“The truth is beyond words, it is an entirely different dimension- and if you don’t allow yourself to live that different dimension, you will have to live another life.”
It is this dimension of life that author Amit Shankar has tried to capture in his short stories collection, curiously named Café Latte, and has indeed succeeded beautifully. He has plunged into the unfathomable 
depths of the human psyche, explored it relentlessly and brought out a collection of sparkling gems. The colloquial language is refreshing and relatable and the startling twists at the end make for an interesting read.
In these ‘eighteen unusual short stories’, Amit Shankar has articulated the complexities, the mysteries ,the challenges of human life- and the obscure desires and the umpteen possibilities of the people leading those lives. From the “jazz player” being drawn towards his own death by the lure of his exquisite blue silk lined coffin to Pankaj in “Let me help you Die” getting hysterical at the prospect of death even after romanticizing and attempting suicide four times, Shankar presents us with a plethora of characters who are intriguing yet so very real. “The Other Side” is reminiscent of “Love Sick” by Sue William Silverman in its bold treatment of a story about a woman suffering from nymphomania and the generic difference only emphasizes the potentiality of this short story to be developed into a full fledged novel.
The stories trace the journey from an enigmatic obsession with death to a fresh attitude towards life, giving some fascinating insights into human nature along the way. The stories overflow with variegated emotions- “The Black Widow” chills with its subtle supernatural touch, “A Highway Called Life” inspires by showing physical disability as not an impediment to success, “26 Down Express” saddens us with the grief of a father, “The Guardian Angel” stirs something deep within us, “Writer’s Block” reinstates our faith in talent, conviction and chances- all summed up to a stunning effect. Café Latte is a collection of stories that recognizes our endless preoccupation with death and all the emotions entwined with it and yet, celebrates and savors the beautiful mystery called life, striking a perfect balance between the two!
Book Details:-
| Author: | Amit Shankar | ||
| Publisher: | Vitasta Publishing | Year of Publication: | 2014 |
| ISBN-13: | 9789382711445 | ISBN-10: | 9382711449 |
| Cover: | Paperback | No. of Pages: | 208 |
| MRP: | Rs. 150 | Buy From: | Flipkart.com Amazon.in  |
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