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Book Review 'Two and a Half Rainbows' by Siddhartha Krishnan When I read the blurb of this book, it immediately appealed to me since I love reading short stories. However, I was apprehensive of the prospects since it is written by a debut author. Nevertheless, I decided to take the plunge. The first thing that strikes you about the book is its language. It is lucid, visual and easy on the eye. There is a languid flow to the sentences making it feel like a breezy read. However, don't be fooled. Despite the absence of excesses and dramatics there is no lack of subtlety, nuance and cleverness in the writing. Although, the stories are grounded in reality, they are garbed in various genres (slice of life, mystery, thriller, social & political satire, horror etc) to make the reading experience more enjoyable. The characters are also well-sketched and easily relatable. However, the stand-out feature is that, while the stories proceed on expected lines, they often lead to unexpected endings which linger in your head long after they are read. For this reason I would suggest the readers to take one story at a time. There is also a subtle commentary to most stories but the messaging is not forcibly thrust on the reader. Its quite subliminal. And, while the readers can take what they like from the stories, nothing is spoon-fed, so don't be in a hurry and allow yourself some time to assimilate things. The stories which I liked the most from the collection were 'Dual', 'Meeting Rosanna' and 'Fly on the wall'. Each of these stories have a unique premise and its characters are people you will empathise and relate to. But every reader is going to have his/her own favorites depending on their preferences. All in all I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. It is definitely a refreshing read among what is available today under Indian contemporary fiction. Also, this is a commendable debut by the author Siddhartha Krishnan. As mentioned in the bio, the influences of Satyajit Ray, Ruskin Bond and RK Narayan are apparent in the author's writing but he does have a unique voice and the stories do not lack originality. I would highly recommend this book. It deserves to be read.