Magic In The Mountains ~ Review

Paperback

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing; Leadstart Publishing Magic In The Mountain edition (December 16, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9381836922

ISBN-13: 978-9381836927

" Faced with the sudden death of their parents, Pradeep and Priya find themselves not only battling grief and loss but also adjusting to a whole new world.

Taken to live with their Aunt Sheila in Coonoor, in the Nilgiri hills, they try to find comfort in routine and the beauty of their surroundings.

But suddenly, they find themselves in the midst of a mystery.

There is a kidnap, magic, a car chase, an extraordinary bakery, strange ladies, and much more. Sleepy and quiet though the hill station usually is, Pradeep and Priya find there is never a dull moment. "

Magic in the Mountains is a tale of two children who lose their parents and have come to live with their aunt. Magical elements like a flying carpet and talking snakes, the three children and some villains drive the story forward. There is a certain charm in the book that is reminiscent of the Enid Blyton books we read as children.

An adult reader will be able to guess through the suspense that is built. But considering that this is a children's book, it can be ignored.

There is a certain beauty that simplicity brings. This is exactly what Magic In The Mountains bring to the table with it. It is a book that is suitable for young kids who have just started reading, as the language is not too difficult and they will get an opportunity to ignite their imagination. It is not easy to write for such young children and one must commend the author Nimi Kurian for such a lovely attempt.

Kanhu and Other Stories

“This book contains eleven short stories in Odiya translated into English. The original authors are all well-known writers, some of them winners of the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi awards and others honoured with several state-level awards.

The stories in this anthology reflect the rich and divergent cultural heritage of Odisha and the current thinking in Odiya society – varying from focus on the plight of the underprivileged to the struggles of different sections of society in dealing with moral dilemmas.

The stories have been selected carefully to promote the Odiya language, with its colourful idiom, the heritage and the social ambience of Odisha, to a wider audience so that the readers can learn about its rich literature and the glorious history of Odisha.“

To pick up folklore and to translate them into a language that is understood by the  majority of the population is no small task. To ensure that the reader who knows nothing about the language, people and culture of a particular state gathers the minutest of things you write, is an even bigger challenge. Often, much is lost in translation but Saroj Mishra has done a wonderful job of translating the works of literary giants of Odisha and ensuring that it reaches the masses who do not know the local language.

Each story addresses a different subject - each depicting some virtue we would like to imbibe in our lives. The stories highlight the lives and livelihood of the common man of Odisha and also the kind of lives they lead. From a simple villages who reaches the town to find a job to the temple chariot festival, it all finds a mention in this collection of stories. Saroj Mishra has done a commendable job of translating, though the proof reading could have been a tad better.