Nijaniki Feminijaniki Madhya - Nidadhavolu Malathi Kathalu

This collection of 45 stories by Nidadhavolu Malathi was a random pick from the library. I never heard about either the book or the author before and hence started reading it with certain skepticism. Soon, I got absorbed into the varied themes the stories touched upon and realized that I like the collection. The author dealt with subtle emotions and portrayed the prevalent societal norms and values in the most non-dramatic manner. Some of them depicted NRI lives in USA. This is the first time I encountered that theme in Telugu literature and I found it refreshing.

Also, one important thing that struck me as I read through the stories was that the protagonists were not idealistic; they were normal with their own shortcomings and insecurities. They didn't do great things and didn't often solve their own problems. I felt that the author didn't try to convey any message or tried to solve the characters' issues, which makes these stories an artistic record of the author's astute and fine observations of human behavior. Essentially this characteristic leaves a lot for the readers to think about and reflect on.

Barring a few stories, which didn't appeal to me, the collection makes a decent read. 

Amaravathi Kathalu

I presume Satyam Sankaramanchi's Amaravathi Kathalu needs neither an introduction  nor any specific recommendation. I have had the opportunity to read this classic collection of stories only now and really feel fortunate for being able to do so. These are perhaps the sweetest and the most beautiful stories I've ever read. It's a collection of 100 stories, all based in the sacred town - Amaravathi. Lord Siva and river Krishna comprise the major elements, or rather the under current of all the stories. It's a medley of various emotions and facets of life.

I borrow a few words from the end note by MVL that aptly reflects my thoughts about this work:

Chadivina vaari kallallo krishna ponginchi
gundelo tiyyati manta ragilinche
gaadhasathi amaravathi kathalu

Even though each and every story is exquisite and I enjoyed reading all of them, one has cast a deep impression on my mind. Rendu gangalu: it's a simple story of or rather narration of rejoicing the rain. The simplicity and the beauty of it is just splendid!

The Secret Wish List

This latest book from Preeti Shenoy is a typical chick-lit one can breeze through. Preeti's  no-nonsense style makes it a very good read. I was very much impressed by the first half of the book, where she depicts the mundane married life, with an insensitive husband, of Diksha interspersed with her that past, which led her to an early marriage. Preeti brings out many simple and otherwise facts of a woman's life. Where it comes to Diksha's liberation in the later half of the story, everything happens like magic - aka fantasy. Super rich lover, who deeply loves her even after 18 years of their brief affair, who in fact didn't ever really stopped loving her, and a super handsome salsa instructor cum friend mark the typical dream-like nature of chick-lit. Of course not to say far-fetching and unrealistic. But that's the kind of stuff light fiction readers like. Once Diksha makes her secret wish list, it seems the fate itself conspires to make it all easy for her to make her wishes come to reality. One interesting aspect is that Diksha has critical and unsupportive parents but understanding and helpful mother-in-law. All in all, it's a good read.