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As most people reading
this must already know, we are publishing a book soon, a set of anthology –
created by members and writers of www.socialpotpourri.com.
The journey of creating a book, I discovered is cluttered with obstacles small
and big. Even so for a first time publisher! But with an iron will we continue and
defeat everything that comes on our way!
In the middle of such a
battle on a hectic day last week a mail dropped into my inbox. The signature
below said Deepa Rachel Pinto and she introduced me to a project that she
herself has been involved in - a creation of a novel form in books. They are
going to call it “The Stopover” she wrote and described it as “a
first-of-its-kind Photo Fiction”. As soon as I showed my keenness in getting a
sneak peek, another mail followed promptly comprising a part from the book for me
to review. Below are my thoughts on the same.
I think, it would be
fair to say, calling it a “photo-fiction” would be under-estimating its’
potential. It is much more than just those two words. It captures your mind in
three dimensions. It’s a story (“a blend of fiction and fact”) said in the
course of a travelogue with captivating pictures of the journey that the
protagonist makes. Neither would it be too far-fetched to say the style
reminds one of Shakespeare’s “story within a story”. Only in this case there
are several plots built in.
The part of the book
that was shared with me is about heart-broken Varun who travels to Leh, for
that much needed break after a storm has passed his life and left him in
tatters! The writer takes the reader through his journey in simple English. We
slowly unscramble Varun’s angst, his confusion and pain while we explore parts
of Leh that he treads on. Through him we learn not only that this place exists
but a whole deal more like its history, the topography, the culture there, the
locals, the schools and much more.
The photographs that run
along the narrative are most captivating. And even though I am pretty
familiar with the history of Tibetans; the creation of Leh; The Dalai Lama; and
the politics behind it all, “The Stopover” did explore unfamiliar grounds for
me. The reader learns through the mind of Varun and sees through his eyes. To
that extent at times he/she is made to play the role of the protagonist
himself. The conversational mode of writing makes it a fast paced reading yet
at times just admiring the pictures and imagining the scenes told in the book makes
one linger.
Overall I think the book
will surely open a brand new concept of narration that will open new paths for
publishers and writers alike. It is not without reason that “The
Stopover” Facebook page has a following of 55,000+ even before it has been published. I am
inspired by these guys and this has been a sign for me to tread along with
all that I have planned for my book!
