Moments That Make Life (Book Review)

Book: The Goat Thief

Author: Perumal Murugan

Translated by: N Kalyan Raman

Publication: Juggernaut

Ordinary moments make life extra-ordinary

Yes, life is all about the small moments, when felt intensely forms a memorable part of lives. This is the thought that reverberates in all of the short stories. I am glad that I got this opportunity read works of the celebrated Tamil author Perumal Murugan, thanks to N Kalyan Raman’s translation. The Goat Thief is a collection of 10 simple stories that irradiates the rustic charm.

‘The Well’ the first story is extremely sweet; while the narration is on, you can actually feel the fun and frolic that you can experience only in a well in a village and not even in the plushest swimming pool. Likewise the other stories are small snippets of lives that can happen on a regular day, in our daily lives.

My personal favourite is ‘An Unexpected Visitor’. It is a story cute little anecdote of an ‘Ajji’ – a grandmother’s life that transforms completely after her grandson comes to visit her. The emotions of an old widow is beautifully displayed and is quite touching.

‘The Wailing Of A Toilet Bowl’ is not something I could comprehend much; the conclusion can be deciphered depending upon perspectives. Similar is the case with ‘Musical Chairs’, I am still thinking what exactly happened with the chair….. however, it is funny story.

As much as the praises to the author, the translator is also eligible for the credits. The narration smoothly flows into your head and dives deep, registering the moments into your memories.

My takeaway: At the cost of sounding repetitive, it is small moments in life if thoroughly lived and felt, makes life worth living and memorable.

My rating: 4 out of 5

I received a review copy of the book from Juggernaut in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Of Personal Space And Accepting Oneself (Book Review)

Image Source Book: My Space My Body – starring Taka Dimi Author: Roopa Pai Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan Publisher: Fitkids Education and Training Pvt Ltd For: Children above 3 years Books for children is an important responsibility; not just for the publishers and authors, but also for the parents and teachers. It is essential that the books we share with our children should not just be informative and engaging but also educational. My Space My Body (MSMB) is an interesting blend of all the above elements.

You Hired Smart Talent. But Are You Training Them Right?

Every year, organizations hire bright interns and freshers from top institutes. They come in with promise, potential, and the right intent. But somewhere between onboarding and execution, something quietly breaks. Not because they lack capability. But because they’re not really trained, properly. In many workplaces, especially in fast-paced functions like communications, freshers are given tasks, targets, and timelines, but not the depth required to execute them well. Take something as simple as media outreach.

Heart Lamp: Stories Too Familiar, Yet Still Unheard

My latest read (a bit delayed, but never mind), winner of the 2025 Booker Prize , Heart Lamp is a collection of selected stories by Banu Mustaq , translated by Deepa Bhasthi , originally written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023. As promised, it shines a light on the everyday struggles of Muslim women, focusing on gender inequality, patriarchy, oppression, domestic violence, and more. Now, is it worth a Booker Prize? Honestly, I’m not the best person to comment on that. But here’s what I felt—many of these stories felt familiar, maybe even too familiar, if you’ve grown up in India. Tales of patriarchy, domestic abuse, women belittling women… we have all seen or heard these around us. So, what makes Heart Lamp special?

A(NU) Thought

Search This Blog