We recommend: The best new book releases
The best of new fiction
Maria: A Novel of Maria Von Trapp by Michelle Moran: The Sound of Music fans may rejoice! Maria follows the story of Maria von Trapp—played by Julie Andrews in the movie—whose story is told in a dual timeline structure: One that follows Maria's life as she lived it in Austria, then as she retells it to a fictional assistant to lyricist Oscar Hammerstein in the 1950s, when he was working on a Broadway musical about the von Trapp family. This story gives stage to the character of Maria who tells her side of the story—which is filled with love, loss and difficult aspects of a story untold. (July 30)
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones: New York Times bestselling horror author Jones brings forth a solid slasher story—which follows 17-year-old Tolly Driver who confesses his radical experiences in the summer of 1989 in Texas while he is on the road to becoming a serial killer. Highly recommended for being absolutely pacy and gripping—with a solid plot twist that is bound to get the reader teary-eyed by the end. (July 16)
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher: This bold and uncanny tale follows a young Palestinian woman who gets caught up in a scheme of reselling Birkin bags—aiming to be first in her family to live and work in America. Zaher does a fantastic job of exploring complex themes like materiality, class, homelessness and sexuality—all while spinning a humorous and original story. New York Times reviews the debut novel to be “smart and sneering” while “[Zaher’s] prose manages to be both deadpan and fertile.” (July 9)
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali: Kamali’s books are known for their poetic, poignant and devastating stories set in conflict regions. This story is set in 1950s Tehran and follows the story of a once-wealthy 7-year-old Ellie who loses her father suddenly, resulting in her family losing their class status. When she moves to a poorer locality, she meets Homa—and the two grow to be thick friends. As these two grow older, and Ellie’s bourgeois status is restored—political turmoil in Iran sets the tone for the rest of their lives. Kirkus reviews Kamali’s book to be “a touching portrait of courage and friendship.” (July 2)
This month’s poetry pick
A Map of My Want by Faylita Hicks: Hicks’ second collection of poetry explores the experiences of a non-binary femme as they experience polyamory and sexual freedom after they escape from a religious cult. While the poems touch upon random topics ranging from threesomes to quantum mechanics—they all basically explore the question “where do our desires take us?” and how they can help us conjure joy.
We really liked this review from Chicago Review of Books which says: “Hicks is uniquely positioned as a poet and activist, using the desires in A Map of My Want as ideals for a better future” and “in her poet-activist role, Hicks demonstrates that the written word has great power in the process of meaningful change.” (July 9)
The best of new non-fiction
Cloudspotting for Beginners by William Grill and Gavin Pretor-Pinney: This beautifully illustrated 96-page book is a guide to cloud types, how they are formed and the curious shapes they take—but also serves as a reminder to hit pause and be present in the face of impermanence. This makes for a perfect gift for sky-lovers! (July 9)
Amrut—the Great Churn by Sriram Devatha: Whiskey connoisseurs would know the flavour profile that put Amrut on the world map. This book charts the drink’s origins and the course it took to win awards and hearts. Devatha explores Amrut’s branding strategies, alcohol regulation in India, family business dynamics and Western bias against Indian whiskey. (July 24)
Kamal Haasan: A Cinematic Journey by Krishnan Hariharan: This powerful autobiography serves as a lovely introduction to Haasan’s life, thoughts and journey in the movies. Hariharan has explored 50 of 245 films Haasan has been a part of—right from his child star days to his resurgence in 2022 with the blockbuster ‘Vikram’. (July 10)
Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango by Sopan Joshi: In this deeply researched book, Joshi aims to go beyond the well-known tales associated with the king of fruits—the mango. He explores every aspect of the fruit—beginning with its origins, its place in religions, its diplomatic role and ending with its diverse varieties. This whole account is incredibly well-written and aims to chart the fruit’s evolution from every lens—economic, social and cultural. Deccan Chronicle says that Joshi has described “every mango” to have a “story of its own firmly grounded in the local soil and legends.” (July 5)
The Smart and the Dumb by Vishal Vasanthakumar: This book explores education’s connections to caste, class and gender—and how the political and cultural processes of India affect this landscape. Even as globalisation and formal education have established themselves as unquestionable truths, only a privileged few have cornered its benefits. In this process, education is being reconceived and its promises are being rewritten.
Vasanthakumar aims to elaborate on this predicament through various stories from different parts of India. For example: How a ban on toddy-tapping affects educational choices in Tamil Nadu or why a grandmother chose to get her fifteen-year-old granddaughter married to a seventeen-year-old truck driver in rural Rajasthan. (July 22)
