My Expressions

Book launch – those were the days!
Book Type: – Fiction, Collection of Short Stories, English
The book is available on: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3iBLEFh) and in Select Book Stores

‘those were the days’

A note from the author, Manavendra Prasad

This is an easy-to-read collection of short stories about young boys growing up in a boarding school in Dehradun. The book has happy stories that are sure to bring a smile. Enjoy these fun stories of teenagers.

Many African cultures embody the spirit of the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” and quite like this adage putting together a book especially the first one requires the support of a very large number of people across a wide time frame.

A college professor got me to write my first published opinion piece. If it was a college mate who persuaded me to write a book, it was the teacher at my creative writing program who convinced me that I could write. If some other college mates facilitated reviews and feedback for my early drafts there were co-workers who read each story and gave me suggestions and pointed out gaps. A young colleague marshalled some of her friends who together gave me valuable feedback and many sensible ideas. There are friends and associates who have done one or more of encouraging, supporting, and lifting my spirits. There are the others who helped give the book the finishing touches – the editor, the designer, the typesetter, the marketing minds, and the printer & publisher.

My book ‘those were the days’ is a collection of stories about Jai and his friends.

These accounts are about young boys growing up in an era far simpler than the current times. They are set in the last decade of the previous century, a time when the Walkman was a fancy gadget, cyclostyling was a convenient solution, 3 ½ diskette was a technology advancement, the VCR was the fulcrum of home entertainment and Remington Steele was a very aspirational TV series. It was a time when yellow tungsten bulbs lit up most homes, tube lights could be easily comprised by disabling the starter and fountain pens were not exotic heirloom but commonplace. It was the pre-Google era where Eicher City Maps were considered spectacularly detailed.

These stories are about teenage boys in a boarding school coming to terms with the brain flush with chemicals and numerous bodily changes. Amidst this tumult of hormonal changes was the allure of the opposite sex – not only was it natural but there was peer pressure to have a girlfriend.

In these tales are accounts of pleasant young calf love, adventure, heroism, immaturity, peer pressure, the desire to be cool, and the thrill of back chatting teachers and of bunking school for food and movies.

While I have written numerous opinions and analysis pieces in leading newspapers and magazines this book was my first attempt at writing fiction. It has been an amazing journey of learning. Not only did I learn many new elements of the art of writing fiction I also gained great insights into the process of publishing. As I work towards reaching out to readers all over the country I am gathering an increased understanding of the book distribution industry.

Writing this book has been about a substantial investment of emotion, time and energy and it gives me immense satisfaction to have people read it. This satisfaction multiplies into joy when readers say that the book brought a smile to their faces.

I will encourage each one of you to give this book a try. It is easy to read and is readily available on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3iBLEFh).
I would love to hear from Curious Times members, about your experience with the book.

Cheers, Manavendra Prasad

Here are some of the reviews, which you may want to go through:

1. Jubin Nautiyal, Singer and Musician

…..mood uplifting stories…lived some of these experiences and have really fond memories of them even today….anyone who reads it will enjoy it. Touches the heart so easily with nostalgia about those days of camaraderie, adventure and incredible fun.
Recommend these endearing stories to anyone looking for something light to read.

Refer: Facebook; Instagram – @jubin_nautiyal; Twitter – @jubinnautiyal

2. Vikas Kumar, Actor and Dialogue Coach

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories. Having had similar experiences, after every story, I found myself guessing what the next one would be about.
I’m sure, everyone who’s gone to boarding school will relate to the incidents that you’ve shared, and those who’ve not seen ‘hostel’ life, will find them most fascinating.
I am betting on someone making an OTT series around these stories.
Personally, I’m really excited to see somebody whom I’ve spent time with at school and shared adventures with on our ‘Patna Party’ homeward journeys. In fact, it would be great to read about one of those accounts. Perhaps, in your next book, which I see you writing very soon!

Refer Instagram – @strictlyvikas; Twitter – @strictlyvikas

3. Amit Goyal, CEO, India Sotheby’s International Realty

The book took me back to my own cherished memories of my younger days.  There was a part of the depicted characters in each of us during our growing up days.  Made my youth come alive.

Refer FB – https://www.facebook.com/amit.goyal1 ; Twitter – @amitgoyal78

4. Anubhav Sapra, Founder, Delhi Food Walks

True to its title, this compilation of short stories about young boys transported me back to my own school days in Dehradun and college at Delhi University. As someone who was more into extra-curricular activities, I could relate to the happenings and actions in the stories. The lucidly presented stories ushers in a deluge of memories about your roommates, canteen, mess, classroom, teachers, dreams, aspirations, adventures, rifts, setbacks and many more. No wonder it reinstates the fact that those were the golden days of our academic life.

Refer FB – @anubhavsapra; Instagram – @anubhav.sapra; @delhifoodwalks; Twitter – @anubhavsapra; @delhifoodwalks

5. Sachin Garg, Author of ‘Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore’

This book is a bottle of nostalgia and reading it is like being in a time machine, transported back to younger days. Surely a commendable debut effort.

Refer FB – sachingarg.me; Instagram – @gargsachin; Twitter – @gargsachin

6. Ashraf Engineer, Media Veteran; Communication Consultant; Author of ‘Bricks of Blood’; Host of ‘All Indians Matter’ podcast

We all look back upon our younger days with fondness but rarely do we come across such a touching and joyful articulation of what it’s like to grow up and the tumult that comes with it. The stories took me back to my own growing-up days, my friends and the process of discovering myself. Lovely, nostalgic read.

Refer FB – ashraf.engineer; Instagram – @ashrafengineer; Twitter – @ashrafengineer

7. Sunil Mishra, MD & CEO Trespect India

“those were the days” is an easy and breezy read, invoking sweet and formative memories of days of the past. Besides taking us on a walk down memory lane, the stories themselves are tightly written and remain with you long after having read those. While the stories should resonate with most of us growing up in the 90s, they are also great reading for the younger generation for them to get a sneak preview of student life in the 90s. To be savoured and devoured at the same time.

Refer FB – @sunil.mishra.735;  Twitter – @Smish2020

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