I have been veering off short stories for a long time now...
I seriously don’t know where I developed this deep aversion to trying out short stories...and being a book lover who can digest just about any genre of writing, I feel I have missed out on some really great reads by keeping off this particular facet of English literature...
I guess it was mainly due to starting off with Agatha Christie...no offense but even though I am one of her biggest fans, I feel her short stories are less than awe inspiring...I have absolutely no complains against her mysteries though, they are marvelous, especially Hercule Poirot...
Then following a suggestion by a friend, I finally decided to settle on a book called "A Quiver Full of Arrows" by Jeffery Archer...
Its an absolute treat...its humorous and serious at the same time... the stories are well constructed with twists in between (that's probably Archer's signature)... and he conveys his feelings convincingly... I have read most of his books and I can say with certainty it ranks amongst his best...
There’s one story I liked in particular… its called "Old Love"...a really nice love story...really inspiring and well written...
I feel this book’s going to put me back into the "reading short stories" track...

Aren’t you amazed at how the simplest of things can give you more pleasure than all the material wealth that you think is all important to enjoy life to the fullest [at least they do for me :)]...
Sometimes I am surprised at the happiness I derive from a simple thing like an early morning walk...the air's crisp and you can hear the birds singing [?]..And see the sunrise :)... absolutely fantastic...it actually gives me the goose bumps to see all of god's creations…
Then there are some smells that are an absolute treat to the senses - eucalyptus oil, smell of mud that arises with the first showers of rain, henna, amma's vengaaya sambaar, jasmine flowers and that distinct smell that you get when you hold babies [clean ones, I mean]...
A really neat beach with the white sand and the surf…the sea being a mix of green and blue [turquoise]...nature in all its glory... usually makes me want to go all wild :D...
Flowers, waterfalls, snow and greenery...nature in general... NGC being a favourite channel :)…
Couples in love...they always make me want to smile…all their blushes and shyness and those special smiles meant exclusively for their loved one to decipher...
Naughty kids...so much fun to hang out with, even if they actually drive their parents totally nuts with all that energy :D
Dads putting babies to sleep...I feel it makes the cutest picture ever…
Watching the sunset especially at some hill station or the other...
Getting dripping wet in the rain…
Eating ice lollies during summer holidays…
Getting hold of the next issue of your favourite comic book, you have been dying to read…
I am getting kind of nostalgic with summer holidays and the rest...I seriously miss those carefree days...just holidays and no worries…no deadlines to meet and no meetings to attend…
Ok!! I must stop this piece at this point; otherwise I will just bore you to death…if I haven’t done so already