Book Review of Encounters by Sumana Khan

FEW REVIEWS... Encounters consists of 5 stories with a paranormal theme. Sumana creates such vivid scenes from the very first page that the reader is sucked into the stories. All the five stories are beautifully woven, with intricate details, believable characters and goosebumpy endings. It is hard to point at one story as a favorite. This one is a page turner you should not miss if you are a fan of paranormal tales. -Amit Sharma, Author of False Ceilings Those who have read Sumana Khan's The Revenge of Kailavya will understand when I say that this is one book I will pick up without even thinking or reading the blurb. I was a bit surprised that she went for an anthology. Her description in describing scenes always has proven picturesque and more than often eerie. -Rubina Ramesh WHAT IS THE BOOK ALL ABOUT  ENCOUNTERS is a potpourri of five sumptuous stories involving a motley crew of protagonists. Skating along the borders of fantasy and paranormal themes, the stories track incredible and poignant journey of self-discovery, tracing the cathartic aftermath of fleeting encounters. My Review Encounters is a book with five stories that will keep you engrossed while making you ponder over the ending. Each of them has a distinct flavor to it, and I should commend the author, Sumana for being able to keep that thin line of balance under the same theme--Encounter! First Love takes you on the coaster wheel of life of a woman who is independent, well established but still stressed out by her parents and society cause she is single. The drama unfolds after that, and it is gripping yet sensuous until the end. I absolutely loved the angle to this story.  The Storyteller is a meetup of a typical agarbatti salesperson who encounters a handful of people running an NGO, and the impact of those footsteps trailing along him when he cleans the bench will give you goosebumps! Reminiscence is an absolutely touching story of a middle class retired family giving a peep into his daily life. The narration is earthy giving a clear picture of all the scenes thus, making the reader feel the depth of each enjoyment, sorrow, and socializing.  Happiness Clinic provided an unusual angle, and it's amazing how the subconscious mind can actually help change the mindset of a man's dynamics if it is talked to.  Best Friends Forever had a twist, which is hard to believe esp with today's times. No doubt the author presented it flawlessly, but a soul to unite with her parents and the drama behind it is hard to digest. Overall, an enjoyable read but some words would pause my read since difficult to understand. Example: homa, mangalya, ghatam, ammouru, vatara,  etc. Also sometimes the necessity of words slowed down the pace such as: cream-geem, embroidery-seroidry, software – geeftware, finance – ginance, etc. It was fun to read in the beginning, but to have it again was losing its charm.  GRAB YOUR COPY HERE YOU CAN GET THIS BOOK DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLISHER ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Sumana was born and raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where she went on to graduate with a BSc in Electronics, much to the surprise of her teachers, and relief of her parents. In what can only be described as a quirk of fate, she ended up as an IT consultant - a role she essayed for more than a decade. She then moved to the UK where she quit her job and pursued academic and literary interests. The result of this pursuit has been two Masters, one published book, quite a few manuscript drafts, and above all, being stone-broke perpetually. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several books.   STALK HER @ Follow Us +Pinterest ​