reading habit
Monsoon and Comfort Reading
There’s something about the incessant rain that makes us seek comfort — in the form of our favourite cosy corner, a hot drink and a well-loved book. They all work together to cocoon us in a warm hug, chase away those rainy-day blues, and bring a much-needed smile to our faces.
If you can’t figure out which book to read this monsoon, here are some of our favourites (along with our beverage of choice) to help you out.
The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh: This is my go-to book during the monsoon in Bombay. The novel explores the Partition of India, nostalgia for lost homes, and memories of spaces. The young narrator is transported to far-off places like London simply through his cousin’s descriptions. The book allows you to reimagine boundaries and travel, as you remain holed up at home. As I travel through the pages with Ghosh, moving back and forth in time and history, I long for a cutting chai from my local adda.
—Rhea Pereira, TCR Community Manager
Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan: Set in Delhi, this book is the story of five sisters, but focuses on Debjani (the fourth sister) and her frequent clashes with Dylan, a journalist. It’s one of those feel-good books that are best read on days when the dark skies and incessant rains get you down. Sort of like a desi Pride And Prejudice, this book goes really well with hot chocolate since the combination helps to put you in a sweet mood.
—Prasanna Sawant, TCR Writer
Rosemary And Rue by Seanan McGuire: I remember gobbling up this book (and the others in the series) one monsoon, a few years ago. ‘Rosemary And Rue’ is the first in this urban fantasy series that follows the changeling P.I. Toby Daye as she navigates the streets of San Francisco and the world of Faerie. I return to the series each monsoon with a large mug of coffee to find previously undiscovered moments from the books, and to prepare myself for the new book that always releases at the start of September.
—Oishani Mitra, TCR Editor
Shibumi by Trevanian: This is the story of a retired assassin and his quest for revenge on the Mother Company. It can be read as an action-packed thriller or as a deep and philosophical meditation on life. It’s perfect for the monsoon, and pairs well with a glass of rum and coke.
—Devanshi Jain, TCR Co-Founder
If you’re looking for more books to read during the monsoon, take a look at this list.
Books releasing this week
- A Lover’s Discourse: Xiaolu Gu’s beautiful novel of love is told through snippets of conversation between two lovers and shows us how they navigate the cultural differences between them as their relationship develops. (July 15, 2020)
- Why Women Are Poorer Than Men And What We Can Do About It: Even though women are at the front and centre of every conceivable field today, they are still paid less than their male counterparts. Annabelle Williams, a former financial journalist, uncovers the shocking truth behind this discrimination, and what we can do about it. (July 15, 2020)
- She Said: Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the authors of this book, published an article with sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein in 2017. That article kicked off the #MeToo movement that ultimately led to Weinstein’s imprisonment, and this book tells us how it all happened. (July 20, 2020)
- Spark: Tokunaga, a manzai comedian, feels insecure in his profession, but a chance encounter with the eccentric Kamiya changes his life forever. Naoki Matayoshi’s novel of two starkly different people becoming unlikely friends is just what you need after a hard day of work. (July 20, 2020)
- The Endgame: Following up on the success of Eleventh Hour, Hussain Zaidi’s latest thriller brings back our heroes in uniform to face familiar enemies with unfamiliar twists. (July 20, 2020)
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