reading habit
Book Editor’s note
‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen was first published today, in 1813. Two hundred-odd years on, it is one of the most loved and re-imagined books of all time. Wonder what Charlotte Brontë—who thought it a bit of a disappointment—would make of it now. It also made me wonder: would we know if a book released today is destined to be a classic for centuries to come?
A list of new releases
Keeping in mind the fickle length of a book’s shelflife, here are some fantastic new ones, and may they enjoy a long, loved lifetime.
Fiction:
- ‘Still Life: A Graphic Novel’ by Anoushka Khan: Described as “part road trip, part existential thriller”, this is a visually stunning tale of a reclusive wife who sets off in search of her husband when he goes missing. Asking questions around love, loss and isolation, this extraordinary debut is bound to highlight graphic novels from the Subcontinent in a market dominated by the West. Firstpost has a selection of some of the beautiful artwork in the book here.
- ‘Murder at the Mushaira’ by Raza Mir: I love it when a real historical figure plays detective in a fictional murder mystery, and this is a worthy addition to an excellent, albeit niche, oeuvre. It is 1857, and India is on the brink of a war that’ll change everything. In the midst of the undercurrents of a revolt, a poet is found stabbed to death in the culturally overflowing Delhi. As tensions rise, poet laureate and amateur detective (!) Mirza Ghalib is recruited to find the culprit.
- ‘The Mask Falling’ by Samantha Shannon: The fourth book in the Bone Season series was long overdue, and fans of the dystopian bestseller can finally breathe easy. In this instalment, dreamwalker Paige Mahoney is planning a revolution with her former enemy Arcturus Mesarthim by her side. Her quest to keep the world free from a growing Scion takes her on paths both dangerous and adventurous.
- ‘We Could Be Heroes’ by Mike Chen: Superpowered individuals leading relatively regular lives is my jam. Jamie, with his ability to read and erase people’s memories, and Zoe, with heightened speed and strength—both having forgotten their pasts—meet in a memory-loss support group. As a threat to their world unfurls, the pair will have to rely on their friendship—and themselves—to truly become the heroes that they are.
- ‘The Bad Muslim Discount’ by Syed M Masood: Perfect for fans of Mira Jacob and Mohammed Hanif, this debut takes us from 1990s Pakistan and Iraq to 2016 San Francisco, following the lives of Anwar and Safwa. Walking the line admirably between dramatic and funny, Masood takes an irreverent look at familial relationships, identity, and the immigrant experience in America.
Non-fiction:
- ‘Our Freedoms: Essays and Stories from India’s Best Writers’, edited by Nilanjana Roy: this volume asks each of its contributors—Menaka Guruswamy, TM Krishna, Perumal Murugan, Romila Thapar, Annie Zaidi and many more—the same question: what does freedom mean to you? The result is a must buy! Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to Karwan-e-Mohabbat.
- ‘Ghalib: A Wilderness at My Doorstep: A Critical Biography’ by Mehr Afshan Farooqi: Ghalib seems to be the star of the day, and fairly so—he began composing verses at a very early age, wrote both in Urdu and Persian, and had a rare far-sightedness when it came to the changing cultural landscape around him. This authoritative biography looks at his extraordinary life and the subcontinent’s cultural and literary tradition at the time.
- ‘Bike Ambulance Dada: The Inspiring Story of Karimul Hak’ by Biswajit Jha: If you’re looking for an inspirational, heart-warming real-life story, look no further. Padma Shri awardee Karimul Hak was a tea garden worker who saved thousands of lives by starting a free bike-ambulance service from his village to the nearest hospital when he realized the healthcare services available around him were seriously lacking.
- ‘In the Land of the Cyclops: Essays’ by Karl Ove Knausgård, tr. by Martin Aitken: A collection of eighteen essays by Scandinavian legend Karl Ove Knausgård, writing on Laurie Anderson, Edvard Munch, the Northern Lights and a number of other visual artists and writers and more.
- ‘Desi Delicacies: Food Writing from Muslim South’ by Claire Chambers: This amazing anthology came out about a month ago, but with its essays on Awadhi cooking and qorma, samosa with chai, taar roti, and the perfect ‘nadroo yakhni’, it was too delectable to pass. The kitchens of South Asia come alive through the writings of Nadeem Aslam, Rana Safvi, Tabish Khair and many more.
Quick fixes, aka a few varied recommendations
What I’m reading: I began ‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia a couple of days ago, and it is giving me serious ‘Rebecca’ meets ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ vibes. It is atmospheric and creepy and I’m on the edge of my seat as protagonist Noemí Taboada goes to visit her sick cousin at the latter’s secluded, mysterious marital home of High Place, full of strange relatives and ghoulish events.
A childhood fave: ‘The Thief Lord’ by Cornelia Funke was perfect for 13-year-old me, looking to go on an adventure. What’s better, then, than a gang of street children in the beautiful alleyways of Venice and their mysterious leader who happens to be an extraordinary thief?
Book-adjacent rec of the week: The London Review Bookshop is a real place, but it also has a hilarious Twitter account. Not only are they there for you in case you’re looking for real book news and recommendations, they also have exceptional takes on the Lord of the Rings, and conspiracy theories involving John le Carré.
Underrated author of the week: Edgar Cantero writes unique, immersive speculative fiction. I fell in love with ‘The Supernatural Enhancements’, which is told exclusively through journal entries, scrawled notes, recovered security footage, letters, audio recordings, complicated ciphers, and even advertisements.
Bookish adaptation to watch out for: ‘Lupin’ on Netflix was pure entertainment and so much fun. The French series is based on the Arsène Lupin books by Maurice Le Blanc, created as something a counterpart to Sherlock Holmes. CrimeReads has the character’s delightful history.
Note: Reading Habit is curated by our books editor Anushree Kaushal. Want to send along recommendations, feedback or just say hi? Email her at kaushalanushree@gmail.com
