If you read books, you must be aware of the well-known writer Ruskin Bond. He is one of the most reputed writers in our country. Ruskin Bond started writing at the early age of 17. His books mostly have a place mentioned i.e. Dehradun. It is a beautiful hill station where the writer grew up. Ruskin Bond books are a must-read for every book lover, especially if you are fond of short stories.
Ruskin Bond books for kids are adored by both children and grownups. He has also written a number of novels, poems, articles, and expositions. The Room on the Roof was Ruskin Bond’s first novel for which he earned the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in the year 1957. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, Padma Shri in 1999, and Padma Bhushan in 2014.
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In this article, we have listed some of Ruskin Bond’s best books that are attention-grabbing and must-read:
1. The Blue Umbrella
The Blue Umbrella is one of Ruskin Bond’s best books. It is about a little girl who gets hold of a beautiful eye-catching blue umbrella in exchange for her lucky leopard’s claw jewelry. Some people are jealous of her, a shopkeeper named Ram also wants the same blue umbrella. This is one of the Ruskin Bond books that was turned into a film by Vishal Bhardwaj that won a National Film Award nomination for Best Children’s Film.
2. Room on the Roof
Room on the Roof is a book about the story of a seventeen-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, Rusty who is orphaned and has no real family after his parents’ death. Rusty runs away from his strict guardian Mr. John Harrison’s residence and lives with his Indian friends. In India, he starts teaching English in exchange for a room on the roof.
In 1957, This Ruskin Bond book won the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize.
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3. Delhi Is Not Far
Delhi Is Not Far is a story about of the lives of simple but unlucky characters living in the dull small town of Pipalnagar. The protagonist is inspired by an orphan and a young prostitute. This is one of the best books by Ruskin Bond.
4. Rusty, the Boy from the Hills
The character Rusty is created by Ruskin Bond to tell stories about his own past. This book tells the story of a boy Rusty who during the pre-Independence Dehradun lives under the custody of his grandparents. The stories are captivating as it unfolds the remarkable things that keep happening around Rusty. This Ruskin Bond book is all about Rusty’s journey from his early childhood to his early teens.
5. The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories
This book from Ruskin Bond is a collection of 30 lovely short stories. The thoughtful and touching stories include the beautiful places of Dehradun and Mussoorie.
6. Vagrants in the Valley
This book by Ruskin Bond is a classic story that involves personal development and friendship. This novel again narrates the journey of Rusty where he learns a lot about himself. He searches about his past in the beautiful Himalayan highlands.
7. A Book of Simple Living
This one is a personal diary by Ruskin Bond. In this book, he records little moments in life that involves self, friends, family, and passersby. The book also conveys the message about the beauty of nature. A Book of Simple Living is one of Ruskin Bond famous books.
8. Funny Side Up
Funny Side Up is one of the best Ruskin Bond books for kids. Though it is also a charming read for readers of all ages. Ruskin Bond creates magic with his portrayal of the countryside, his life, and his home. The story is full of interesting characters that will surely capture your attention.
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9. Angry River
This book is about Sita who tries to survive the torrential rains and the angry river when she is left alone on the island. Sita lived on the small island with her grandparents but loses them and is left alone and stranded as the angry river gradually begins to drown the island.
10. A Season Of Ghosts
Once again set in the majestic Himalayan mountains, Ruskin Bond’s anthology of ghost stories, A Season Of Ghosts, is of the best Ruskin Bond books that contain several short stories. The stories are spooky enough to give you goosebumps.
11. A Flight of Pigeons
A Flight of Pigeons is a novel set during the 1857 Indian Rebellion. It is about the character Ruth whose father is killed by Indian revolutionaries in the British magistrate’s office. The story follows the life of Ruth and her family from seeking refuge to getting kidnapped. In 1978, the film Junoon, directed by famous director Shyam Benegal, was adapted from A Flight Of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond.
12. Lone Fox Dancing
Lone Fox Dancing is a brilliant autobiography by Ruskin Bond. In this book, he revealed the origins of everything he has documented and written. From his childhood in Jamnagar to his first short story in New Delhi, this book says it all.
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13. Falling in Love Again
Falling in Love Again is a collection of all the love stories written by Ruskin Bond. The classic stories by Ruskin Bond include The Girl from Copenhagen, The Eyes Have It, etc. Each story in the book portrays the phases of romance, love, and heartbreak. The love stories are passionate and warm.
14. Death Under the Deodars
Death Under the Deodars is once again a collection of stories based on the Mussoorie of a bygone era. The stories are about the bizarre cases of a murdered priest, a mysterious black dog, a man who is born evil, an adulterous couple, the Daryaganj strangler, and many more.
15. Dust On The Mountain
Everyone knows how Ruskin Bond and his novels are connected to nature. Dust On The Mountain is the story of a young boy who resides in the hills in the lap of nature. He works on his farmland but a year comes when he is forced to travel to the city to work due to lack of monsoon at his place. The book covers the fascinating characters he meets and how deeply he is attached to nature.
16. The Sensualist
The Sensualist is an erotic, and engaging story of a man who becomes self-destructive and enslaved by his libido. It narrates the story of the protagonist who needs to work on himself. This is among the Ruskin Bond stories that are a must-read for all Ruskin Bond fans.
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17. Tigers for Dinner
Tigers for Dinner is a collection of Ruskin Bond stories narrated by the cook Mehmoud to a young Ruskin Bond. Besides being gifted with making delicious food, he is also good at storytelling and has one ready for every occasion. His stories include being carried away into the river by a crocodile, wrestling with a cobra in his bed, to when a tiger came looking for him.
18. The Perfect Murder
This book has a story by Ruskin Bond, the title of the story is The Perfect Murder. The story is about the inheritance of a property left by a deceased uncle of two brothers. The brothers, Henry and Paul plot to kill their aunt to get hold of the property.
19. All Roads Lead to Ganga
All Roads Lead to Ganga is a book where Ruskin Bond shares his nostalgia and love for the places he had lived for more than forty years. It is more of a travel memoir that showcases the breathtaking beauty of the magical landscape of the Himalayas. The places described in the book include Manjari village, Agastamuni, Rudraprayag, etc.
20. Tales and Legends from India
Tales and Legends from India is one of the famous Ruskin Bond books for kids. It is divided into three sections namely Tales from the Epics, Tales from the Jataka, and Regional Tales and Legends. These sections have five to twelve stories each.
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21. The Hidden Pool
Hidden Pool is one of the Ruskin Bond books for teenage. It is his debut novel for young minds. It is about three friends who embark on a risky and adventurous journey to the Pindari Glacier.
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