Opening to Variegated Response
Nothing uplifts me as much as a reader getting the message I am trying to get across. I was, therefore, thrilled to find this review for my latest book, Annapurna’s Bounty, Indian Food Legend Retold, on goodreads: “A delightful and enriching collection that masterfully blends mythology, history, and modern storytelling through the lens of food. Each tale is infused with wisdom, warmth, and cultural richness, making it both an entertaining and thought-provoking read. A must-read for those who love stories with heart and meaning!” Bingo, this is what I was trying to achieve. And the five-star rating the reader kindly provided pleased me too!
Not all the reviews were so laudatory. I started asking myself: should this be my primary criteria for liking a review? Before I reflect further on this subject, I’d like to tell you, how I came to write this book, which combines short stories and recipes. What follows is an excerpt from the Afterword in the book.
“In 2015, for a host of reasons, I started giving Indian vegetarian cooking classes. My lifelong passion for writing and reading also led me to seek out captivating fictional narratives about food. It was then that I encountered the legend of Annapurna, the Indian Goddess of Nourishment.
Given the centrality of food in human life, there are many myths, legends, folktales, and historical narratives across cultures that are connected to food in one way or another. The Indian subcontinent offered much inspiration.
As I discovered, or rediscovered, these food-related tales, I started reimaging them as literary fiction. I believed that this could lead to more interesting, nuanced, complex stories that would hold greater appeal for the contemporary reader.
I used beloved stories I had encountered as a child — like those of the Moghul Emperor, Akbar, and his clever courtier, Birbal. As an adult who turned toward Buddhism, I found the Buddhist parable “Three Grains of Mustard” very appealing. While Zoroastrians (later known as Parsis) fleeing religious prosecution in antiquity is a fact, I also knew a food legend associated with what happened when they landed in India. A folktale featuring the resourceful Parvati bai came to me via a storyteller friend. Some legends and historical narratives were mere slivers. Other stories, like “The Travels of Sanbusak,” are entirely imaginary.”
Coming back to how a writer could or should look at feedback; it’s always easier to interact with like-minded people, isn’t it? But does it help us learn and grow? Not really. It’s the multiplicity of views, some of them possibly challenging, others simply different, that enrich, bringing new perspectives, ideas, even inspiration. So very important for anyone, but particularly a writer. What do you think?
Dear readers, you will be the best judge of Annapurna’s Bounty, and whatever you make of it, will shape the variegated narrative. I look forward to your comments! Let the ebb and flow of words commence…