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THE DARK SIDE OF LIGHT
The Dark Side of Light, Sanil Sachar’s second book, promises a unique literary experience for readers, with its combination of short stories, poems and plays, vignettes of romance, comedy, murder, mystery and much more.
Offering a diverse pick, Sanil seamlessly combines the rhythm of poetry, the allure of storytelling and the realism of theatre to create an enriching and vivid experience. Some pieces transport you to a different world, while others allude to everyday experiences. Set in the year 2034, ‘Members Only’ takes you inside India’s first strip club and asks existential questions about a person’s identity, through the story of a young man who oscillates between love and lust. ‘Painted Red’ is about a brother dealing with the loss of a sibling and brings alive basic human emotions like wrath and vengeance. Navigating through an array of everyday emotions, ‘Dinner with the Turners’ is a laugh riot that peeps into the life of a hopeless young wanderer trying to find his identity in a foreign land. ‘I’ll Be There One Day’ is a short and powerful story about belonging, while mystery and wavering thoughts dominate ‘The Conditioned Air’.
Racy and pulsating, The Dark Side of Light, is a celebration of the coming together of three different literary forms, with their distinct flavours intact.
Offering a diverse pick, Sanil seamlessly combines the rhythm of poetry, the allure of storytelling and the realism of theatre to create an enriching and vivid experience. Some pieces transport you to a different world, while others allude to everyday experiences. Set in the year 2034, ‘Members Only’ takes you inside India’s first strip club and asks existential questions about a person’s identity, through the story of a young man who oscillates between love and lust. ‘Painted Red’ is about a brother dealing with the loss of a sibling and brings alive basic human emotions like wrath and vengeance. Navigating through an array of everyday emotions, ‘Dinner with the Turners’ is a laugh riot that peeps into the life of a hopeless young wanderer trying to find his identity in a foreign land. ‘I’ll Be There One Day’ is a short and powerful story about belonging, while mystery and wavering thoughts dominate ‘The Conditioned Air’.
Racy and pulsating, The Dark Side of Light, is a celebration of the coming together of three different literary forms, with their distinct flavours intact.
280 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 23, 2016
the prose took me to different worlds and people ,mostly sad and broken – each story a short quick snap of lives of different characters.Each story leaving something for your understanding and imagination.
My favorite story is Tamanna, the tale of love and sacrifice. It is a beautiful portrayal of friendship and loyalty we rarely see around. Another story that struck a chord with me was "Distant closeness" - a tale of writing and inspiration.
But what I will remember and return to this book personally is for the poems. After a long time,i am kind of inspired to write and read poetry. Such varied emotions and range of human psyche is covered in the verses- so short , tightly packed shots in middle of meaty stories.
My favorite story is Tamanna, the tale of love and sacrifice. It is a beautiful portrayal of friendship and loyalty we rarely see around. Another story that struck a chord with me was "Distant closeness" - a tale of writing and inspiration.
But what I will remember and return to this book personally is for the poems. After a long time,i am kind of inspired to write and read poetry. Such varied emotions and range of human psyche is covered in the verses- so short , tightly packed shots in middle of meaty stories.
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March 4, 2016I was not an avid reader of short stories and poetry but the name intrigued me. I wanted to read something new and refreshing this time and this book came as a pleasant surprise. It talks about emotions, love and passage of time. The stories take you through tender love (From Start to Finish), cute love (Member’s Only), parental love (Slam Dunk), one-sided love (One-Sided), lack of love (Tamanna), revengeful love (Painted Red), hateful love (The Secret), creepy love (One for All, All for One), and longing for love (Distant Closeness). The characters in the stories are very realistic and relatable except for a few creepy ones (thought they too might be real!!). The poems largely focus on the passage of time and the changes it brings. Some poems are a direct peek at Sanil’s mind at work as the words struggle to come out, be born and ripen on the pages of this book. They gave me a feeling that the poems are closer to his heart than the stories, which are all fiction.
‘Dinner with the Turners’ is a light-hearted situational comedy and my personal favorite (both story and the play). A shout-out for ‘The Everlasting Traveler, Never Ending Journey’ as it takes you through the beaches with clear waters and you can almost feel the cool breeze blow through your hair. And last-but-not-the-least ‘The Other Man’ was sure a great pick.
My take: This book is not a page turner. It is something that needs to be read at a leisurely pace so as to feel each and every word. Each piece is to be cherished like a fine wine. It is an emotional roller-coaster with ups and downs and in-betweens. The detailing is picture-perfect and you find yourself living in the stories and poems.
Note: Do not rush through it an read everything in one go. Keep a book-mark handy lest you forget where you need to pick up next.
My favorite picks:
Short Story - Airport Encounter, Slam Dunk
Poetry - No quitting, Greatest Feat, Seconds turn to Years
Story/Play - Dinner with the Turners
Special Thanks: Vivek Tujeja (Flipkart)
‘Dinner with the Turners’ is a light-hearted situational comedy and my personal favorite (both story and the play). A shout-out for ‘The Everlasting Traveler, Never Ending Journey’ as it takes you through the beaches with clear waters and you can almost feel the cool breeze blow through your hair. And last-but-not-the-least ‘The Other Man’ was sure a great pick.
My take: This book is not a page turner. It is something that needs to be read at a leisurely pace so as to feel each and every word. Each piece is to be cherished like a fine wine. It is an emotional roller-coaster with ups and downs and in-betweens. The detailing is picture-perfect and you find yourself living in the stories and poems.
Note: Do not rush through it an read everything in one go. Keep a book-mark handy lest you forget where you need to pick up next.
My favorite picks:
Short Story - Airport Encounter, Slam Dunk
Poetry - No quitting, Greatest Feat, Seconds turn to Years
Story/Play - Dinner with the Turners
Special Thanks: Vivek Tujeja (Flipkart)
March 7, 2016
This is amazing... Every piece is so unique it leaves you with an experience that matches no other. Sanil's work will engross, engage and connect with you in a way that almost cannot be explained and yet leaves an impression on you.
March 7, 2016
What a wonderful read! The author uses simple words to describe and convey simple emotions. Absolutely LOVED the poems.
Must read!
Must read!
March 7, 2016
This book is a must read for everyone. The combination of short stories and poems is indeed a beautiful combination and a fascinating experience.
March 7, 2016
This book was brilliant!
For anyone who wants to experience lyrical beauty, this is your book! Beautifully written and even beautifully representation of any dark thought you may have had.
For anyone who wants to experience lyrical beauty, this is your book! Beautifully written and even beautifully representation of any dark thought you may have had.
March 7, 2016
Beautiful and enriching read and reread! Shared excerpts from it with many and suggested it to several.
Wish books were not beyond my budget --Amazon! would love to read/buy more.
Wish books were not beyond my budget --Amazon! would love to read/buy more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews