4.14 AVERAGE


Materialism is an invisible force that can make you feel inferior and selfish. Well, I agree that all of us are behind something that will make us happy. And most of the time it is materialistic. We often say things like “ I wish I could buy this” or I wish I could afford this”. There are so many examples that clearly tell that the world runs on materialistic happiness these days. I am saying this because we tend to own more than what we need, mostly the things that bring instantaneous pleasure. Even the market and e-commerce sites run on this. So, you see the algorithm is there, but another major contributor is people’s will to own more. But does this apply to all of us? There are a lot of people in this world who possess less, and even the smallest of things can make their lives brighter. I drafted this paragraph after reading The Blue Umbrella which captures this aspect of materialism.

A ten-year-old Garhwali girl Binya gets a beautiful blue umbrella from the picnickers in exchange for her beautiful lucky necklace. She loves it so much that she carries it everywhere she goes. Everyone is jealous of this possession of hers, especially the shopkeeper Ram Bharosa. He eyes it so much that he decides to go to an extreme level to own that umbrella. Will he succeed?

This is a simple and short story, but I loved the unusual characters in this story - Binya, her brother Bijju and the Shopkeeper Ram Bharosa. Also, the illustrations make it easy to visualise the characters nicely, at least some characteristics of them. In less than 100 pages, we get a great story, perfect ending and the valuable message. Other than this, we also get a peek into hilly village life.

I recommend this beautiful book filled with humour, wit, empathy and compassion to all of you. Grab it and read it.


Such a lovely and warm-hearted story. It's just the one I read has a few spelling mistakes.
hopeful 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: Yes

Heartwarming. And, I shouldn't be surprised for it was Bond after all. :)
hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

There are some books you want to read on a rainy day, curled up in bed. The ones that are based in the hilly regions and make you feel you’re right there. The ones that you can relate to, are easy to read, simple to understand and most of all, carry a valuable message. All this pretty much sums up most of Ruskin Bond’s books and this is one such read.

The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond is about a ten-year-old Binya who exchanges her lucky Leopard Claw pendant for a blue umbrella that catches her fancy. No one in the village has such a fine umbrella and everywhere she went, the umbrella went too. Needless to say, it was envied by many and especially by the old shopkeeper Ram Bharosa who wanted it by all means, either by hook or by crook because “I want its beauty to be mine.” Does he succeed? And if yes, at what cost? Read this 83 pages novella to find out.

This book talks about some important themes like the downside of over-materialism, Kindness, Empathy, and Sharing. The illustrations are the icing on the cake and make us visualize the characters and the hillside setting even better. It is a perfect read for beginners and can be easily finished in 30-45 minutes.



Heartwarming. And, I shouldn't be surprised for it was Bond after all. :)

When Innocence flutters around

There cannot be a bond as pure as the one formed through feelings of forgiveness and kindness. There is no thing greater than humanity. Ruskin Bond in his classic tale shows us how envy affects everything that we are as a human, how one act of kindness can pave way for multiple positive emotions. The book contains enchanting descriptions of everything that is beautiful around us. It takes you to the innocent hills and makes you climb down the mighty crevices. When the birds are described you will literally find yourself listening to their happy chirps. I dont find myself even slightly worthy to rate a tale so pure and sensitive. The book is a must read for adults and every adult should pass it on to their younger ones for that one lesson of humility and kindness which is so essential in today's times.

I read this after having heard a lot about this book. I'd call it a happy read. Didn't like it much though.

Such a short and sweet story with a lesson on sharing... Loved the story ❤️