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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The umbrella was like a flower, a great blue flower that had sprung up on the dry brown hillside.”
Shiny, pretty things always catch our eye, don't they? A thing that is considered conventionally beautiful always makes us take a second glance towards it. It's one of human nature. Similarly, in this little story by Ruskin Bond, a beautiful, blue umbrella catches Binya's eye. Binya, a naive, little girl from a hillside village, acquires a dainty, bright blue umbrella in exchange for her lucky, leopard's claw pendant. Binya loves it so much that she carries it everywhere she goes, unfortunately attracting the envious eyes of the villagers. The fresh-flowing rivers, flower-filled valleys, lush green hills, the deep mist covering it– Ruskin Bond weaves a story of heroic characters and redemption, in the midst of it all.
Bond's writing has always made me feel warm and at home. He has a way of making a simple scene from the village life spring into life in front of me. In my opinion, no Indian author can describe the beauty of Indian hill stations, the ever-changing vivid seasons, and humor that makes you laugh out loud in simple yet effective words, as well as Bond. Here, the innocent thoughts and actions of Binya are portrayed perfectly, especially for a young reader, to understand. The greed and jealousy of the people are mentioned clearly, only that Bond withholds all the literal words. Not too ambiguous to confuse children who read this, not too obvious enough to bore them.
I loved Binya's enthusiasm and the seeds of stubbornness in her that would grow her into a headstrong person.
You can take her as the perfect example of a village girl– one who finds comfort in the mountains, thick forests, and flowing rivers, knowing she belongs to those terrains. One who feels lost in the huge crowds in towns, terrified to the point of preferring her rough village life over any luxuries offered by the big cities. It was a joy reading about Binya breezing through her chores with an ease that only comes from habitual practices.
I think Bond's writing is the only which does not make me assume or predict anything in the story. I become completely relaxed, immersed in just the present. Maybe that's why I didn't expect Ram Bharosa to get that ending. I was also unpleasantly surprised a bit when Rajaram lied, even if he was under pressure (quite literally and figuratively). It made me wonder what kind of person he would grow up into.
Biju's vigor and willingness to help, due to the love he had for his sister, was really adorable.
I've heard people say and read a thousand times that greed can be a person's downfall and jealousy poison one's soul. To what extent?– I used to wonder. Until the person learns a moral lesson and until karma comes backbiting them. After that, it surely depends on the person's choices– it could either lead them to their redemption or burn their life into ashes. This is something that I absorbed from this book. This is what Bond conveyed, albeit with much less intensity and without ultimatums.
The Blue Umbrella– the little story that brings you joy in its very simple if you're a young one or makes you think a little if you're older.
Shiny, pretty things always catch our eye, don't they? A thing that is considered conventionally beautiful always makes us take a second glance towards it. It's one of human nature. Similarly, in this little story by Ruskin Bond, a beautiful, blue umbrella catches Binya's eye. Binya, a naive, little girl from a hillside village, acquires a dainty, bright blue umbrella in exchange for her lucky, leopard's claw pendant. Binya loves it so much that she carries it everywhere she goes, unfortunately attracting the envious eyes of the villagers. The fresh-flowing rivers, flower-filled valleys, lush green hills, the deep mist covering it– Ruskin Bond weaves a story of heroic characters and redemption, in the midst of it all.
Bond's writing has always made me feel warm and at home. He has a way of making a simple scene from the village life spring into life in front of me. In my opinion, no Indian author can describe the beauty of Indian hill stations, the ever-changing vivid seasons, and humor that makes you laugh out loud in simple yet effective words, as well as Bond. Here, the innocent thoughts and actions of Binya are portrayed perfectly, especially for a young reader, to understand. The greed and jealousy of the people are mentioned clearly, only that Bond withholds all the literal words. Not too ambiguous to confuse children who read this, not too obvious enough to bore them.
I loved Binya's enthusiasm and the seeds of stubbornness in her that would grow her into a headstrong person.
You can take her as the perfect example of a village girl– one who finds comfort in the mountains, thick forests, and flowing rivers, knowing she belongs to those terrains. One who feels lost in the huge crowds in towns, terrified to the point of preferring her rough village life over any luxuries offered by the big cities. It was a joy reading about Binya breezing through her chores with an ease that only comes from habitual practices.
I think Bond's writing is the only which does not make me assume or predict anything in the story. I become completely relaxed, immersed in just the present. Maybe that's why I didn't expect Ram Bharosa to get that ending. I was also unpleasantly surprised a bit when Rajaram lied, even if he was under pressure (quite literally and figuratively). It made me wonder what kind of person he would grow up into.
Biju's vigor and willingness to help, due to the love he had for his sister, was really adorable.
I've heard people say and read a thousand times that greed can be a person's downfall and jealousy poison one's soul. To what extent?– I used to wonder. Until the person learns a moral lesson and until karma comes backbiting them. After that, it surely depends on the person's choices– it could either lead them to their redemption or burn their life into ashes. This is something that I absorbed from this book. This is what Bond conveyed, albeit with much less intensity and without ultimatums.
The Blue Umbrella– the little story that brings you joy in its very simple if you're a young one or makes you think a little if you're older.
I got the book from Ruskin bond himself.. Autographed.. On its launch in dehradoon. I was 11 then..I teasured it ..still do. The book is simply realistic and set in the place i was grown up.
Cute.
Has moral values.
Typical Indian village settings.
Has moral values.
Typical Indian village settings.
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A short story but very beautiful and of very peaceful and enjoyable story
If you're stuck at home on a rainy afternoon, this book will warm your heart.
If you're lolling about aimlessly on a day off, this book will add a dash of productivity to your day.
"The Blue Umbrella" might be one of the shortest books I've read in my life. However, it is certainly one of the most heartwarming books I've ever read.
I bank on Ruskin Bond with my eyes closed. But I still wondered to myself, how much can a book possibly deliver in the number of pages that make up most book's introduction? Turns out, Bond proved his tacit writing yet again.
"The Blue Umbrella" is the story of Binya and Bijju. They're two sturdy children trailing the pristine Gharwal hills in the Himalayas. Binya spends her days grazing the flock of cows. Metaphorically, the two cows form specific characters in the book. They're called "Nelu"-the gray-blue bovine and "Gori"-the fair one. Interestingly, the book begins with Binya chasing Nelu, as she would chase the titular blue umbrella in throughout book once she lays her hands on it.
From there, the book takes you on a delightful journey through the village in the hills. From the time Binya lays her eyes on the umbrella till the time she parts ways with it, the characters come of age. The umbrella teaches life lessons to a lot of people. It brings out the best in them. The village itself draws you. Standing at the foothills of the Himalayas, the unnamed fictional village is two miles away from the nearest town-Tehri.
The greedy shopkeeper Ram Bharosa amuses you with his petulant greed for Binya's umbrella. Even within the 23 pages that the book spans (cover pages included), Bond's writing makes sure even the most fleeting characters leave a mark. You can never forget the crafty Rajaram or the petulant lady who owns the umbrella before she gives it to Binya or even the bear that culminates the book's climax.
I read the book on my happy day. Quite aptly, it left a warm fuzzy glow on my heart.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. “She was always ready with her smile, and would willingly have lent it to anyone who was feeling unhappy.”
2. "The umbrella was like a flower, a great blue flower that had sprung up on the dry brown hillside".
3. "Of what use is a poppy in a cornfield? Of what use is a rainbow? Of what use are you, numbskull? Wretch! I, too, have a soul. I want the umbrella, because-because I want its beauty to be mine!"
4. "Wretch!" said the old man. "Evil one! Darkener of my doorstep!"
5. “She walked home through the darkening glade, singing of the stars; and the trees stood still and listened to her, and the mountains were glad.”
a definate 3.5 stars , a page turner but the story is kind of a plateau , just didnt feel much emotions in it .
Ram Bharosa was quite right; it was just a beautiful plaything. And that was exactly why she had fallen in love with it.