reading habit
The World Of Classic Bengali Literature
Editor’s note: Amitav Ghosh. Jhumpa Lahiri... Bengali authors who write in English loom large on the landscape of contemporary Indian literature. But the best Bengali writers wrote in their mother-tongue. This week, The Curious Reader opens the door to the rarely explored world of classic Bengali literature. Here are their favourites.
The Adventures Of Feluda (Vols. 1 & 2): While this one seems rather obvious, I absolutely loved both volumes of Satyajit Ray’s ‘The Adventures Of Feluda’. Even though the books seem voluminous, the simple writing and inventive plots make these short stories a breeze to get through. If you love Sherlock Holmes, these stories of an intrepid sleuth and his trusty sidekick will be the perfect next step.
—Devanshi Jain, TCR Co-Founder
Mother Of 1084: Curious about the Naxalite revolution in the 70's, I set my sights on Mahasweta Devi's ‘Mother Of 1084’ and boy, did I get my money’s worth! This short read was instrumental in making me aware of my privilege and showed me that the truth is hidden behind the mainstream stories that circulate today.
—Rhea Pereira, TCR Community Manager
The Middleman: While Sankar is more popular for his novel Chowringhee, I’ve always been more intrigued by ‘The Middleman’. The author’s stark description of a teeming city ready to swallow the weak made it a haunting read. Whenever I am in doubt about my ability to survive in a metropolis, this book is my go-to guide on the choices to make (or not to make).
—Oishani Mitra, TCR Editor
Want more options? Here’s an entire list of must-read classics by Bengali authors to add to your TBR.
Books releases this week
- You People: Nikita Lalwani’s moving novel is a beautifully heart-breaking story of undocumented immigrants working at a pizza parlour in London. (June 1 | Hardcover)
- The Inugami Curse: The death of a rich clan leader, the reading of a will, and so, the murders begin. Seishi Yokomizo, one of Japan’s foremost classic mystery writers, brings us a book that is bound to satisfy all our mystery cravings. (June 1 | Paperback)
- Upstream: Imagine working in a manner that allows us to predict potential problems and directly eradicate them from the root. Dan Heath’s book teaches us this and much more. (June 1 | Paperback)
- Miss Iceland: Audur Ava Olafsdottir’s novel comes from the very heart of Iceland where a female writer is looking to carve a space from herself in a world that would rather have her become a wife and a mother. (June 1 | Paperback)
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