Notes From A Small Room - Ruskin Bond

‘Notes from a Small Room’ is a delightful collection of short essays, personal and anecdotal in nature, capturing the simple things that make life so beautiful. The common thread that runs through all the pieces is an eye for the small pleasures that make life worth living-“the sunshine, the bird-song, the bedside book, the potted geranium, and all the other little things”.

One cannot help but marvel at the way Ruskin Bond captures something as trivial as the transit of an ant across his writing desk. The book gives readers an insight into his “Thoughts on reaching 75”, the days spent with his beloved Siamese cat Suzie (who is later discovered to be a male, much to his disappointment!), his favourite smells, his idea of a perfect window and his philosophy of life (or rather, a lack thereof) among other things. He shares poignant memories of the last day spent with his father and celebrates the humble, but not insignificant, pleasures that life in his sleepy hill town so plentifully presents.

At a time when incomprehensible writing is often interpreted as a sign of intellect, Bond amazes the readers by weaving a childlike simplicity into his sentences to convey equally uncomplicated thoughts. He writes with remarkable ease and candour, transporting the readers into an idyllic world where time moves at a slow pace and, occasionally, even stands still.

As Bond observes-“It’s the simple things in life that keep us from going crazy.”