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Thought-provoking yet accessible, these books invite reflection, spark conversation, and offer narratives that linger well beyond the final page
10 books you must read
From evocative social dramas and compelling family sagas to imaginative fantasies and sharply written thrillers, this season’s most engaging works of fiction promise to resonate with a wide spectrum of readers. Thought-provoking yet accessible, these books invite reflection, spark conversation, and offer narratives that linger well beyond the final page.
1. Nowhere People
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By: Manoranjan Byapari
Nowhere People is a poignant chronicle of individuals living in squatter settlements. They are the forgotten, existing in the struggle for survival.The story moves around Nobo, a rickshaw driver and his friends living at Jadhavpur station. Nobo’s life takes a complete turn after he finds an infant abandoned at the station. Having a fragile life to his care, though his friends always lend a helping hand Nobo learns to protect and provide.
2. The Last Dragonors of Bowbazar
By: Indra Das
British fantasy award and subjective chaos kind of award winner, and finalist for the Locus awards, this is a haunting, moving coming of age tale of identity and belonging. This is the story of Ru, a boy from Kolkata. Always reminded by his peers that he doesn’t look like them he feels he belongs to nowhere. As he tussles with questions of his identity, he dreams of dragons and serpent impossible. Ru’s neighbour and friend Alice starts realising the hidden mystery of Ru’s family and their origin. These questions haunts more strongly than ever.
3. Burns Boy
By: Krupa Ge
‘You wanted to hurt me. You always have.’
‘Would I burn my own children alive? Would I really? You think?’ She began to cry again.
‘I heard you tell Appa that the day Aparna was born, you wanted me dead. Did you or did you not?’ This short conversation comes from Burns Boy by critically acclaimed author Krupa Ge, is a tense family drama presented from three contradictory perspectives from members of the same family. A fifteen year old in a burns ward, his mother and his sister have their varied version of what happened and brings a conclusion of being them all guilty. But the question arises: Which of them is more guilty?
4. The Museum Detective
By: MAHA KHAN PHILLIPS
The Museum Detective is a riveting new crime thriller inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal. Set in Karachi, it follows Dr. Gul Delani, a museum curator and archaeologist, who is thrust into a dangerous investigation after a drug bust uncovers an ancient mummy linked to Persia. As Gul unravels a web of corruption and conspiracy, her search intertwines with a personal quest to find her missing niece. Fast-paced, gritty, and layered with history, the novel combines crime, archaeology, and suspense. A must-read for lovers of intelligent thrillers, it offers both gripping action and thought-provoking insight into heritage and justice.
5. The Book of Death
By: Jawed Khalid
Translated by: A. Naseeb Khan
This book has a story within a story, centered on a city that was submerged to build a hydroelectric dam. The narrator visits Gilgitia Til Mas, particularly renowned for a mental asylum 200 years ago to research whether steel plants can be set up there.
The narrator finds a manuscript around the ruins of the asylum, which turns out to be a diary of a mad man who suffered head injury in the womb because of a violent father. As the diary unravels the second narrator of the book comes. It pens down the unhealthy relationship between him and his father, his idea of self harm and his encounters with the two women of his life. This novel masterfully blends the metaphysics and banality, creating an unique and compelling narrative.
6. Manto: The Greatest Stories
By: Arunava Sinha
This collection by Arunava Sinha features some of Saadat Hasan Manto’s most controversial short stories. Being vocal about his powerful opposition to the partition of India and his unflinching explorations of taboo subject and obscenity, Manto has been a prominent and widely read Urdu writer. A highly acclaimed and award winning translator, Arunava Sinha has selected stories like Khol do, Thanda Ghost, Bu, Das Rupayee and others. This collection by Arunava and various young translators mentored by him has presented Manto for the modern and contemporary readers.
7. A Shimla Affair
A Shimla Affair is a story of three Mistry sisters- Nalini, Noor and Afreen, who run the Royal Hotel Shimla, an opulent establishment, serving British high society. Their lives went upside down when a revolutionary group asks them to aid a murderous conspiracy during a high society ball. As Nalini falls for Charles Nayler, a British officer she finds her loyalty tested. As the night approaches, Mistry sisters are forced to make impossible choices, navigating a web of lies and shifting alliances. This is a story of love, duty and revenge where the price of freedom is everything.
8. The Menon Investigation
The Menon Investigation is the story of Inspector General Vijay who reopens an old murder case. The investigation not only leads him to the truth and culprits but turns out to be his own trial too. By the time the case is solved, Vijay is forced to confess the fiction he has built about his values and himself. The book subverts the traditional police procedural via its cast of unusual perpetrators and imperfect victims. This story masterfully portrays profoundly Indian tragedy with sparkling dark humour.
9. The Drowning
The story here moves around Viji, who, shattered by the loss of her twins, becomes the prime suspect of drowning her best friend’s baby. Investigator of the case ASP Kanika was also grappling with a personal tragedy, whereas Viji’s eerie silence deepens the enigma. As Kanika digs deeper into the case, the evidence hints on Viji being involved in black magic to resurrect her twins.
But the plot twist comes when Neha along with four pregnant women vanished, each leaving a blood streaked symbol. Kanika after finding Neha’s body confronts the horrifying possibility of it not just being a serial killer but awakening of an ancient malevolent force coming after her.
10. Starry Starry Night
Kunal, after losing his mother, is sent to a boarding school to live with his father’s cousin, Tara. Tara herself was dealing with the loss of her best friend, and being a music teacher she finds her solace in music along with the company of a figure known as Death, she sees everywhere. Both Tara and Kunal grieving from the loss seem uncomfortable sharing the pain. They might try growing stronger by being each other’s strength and healing power. This story tells how love, art and music help people overcome grief.
About the Author
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
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