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.

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.

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.

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. 

Background: Varun N Rao's Spring Art Collection Suryavamshi: The Sun Kings of Rajasthan , authored by Late Abanindranath Tagore and translated by Sandipan Deb is published by Juggernaut .  The book traces the lineage of Suryavamshi dynasty based in Rajasthan. The stories, include – generations and generations of kings and their tales of protecting and ruling over their regions and people.  The author (and the translator) have woven the tales of generations with blend of human emotions such as love, ego, sacrifice, courage, anger, jealousy, fear and treachery, very common to any of us. 

Touted as India’s answer to Harry Potter, Samsara: Enter The Valley Of The Gods , authored by Saksham Garg and published by Penguin , this book is an engaging read.   It's great to see Indian authors drawing from country’s rich cultural heritage to create fantasy worlds that can captivate readers globally. Now imagine this: an overlooked teenager bullied all his life, has no friends or relatives to support except his mother, is suddenly brought into a mystical world. His journey starts as a chosen one among the 11 to protect the valley. Aman Chandra, here among strangers, finds a purpose of his life in this mysterious valley. The story is about his journey of becoming courageous protector of the valley.

As a proud Bengalurian, I certainly am familiar with the city’s tech/IT industry, start-ups culture. However, reading ‘ Brandgaluru – Made in Bengaluru ’ by Devatha Sriram , got me intrigued about the rich entrepreneurial history of the city. Through this book the author delves into the stories of four iconic brands: P N Rao, Radel, William Penn, and Judge Press .  It shows how entrepreneurial culture has been in the city’s DNA even in its quieter days. Whether it is agility, innovation, or quality, these iconic brands in Bengaluru had it all.     I enjoyed the experience of reading about the ‘becoming of these brands.’ The narration painted vivid pictures, making their stories come alive . I felt as if I am watching a documentary on BBC, History, or Discovery channel. Despite being a non-fiction, the story-telling   transported me into the lives of these brands' founders, making their journeys feel as captivating as a well-scripted fiction narrative.

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.

'The kind of Mahabharat I would have wanted to read and know of, in which people are allowed to make their own choices and lead lives fulfilling their simple wishes.' - this was my first thought the moment I finished reading ' The Misters Kuru  authored by  Trisha Das and published by Harper Collins . The Misters Kuru is an interesting twist in the age-old saga, in which we see the Pandavas, Draupadi, Kunti, and Narad muni in the mortal, modern-world setting. 

Dr. Harshali Singh is a New Delhi based Member of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum- BYPL, a former member at the Consumer District Redressal Forum, an Author, a Poet, an academician, a teacher trainer, an Occupational Therapist, an avid reader and a passionate Painter. She has written in several literary genres ranging from poetry to fiction, columns to essays. She is the contributing author in several anthologies and regularly writes for e-magazines. She is the author of the Haveli Series and is currently working on the third book in the nine-book series and one of the Write India- Season 2 winners. She believes that her role as a Member Judge in the consumer forum, a mentor and a teacher trainer her a wide arena from where to draw insights and understand people better while continuously broadening her own acumen and perception. Painting is another way that she finds inspiration. She has chaired discussions with eminent personalities in their chosen fields of World Peace, ...

Book: Faith And The Beloved (Kindle Edition) Author : Kochery C Shibu Faith And The Beloved authored by Kochery C Shibu is a thriller that intends to weave a complex story with many key characters. The book begins with a good hook when, Alice, one of the key characters,  murders Tony after a good sex session with him. Turns out Tony was her stepfather, who also attempted to kill his wife (and Alice’s mother). This got me interested in the story.   As we move further, we see there many key characters and their parallel stories running around. Prem, for example, another key character, who is on his way to take revenge from his brother's killer. Then there's Naithy, Alice's mother.          

Book : Indogene: Stories of Indians Across the Globe Kindle Edition Author : Sriram Devatha   Publication : Klang Sound Solutions         Indogene! You read the title of the book and look at the cover image and you know what to expect in the pages you flip thereafter. Authored by Sriram Devatha, Indogene is an anthology of 10 short stories of Indians settled abroad spread across different countries and different periods.   The first thing I noticed is that the author’s writing style is very lucid. The flow of the stories is engaging. I especially liked how he has described the reactions to inanimate things for an example "keys chimed back in return". 

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.