The world not only needs a change from the surrounding gloom but also from an overdose of routine literary genres like romance, mystery, thriller, horror and mythology. What better way to lighten up our stressed minds than reading a collection of a dozen short stories bound by one common theme – tickling humor and prickling satire? Happimess by Biswajit Banerji is a compilation of fun-filled stories that can drive the reader into laughter.
If you thought the book-title to be odd and the result of a careless typo, you are mistaken. It is indeed Happimess and the way the stories unfold, one is bound to admire how creatively the title captures the funny essence of the book. The reader will find the book a source of relief and grudging happiness one feels after successfully slipping out of a terribly messy situation.
The stories in the book center around people who find themselves oddly tangled up in their day-to-day dealings within the family and the outside world. The hilariously knotty situations are mostly of their own making. Once sincere efforts are made to get out of the mess, there are more goof-ups and things only get more muddled and complicated. Unlike the usual books on humour, Happimess goes a step further than just being a rib-tickler, it prods you to introspect about the individual follies and social oddities as well.
The book has the quality to take the reader in its grip slowly but surely. Reading it is much like savouring a tasteful dish that has been cooked gradually and patiently over a mild flame. The thought-provoking introduction deserves a special mention as it goes on to set up an intriguing platform for the stories to take-off. The characters in the stories are relatable because they belong to our shared milieu in the immediate family, offices, neighborhood and the friend circle. However, their individual traits and quirky habits make them stand out. In most stories, there is a no holds barred first person narration that exposes the psychology, thoughts and intentions of the people around us.The manner of narration is mischievous and impish to say the least and is sure to take the reader back to their childhood days marked by plenty of pranks and trickery. The language is stylish, yet conversational and casual.Happimess is decidedly different from the run of the mill humour or any othercontemporary short story collection. Read the book to laugh away your worries through the engrossing and beautifully crafted wit, humour and satire it offers. Written in a fable-like style with an embedded story, it also throws light on the thinking of the author behind writing this book. “For me, humour remains the last resort of a failed reformist,” says the author.
Saturday, 20 February 2021 | PNS
