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The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories
A collection of short stories on small town life by one of India's novelists.
The best of a lifetime of stories from a short story writer of rare distinction. Ruskin Bond's stories are predominantly set in the beautiful hill country of Garhwal where he has made his home for the last twenty-five years. Some of these stories present people who, consciously or otherwise, need each other: people in love or in need of love, the awkward adolescent and the timid lover. Some are gently satirical studies about village and small-town braggarts and petty officials. Several others mourn the gradual erosion of the beauty of the hills (and the gentle people who live in them) with the coming of the steel and dust and worries of modern civilization. All the stories are rewarding for their compassionate portrayal of love, loss, accomplishment, pain and struggle.
The best of a lifetime of stories from a short story writer of rare distinction. Ruskin Bond's stories are predominantly set in the beautiful hill country of Garhwal where he has made his home for the last twenty-five years. Some of these stories present people who, consciously or otherwise, need each other: people in love or in need of love, the awkward adolescent and the timid lover. Some are gently satirical studies about village and small-town braggarts and petty officials. Several others mourn the gradual erosion of the beauty of the hills (and the gentle people who live in them) with the coming of the steel and dust and worries of modern civilization. All the stories are rewarding for their compassionate portrayal of love, loss, accomplishment, pain and struggle.
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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7062 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,557 followersRuskin 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
May 16, 2014
Of love, of innocence, of loneliness, of hills, of grandparents, of trees, bees and butterflies, of the rain, of the sun, of girls with big black eyes, of love-struck boys, of trains, of you and of me - That's what this set of stories is about. Ruskin Bond has woven magic into words that are definite to send the reader into a time warp and beg for the romanticism of the old days to make its appearance again.
How I wish !
How I wish !
September 23, 2016
There are books, then there are classics. There are writers, then there are authors. A step above them you have the story tellers
-Anonymous
But then there are people who surpasses even the story tellers and touches the most private of memories and suddenly every understanding of yours about life seems pointless and every calculated steps you have taken in life seems a mistake . You realize in this game of life you have traded something priceless , for some glass pieces ,the world made you believe are diamonds !!!
when I was born ,in the coastal village of Konark ,the first thing I inhaled is the salty moist air carrying the smell of the sea ,The bay of Bengal .That very moment the sea claimed a part of my heart .In my early teen age when I jumped into the sea from fishermen's boat for a swim with friends , it claimed even a larger part of my heart .Every dawn and every dusk ,when I saw the sunrise and sunset ,climbing to the top of the tree near the beach , I knew ,this is what I will always paint for the rest of my life,the blue water ,the dusty road and the green trees .
So ,when I read this book by Ruskin bond ,I could see through the words ,the lines and the stories ,a man's heart sold to the mountains of Mussoorie like mine is sold to the sea .Naturally,Bond waves words powerful enough to make you nostalgic,the back drop of every story capable enough to make you yearn for home and the story itself instigating memories of your,carefree ,impulsive ,non-calculative self, for whom the joys of life lies in the simplest of things, like imagining the shapes of the clouds to be dragons and warriors fighting their battle or in pitch black moonless night ,listening to the rustling of the wind,from your bed room window,and believing it to be the conversation of ghosts,who as per your grandmother's bed time story are living in a near by banyan tree .
so ,yes ,there are books which you can read and marvel at the intelligence of the author or you can read this book by Ruskin Bond and marvel at the simplicity of a man whose love for his native place has taken form of words to tell stories that could itself unfold a series of stories of your own past within you, that you have long forgotten !!
-Anonymous
But then there are people who surpasses even the story tellers and touches the most private of memories and suddenly every understanding of yours about life seems pointless and every calculated steps you have taken in life seems a mistake . You realize in this game of life you have traded something priceless , for some glass pieces ,the world made you believe are diamonds !!!
when I was born ,in the coastal village of Konark ,the first thing I inhaled is the salty moist air carrying the smell of the sea ,The bay of Bengal .That very moment the sea claimed a part of my heart .In my early teen age when I jumped into the sea from fishermen's boat for a swim with friends , it claimed even a larger part of my heart .Every dawn and every dusk ,when I saw the sunrise and sunset ,climbing to the top of the tree near the beach , I knew ,this is what I will always paint for the rest of my life,the blue water ,the dusty road and the green trees .
So ,when I read this book by Ruskin bond ,I could see through the words ,the lines and the stories ,a man's heart sold to the mountains of Mussoorie like mine is sold to the sea .Naturally,Bond waves words powerful enough to make you nostalgic,the back drop of every story capable enough to make you yearn for home and the story itself instigating memories of your,carefree ,impulsive ,non-calculative self, for whom the joys of life lies in the simplest of things, like imagining the shapes of the clouds to be dragons and warriors fighting their battle or in pitch black moonless night ,listening to the rustling of the wind,from your bed room window,and believing it to be the conversation of ghosts,who as per your grandmother's bed time story are living in a near by banyan tree .
so ,yes ,there are books which you can read and marvel at the intelligence of the author or you can read this book by Ruskin Bond and marvel at the simplicity of a man whose love for his native place has taken form of words to tell stories that could itself unfold a series of stories of your own past within you, that you have long forgotten !!
July 19, 2017
"Kite-flying was then the sport of kings. There was time, then, to spend an idle hour with a gay, dancing strip of paper. Now everyone hurried, hurried in a heat of hope, and delicate things like kites and daydreams were trampled underfoot."
I read this book on my trip back home in India this summer, and it was good to experience the mountain air vicariously while the temperatures around me soared.
This is a collection of 30 stories, some of them a tad too short, and hence hardly made an impact on me, as it is already a challenge to come up with a short story that can make the reader actually feel something.
Naturally, I liked the longer ones better, with some of my favorites being:
Panther's Moon
Sita and the River
My Father's Trees in Dehra
Bus Stop, Pipalnagar
The Kitemaker
The Monkeys
A Face in the Night (which was interesting, despite being extremely short, and was very different from the rest of the collection).
Unfortunately, the last story from this book that I read was "Love is a Sad Song", and it was one I did not like at all!
I read this book on my trip back home in India this summer, and it was good to experience the mountain air vicariously while the temperatures around me soared.
This is a collection of 30 stories, some of them a tad too short, and hence hardly made an impact on me, as it is already a challenge to come up with a short story that can make the reader actually feel something.
Naturally, I liked the longer ones better, with some of my favorites being:
Panther's Moon
Sita and the River
My Father's Trees in Dehra
Bus Stop, Pipalnagar
The Kitemaker
The Monkeys
A Face in the Night (which was interesting, despite being extremely short, and was very different from the rest of the collection).
Unfortunately, the last story from this book that I read was "Love is a Sad Song", and it was one I did not like at all!
June 23, 2025
Remember that Seinfeld episode that went, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” - well that was missing from the short stories, which were otherwise beautifully told if not icky. Will explain in a bit…
The short stories were mostly set around the Uttarakhand region of northern India, where the foothills of the Himalayas are situated. Many stories involved catching the train. The themes were: talking to strangers is actually a good thing, drawing inspiration from those worse off, friendship, love stories (or yearnings?). Many interactions regarding the themes involved characters with big age differences.
I felt uncomfortable with, “Love is a sad song”, a 30yo man knowing a girl as a child and then loving her once she turned 16.
As for Seinfeld…only a loose connection here, but apparently males in India hold hands and it is meant to signify closeness and not in any way because of attraction. The author injected this explanation whenever this occured, presumbly so the foreign readers wouldn’t misinterpret what it meant. And it was said matter-of-factly. But, as a gay guy, and this is no doubt my personal experience and bias here, but it felt like a small kick in the guts whenever I read it. As if to say, gays are wrong, these characters are not. It reminded me of the episode in Seinfeld when Jerry and George were mistaken for a gay couple. They denied it and didn’t like the mistaken identity, but they added, “not that there’s anything wrong with that” as a kind clarification. It could have been nice to have had that in the book at least once.
Low rating: the stories were good in terms of unusual setting and discovering stories from other parts of the world. But none exceeded 2.5 stars and some were a drag to get through. The endings or moral of the story were not enough, nothing more than a “fair enough” facial gesture. Not awful, but more like someone writing about somewhere they flew over in a plane and not about what what they saw on the ground.
The short stories were mostly set around the Uttarakhand region of northern India, where the foothills of the Himalayas are situated. Many stories involved catching the train. The themes were: talking to strangers is actually a good thing, drawing inspiration from those worse off, friendship, love stories (or yearnings?). Many interactions regarding the themes involved characters with big age differences.
I felt uncomfortable with, “Love is a sad song”, a 30yo man knowing a girl as a child and then loving her once she turned 16.
As for Seinfeld…only a loose connection here, but apparently males in India hold hands and it is meant to signify closeness and not in any way because of attraction. The author injected this explanation whenever this occured, presumbly so the foreign readers wouldn’t misinterpret what it meant. And it was said matter-of-factly. But, as a gay guy, and this is no doubt my personal experience and bias here, but it felt like a small kick in the guts whenever I read it. As if to say, gays are wrong, these characters are not. It reminded me of the episode in Seinfeld when Jerry and George were mistaken for a gay couple. They denied it and didn’t like the mistaken identity, but they added, “not that there’s anything wrong with that” as a kind clarification. It could have been nice to have had that in the book at least once.
Low rating: the stories were good in terms of unusual setting and discovering stories from other parts of the world. But none exceeded 2.5 stars and some were a drag to get through. The endings or moral of the story were not enough, nothing more than a “fair enough” facial gesture. Not awful, but more like someone writing about somewhere they flew over in a plane and not about what what they saw on the ground.
May 28, 2022
The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories is a collection of 30 stories that showcase India. The stories have a slice of life feel to them. Like any collection of short stories, some are great and some are mediocre, others are average. I usually enjoy a good Ruskin Bond, especially his short stories. But this collection left a lot to be desired.
My favourite stories included The Boy who Broke the Bank, The Prospect of Flowers, A Face in the Night, A Job Well Done, The Cherry Tree, and Panther's Moon. These included an eclectic mixture of memoir, village life, mystery, horror, and social observations.
The longer stories in general were not as good, except for Panther's Moon. Love is a Sad Song was the most terrible short story I have read in a while, about a paedophile man of 30 years old lusting after a young girl of 16. Many of the stories were mildly depressing and many dealt with death. Overall, not too enjoyable but I did like some of the stories. 2 stars.
My favourite stories included The Boy who Broke the Bank, The Prospect of Flowers, A Face in the Night, A Job Well Done, The Cherry Tree, and Panther's Moon. These included an eclectic mixture of memoir, village life, mystery, horror, and social observations.
The longer stories in general were not as good, except for Panther's Moon. Love is a Sad Song was the most terrible short story I have read in a while, about a paedophile man of 30 years old lusting after a young girl of 16. Many of the stories were mildly depressing and many dealt with death. Overall, not too enjoyable but I did like some of the stories. 2 stars.
February 18, 2013
Night Train at Deoli is a collection of 30 short stories of Ruskin Bond.
The stories are simple and thought provoking and pertain to the time the author spent as a child and teenager in the foothills of Himalayas i.e Dehra and Mussorrie.
Most of the stories run into 2 or 3 pages. There are a couple of them which were part of my English syllabus while I was studying in school.
As Bond himself mentions in the preface of the book, his stories are not about espionage, mystery, suspense or murder. Rather these are simple stories of simple folk in the pure and unspoilt land of the hills, forests, the bazaars and its flora and fauna.
Since I belong to the hills probabaly I can relate more to its little towns, villages and its folk. However this is precisely the message Bond tries to convey. i.e he will make you connect and feel the anguish, sorrow, pain and joy of mundane events which many of us do not even register in our minds.
Admist the hustle and bustle of city life and its rat race, Ruskin Bond's stories are the perfect dose to make you think and ponder about the beauty hidden in the simplest of events.
Hats off to Mr. Ruskin Bond.
The stories are simple and thought provoking and pertain to the time the author spent as a child and teenager in the foothills of Himalayas i.e Dehra and Mussorrie.
Most of the stories run into 2 or 3 pages. There are a couple of them which were part of my English syllabus while I was studying in school.
As Bond himself mentions in the preface of the book, his stories are not about espionage, mystery, suspense or murder. Rather these are simple stories of simple folk in the pure and unspoilt land of the hills, forests, the bazaars and its flora and fauna.
Since I belong to the hills probabaly I can relate more to its little towns, villages and its folk. However this is precisely the message Bond tries to convey. i.e he will make you connect and feel the anguish, sorrow, pain and joy of mundane events which many of us do not even register in our minds.
Admist the hustle and bustle of city life and its rat race, Ruskin Bond's stories are the perfect dose to make you think and ponder about the beauty hidden in the simplest of events.
Hats off to Mr. Ruskin Bond.
July 11, 2025
This was a delightful journey for anyone who's ever found magic in the mundane
This collection of short stories is less a train trip and more a leisurely stroll through a forgotten, sun-drenched Indian afternoon.
God! This was so nostalgic... it like serving it up like a cup of chai(tea) on a cold day... warm and comforting.
The prose is so simple and written so beautifully that it will make you wonder if your own life might be a hidden classic waiting to be written.✨✨✨💞
Ruskin Bond never builds grand monuments of plot... he paints watercolours of feeling.💖💖💖
I just want to meet Ruskin Bond one day before he leaves the world🥺🥺✨✨💖💖💖
This collection of short stories is less a train trip and more a leisurely stroll through a forgotten, sun-drenched Indian afternoon.
God! This was so nostalgic... it like serving it up like a cup of chai(tea) on a cold day... warm and comforting.
The prose is so simple and written so beautifully that it will make you wonder if your own life might be a hidden classic waiting to be written.✨✨✨💞
Ruskin Bond never builds grand monuments of plot... he paints watercolours of feeling.💖💖💖
I just want to meet Ruskin Bond one day before he leaves the world🥺🥺✨✨💖💖💖
March 1, 2017
Here's what Mr. Bond is offering you
Another mixed bag of different flavoured shorties... ranging from a couple of pages to 20-25 pages each. Sweet, sour, childish, mature, scary, funny.... all tossed in a kaleidoscope!
Another mixed bag of different flavoured shorties... ranging from a couple of pages to 20-25 pages each. Sweet, sour, childish, mature, scary, funny.... all tossed in a kaleidoscope!
July 26, 2025
It was a chilly January afternoon in 1998—Book Fair season in Kolkata. The kind of day that smells of roasted peanuts, fresh ink, and infinite possibilities. Amidst the crowd and chaos, I spotted The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories—a slim, quiet-looking book that didn’t shout for attention. But I knew. I knew it was coming home with me.
Reading that collection was like being handed a diary I never knew I’d written. Bond’s stories don’t rely on twists or grandeur—they thrive on the slow ache of memory, the fragility of moments, and the soft tragedy of things left unsaid. The Night Train at Deoli itself? A story so gentle it breaks your heart without ever trying. That girl at the station. Rusty’s eyes are searching every time the train slows. And the unanswered question: do we ever go back?
That collection marked a shift in how I understood storytelling. It taught me that what lingers isn’t always plot—it’s atmosphere. Bond showed me that a fleeting look, a walk through the hills, a missed opportunity—these could all be literature. And more than anything, it made me feel—without drama, without fireworks.
That 1998 winter, in that little book, I found a kind of emotional home. I return to it still, sometimes just to sit quietly beside my younger self.
Reading that collection was like being handed a diary I never knew I’d written. Bond’s stories don’t rely on twists or grandeur—they thrive on the slow ache of memory, the fragility of moments, and the soft tragedy of things left unsaid. The Night Train at Deoli itself? A story so gentle it breaks your heart without ever trying. That girl at the station. Rusty’s eyes are searching every time the train slows. And the unanswered question: do we ever go back?
That collection marked a shift in how I understood storytelling. It taught me that what lingers isn’t always plot—it’s atmosphere. Bond showed me that a fleeting look, a walk through the hills, a missed opportunity—these could all be literature. And more than anything, it made me feel—without drama, without fireworks.
That 1998 winter, in that little book, I found a kind of emotional home. I return to it still, sometimes just to sit quietly beside my younger self.
September 1, 2011
Ruskin Bond is a lovely English writer. He describes indian life and our country's natural beauties, in great detail with wonderful intricacy. His Rusty series for children was authentic and very meaningful. His books make you feel like your close to him and he's whispering his thoughts, personal views to you. He paints beautiful pictures in your mind, making you literally live in the world of his words.
A simply excellent writer, one of my favorites!!! :P: :D
A simply excellent writer, one of my favorites!!! :P: :D
March 2, 2017
Long time since I loved a short story collection so. Such homely cosy stories and loved the simple narration. Will surely read more of Bond.
June 28, 2013
Ruskin Bond stories have been a delight to those who wish to savour a sip from the wine of bygone era! His stories, mostly set in the small towns in the hills( Dehra,Shimla) serve as a retrospective of the past. Ruskin Bond is most famously known for his very good psychology for school going kids and that is what probably reflected in his stories.
A bonding of a lonely school school kid, Arun and a mysterious lady who showers her motherly love( The Woman on Platform No.8), The old spinster who finds to share her passion in Anil, another school kid( The Prospect Of Flowers), An encounter of two blind people on a train journey(The Eyes Have It) are many such gems that are embedded in his treasury "The Night Train At Deoli"
Ruskin Bond once stated somewhere that he always liked the train journeys. Where two people meet,their paths across and soon forgotten. But the memories of those journeys are preserved in the minds of those who cherish them.
His stories serve as an oasis in the razzle dazzle of this fast moving world!
A bonding of a lonely school school kid, Arun and a mysterious lady who showers her motherly love( The Woman on Platform No.8), The old spinster who finds to share her passion in Anil, another school kid( The Prospect Of Flowers), An encounter of two blind people on a train journey(The Eyes Have It) are many such gems that are embedded in his treasury "The Night Train At Deoli"
Ruskin Bond once stated somewhere that he always liked the train journeys. Where two people meet,their paths across and soon forgotten. But the memories of those journeys are preserved in the minds of those who cherish them.
His stories serve as an oasis in the razzle dazzle of this fast moving world!
July 23, 2012
Ruskin Bond is one of those few writers who makes writing look ridiculously easy. Brilliant.
February 29, 2024
A collection consisting of heart-warming, innocent, heartbreaking, chilling short stories depicting the Indian rural landscape and the village dynamics, set mostly in the picturesque Himalayan foothills, written by a popular Anglo-Indian author who has been in the Indian literary arena for over half a century.
It's almost nostalgic because Ruskin Bond stories have been an integral part of our Indian childhood. But my less-than-strong memory fails to recall any, although the feel of the stories is definitely a deja-vu.
I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories especially;
Sita and the River featuring a resilient young girl in the middle of a flood,
A Case for Inspector Lal showing the kindness of a small town Inspector in the middle of a high profile case,
Bus Stop, Pipalnagar depicting the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary dreams.
"In Pipalnagar, people wanted to know each other, or at least to know about one another. In Delhi, no one cares who you were or where you came from."
- Ruskin Bond, "Bus Stop, Pipalnagar"
What if Ruskin Bond had settled in Delhi or worse, England! He would have never encountered so many precious friendships, experienced love, warmth of small-town people in the humble little foothills of Uttarakhand.
"Yesterday I was sad, and tomorrow I might be sad again, but today I know I am happy. I want to live on and on. One lifetime cannot satisfy my heart."
- Suraj, "Bus Stop, Pipalnagar"
It's not all happy and lovely stories, there are a lot of sad stories in it touching upon death, grief, heartbreak and terror (panthers, leopards, faceless men!) which are equally part of life.
"I can never break my journey at Deoli, but I pass through as often as I can."
- Ruskin Bond, "The Night Train at Deoli"
It's almost nostalgic because Ruskin Bond stories have been an integral part of our Indian childhood. But my less-than-strong memory fails to recall any, although the feel of the stories is definitely a deja-vu.
I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories especially;
Sita and the River featuring a resilient young girl in the middle of a flood,
A Case for Inspector Lal showing the kindness of a small town Inspector in the middle of a high profile case,
Bus Stop, Pipalnagar depicting the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary dreams.
"In Pipalnagar, people wanted to know each other, or at least to know about one another. In Delhi, no one cares who you were or where you came from."
- Ruskin Bond, "Bus Stop, Pipalnagar"
What if Ruskin Bond had settled in Delhi or worse, England! He would have never encountered so many precious friendships, experienced love, warmth of small-town people in the humble little foothills of Uttarakhand.
"Yesterday I was sad, and tomorrow I might be sad again, but today I know I am happy. I want to live on and on. One lifetime cannot satisfy my heart."
- Suraj, "Bus Stop, Pipalnagar"
It's not all happy and lovely stories, there are a lot of sad stories in it touching upon death, grief, heartbreak and terror (panthers, leopards, faceless men!) which are equally part of life.
"I can never break my journey at Deoli, but I pass through as often as I can."
- Ruskin Bond, "The Night Train at Deoli"
September 14, 2016
Quote from This Book that I Loved - Once You have lived with Mountains for any length of time, you belong to them, and must Return Again and Again.- The Leopard
Wow!! What a great experience reading Mr. Bond's short stories or as he says - 'Perhaps there is too much of me in my stories, and at times this book may read like an Autobiography'. This was my first book by Ruskin Bond but my god, it feels like that I've been reading him since ages, The poetry in his writings, the way he makes those words Dance in his stories, you totally start to feel as though you are there in each of his Short Stories, invisible to the main characters, seeing them closely. After completing every story, you feel totally as in a different world, in a totally different timeline, but there is one thing on your face that indicates something 'A Smile', a happiness you found in your Crazy regular life. He does have a Magic that I felt throughout the book and is looking forward to reading more of his Great Legacy.
My most favorites from this book are-
1. The Eyes Have It (This one is the most beautiful short story I've ever read and trust me you'd love it in the same way)
2. His Neighbour's Wife
3. A Face In The Night
4. My Father's Trees in Dehra
5. Love is a Sad Song
Will highly recommend it to anyone, just anyone can find happiness in between these Stories.
P.S. - Looking forward to meeting him pretty soon (Only If Universe wants so).
Wow!! What a great experience reading Mr. Bond's short stories or as he says - 'Perhaps there is too much of me in my stories, and at times this book may read like an Autobiography'. This was my first book by Ruskin Bond but my god, it feels like that I've been reading him since ages, The poetry in his writings, the way he makes those words Dance in his stories, you totally start to feel as though you are there in each of his Short Stories, invisible to the main characters, seeing them closely. After completing every story, you feel totally as in a different world, in a totally different timeline, but there is one thing on your face that indicates something 'A Smile', a happiness you found in your Crazy regular life. He does have a Magic that I felt throughout the book and is looking forward to reading more of his Great Legacy.
My most favorites from this book are-
1. The Eyes Have It (This one is the most beautiful short story I've ever read and trust me you'd love it in the same way)
2. His Neighbour's Wife
3. A Face In The Night
4. My Father's Trees in Dehra
5. Love is a Sad Song
Will highly recommend it to anyone, just anyone can find happiness in between these Stories.
P.S. - Looking forward to meeting him pretty soon (Only If Universe wants so).
August 2, 2021
Nostalgic and so pureeee.
Something worth reading again and again.
Something worth reading again and again.
February 7, 2022
I did not live entirely alone…there were lizards on the walls and ceilings — friends these — and a large rat — definitely an enemy — who got in and out of the window and who sometimes carried away manuscripts and clothing.
In school, I was told that Ruskin Bond is an Indian author. Today, I realise that the story is not that simple. Ruskin Bond is an Indian author, but he was a man of British descent. This made me spiral. What is the politics of an Englishman writing about India? What does it mean that his depiction of India is a version I have myself seen and grown up in, a version I have admired and loved?
The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories is an eclectic collection of 30 short stories by Ruskin Bond, selected by David Davidar. Ranging from little “mood boards” of pre-independence India to horror stories that took me by surprise, this book is difficult to review. I feel like there’s too much to talk about, but also, nothing to say.
Let’s start with the Introduction. This edition had a 3-page Introduction by Bond himself. To me, the collection is better because of it. “Gentle Reader,” Bond refers to us. He says that it is perhaps the gentler kind of person who would like his stories.
I have never been any good at the more lurid sort of writing. Psychopathic killers, impotent war-heroes, self-tortured film stars, and seedy espionage agents must exist in this world, but strangely enough, I do not come across them, and I prefer to write about the people and places I have known and the lives of those whose paths I have crossed. This crossing of paths makes for stories rather than novels, and although I have worked in both mediums, I am happier being a short-story writer than a novelist.
This summarises what his stories are like. They are not plot-driven. They have very colourful characters: all quintessentially Indian, doing quintessentially Indian things, living in Indian settings described with surprising vividness.
The stories that stood out to me were the ones about animals: The Leopard, Panther’s Moon, and The Monkeys. It is obvious that Bond had a deep, spiritual love for animals. Each of these highlights how human interference in Nature has disastrous consequences. These stories held a silent plea to save the Earth, a plea that is (sadly) still so relevant.
A majority of the stories were what he calls “mood-boards”. They are mostly about chance meetings and eventual friendships between the most unlikely people, in the most unlikely places. The titular short story, The Night Train at Deoli, was one of these.
While this variety of stories was heart-warming, they all felt a bit incomplete. Nothing really happens, and that is supposed to tell us a larger story. I somehow caught myself getting restless, and it was not because it was character-driven. There were times when I felt that everything was too rosy, too good to be true.
In a podcast I was listening to, actor Rainn Wilson quoted Denis Johnson, and I think that’s relevant here. In his novel The Name of the World, Denis Johnson says, “And I realised what I most required of a work of art was that its agenda not include me.” Wilson talked about how a work appeals to him only if the author does try to “charm” or “beguile” him.
I believe that’s where this collection fell short for me. It was trying very hard to draw me in. But I like it when things are not merry; when my protagonist is not a good person; when people try and fail and then don’t try again. Ruskin’s work tried to “include me” if that makes any sense, and that is why I often got bored.
Two stories were my favourite. One was The Man Who Was Kipling. In this one Bond struggles with his love for Rudyard Kipling’s work, a man who wrote about India but from a White Man’s perspective. Bond relates to the parts of Kipling’s India that he had grown up in, but struggles with the part of Kipling that believed in the “White Man’s Burden”. This aligned with my own tussle with Ruskin Bond’s work, I guess.
Second was Love is a Sad Song. This one is about a thirty-year-old man who falls in love with a sixteen-year-old girl. This is problematic for obvious reasons, but it surprised me with its multi-layered depiction of marriage customs and gender-based power in India. The story didn’t try to “charm” me; I liked that it made me uncomfortable at times, given that it was not what I expected out of Bond. It felt like he was writing for himself; that gave it a lot more depth.
If you are going to pick up this collection, I would suggest that you read it slowly. The stories can get very repetitive, so take breaks often; read another novel before returning to this one. But surely return to it. I believe this book has quite a bit to offer despite its monotony.
July 16, 2020
You know the feeling when it is drizzling outside, the raindrops make splattering sounds against the roof, you are seated inside, with a warm blanket over yourself, sipping a hot cup of tea and reading a good book? Ruskin Bond's writing feels like that.
It's ethereal, delightful and makes you miss places you have not even been to. The vivid imagery that Bond evokes in the reader's mind, speaking of towns in the foothill of the Himalayas, is something that only a writer with an extraordinary talent can do.
A lot of the stories (if not all) are semi-autobiographical, and rightfully so, since when you write, there is always an element of your own life that reflects in your 'fictional' stories. Many of them leave you with a strange sense of poignancy: they may look incomplete and make you wonder what happened to a character after the story ended, but at the same time leave you with a sense of closure. Sometimes, they are also predictable, which is likely to happen if you have read a lot of Ruskin Bond's stories (which, by the time I finished 25% of the book, I had): that was the only 'weak point' of the book I can think of.
The simple yet enchanting language of Ruskin Bond shows that you don't have to use heavy, difficult words to be a remarkable writer. Honestly, I do not know what the 'formula' to good writing is. All I know is Bond writes from his heart and it is very, very evident when you read his work.
It's ethereal, delightful and makes you miss places you have not even been to. The vivid imagery that Bond evokes in the reader's mind, speaking of towns in the foothill of the Himalayas, is something that only a writer with an extraordinary talent can do.
A lot of the stories (if not all) are semi-autobiographical, and rightfully so, since when you write, there is always an element of your own life that reflects in your 'fictional' stories. Many of them leave you with a strange sense of poignancy: they may look incomplete and make you wonder what happened to a character after the story ended, but at the same time leave you with a sense of closure. Sometimes, they are also predictable, which is likely to happen if you have read a lot of Ruskin Bond's stories (which, by the time I finished 25% of the book, I had): that was the only 'weak point' of the book I can think of.
The simple yet enchanting language of Ruskin Bond shows that you don't have to use heavy, difficult words to be a remarkable writer. Honestly, I do not know what the 'formula' to good writing is. All I know is Bond writes from his heart and it is very, very evident when you read his work.
August 27, 2020
The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories is a collection of thirty different short stories by Ruskin Bond. The reason I loved this book is that this book has everything in it, this book covers a wide range of genres. Whether it's a funny story or spooky folklore or old times leopard-pather stories, you will find everything here. Some stories are heart touching love stories or perhaps they are all love stories, of one kind or another. Like always his writing quality is top notch and the endings are painful. But this pain actually give us happiness, happiness of reading such a beautifully written short story.
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Nature is one of the most used elements in his writings and he knows very well how to use it in his favour. Every story is set-up in a serene picturesque that it can make you feel you've been there. His explanation of his surroundings is beyond any explanation. This book also features the gradual erosion of the beauty of the hills. Last but not least his warm approaches to his subjects and intimate portraits of life in Himalayan foothills can make people fall in love with mountains and induce compassion for the people live there.
.
Nature is one of the most used elements in his writings and he knows very well how to use it in his favour. Every story is set-up in a serene picturesque that it can make you feel you've been there. His explanation of his surroundings is beyond any explanation. This book also features the gradual erosion of the beauty of the hills. Last but not least his warm approaches to his subjects and intimate portraits of life in Himalayan foothills can make people fall in love with mountains and induce compassion for the people live there.
August 22, 2017
Being a Ruskin Bond fan I always look forward to reading his books. This book was on my wishlist for a long time and finally bought it on my recent book haul to Flora Fountain, Mumbai.
You can find the detailed review here http://www.haloofbooks.com/night-trai...
This book includes 30 short stories; each story is beautiful in its own way. This book is a bag of every emotion. Each story will connect to your heart. You can find humorous, quirky, heart touching, horror as well as mature stories in this book. I loved each and every story in this book. The way author opens up the story and then embark to elaborate it is really impressive. I cannot select my favorite among these as each story has its own impact. And yes the way author write about the mountains is truly mesmerizing to read. Do not miss to read the foreword; he is the only writer whose foreword is as interesting as the stories.
If you have not read this book yet, then you missing it you should definitely pick this up.
You can find the detailed review here http://www.haloofbooks.com/night-trai...
This book includes 30 short stories; each story is beautiful in its own way. This book is a bag of every emotion. Each story will connect to your heart. You can find humorous, quirky, heart touching, horror as well as mature stories in this book. I loved each and every story in this book. The way author opens up the story and then embark to elaborate it is really impressive. I cannot select my favorite among these as each story has its own impact. And yes the way author write about the mountains is truly mesmerizing to read. Do not miss to read the foreword; he is the only writer whose foreword is as interesting as the stories.
If you have not read this book yet, then you missing it you should definitely pick this up.
May 19, 2016
Sometimes there is a collection of tales that has no purpose other than to simply be read and felt. There are no lessons, no morals and no conclusions. At the beck and call of a master storyteller, each word follows the next in a way that makes you feel as if you are walking a lush hill path strewn with fallen leaves and wild flowers. In these stories, life flows in a meandering manner, pausing every now and then at moments of beauty and poignancy. They contain love, compassion and longing, all conveyed with that signature deftness of touch that defines Ruskin Bond's writing. Years after their publication, these stories continue to surprise and delight, concealing a complexity and depth like the beautiful girl on a platform waiting for the Night Train at Deoli.
November 7, 2013
I really really loved this story , i found it quite sad though but it's just amazing how he kept waiting for her and dreaming about her , it's like i couldn't get enough from the story and wanted to read more !
Read
August 11, 2011An excellent presentation of story ...................... enjoyed reading it..........
October 1, 2018
Night Train at Deoli is a nice collection of short stories of Ruskin Bond. These are the stories of the time author spent as a child and teenager in the foothills of Himalayas i.e Dehradoon and Mussorrie.
All stories are short,very simple and yet touches your heart. No drama, no suspense, no revenge only real life experiences written in very beautiful simple words. I like the way he describes the nature and emotions of people.
Magical writing style!
Looking for simplicity, must read this book.
All stories are short,very simple and yet touches your heart. No drama, no suspense, no revenge only real life experiences written in very beautiful simple words. I like the way he describes the nature and emotions of people.
Magical writing style!
Looking for simplicity, must read this book.
February 8, 2015
"People often ask me why my style is so simple. It is, in fact, deceptively simple, for no two sentences are alike. It is clarity that I am striving to attain, not simplicity.
Of course, some people want literature to be difficult and there are writers who like to make their readers toil and sweat. They hope to be taken more seriously that way. I have always tried to achieve a prose that is easy and conversational. And those who think this is simple should try it for themselves."
— Ruskin Bond (The Best of Ruskin Bond)
The truthfulness of above lines can be easily observed in Ruskin writings, he bring the words so cleverly that reader of his writing drowned himself on the plot of his stories.
Before reading Ruskin, i had heard lot about his famous writings but i was never so convinced that i should go for those reads instantly, it was few days back while i thought to read something interesting and somehow i end up on a review of Ruskin book which was collection of Small stories and the books was "Night Train at Deoli : And other stories". I am really glad now that the purpose of fun which i was looking for has been successfully fulfilled after reading this book .
Night Train at Deoli: And Other Stories is a collection of 30 stories which are mixture of every emotions of human being. Some stories are of so conversational in nature that reader himself found in the play of those stories, and some are of really blissful with the strong message of courage and love.
Ruskin finished some stories in very unexpected way that totally go oppose the reader thoughts.
All stories were pleasant but the most interesting one were below
-- Night Train at Deoli
--Panther's Moon
-- Sita and the River
-- The boy who broke the bank
Of course, some people want literature to be difficult and there are writers who like to make their readers toil and sweat. They hope to be taken more seriously that way. I have always tried to achieve a prose that is easy and conversational. And those who think this is simple should try it for themselves."
— Ruskin Bond (The Best of Ruskin Bond)
The truthfulness of above lines can be easily observed in Ruskin writings, he bring the words so cleverly that reader of his writing drowned himself on the plot of his stories.
Before reading Ruskin, i had heard lot about his famous writings but i was never so convinced that i should go for those reads instantly, it was few days back while i thought to read something interesting and somehow i end up on a review of Ruskin book which was collection of Small stories and the books was "Night Train at Deoli : And other stories". I am really glad now that the purpose of fun which i was looking for has been successfully fulfilled after reading this book .
Night Train at Deoli: And Other Stories is a collection of 30 stories which are mixture of every emotions of human being. Some stories are of so conversational in nature that reader himself found in the play of those stories, and some are of really blissful with the strong message of courage and love.
Ruskin finished some stories in very unexpected way that totally go oppose the reader thoughts.
All stories were pleasant but the most interesting one were below
-- Night Train at Deoli
--Panther's Moon
-- Sita and the River
-- The boy who broke the bank
July 14, 2018
A very nice collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond. Most of them seemed autobiographical in nature, written from his own childhood and his youth days.
Though the theme of the stories was quite similar (childhood and people who touch your lives at some point in tume and move on) what stands out most in them is the author's love for nature. Ruskin Bond has a knack for describing nature in a very unique way. His description of Dehradun and Mussoorie are just spectacular and has the ability to transport the reader to wonderful and marvelous locations. No wonder he points out that 'once you have lived in the mountains, you can never live anywhere else'. He also writes about the lives of Anglo - Indians very well, those (who like the author) who chose to stay back in India even after independence, rather than returning to England.
Some of my personal favorite stories in the book were:
- A Guardian Angel
- The Prospect of Flowers
- The Cherry Tree
- The Leopard
- When you can't climb trees anymore.
Though the theme of the stories was quite similar (childhood and people who touch your lives at some point in tume and move on) what stands out most in them is the author's love for nature. Ruskin Bond has a knack for describing nature in a very unique way. His description of Dehradun and Mussoorie are just spectacular and has the ability to transport the reader to wonderful and marvelous locations. No wonder he points out that 'once you have lived in the mountains, you can never live anywhere else'. He also writes about the lives of Anglo - Indians very well, those (who like the author) who chose to stay back in India even after independence, rather than returning to England.
Some of my personal favorite stories in the book were:
- A Guardian Angel
- The Prospect of Flowers
- The Cherry Tree
- The Leopard
- When you can't climb trees anymore.
July 18, 2015
Ruskin Bond at his best... His simple narrative style, his description of the Himalayan countryside which has been his home most of his life, the interesting characters he comes across his stay there, from the girl on the platform at Deoli to the leopard which comes to trust him; the stories will touch a chord in your heart and you will find yourself experiencing the same emotions as the characters in the book and hoping that they were real(as they well might have been)
February 23, 2015
I can read him once, twice, thrice, and re-read again and yet, NEVER get bored. Magical writing with a style that touches your heart. For those who have lived in India, get ready for a journey of reminiscence. And for those who haven't, well, he will make you come to this country, which is filled with tiny stories in itself. A must read for every child, adult and senior.
July 16, 2015
I downloaded this as an ebook on Flipkart. Some really beautiful and poignant short stories make this book. Ruskin Bond is in his element here. He writes of birds, trees, mountains, rivers, trains....takes you back to when you were a child and saw the beauty in everything.
October 16, 2011
A simple soothing story,,,takes reader out of daily complexity of life,,make reader lonely at a quiet village
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