Hello!
How are we doing today?
I hope you are safe and sane and keeping yourself happy inspite of this lockdown and the gloom and doom.
Today I want to do what I do best..Talk about BOOKS!
So without much prelude let's just jump into some book recommendations shall we?
Here are 21 incredible books you could read during this lockdown.
I have books from multiple genres and I think there is a little something for everyone on this list.
1. Feluda Vol. I and II by Satyajit Ray: Brilliant short stories featuring a sleuth who solves crimes with his trusty companions Topshe and Jatayu by his side. These stories are comforting, fun, action filled and full of Ray's genius. Great for kids and honestly great for you too. These two volumes on their own are perfect to keep you occupied for 21 days and then some.
Also anything else by Ray is a wonderful idea. His short stories and his sci-fi and ghost stories are some of my favourites.
Also anything else by Ray is a wonderful idea. His short stories and his sci-fi and ghost stories are some of my favourites.
2. Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale: One of the best books I read last year. Set in Bombay in the 90s, this is the story of love and typical housing societies in the city, it's also about communal violence and how it affects people and changes places. Secrets, community and a nostalgia that is so beautifully brought to life. This book was a delight.
3. The No. I Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith: A series set in Botswana about a lady detective and her agency that solves crimes big and small. Full of warmth, wonderful and kind people and a place I love to visit. This series has around 15 odd books (maybe even more) and each of these are wonderful and sweet and soothing. Perfect for now and later.
4. Darkness by Ratnakar Matkari: A collection of short stories translated from Marathi, these stories are spooky and atmospheric and perfect to sink into while the world is often eerily quiet now. I also quite liked how wide ranging these stories were, ghosts and ghouls but also astral projection and mind control.
5. Bitterfruit Selected Short Stories by Manto: This or any collection of short stories by the masterful storyteller Manto is a great idea. His stories are powerful, stirring, often controversial and brilliant. If you've never read him before, this might be the right time to jump into his world.
6. The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: What can I possibly say about this man and his writing that will begin to capture his sheer brilliance?! I am obviously a fan. The Ibis Trilogy is a triumph. Historical fiction, set in the early 19th century, opium trade and the trafficking of workers from India to Mauritius. Interesting and so incredibly well written.
I'd also recommend pretty much everything else he's written as well.
I'd also recommend pretty much everything else he's written as well.
7. The Chalkman by CJ Tudor: If you liked IT or Stranger Things, this is a perfect book for you. Set partly in the 80s and present days this is a story of friends trying to solve a crime from their childhood that is maybe coming back again.
The writer's other two books are decent too, but this one is a favourite.
The writer's other two books are decent too, but this one is a favourite.
8. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy: Another favourite from last year. This book is so good and relevant and important and it took me by surprise how much I liked it. There is a lot going in this book, a large cast of characters but all of them are brilliantly written and will stay with you long after the book is over.
9. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager: A house sitter, a fancy apartment building and things that seem too good to be true. Scary and unputdownable this book is a trip and will pull you in and keep you invested in this story.
10. The Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Annapara: I recently read, loved and reviewed this book on the blog as well. A sometimes grim, sometimes heartfelt and funny and wholly brilliant.
11. The House with A Thousand Stories by Aruni Kashyap: Set in Assam in the 90s and later, this is a story of large family and life during insurgency and it's aftermaths. Coming of age, family secrets and dynamics, this book was wonderful and engaging and honestly I learnt so much about Assam and it's people and the history of violence and disruption. Heart breaking and full of amazing characters.
12. Jorasanko and Daughters of Jorasanko by Aruna Chakravarti: Whether you love Tagore or not, these books set in his family home will keep you hooked. A prestigious family, the very name that stands for culture and intellect, it was so interesting to know more about their lives and even struggles. I inhaled these books. So good!
13. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton: If you are looking for a good historical romance, this is a good one to pick up. It's about the Cuban revolution and the life and lifestyle of the upper class in Havana during the revolution. There is also a sequel of sorts but this one is way better than that one.
14. Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy) by Stephen King: Looking for some supernatural reads. Stephen King is always a good idea. This one is a trilogy featuring a cold blooded serial killer and a ragtag team of people trying to stop him. This one should keep you entertained and spooked and so hooked!
15. Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman: A graphic memoir of the writer's father's experience during the second world war and his life in the concentration camps. I cried, laughed and was moved beyond words. A Pulitzer prize wining graphic novel that you need to read.
16. Tintin by Herge: A perfect time to revisit your childhood favourite and these books were always full of adventure, travel and laughs. All good things.
In the same vein, I think this is a good time to read books from your childhood.
Tinkle Comics.
The Famous Five.
Heidi.
Little Women.
Archie Comics.
17. Diaries of a Social Butterfly by Moni Mohsin: These books about a socialite from Lahore, Pakistan who tries very hard to be cool and suave but is largely hilarious! These books, there are 3 books in this series, are so damn funny you'll be laughing out loud. I know I did. We could all do with some hilarity right about now.
18. Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James: A recent read of mine, spilt between 1982 and 2018, this is a story of two young women working in the same haunted motel and trying to find answers to some secrets and mysteries. I was for the first time ever, pretty scared while reading a horror novel and it never happens to me. Atmospheric and a hint of a mystery.
19. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne: What an incredible book about a man named Cyril Avery and his life in Ireland between 1945 to 2015. A sweeping saga of love, sexuality, family and relationships...god this book took my breath away. Good writing and some wonderful characters and a quick history lesson..in a way.
20. The Space Between Us and The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar: An amazing duology about unlikely friendships, community, strong and incredible women and how they come together to help each other out. I cannot recommend these books enough. They are absolutely stunning.
21. Left from the Nameless Shop by Adithi Rao: A set of interconnected short stories set in a small town. Just absolutely darling and soothing and wonderful. Kind people, real small town lives and little upheavals. This book felt like a hug and is honestly a perfect read for right now.
I also recommend books by
Agatha Christie.
Kate Morton.
Sudha Murty.
Ruskin Bond.
Haruki Murakami.
I hope books are keeping you sane and happy.
Stay safe you guys.
11. The House with A Thousand Stories by Aruni Kashyap: Set in Assam in the 90s and later, this is a story of large family and life during insurgency and it's aftermaths. Coming of age, family secrets and dynamics, this book was wonderful and engaging and honestly I learnt so much about Assam and it's people and the history of violence and disruption. Heart breaking and full of amazing characters.
12. Jorasanko and Daughters of Jorasanko by Aruna Chakravarti: Whether you love Tagore or not, these books set in his family home will keep you hooked. A prestigious family, the very name that stands for culture and intellect, it was so interesting to know more about their lives and even struggles. I inhaled these books. So good!
13. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton: If you are looking for a good historical romance, this is a good one to pick up. It's about the Cuban revolution and the life and lifestyle of the upper class in Havana during the revolution. There is also a sequel of sorts but this one is way better than that one.
14. Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy) by Stephen King: Looking for some supernatural reads. Stephen King is always a good idea. This one is a trilogy featuring a cold blooded serial killer and a ragtag team of people trying to stop him. This one should keep you entertained and spooked and so hooked!
15. Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman: A graphic memoir of the writer's father's experience during the second world war and his life in the concentration camps. I cried, laughed and was moved beyond words. A Pulitzer prize wining graphic novel that you need to read.
16. Tintin by Herge: A perfect time to revisit your childhood favourite and these books were always full of adventure, travel and laughs. All good things.
In the same vein, I think this is a good time to read books from your childhood.
Tinkle Comics.
The Famous Five.
Heidi.
Little Women.
Archie Comics.
17. Diaries of a Social Butterfly by Moni Mohsin: These books about a socialite from Lahore, Pakistan who tries very hard to be cool and suave but is largely hilarious! These books, there are 3 books in this series, are so damn funny you'll be laughing out loud. I know I did. We could all do with some hilarity right about now.
18. Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James: A recent read of mine, spilt between 1982 and 2018, this is a story of two young women working in the same haunted motel and trying to find answers to some secrets and mysteries. I was for the first time ever, pretty scared while reading a horror novel and it never happens to me. Atmospheric and a hint of a mystery.
19. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne: What an incredible book about a man named Cyril Avery and his life in Ireland between 1945 to 2015. A sweeping saga of love, sexuality, family and relationships...god this book took my breath away. Good writing and some wonderful characters and a quick history lesson..in a way.
20. The Space Between Us and The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar: An amazing duology about unlikely friendships, community, strong and incredible women and how they come together to help each other out. I cannot recommend these books enough. They are absolutely stunning.
21. Left from the Nameless Shop by Adithi Rao: A set of interconnected short stories set in a small town. Just absolutely darling and soothing and wonderful. Kind people, real small town lives and little upheavals. This book felt like a hug and is honestly a perfect read for right now.
I also recommend books by
Agatha Christie.
Kate Morton.
Sudha Murty.
Ruskin Bond.
Haruki Murakami.
I hope books are keeping you sane and happy.
Stay safe you guys.
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