Eight by Poornima Manco - Book Review

Eight - Fantastical Tales From Here, There & Everywhere by Poornima Manco

Genre: Fantasy, Magic Realism, Short Stories 

4 Stars 

One Liner: An enjoyable collection of eight stories from around the world. 

*****

Eight is a collection of eight stories with hints of magic, the afterlife, and otherworldly presence in each story. The non-human characters steer the stories in one way or another and create a beautiful reading experience. 

Here’s a quote I loved before we see a glimpse of the stories. It aligns with what I believe about the present and the future. 

“Look at the future with one eye firmly fixed on the past. Everything is cyclical. It comes around again and again, and if you are perceptive enough, you will recognize the patterns.” 

***** 

Stories Listed as Per the Order of the Book

The Invisible Suitcase (France): Similar to dark chocolate- bittersweet and soulful. 

Osterhase (Germany): Stefan’s life journey from being a boy to a man (it sure wasn’t easy for him). 

The Butterfly Effect (Argentina): Mariposa cannot run away from Tango, no matter how much she hates it. 

New Year, New You (Egypt): A soul that transcends over generations and decides to share his story at last. 

Idol (South Korea): The world of K-Pop is much more than the fans and aspirants see. The best in the book. 

The Perfect Wife (Hong Kong): A 50+ billionaire quest for the perfect woman gives him more than he bargained for. 

Lala Lakshmi (India): This Diwali will change Lakshmi Chand forever, and he knows to be grateful for it. 

A Thank You Would Be Nice (USA): Elaine, a 60-something flight purser knows how to deal with rude and thankless passengers, and it’s not what you think. 

The stories are diverse enough to keep us interested from start to finish. The book has a few misses, too but gives a good impression overall. The cover is fondant on the cake (pun intended); perfect for the book. 

P.S: Can’t help but wonder about the choice of countries. A majority of them stand out for being ‘exotic’. ;) 

I received a complimentary copy of the book from BookSirens.