The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts - Short Stories

The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts by Saket Suryesh is a unique title with two completely opposite words. As title suggested it is indeed collection of short stories with sad ending (except one or two stories)

Book Blurb - 

Smith studying art at Yale, with a bright future ahead of him. He is not a man of half-measures. What happens when he falls in love? And who does he fall in love with? How much love is too much love? Shiva is a man in mourning, an asocial man, even if great. What will a father do whose daughter falls in love with an ascetic and a warrior? How would she win in love if not by losing herself? Sarthak is a modern man, with a modern family, trapped in the modern world. This day has seen him coming out as an undisputed winner in corporate warfare. He is rushing to meet those he loves- his wife, his daughter. What happens then? Will time bring solace or will he be Betrayed by Time? These and four other stories are placed in different time, different worlds, with nothing but one common thread that runs across them, connecting them is a human heart beating across the book.

The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts a collection of heart touching short stories narrated by author in unique style. Theme of those stories

1. Artist fell in love with his master piece
2. A man decided to get his life back to track
3. Shailputri's devotion and love towards Shiva
4. A person living roadside with his wife & daughter
5. A soldier life at border
6. A couple who dare to go against caste and get married

As mentioned correctly in blurb, each story has something in common which would be the ending from my point of view. Except 1-2 stories each story has sad ending. I cannot tell stories in brief like other book review as in this case stories are already short one ;). But I liked the way story was brought in front of readers. Well, I found most of the endings predictable. Still it was good book which can be finished in 1-2 sittings.

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 (I like cover and binding)
2. Language - 3.5 / 5
3. Content - 3 / 5
4. Characters - 4 / 5
5. Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads