A(NU) Thought

Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang is a satirical novel, about June Hayward (Juniper Song) who steals her frenemy Athena Liu’s manuscript after her death and releases it as her own. She edits the script, sends it to publishers as her own and goes on to become a bestseller. As she tries to protect her secret, she goes farther than she ever thought she would. I found the story engaging enough, but the conclusion didn't quite work for me. We are used to dramatic ending but here it was pretty much how life is – regular, plain vanilla. Never mind! Kuang is an award-winning author. This was my first book by Kuang and it was so well marketed, I had to pick up and read what it was about. I realized the book itself mirrored the very things I mentioned in the previous sentence, as it was about publishing industry, marketing, how readers were buying more books because of certain controversy.

The Daughters of Shantiniketan is authored by Debalina Haldar and published by Readomania .  Charu, the ideal daughter from an aristocratic family, grows up believing that everything around her is perfect, never questioning the way her cousins are raised or the silent rules binding the women of the household. Her world begins to shift when she falls in love with a free-spirited, bohemian singer.  Charu slowly realizes that others might have been right all along, that the men in her family have been deeply condescending, and that the life she accepted as “normal” was built on patriarchal control. The story follows the daughters and daughters-in-law of this prominent Kolkata family, tracing how their aspirations, talents, and passions are gradually clipped until they become quiet victims of tradition.

Harlen Coben is a master of crafting long, twisty stories packed with suspense. I had read Fool Me Once (also adapted into a TV series) quite some time ago, and I remember being blown away by how effortlessly he creates chaos out of simple threads. The Innocent is no different. The story begins with Matt Hunter, an ordinary teenager whose one tragic mistake, an accidental murder, haunts him for life. After serving his sentence, Matt tries to rebuild his world, but just as things seem to settle, he’s thrown into a web of shocking secrets and mysteries involving his pregnant wife, Olivia. Add to it the emotional turmoil he goes through. From there, the plot spirals deeper as more characters enter, old crimes resurface, and new twists unfold.

Dadi, Dantkatha and the Djinns by Avanti Sopory , published by Readomania , is a delightful anthology of folk tales from Kashmir.  This book instantly reminded me of my childhood days, when we would sit around an elderly person, listening with rapt attention to tales, folklores, and stories that carried wisdom within them.  That same charm flows through these pages, which bring together 27 tales of kings, rulers, peasants, families, villagers, talking animals, and even fairies, each with its own morals and lessons to reflect on. It’s refreshing to see these short, timeless tales being shared, almost like opening a treasure chest of oral storytelling that’s been passed down for generations. I am amazed at how the author managed to remember or collect all of these stories, preserving them in such a simple yet engaging way. It feels like a bridge between past and present, ensuring that the magic of these narratives is not lost. This is not just a book, it’s an experience, ...

My latest read (a bit delayed, but never mind), winner of the 2025 Booker Prize , Heart Lamp is a collection of selected stories by Banu Mustaq , translated by Deepa Bhasthi , originally written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023.  As promised, it shines a light on the everyday struggles of Muslim women, focusing on gender inequality, patriarchy, oppression, domestic violence, and more. Now, is it worth a Booker Prize? Honestly, I’m not the best person to comment on that. But here’s what I felt—many of these stories felt familiar, maybe even too familiar, if you’ve grown up in India.  Tales of patriarchy, domestic abuse, women belittling women… we have all seen or heard these around us. So, what makes Heart Lamp special? 

Is it just me, or is there really a sudden deluge of translated books around? Honestly, I am loving it! Getting to read stories from faraway regions, raw, unfiltered, and often from an era untouched by the internet, feels like pure bliss. One such book I picked up recently is T he Owl, The River and the Valley by Arupa Patangia Kalita , translated from Assamese by Mitra Phukan and published by Penguin Random House. It’s a beautiful collection of 12 short stories. These stories capture the essence of everyday struggles, the rhythm of mundane domestic life, and the harsh divide between privilege and poverty. My absolute favourite was Yellow Flip Flops , a story that shocks you with its ending while laying bare the depths of poverty.

The Drowning , authored by Nidhi Upadhyay published by Penguin Random House , is a dark psychological thriller that subverts expectations.  What starts as a seemingly straightforward story soon spirals into something far more sinister—so dark that it may not be for the faint-hearted. The story follows Viji, a grieving mother who loses her twins under mysterious circumstances. As she desperately searches for answers, she finds herself accused of causing the death of her friend’s toddler.  Enter Inspector Kanika, the determined protagonist, who is not only investigating the case but also grappling with her own personal loss after losing her unborn.  As the investigation unfolds, what seemed like a tragic accident takes a chilling turn, leading to an unexpected and unsettling conclusion.

A Fatal Distraction by Samyukta Bhowmick, published by Juggernaut , is an engaging crime thriller centered around a series of murders. The title itself, meaning "a situation where someone is killed due to a distraction," perfectly summarizes the essence of the story. The plot kicks off with the murder of Dhritiman Bhattacharya, a beloved editor of a tabloid with seemingly no enemies. As the investigation unfolds, Mridula and Monami, two journalists, take the lead, only to encounter another shocking murder—that of Anika, who assumingly had several enemies. What stands out is the dynamic partnership between the two women—Mridula, middle-aged and wise, and Monami, youthful and energetic. Their collaboration brilliantly showcases how Millennials and Gen Z can combine their strengths to achieve great results. Their journey through the investigation is captivating and adds depth to the narrative.

  A Tale of Two by Abhishek V . is a gripping crime thriller that tells the story of two childhood friends, Nitesh and Vatsal, whose lives take drastically different paths. Nitesh, eager for quick success, becomes involved with local goons and gets entangled in illegal activities. In contrast, Vatsal pursues his dream of becoming a dancer with honesty and dedication. Though their lives progress like parallel train tracks, a tragic intersection leads to bloodshed. The story begins with the murder mystery of Vatsal, where Nitesh is the prime suspect. The plot explores the outcome of this violent incident, which results in 14 deaths, and follows Inspector Sawant's ruthless investigation to uncover the truth behind the killings and determine Nitesh's involvement. The narrative alternates between past and present, giving the readers a vivid portrayal of life in Mumbai’s slums. It explores the themes of friendship, ambition, betrayal, and morality, highlighting the struggles of s...

Those Unsaid Words by Anshuman Agrahar i is an interesting read that seamlessly blends Travelogues, Philosophy and Romance. The author has created a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally engaging. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Manali, Leh, and Ladakh, the story takes readers on a journey through untouched valleys, majestic mountains, and serene lakes. The vivid descriptions of these landscapes provide a picturesque setting but also serve as a metaphor for the protagonist's inner journey. The story revolves around Tanvi, and her quest for true love. Her journey is not just a physical one through the rugged terrain of the Himalayas, but also a deeply personal exploration of her own emotions and desires. 

What is visible to our eyes, may not be the scene always. What lies beneath the surface, no one knows but the one designing the master game.... "Until I Find You" authored by Kanchana Banerjee and published by Om publication is a fiction thriller set in a small town Bannod in Rajasthan. The story follows two key characters - Jenny and Virat, on their quest for redemption and truth, respectively.

In the times of sequels and series, ‘The Sorcery of Senses’ authored by ‘Tanima Das’ offers 3 stories in one book. On a serious note, I am certain there will be a sequel to this book (and I am quite excited about it). While the author narrates three completely different stories, they are connected by one link. Thumbs up for the idea and concept!  Tanima has picked the theme of re-birth for her debut book. The plot is about the protagonist Dhruv who revisits his past lives with the help of three senses (vision, touch and smell). After that, he realizes his life's purpose.

Harsha, authored by Rajat Pillai, and published by Jaico Books, is an action-packed thriller loaded with suspense, detailed narration, and an engaging plot. The story is about a 17-year old prince relying on his competent elder brother to reign the kingdom and live his life happily ever after. But such was the turn of events that all his plans fall flat, and destiny takes him to a different path. In a snap, he loses his family and a lot more. The author has very intriguingly developed the story around politics, which stuns the readers. Despite all the difficulties, Harsha keeps moving ahead to save his sister and his kingdom. Though less experienced, he was highly motivated.

Book: Suryavamsha: The Noble Kings of Ancient India Author: Manjunath Dattatreya  Publication: Notion Press Mythology, I believe, encourages us to question, reason, comprehend the metaphors, go deep into philosophies and develop our own understanding of it. Suryavamsha: The Noble Kings of Ancient India , by  author Manjunath Dattatreya  does exactly the same. This book consists of several stories from the solar dynasty in brief snippets. The key essence of these stories is then highlighted. These stories attempt to answer the question of ‘why’. ‘Why or how did that event find a place in the ancient texts?'; ‘are they still relevant?’; ‘what are they trying to tell us?’

Image Credit Book: The Firekeepers of Jwalapuram: Book 2 of The Kishkindha Chronicles Author : Vamsee Juluri Publication : Westland            The Firekeepers of Jwalapuram is the second book in the Kishkindha Chronicles (trilogy). It is a sequel to Saraswati's Intelligence , authored by Vamsee Juluri. The first book showed Hanuman in a completely different light, and this book takes the story forward.     The previous book dealt with Hanuman’s journey to protect the dharma and this story takes this journey further. This book deals with Mother nature’s fury, something very relevant to our times, isn’t it? The way the story is worked out in this book is not very different from what we are perhaps experiencing in our times as well. Other issues like those of migrants, missing children, endangered planet, among others are very well relevant in today’s times.

Book : Unfulfilled Desires Kindle Edition Author : Rachi Publication : Half Baked Beans One look at the cover and you know that this book is about love story and romance; and you won’t be disappointed by picking up the book for that reason. The plot revolves around different colours of love, in this book Unfulfilled Desires authored by Rachi and published by Half Baked Beans (HBB).   The protagonist Avantika is reluctant to get into a relationship because of her scepticism in the same. she witnessed a tragic incident in her college days and hence she could not commit to anyone into a relationship. Walks in not 1 or 2 but 3 men who are potential partners for Avantika. However, her quest for understanding ‘what is love’ continues. The three men have different answers to her question ‘what is love for you?’ none of them seems to convince Avantika.

Book : Yakshini  Author : Neil D’Silva Publication:  Rupa Publications Fiction – the best part about fiction is that it sets your imagination free. The writer of fiction can expand his/ her limits to infinity. Something similar is what I experienced with Yakshini, authored by Neil D’Silva and published by Rupa Publications. The plot is set in the late ’90s and early 2000. The story is about a simple village, Meenakshi, who turns out to be a seductress, unknowingly and unintentionally, which later puts her into problems. It is only later that she learns that in her body lives another creature called Yakshini, owing to a curse.

Book : 13 Unusual Short Stories Author : Brendon Faife Publication: Kindle edition An anthology is a blend of so many characters, genres, and thoughts. Brendon’s book – '13 Unusual Short Stories' is one such amalgamation of various streaks of thoughts. This book is available in the online (Kindle) format. Grandma’s Touch will take you down the memory lane, but it ends on a jerking twist. The Call-Centre is a good piece that will surprise you towards the end. The Hearing Aid is a novel concept, that I have come across in this book.   

Book : A Useful Death Author : Sriram Chellapilla Publication: Westland Books A Useful Death – sounds like an intriguing title, isn’t it?   The plot is indeed as captivating as the title appears to be.   Authored by Sriram Chellapilla, A Useful Death, published by Westland Books, is a murder mystery set in Hyderabad. A young girl commits suicide and there are several people from an influential family who would have driven her into it. The protagonist, Partha is up to find the truth, but when he and his team digs deeper, they realise there’s a lot more than just what appears on the surface. The journey to deciphering the truth is interesting.