“It’s a little jewel” – Hindustan Times
1. Read HT Review here
2. Read my interview in Times Ascent
3. Bangalore Mirror coverage of the book
“Neumonia and Other Sketch Stories” is the title of my first book. It is a collection of short stories which I have written over the past few years.
Comprising of highly-nuanced and larger-than-life characters, these stories capture a moment in their lives and bring out a whole new perspective to everyday events. Whether they delight or surprise, they are sure to make the reader stop and think as each story is a rare treat.
- Buy from Flipkart
- Buy the Kindle version on Amazon
- Download Now (downloaded 3727 times so far)
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Not interested in buying the book but would like to read it online for free? No problem! Click on the link below to download the e-book version for free. The only thing you don’t get with it is the cool front cover design that comes with the hardcopy version. Do remember to share the e-book with your friends!
Download Now (downloaded 3727 times so far)
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Oxford Bookstore, Leela Galleria, Bangalore
Blossoms Bookhouse, Church Street (Opp. Amoeba), Bangalore
Oxford Bookstore, Churchgate, Mumbai
Midland Bookstores, Delhi
Hi,
Came across your book.. as also your blogs.. as also your the better india venture.. !.. u r doing some really meaningful stuff in your life dude.. congrats !
Best,
Dear Dhimant
I reached here from Dilip Dsouza’s blog. I downloaded and started reading your book, many thanks for giving it for free. I also read some of your blog posts and enjoyed reading them. I feel really happy and touched to find such a nice guy.
Please keep writing,
Arun
Dear Dhimant,
Fantastic stuff! really nice reading on a sunday afternoon! Have forwarded the ebook to my friends and family!
Is there any way we could leave a small contribution online? its much harder buying the book!
Also just a reply to a previous comment – Pneumonia CAN happen overnight and hence be diagnosed.
Kant
Hey Dhimant, Just downloaded the e-version and finished reading it..Thanks for sharing it for free
To sum it up, it comprises just about everything you can think about in an uneventful day of life – simple yet subtle…Look forward to reading more of such work
Wow man, it’s like now I know a star.
You deserve it mate, bask in the glory and continue sharing with the world the talent called ‘Dhimant’
Cheers,
Ashok
Great job bro…..really this are the things which make you feel the world and gives life more meanings to learn and understand .Suparb is the word …..
Sandeep Shah>> Thanks dude! And glad you read the book
Anshul>> Dude! Thanks for the comment. Also, you mentioned 4 favs but have written down only three
Ash & Mira>> Thanks for reading and appreciating
Priyank>> Dude, thanks a ton for the critical analysis. These are very helpful to me and will go a long way in making my work better in the future.
Everyone else>> Sorry for not addressing personally, its just lack of time as of now. Nevertheless, I thank each one of you for taking the time to read the book and writing down your thoughts and comments here.
I am grateful to you all for that.
Last, but not the least, please do help in spreading the word by sharing the link to this site to all your contacts and friends.
Dude!
Unbelievable! I am really impressed…I am not that much of those reading types, but the curiosity was larger than my laziness since you have written them
Best of luck
Great going dude. 4 favs of mine in no particular order:
1. Raw mangoes, A full circle – Moving
2. Final enclosure – Crisp, subtle
3. One Fine Day – Pleasantly visual
Hey Dhi,
Really enjoyed reading the book. Felt some stories had a better than others but all in all a great first effort! My favorites were “Churchgate Fast” and “One Fine Day”!
Keep up the good work and hope you get published soon.
Cheers
Ash
I absolutely loved it. Every story is detailed in terms of characters. Wow!
Re-Read
Hey,
Wanted to give a critical review as I am sure you would have got many positive ones.
First, the stories don’t seem to be researched well enough. Pnuemonia cant be diagnosed overnight.
Second, it all seems too random. Just mixing two or three stories/points of views together doesn’t make them co-related.
Third, they don’t seem to be real. Let me explain this point. I think as a writer you can explain things much better with much more feelings if you have “been there”. Other wise it tends to go towards fiction and that spoils the story. So my point is basically it is very evident you haven’t lived in slums or travelled much in overcrowded Mumbai trains. Or even if you have, I am not able to fathom those feelings through your prose.
I think that would be enough criticism for now. All sketch stories are creative and gave me much joy to read. Inspired me to write some of my own, so thanks for all the fish.
Hi Dhimant,
I read “Neumonia and Other Sketch Stories” and thought that I should write to you to tell you how much I enjoyed it.
Needless to say, I am going to forward the link to all my friends who like to read.
Swapna
Very good stuff Dhimant ! Great … keep going
Hi Dhimant,
The stories are nice and easy to read. Also, takes you away to some other land of imagination, away from the busy day to day schedule. Waiting for you to publish your next e-book.
– Gaurav
Fantastic stuff dude…am excited at being able to download it…so am commenting even without reading..! Will come back once I have gone through it…! Brilliant…
To begin with let me congratulate for your amazing work. I was amazed with some of the plot’s you had put forth in your stories; it had mix of varied categories of emotions. Great Job….. The best thing of Sketch Stories according to me is its Fast paced descriptive nature, Short (Important for me) and a sense of mystery at the end (though not applicable for all stories in your book)
Sketch stories is very new thing for me and not able to visualize the intent or ideology revolving around the author, but yeah one thing is for sure. I loved reading it and visualizing the story followed thereafter (I love Day Dreaming though
)…….
But yes, a round of accolade to you for this simple but enriching work…. Keep up the work and keep sharing your work with us (But free haaaa)..
Hi Dhimant,
I came across a link to your e-book via twitter. I really liked your writings. I think there is a lot of depth in the way you showcase the images. I, for one, was completely enthralled in the story Raw Mangoes. Brilliantly done and the ending was amazing.
Great job done, and I will be sending this book to many of my friends!
I read the entire ebook. Good work. Your imagery and environmental awareness is excellent. The selection of canvas is very diverse, so it kept me reading.
I can sense, feel and at times visually be very attracted to the story.
That said, I think I am not a fan of the sketch style. Somehow them seem “not fulfilling enough”. I still would like to read more of your writing, no doubt, but the sketch format does not do your writing enough justice I felt. It seems to me that you put your foot in the water (a good starter approach) but decided not to go the whole hog.
I know writing a book takes time, commitment, and patience and I think you have the talent, so you should try and go for gold.
Second, have you read Chitra Divakaruni at all? She wrote a few short stories then transitioned into 3-4 good novels. I liked her first book, then gave up on her even though the books won critical acclaim. For me books are a form of escapism. I cannot get myself to consistently read dark stories. Human condition is so filled with mundane and morose that I tend to read books to get me to focus on something uplifting.
Mind you I am not asking you to change your style, merely observing. You will do well anyway and you should write what inspires you and is your motivation for writing.
My suspicion is that many (over 50%) of book readers are looking for human stories that are not real (not unreal mind you). When I say that I dont mean they are completely fiction and Bollywood style song and dance, but they are looking for some of those fairly tale or “happy endings”.
I think like most readers I get involved in the book, so if the story leaves me wanting more or if the stories are consistently dark, I would not probably go for the second book.
Anyway, these are one person’s “opinions” – take them with a boatload of salt. I dont even call myself a critic, so there.
Good work and keep writing.
Richard Wright once said, “I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all.”
I downloaded a copy and my daughter (7 yr old) read the first couple of pages and loved neumonia. Good work. Its fast, pacy and good.
I like it. Good work. Smart move to get it started with a ebook and a free one at that.
Nice one boy!!..
I always liked the way you put those words together.. nevertheless was a fan of your blog too.. so no reason why I wont like this. Let me know when the next bit comes out.. 
Best of Luck!! Sail more on the curves of these letters…
Mahesh..
Hello Dhimant,
Stumbled upon your piece de resistance and I must try not to be parsimonious in my praise of such excellent amateur prose. Your sketches do possess the potential to merit a raving review predisposing it to be in the sacred community of Mike Stocks, Alexander McCall Smith and our own R K Narayan. Do prod along mate and grind that grey matter some more. Go break a leg!
Regards,
Rajiv MEHTA
Managing Director – PUMA India
I like your style of writing.
NICE! You definitely left me wanting for more! After reading some of the stories i was really wanting the story to continue…but no…
let us know when you come out with the next set of sketch stories!
awesome job…
Nice..! the content, presentation &distribution..
arey manager is rocking
hi Parikh,
Congratulations on your work!
Cheers
Amit Pathak
Dhimant! Amazing stories. Really!
Well done!
Am i reading the next Ruskin Bond.
Good Stuff buddy
Do include sketches like “ek chidiya..”
@All – Thanks everyone for your appreciation. That is very very encouraging for me.
@Naynesh – Culture Shock? That is an interesting perspective.
@Balu – I am humbled by the fact that it reminded you of Satyam Sankaramanchi’s work!
@Comrade – Nope, I don’t think I am a communist. Not yet at least.
Are you not a communist?
Nice stories- really enjoyed reading them- they bring out the contradictions that lace our lives- the hypocrisy of so called civilized world.
Great effort indeed!
wow, really like your stories buddy. Reminded me of “Amaravathi Kathalu” and that is the highest praise one can get form me
I would like to see some short films made from these stories
very creative, original and thought-provoking stories of normal everyday lives,wonderfully written:-)
Hmm, good work. I like Raw Mangoes. A HUGE sudden spike of emotions and then completely placid, I like it.
Sketch stories seem more like a culture shock to me. I always thought stories had plots.
Hey Wishing you both a Very Happy and properous year ahead. Great site…..keep the good work going
Awesome read..Hope you’ve started penning your second book!
Fantabulous!!! Beautiful and clean writing! Makes an excellent read.
hi!!!
Amazing stories. Brought some nostalgic memories to my mind. Nice of you to dedicate these awesome stories to your father. This is Jheel’s friend, by the way.
Priya
Lets swap our jobs! Amazing piece of writing
Hey its really amazing…i always wondered dt y don u publish ur short stories bt finally u came out with dis sketch buk..thanx..had been w8in 4 it..seriously [:)]
Cool stuff Dhimant! Really liked it. I had no clue what a sketch story meant before I read this!
This is excellent,
Making an short film on this would give more
exposure to your views and messages.
think of it,people are waiting!!
This is Awesome !!!
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing them.
This is Wonderful
This is really cool! Thanks for sharing for free.