems. The choice of words was impressive. The stories had a dark and melancholic tone to them. Though it spoke on varied issues it sounded very clichéd. After a couple of stories it got too predictable. On the whole, it was a good try by the author and is worth reading. Thanks to the publisher for providing me an e-copy for a review.
January 27, 2018
I have so many mixed feelings about the book that I don't really know what to say!
March 3, 2018
Thanks to publisher for providing me the review copy of this wonderful book.
A lovely collection of short stories and poems that will leave you in whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Some stories got an abrupt ending and some doesn't appeal me much, but overall a thought provoking prose.
This review is a collection of my own thoughts and is in no way biased.
A lovely collection of short stories and poems that will leave you in whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Some stories got an abrupt ending and some doesn't appeal me much, but overall a thought provoking prose.
This review is a collection of my own thoughts and is in no way biased.
January 25, 2018
Impressive. I don't give 5 stars, I'll give 4.5 to this one.
I finished reading in few hrs. Interesting stories; some dark & negative, though. Few people might be uncomfortable with it but I think it's okay.
Detailed review on blog soon.
I finished reading in few hrs. Interesting stories; some dark & negative, though. Few people might be uncomfortable with it but I think it's okay.
Detailed review on blog soon.
January 23, 2018
I very much enjoyed a previous book by Chapeltown Books, From Light to Dark and Back Again by Allison Symes is a reviewed here: https://bookreviewstoday.info/2017/03... . So, I was thrilled to receive another book from this publisher in exchange for an honest review. I always give honest reviews.
Potpourri by Anusha VR is a delicious mixture of short stories, flash fiction and poems. The quality of the works is very high. The stories are clever, the flash fiction interesting and the poetry neatly constructed. There is no doubt Anusha VR is a writer with talent.
Initially, I really enjoyed the entries in this book. The stories are well put together and the twists nicely fore-shadowed. The themes covered are different and the author takes interesting angles and views.
My problem, I think, is that I read the book in two sittings over a couple of days, rather than dipping in and out of the book at leisure. Had I done this, I believe this review would have been unremittingly favourable. However, I didn't do that, I read it all at once.
As a result of that, I was struck by the negativity throughout the book. Too many of the works cover dark themes, unprepossessing characters and misery. Examples of these include: Mrs Maurier's Garden, A Perfect Family, Muffled Voices and Escaping the Limbo. There are entries that made me smile, including Rainbow in the Abyss and Proud, but there were too few smiles.
There are too few flowers in Potpourri. The author writes well but this book left me feeling troubled and uncomfortable.
Val Penny
Potpourri by Anusha VR is a delicious mixture of short stories, flash fiction and poems. The quality of the works is very high. The stories are clever, the flash fiction interesting and the poetry neatly constructed. There is no doubt Anusha VR is a writer with talent.
Initially, I really enjoyed the entries in this book. The stories are well put together and the twists nicely fore-shadowed. The themes covered are different and the author takes interesting angles and views.
My problem, I think, is that I read the book in two sittings over a couple of days, rather than dipping in and out of the book at leisure. Had I done this, I believe this review would have been unremittingly favourable. However, I didn't do that, I read it all at once.
As a result of that, I was struck by the negativity throughout the book. Too many of the works cover dark themes, unprepossessing characters and misery. Examples of these include: Mrs Maurier's Garden, A Perfect Family, Muffled Voices and Escaping the Limbo. There are entries that made me smile, including Rainbow in the Abyss and Proud, but there were too few smiles.
There are too few flowers in Potpourri. The author writes well but this book left me feeling troubled and uncomfortable.
Val Penny
March 13, 2018
The title of the book is apt as it clearly represents the theme of the book. Just like ‘Potpourri’ the book is the mixture of all kinds of stories of different genres set in with different yet fragrant premises. The book may be described as the musings of the author in different time at different places in which the art of the writing can be felt.
The book will make a good coffee table book or a pass time book to read during the daily commute to work. It has bits of freshness in every story. The different subject matter of the stories, helps in maintaining the interest of the reader.
I really liked the story ‘Bibliophile’ as it not only has a thrilling aspect to it but also shows a questionable facet of the society wherein people are moving towards computer screens from actual paper books. The other totally different genres like suspense in ‘The perfect Family’, drama in ‘Dead dreams’ and kids in the ‘An Orange Revolution’ provides the reader a myriad of flavors. The author has also experimented with writing a really small story of few sentences such as ‘Rainbow in the Abyss’, ‘Treasure’ & ‘Dreamcatchers’ and has managed to capture the plot in its brevity. Poems are also included in the potpourri of stories named ‘Escaping the Limbo’, ’Tradition’ and ‘A Mother’s Sorrow’.
The book will make a good coffee table book or a pass time book to read during the daily commute to work. It has bits of freshness in every story. The different subject matter of the stories, helps in maintaining the interest of the reader.
I really liked the story ‘Bibliophile’ as it not only has a thrilling aspect to it but also shows a questionable facet of the society wherein people are moving towards computer screens from actual paper books. The other totally different genres like suspense in ‘The perfect Family’, drama in ‘Dead dreams’ and kids in the ‘An Orange Revolution’ provides the reader a myriad of flavors. The author has also experimented with writing a really small story of few sentences such as ‘Rainbow in the Abyss’, ‘Treasure’ & ‘Dreamcatchers’ and has managed to capture the plot in its brevity. Poems are also included in the potpourri of stories named ‘Escaping the Limbo’, ’Tradition’ and ‘A Mother’s Sorrow’.
May 8, 2018
I enjoy reading short stories and poems. However, I was not able to find any short story book from a long time that had the power of catching my attention since the first story. I am happy that I came across this book. The content is beautiful and I give it 4 stars out of 5 and here is my review of it.
The book began with a story of an old woman and her garden. The woman was quiet and did not socialize much. While reading it, I was having a sweet smile on my face assuming it to be a happy story. But I was wrong and the twist came into the tale. This built my interest and I was reading the book with fun. There was no story or poem that proved to be a major source of disappointment because of the content. All of them were either okay or good. These stories and poems were not restricted to a particular genre or mood. The content had a good variety and I enjoyed reading.
The cover is cute; neither very attractive nor very boring. The plot of every story and poem was good. I appreciate the author for her ideas. The narration is good. It was gripping and kept me into reading. Normally in case of anthologies, I read the stories at breaks. But I wanted to finish this book at a stretch. The best part was that since it came from a foreign publishing house, this book was rich in grammar. Coming to the titles, they were interesting. They did not reveal everything yet they were related to the story/ poem.
Do not expect something very unique from this book. If you are looking for a good and light read, pick up this book and you will not be disappointed.
Cover- 3.5 / 5
(Other ratings are for the stories in general)
Titles- 4 / 5
Narration- 4.5 / 5
Plot- 4 / 5
Overall- 4 / 5
The book began with a story of an old woman and her garden. The woman was quiet and did not socialize much. While reading it, I was having a sweet smile on my face assuming it to be a happy story. But I was wrong and the twist came into the tale. This built my interest and I was reading the book with fun. There was no story or poem that proved to be a major source of disappointment because of the content. All of them were either okay or good. These stories and poems were not restricted to a particular genre or mood. The content had a good variety and I enjoyed reading.
The cover is cute; neither very attractive nor very boring. The plot of every story and poem was good. I appreciate the author for her ideas. The narration is good. It was gripping and kept me into reading. Normally in case of anthologies, I read the stories at breaks. But I wanted to finish this book at a stretch. The best part was that since it came from a foreign publishing house, this book was rich in grammar. Coming to the titles, they were interesting. They did not reveal everything yet they were related to the story/ poem.
Do not expect something very unique from this book. If you are looking for a good and light read, pick up this book and you will not be disappointed.
Cover- 3.5 / 5
(Other ratings are for the stories in general)
Titles- 4 / 5
Narration- 4.5 / 5
Plot- 4 / 5
Overall- 4 / 5
February 1, 2018
Originally published on
Hina Loves To Read
A 2.75, really.
I was provided an e-copy of the book for an honest review.
The stories were Okayish. Could have been better with a little more effort.
These could not be called short stories. They are flash fiction pieces.
The book had no one theme that it catered to, but the topics were varied and sometimes far apart.
A few I’d like to mention here.
Bibliophile
I have serious issues with the way a bibliophile is shown in the piece. Being one, I can say with certainty we are not maniacs or murderers.
Dead Dreams
Again, this portrays that one can either choose dreams or a good career which I do not agree with.
I'll end by repeating, it could have been better.
A 2.75, really.
I was provided an e-copy of the book for an honest review.
The stories were Okayish. Could have been better with a little more effort.
These could not be called short stories. They are flash fiction pieces.
The book had no one theme that it catered to, but the topics were varied and sometimes far apart.
A few I’d like to mention here.
Bibliophile
I have serious issues with the way a bibliophile is shown in the piece. Being one, I can say with certainty we are not maniacs or murderers.
Dead Dreams
Again, this portrays that one can either choose dreams or a good career which I do not agree with.
I'll end by repeating, it could have been better.
February 11, 2018
As the title suggests, this is an eclectic collection. Never knowing what's coming next, the stories take you round the world and back, both in this world and out of it.
All well written, this is a perfect collection for an enjoyable quick read or would make a welcome gift.
All well written, this is a perfect collection for an enjoyable quick read or would make a welcome gift.
July 13, 2025
Some of the most interesting short stories and poems you can read in this anthology stories by Anusha V.R. covering different genre like mystery horror supernatural poetics and many more you observe while reading it..
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews