Vibha Tripathi

Kissing the Goddess and Other Nine Stories Vibha Tripathi

Kissing the Goddess - is a culture-rich collection of future folktales. Ten unusual stories, written with a confident voice, capture India's ancient oral traditions and the didactic anecdotes found in children's literature worldwide. The stories offer heartfelt authenticity and faithful depictions of modern India. The characters are true and lively; scenes and events are vivid and evocative. The compilation is complex in its artful nuances of society and colloquialism, yet the narrative style is simple and pleasantly suggestive of India's many languages and dialects. The anthology includes visionary urban stories; "A Room for Music" is a journey through a common school where an ordinary girl bravely accomplishes extraordinary things. In the simple story of Bauk, "Kindly Consider," the ancient tale of the good and faithful servant is revisited in a contemporary context with modern obstacles and solutions. Similarly, "A Pinch of Tobacco" shows how respect and affection between master and servant can teach simple lessons and the complex importance of seeing beyond class or station. "Train to Kanpur" views family complexities-both good and bad-from a child's view, while restoring the reader's belief in acceptance and trust. In contrast "White Flour Cookies," using glimpses of humor, emphasizes parents' desire for a daughter's good match, even if the process is exasperating and disappointing for everyone. In the vibrantly rural "Buffalo Thieves of Kaharana" the unconscionable act of livestock theft reveals much through the surprising view of a lone buffalo and villagers who live simply and strongly. "Kissing the Goddess," the collection's namesake, shows that through difficult times and perseverance Brinda finds, professional accomplishment is closely connected to personal opportunity. Nostalgic themes and a graceful view of success through humility's lens resonate like plucked notes in "Broken Strings of Sitar," while "The Mice Killer" makes clear that personal salvation and strength can arise at the most dire moments to redefine a young life, developing hope along the way. Throughout this assembly of people and characters, the author's mindful storytelling thrums a rhythm that lingers long after "Granny's Crooked Fingernails" have ceased their drumming. As a collection that entertains while sharing lessons of spirit and self, Kissing the Goddess is filled with then-and-now tales that are relevant today and destined to become tomorrow's folk treasures.