The Bold, Bald Trio
& 50 Other Inspirational Stories - Tall in Morals, Rich in Values
Ladislaus Louis D'Souza
Paperback: 169 pages; ISBN: 979-8-89222-408-6; Price: Rs 599/- Publisher: White Falcon Publishing
Available on: Amazon (Worldwide), Flipkart; Contact: ladisdsouza@gmail.com
Everyone gets a little down in the dumps sometimes. So instead of searching the internet for solutions, check out 'THE BOLD, BALD TRIO & 50 Other Inspirational Stories' for some truly short stories that pop up in our daily lives, and are so easy to relate to! These stories, as the author claims, are real, and border on fiction. They make you smile, shed a tear, ponder, motivate, inspire and spark an idea or a change in you for the better.
The titular story 'The Bold, Bald Trio' (p 13) ignites with the beautiful tale of Sherrin and her twin brother Sharan who go out of their way to support their friend Krutika who is diagnosed with leukaemia, by doing a task even their parents find tough to decide on. But for the twins, what was more important was doing the right thing and supporting their friend in her time of despair. The book's impressive cover of the three bald characters is a source of wonder as to what the title is all about.
'The Power of a Hug' (p 20) shares the importance of offering a hug to your near and dear ones, bereft of a reason or occasion. It tells the tearful story of Audrey who had lost her father, and the heartfelt hug she received from someone she met as a child.
'The Complete Family Recipe' (p 62) stresses on family bonding, taking off with Mansie Rodricks who, after losing her husband, spends a lonely life with her unmarried son and maid, until life takes an interesting turn! Mansie brightens up when her maid Anitree comes up with a brilliant idea and gets the entire family involved.
At the beginning of each chapter, the author has taken the liberty to insert an inspirational quote on the meaning of each chapter, rather than ending the chapter with a moral of the story. In 'True Love Lasts for Ever' (p 57), the author neatly embraces you with the words, "Love cures people – both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it." The chapter, in very Beatlemania style, talks about the love affair of Desmond the drummer and Molly the singer in a band. When love sours, and Molly is forced to walk out of the marriage, love returns in a mysterious way.
Stories like these will give your attitude a little nudge in the right direction, put a smile on your face, and may even make you chuckle. The author has also used the local Hindi lingo in relation to places in Mumbai, within the country and across the world to put his message across. An inspiring tale would be 'Self-Help is God-Help' (p 16) which is the story of a hapless young boy selling 'kanda batata' and saving money to buy himself a Smartphone. One of the boy's main principles is that there's no excuse for not trying.
In 'Think Positive and Let Go' (p 80), the author offers us a challenge – either to let go and surrender to what destiny has in store, or fight back an illness and be on the road to recovery. We learn of how Joshua, in the face of challenges and setbacks, fought against a life-threatening disease.
The Mumbai-based author, who has also published six other books (p x), creates a sense of connection, and allows the readers to identify with the stories in the context of their own life situations.
While the stories here contain several different meanings or lessons whereby they are effective in communicating ideas in ways that are easy to understand, it is important to note that the book also contains certain chapters with religious connotations, which may appear controversial to some readers. These chapters reflect the author's personal beliefs and delve into spiritual and religious themes, including Biblical quotes. Though these chapters may resonate deeply with those who share similar beliefs, others might find them challenging. While the author doesn't shy away from these topics which he feels strongly about, it's something readers should be aware of when reading the book.
The book, endorsed with a 'Foreword' by Fr Austin Norris and a 'Preface' by Fr Reuben Tellis, is nevertheless an internet hug for the soul. Pause for a moment, peruse the stories and indulge in your preferred beverage as you immerse yourself in this treasure trove of uplifting and motivational tales that will make you re-think what is truly important in life.
VERUS FERREIRA