Heavenly Fragrance of Earth... Review on Rain in the Mountains - Ruskin Bond

Imagine the fragrance of freshly drenched earth, with the season’s first rain. How it cleanses your senses, relaxes and freshens you better than any other thing. Rain in the mountains, is one such book, which feels like a dose of tranquilizer. A collection of prose and poetry from Mr. Bond’s life, it details 30 years of his time spent in the hills, amongst his close friends, nature, and his adopted family.

The book traces his path back to India, and how he doesn’t need to justify his love for this country. The writing once again is simple, elegant and nudges us towards taking some time off from our busy lives and to know the simple people of the hills.

The journal starts with a witty prologue, with Bond telling how he came to put together this book and some anecdotes about his work life before he started writing full time. Bond carefully describes the advent and origin of the pieces written here, with the same reminiscent nostalgic air found in all his works.

‘Bells in the hills. A school-bell ringing, and children’s voices drifting through an open window. A temple bell heard faintly from across the valley. Heavy silver ankle bells on the feet of sturdy hill women. Sheep bells heard high up on the mountainside.’

After which the book is divided in 5 sections, each section denoting the end of a decade, and the change and constancy in Mr. Bonds thinking and living. Every section is interspersed with bits and pieces of stories, essays, and poems. All of them memoirs of a romantic in a true sense.

Why should you go for this book? If you have read even one of Bonds works, then you must have realized the magical quality and simplicity in his words. This work is not exactly a work of fiction, but a compilation of thoughts in writers which may compel him to write a story afterwards. What goes on behind the scenes in the mind of an author? There is a hint of serious thinking and compels the reader to agree with Mr. Bond, and lose himself in his world.

I wouldn’t suggest it to those who haven’t read even one of Bond’s works, or didn’t like the way Mr. Bond writes. This work is a kind of ‘further study’ for those who have read his stories and other works.

Who should read it for sure? People like me, or Mr. Bond himself, who realize the value of other people’s dreams also. Those of us who are ready to take an hour off from our busy schedules and remember what it feels to be like to become a boy again, and go mock hunting in the jungles of our back yard. It is not even required to read his previous works if you are ready to experiment, open to new ideas, and don’t necessarily want sensationalism in literary works.

I am pretty sure it will change the way you read, and perceive life.

Section I – Once Upon A Mountain Time.

Epilogue.

Comments are invited.

Happy Reading.