Power Publisher’s New Release: The Crossroads by Madhu Joshi – A Journey with Arguments

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- The Crossroads is a collection of fifteen short stories that deal with decisions, big and small; sometimes they are too grave to ponder over and at other times they are petty, trivial matters, which most people hardly seem to bother about. Madhu’s narrative steadily focuses on the characters that make these decisions or, at least, try to make them. It is not that what they want is just to find  a reasonable conclusion. As you are going through the pieces, you feel that, it is the discussion, the exchange of views, which is all important. It is the journey that gives you pleasure, not finishing it and reaching a destination.

  The stories definitely end with some decisions. But, at the same time, they offer you opportunities to rethink the story-line and to hatch up a different ending. What is all important in Madhu’s writing is providing  enough Shavian gaps in the narrative, so that her readers, too, can join the conversation, either challenging the suggested ending or providing a new one . She thinks that it is hardly a writer’s part to tell what he or she wants to, rather, it is a sort of invitation to her intended readers to join her characters' thought-process, to accompany them during their journey. Perhaps each one intends to have his own way. They may try to dominate each other, and, of course, the writer. And it is the game of power that controls the ultimate way of the narrative.

  These stories deal with various moments of decision and indecision, and with characters caught at diverse crossroads. The stories portray characters that move in different directions - forward and backwards and even sideways. They meet others at some crossroads, and define and redefine their own positions. Then there are other characters who only stand and wait. They just stand still and mark time quietly. Right there the author is also waiting to meet her readers.

About the Book
Book: The Crossroads
Author: Madhu Joshi
Price: Rs. 250
Pages: 152
ISBN: 978-93-82070-15-3
Publishing Date: 2012
Publisher: Power Publishers
Language: English