Testimonials
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!
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.
It was a pleasure to go through the book. The stories are well chosen and reminded me of my hostel days in college. For the older generation there is an element of nostalgia, while for the younger generation it is re-living their college days. Most readers will relate with the characters and the anecdotes and therein lies the success of the author. The light storytelling style makes it an easy read. An ideal evening read with a cup of coffee or a drink!
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.
Writing a novel, a short story or even an opinion piece needs clarity of thought and I like the way Manavendra has gone about it in his book those were the days. The stories have variety and are immensely interesting to read. Readers of all age groups will be able to identify with the subject and some characters in these stories. Wish you success, Manavendra.
It was a pleasure reading “those were the days” written by Manavendra Prasad. It is an engaging read and took me back to my days in boarding school. The book is well written and the stories are engaging and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for some ‘mood uplifting’ stories. I wish Manavendra all the best and look forward to his next book.
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.
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.
"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.
A coming-of-age book where the angst of adolescence meets hopes of adulthood.
“mood uplifting stories……. lived some of these experiences and have really fond memories of them even today.……anyone who reads it will enjoy it.”
Jubin Nautiyal Singer