The moment I started reading Empire Falls, I knew that I was in for a treat. A richly described prologue made me wonder if this isn’t the first chapter itself. As soon as I invested my emotions into a central character, in the prologue, the author gently led me to its main protagonist in the … More Empire Falls by Richard Russo
North Korea is a strange country. It’s secretive and creepy and probably closest to the country depicted in George Orwell’s 1984. Even their Government has stopped hiding it now. The Aquariums of Pyongyang is a mirror that showcases this bizarre state and focuses on its capacity to punish its own citizens. The book is written by … More The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag
Welcome to Hamara Nagar. A town steeped in history and a magical place where people still go out of their way to help their neighbors. A hill-station where a sense of community is still alive and kicking amongst the locals who welcome visitors with open arms. Do places like this exist? They probably did, once … More Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes by Betsy Woodman
Few chapters into Station Eleven, I was worried whether I picked up the right book at the wrong time. Fast-paced from the get-go, with characters that I invested in, the anxiety induced by the incidents at the beginning was palpable. The author, Emily St. John Mandel, published this work of fiction in the year 2014. … More Station Eleven: A Dystopian Post-Pandemic Journey
In a Marwari family in Calcutta, the last woman dies. But even after her death, Savitri remains in the house, invisible yet constantly audible. Gradually, the inmates begin to rely on Savitri’s voice to have their lives managed. One day, Savitri falls silent. Soon afterwards, Moom, a young girl of 11 or 12 mysteriously appears … More Moom by Bani Basu – Translated by Arunava Sinha
