The Parijat Tree and other stories

A great book to spend in the weekend. Each story has its own uniqueness wrt characters, description, the story telling and it is very thrilling and unpredictable how the characters turn and unfold themselves at the end.Felt like watching a thriller short movie in an OTT platform. Would have been best if we can hear the book read in the heavy voice of the author

It's great to have a book like this lying around, at your work station or bedside. It's a quick fix break a story at a time, or a peaceful weekend read in one go. The story called 'Indignant Innocence' had me return to the beginning when I reached the end!

10 short stories 7 deadly sins.No, the author hasn't mentioned this underlying theme in the book. Rather the book is quite open to interpreting and understanding the themes. But once you finish reading and decide to introspect it completely, all the pieces of the puzzle fall into their own places. There are imageries but in simple terms, just like a bedtime story for a toddler; but here the toddlers are mature readers.The book is dark; every other chapter has lustful eyes, falling from grace, sins that are not to be committed, and much to ponder over from the very beginning. Plotted against contemporary India and its people, their raw emotions; from the hilly terrain and farthest corner to the remotest, from the aristocratic feudal life to the reality of drought trodden life of farmers; the book has all. It was a brave task to write on things that need to be talked about much; be it sexuality, the exploitation and suicidal rates of farmers, male rape, or domestic violence. The story named 'Chameleon' is unputdownable from the backdrop to the progress throughout the pages; that single story has everything a thriller addict can look out for. Instead of 'The Parijat Tree' "Chameleon and other stories' could have been a better title and rise on the expectation from the anthology. Like the Chameleon, each story in the book has multiple shades which change according to the need arises. To name a few others that will definitely top the list in this anthology will be 'The Rice Bowl' and 'A Charming Man'.

Indeed a great amalgamation of short stories! Read the book in a go and thoroughly enjoyed it. Specifically Triple Cross and Enigma stands out.

I started reading it this afternoon and I'm 3 stories down already . This is such an amazing book! Highly engaging and rightly sized stories flowing at perfect pace to keep readers engrossed for long and yet not losing out on the suspenses. I've known Sameer personally from launching of an anthology which had our stories. But it's a treasure to have a book completely authored by himself with so many intriguing stories !

The Parijat Tree is a fantastic read.  Sameer Nagarajan has written 10 stories with deceptive twists and devious turns.  The settings are so real and Indian - you can easily relate to them.  His ability to go deep into the minds of the characters is exceptional.  The length of stories varies a lot and it is definitely intentional.  Some stories are like T20 Cricket match, some are One Day Internationals and there is a Test Matches as well.  Sameer is deft at scoring runs in formats of the game.

Just finished reading Sameer’s book - an ensemble of engaging stories and interesting characters strewn through them. From earthy notes of the Parijat tree and rice bowl to complex narratives of urban life in Enigma, Storm, Love and the Art of War, I enjoyed each one immensely. Look forward to a second instalment now!!

Smartly written with a fast pace the book is a good page turner and entertainer.

I was unsure what to expect when The Parijat tree landed on my doorstep. When I started reading it, it became very hard to stop at one story, and I indulged in my gluttony for good stories and finished in a few days. It takes talent to write short stories as you have just a few pages to establish the characters, buildup and denouement. Sameer has shown a natural flair and understanding of this genre. The stories are a heady mix of Archer-ian twists, deeply personal stories, imaginative fantasies and some straightforward tales. I enjoyed the last kind as it is a mark of an excellent storyteller to convert simple, everyday happenings into an absorbing story. A must-read for a lazy weekend or a long holiday. I can't wait for his next book

I loved Sameer Nagarajan's “The Parijat Tree”! This anthology of short stories set in contemporary India is a rollercoaster of emotions, tackling themes such as life, love, blackmail, usury, murder, and many more. Each story is unique and engaging, with well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists that kept me turning the pages. Sameer’s stories are also a skillful and wry commentary, primarily on plot-driven events, but also various social and cultural issues in India, from caste-based discrimination to corruption in politics and business.In addition to its engaging storytelling and social commentary, "The Parijat Tree" also showcases the complexity and diversity of modern-day India. Specifically, while the descriptions of the food, flowers and character appearances were evocative, what really grabbed (and held) my attention were the deftly created landscapes, both internal and external. They conjure a world rich with imagery, one that has urgency and immediacy, but also Bollywood-like dramatise and intensity. The title tale of the “Parijat tree” is noteworthy in that it is told from the tree’s perspective, with the objectivity and wisdom that comes with such a vantage point. There are tales of scions of millionaire families, philandering CEOs with surprising twists in their denouement, ghosts being served justice, romantic trysts in picturesque gardens in the hill country of Tamil Nadu, and fascinating explorations of caste and class politics within the framework of a poor farming village in South India, and later in prison (“The Rice Bowl”). Ultimately, the book highlights many of the tensions and contradictions that exist in modern-day Indian society, but also celebrates its beauty and resilience.TL;DR: Overall, "The Parijat Tree" is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Indian literature.

There is nothing in this book to indicate that it was the author's first published book. Each story has a unique theme from modern India but still has a very universal appeal. As I started each short story I could not wait to the end to see what was going to happen - the twists and turns would lead me to an ending not anticipated in many cases. A mix of humor, interesting themes and an easy writing style make this a must read. Can't wait for the next book!

The Parijat Tree presents a multifaceted picture of Indian society, whether it is the western-oriented upper class or disenfranchised rural residents. The author S. Nagarajan is a keen observer and allows us to participate in the expectations and frustrations of his protagonists. The short stories are built up in an exciting way: behind seemingly perfectly designed life plans, there is lurking abyss...We want more of that!