Biopeculiar: Stories of an Uncertain World - Gigi Ganguly

3/5 stars

I REALLY loved the originality of Gigi Ganguly's seed story ideas. Very unique stories, each with a little twist - the kind that satisfies without blowing your mind. The author's genuine love for the natural world is evident as she weaves environmental concerns and snapshots of the living world into each of her stories, some sweet and innocent and some apocalyptic, devastating reminders of the destructive path that humanity has set itself on.

The reason I gave the book 3 stars and not 4.5 as I would have liked to is because one story - the longest in the collection called 'Corvid Inspector' - a murder mystery involving an anthropomorphised avian community didn't get me hooked at all. For some reason I couldn't connect with it and actually read it only half way because I simply couldn't bring myself to continue and finish it. Plus, I found the writing in general to be somewhat pedestrian, wanting - it did not inspire me as much as I had expected it to.

But overall, I enjoyed the book a whole lot, and was really really taken by the author's ability for creative expression. She writes the kind of stories I myself like to write, so I could relate very much to her story ideas. I would definitely like to see more of her work in future. We need more inspired artists and creativists like her who care for the world at large and particularly the natural world with such genuine feeling. I do hope she keeps writing and honing her craft.