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I believe there’s a right time and place for every book. Not all books resonate with you all the time. ‘The Reading List’ by Sara Nisha Adams reiterated that sentiment. It was a lovely book. The plot was simple and comforting. But I would have probably enjoyed it a lot more if I had read it, say, before the pandemic. By the time I came across the book (just a few weeks ago), I had already read similar stories. There was nothing new in it.

But I’d recommend The Reading List to anyone who wants to read a heartwarming tale of how books can change your life. The story is partly inspired by the author’s grandfather, who found a connection with his granddaughter through books. Set in Wembley in London, The Reading List is the story of two individuals—80-year-old Mukesh Patel, a widower, and 17-year-old Aleisha, who works part-time at the local library.

Mukesh is mourning his wife, Naina. His three daughters take care of him but there’s a hole in his heart that just won’t go away. He’s lonely and, at times, miserable. Naina was a voracious reader, often asking Mukesh to keep quiet because she was reading. When he stumbles upon a copy of Audrey Niffenegger’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ that his wife didn’t get to return to the library, he sits down to read it. He doesn’t expect to get so engrossed in the story. Reading it makes him feel like Naina is around.

When he finishes it, he goes to the library to return it where he meets Aleisha. He’s also hoping to read other books so that he has something to talk about with his granddaughter who, like his wife, loves to read. But Aleisha is unhelpful and Mukesh runs away. Aleisha, on the other hand, is stuck at the library. She never really wanted to work there but her brother, Aiden, recommended it and she couldn’t say no. She’s trying to escape a problematic mother and would do anything to get a few hours away from home.

Then, she discovers a crumpled reading list tucked away in one of the library books and she starts reading the books on them as well as recommending them to Mukesh when he eventually returns. From Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to Vikram Seth’s ‘A Suitable Boy’, the octogenarian and the teenager go on a journey of self-discovery while forming an unlikely book club of two.

I found the plot to be slightly stretched because I could see where it was going. Apart from that, I enjoyed the book as it reinforced the power of reading and reminded me of some of the reasons why I love books. The book is peppered with references to other books—some of which I have already read and some that I haven’t but they are now all on my reading list. As characters, Mukesh and Aleisha feel a bit cliché but they remind us that the need for connection is a constant across generations.

Fiction

The Reading List

Sara Nisha Adams

Published: 2021

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 425, Paperback

Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2022, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason has raving reviews on its covers. Ann Patchett, one of my favorite writers ever, says. “I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to, until I realized that I wanted to send it to everyone I know.” Jojo Moyes, the author of ‘The Giver of Stars’, says it’s funny and tragic. A review says it’s probably the best book you’ll read this year. Yet another calls it unforgettable.

The story revolves around Martha Friel. She’s a writer who hasn’t had much luck. She has a wonderful husband, Patrick, who has loved her since the day he first met her. But Martha isn’t happy and she can’t put a finger on what makes her tick. She believes something is wrong with her. Growing up with an alcoholic mother has somewhat scarred her. When she alienates her husband who has never been anything but kind to her, she is forced to return to her parent’s home. Will she be able to start over and write herself a better ending? 

I had high expectations from the book. I wasn’t disappointed. The story had its moments. But it took me longer than I had anticipated to get through it. The plot is heavy—with themes such as generational trauma, mental health, pregnancy, and family dynamics. Some subplots, though interesting, aren’t explored much and don’t align with the main story. I’m still undecided about how I feel. I could relate to many instances in the book but I also thought the protagonist was dull and annoying. The side characters were much more fascinating. I wish there was more about them in the story.

I was bored sometimes but I couldn’t stop reading the book either. I expected something to happen. But nothing much ever did. But then that’s life, I guess. Little things add up and make you who you are. You react the way you do because of what you have seen around you growing up. Most of the time, you are guided by your thoughts and beliefs, which shape you but can also be the reason for your downfall. The book made me mull over these.

Mason’s handling of mental health is a nuanced one. She never really names the illness Martha has. Even when a diagnosis is made, it’s referred to as ‘—  —’. It leaves a lot of room for imagination and makes empathizing with the character easier. Sorrow and Bliss is a poignant reminder of the fact that life is complicated and people respond differently to things. There is more sorrow than bliss in the storyline but it makes you think hard about some stuff you would rather not confront, depending on where you are in life. In that way, it’s quite an eye-opening read.

Fiction

Sorrow and Bliss

Meg Mason

Published: 2020

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicholson

Pages: 347, Paperback

At the start of 2024, most readers I know (including me, of course) had set a goal of reading 52 books this year. Two months have flown by and we are all starting to realize that might have again been a little too ambitious, given we have a home to run, deadlines to meet, children and parents to take care of, and a dozen other things to attend to that siphon time away from us. I believe it’s still not impossible to get quite a bit of reading done. But at two books a month, 24 might just be a more realistic number.

 On Women’s Day, I’ve curated a list of special books that I think are spectacular. These are stories on women, written by women. However, they aren’t books for just women. Men, I believe, would gain a world of insight by reading these fascinating tales about how the minds of women work and the driving forces behind their actions and emotions. These books are inspiring, joyous, sometimes a bit melancholy, and a whole lot of fun—as all good books should be. There are both fiction and non-fiction in this list, which is by no means exhaustive.

 Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

This was the first ‘adult’ book my parents allowed me to read (as I graduated from Enid Blyton) and I remember falling in love with the story. It’s a children’s book written for all ages. It’s the adventures of an 11-year-old orphan girl Anne Shirley who is sent by mistake to two middle-aged siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had originally intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm.

 Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

I have to admit I never understood Mrs Dalloway despite so many avid readers raving about it. The writing style didn’t appeal to me. When I finally did, it blew my mind. It’s such a fascinating take on a woman’s mind. It details a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class woman in post-First World War England. It’s one of Woolf’s best-known novels.

 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I read this book in school and it’s been one of my favorites ever since then. It’s a lovely coming-of-age story about four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and how their lives change when their father goes off to war.

 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

I have given Lessons in Chemistry to most of my friends. Set in the early 1960s when women scientists were unheard of, the story is about an exceptional woman struggling to make her place in a man’s world. It’s an exploration of gender discrimination and how passion—towards work and life—can save you from the depths of despair.

 City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

This is such a breezy, entertaining read where an 89-year-old woman recounts her life story. The descriptions are so vividly described that it feels like you are waltzing down the streets of New York even though you have never been there. The story is a glorious celebration of womanhood.

 Circe by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller has a way with words. Her retelling of stories will hook you even if their original versions never did. Circe has all the gravitas of Greek mythology yet none of the jargon. About a woman who never fit in, Circe is a story of hope and finding your way when everything around you is falling apart.

 Girl, Women, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Bernardine Evaristo’s eighth novel follows the lives of 12 women, from different backgrounds. Each character gets a chapter but the characters overlap in many of the stories. These interconnected stories of British Black women raise important questions on feminism and race.

 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

In an interview, Priyanka Chopra said Homegoing was one of her favorite books. As shallow as that sounds, I read it because of that reason. I hadn’t heard about the book before that. I soon realized Yaa Gyasi was a phenomenal storyteller. Homegoing tells the story of two sisters and how the social and political landscape of the places where they grew up shaped their experiences.

 The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

A male friend recommended this book to me and I couldn’t have been more surprised. The Giver of Stars is a stunning book about women driven by a shared purpose despite the circumstances not being in their favor. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. And it will leave you with a warm, tingling feeling.

 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This beautiful book is about a girl named Kya, locally known as the marsh girl. It’s a contemplation of despair, poverty, loneliness, and kindness. It’s also about the wonders of nature. There’s an element of mystery running through the plot which will keep you hooked.

 Roar by Cecelia Ahern

Most readers I know are quick to disqualify Ahern as frivolous. I have to confess I was skeptical about Roar in the beginning when my husband gifted the book to me on my birthday. But Roar, a collection of 30 stories about women, is heartwarming, empowering, and packs a punch.

 Educated by Tara Westover

Educated tells the story of Tara Westover, her religious, radical, and isolated family, and how she went on to get a PhD from Cambridge University. It explores the complex dynamics within a family and celebrates the strength of the human spirit.

 The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Why are women, especially mothers, expected to be at the top of their game all the time? The School for Good Mothers makes you ponder over this. The plot has a chilling dystopian feel to it but it makes you question the unnecessary societal burden of expectations that’s primarily put on mothers.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell writes historical fiction about women whose stories have been overshadowed by men. The Marriage Portrait is about Lucrezia, the third daughter of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the ruler of Florence. She was married off at the age of 13 to Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, as a substitute for her older sister, Maria, who died just before the wedding. Then Lucrezia died of tuberculosis, though it was believed she could have been poisoned by Alfonso.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

About a woman who sleeps a year away, My Year of Rest and Relaxation is dark and comic. The protagonist believes she can heal herself and be recharged if she sleeps enough. It’s a slim volume but you can’t breeze through it as it’s mostly about grief and mental health. Nothing much happens but there’s a lot of food for thought here. 

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. She could write a brochure (not that she would) and make it interesting. This is a collection of essays, recounting her life from early childhood. Every essay is such an eye-opener and packed with wisdom that comes with experience.

Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors

Sonja is over 40 and she wants to get a grip on her life. She is trying to connect with her sister. She is learning to drive. She’s even taken up meditation. But life’s not agreeing with her plans. Mirror, Shoulder, Signal is a poignant tale of one woman’s journey to find herself when there is no one to help her.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama, former first lady of the United States, and the first African American woman to serve in that role, is an icon. There’s a lot you can learn from her and in her memoir, she chronicles the values and experiences that have shaped her. It’s now available in paperback too.

All My Mothers by Joanna Glen

“We are supposed to begin as the apple of our mother’s eye. But I was more the maggot in the apple.” So begins All My Mothers which is a delight and a revelation from beginning to end. It’s a big book but it’s worth it.

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Read this book for the story and a rich portrayal of culture and tradition. Set in the early years of independence, it tells the story of Lakshmi Shastri, a smart, independent woman living in the clutches of the Indian caste system. The protagonist is bold and frequently goes against the system to change the trajectory of the lives of women around her.

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

A retelling of Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective, The Palace of Illusions is about a woman’s strength and the ability to hold things together. Mahabharata is mostly narrated by men and we finally get to hear from the women in Divakaruni’s beautiful rendition of the epic.

 Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Balli Kaur Jaswal explores complex and often controversial topics in her novels. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows delves into the taboo around sexuality in South Asian Culture. The protagonist Nikki, a 22-year-old, is a headstrong, independent woman living in London caught between two distinct worlds.

There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

Translated from the Japanese by Polly Barton, the novel, originally published in 2016, captures the nature of our work during Covid-19, when we had jobs that could very well have been a job or not. The unnamed heroine embarks on a series of temporary jobs and how she fares is what the book is all about.

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

Three women change one another’s lives in unexpected ways while battling a pandemic in this beautiful novel by Emma Donoghue, whose book ‘Room’ was a bestseller and made into a movie too. The Pull of the Stars is a moving story of love and loss.

One of my earliest childhood memories is traveling to Lucknow, India, with my parents. We went to the city in Northern India, where both my parents went to college, almost every year during December or January when school closed for the winter. I remember the permeating smell of food on the streets of Aminabad, which at that time I found nauseating. This one time, we were at a restaurant and the lights went out. I could tell our food was ready before it reached the table by the sudden waft of butter chicken.

My father likes to say this is a contrived memory. But I didn’t enjoy spices-laden Indian food as much as he did (and still does) so I clearly remember how I felt at that moment. There is no way I’m making that up. My parents like traveling to India, more than any other part of the world. It’s because the food is so good, they say. It’s agreeable with the Nepali palate. As a child, I was more of a fan of western food like donuts, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas et.al. Butter chicken, tandoori, biryani, naans, and rotis weren’t my thing.

But as I grew up, I started liking Indian food, not the heavy-on-oil curries but the dum biryanis, garlic naan, kebabs, and such. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, I even took to trying to recreate some of my favorites. I made Hyderabadi biryani and the once abhorred butter chicken too. Though YouTube provides a plethora of recipes to whip up some delicious food, I find I enjoy having a hard copy of recipes. Seeing the ingredients list and cooking steps in pointers makes me believe I can make the perfect dish. I’m a whimsical cook and a dish never tastes the same twice. And this is where cookbooks come in.

‘Indian Flavor Every Day’ by Maya Kaimal is a handy guidebook to have if you want to cook some hearty meals with the least amount of effort. The book has everything you need to make cooking joyful and possible with a handful of essential ingredients. She also runs you through some basics, like the kind of spices to have in your pantry and what alternatives you can use in case you run out of something. There is some great advice on food prep and storage as well.

There are many vegetarian, gluten-free, and wholesome meal recipes. Indian Flavor Every Day has both simplified classic dishes and new twists. The author, who is the founder of the Maya Kaimal brand of prepared foods and sauces, guides you through the foundations of bringing out brilliant Indian flavors in your food. Peppered with colorful photos, the book, which is Kaimal’s third cookbook, has everything you could ever wish to make and savor—from crunchy snacks to spicy noodles and curries.

This is a book I sit down with, even when I’m not in the process of making anything. It’s just fun to read her suggestions and look at all the wonderful photos. More often than not, I’m inspired to try something new. Indian Flavor Every Day making restaurant food accessible and healthy.

Indian Flavors Every Day

Maya Kaimal

Cover design by Ian Dingman

Cover photographs by Eva Kolenko

Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers

Pages: 239, Hardcover

I read ‘The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic’ by Sophie Kinsella during high school. It’s the first book in the Shopaholic series. I still have a copy of the book, and it’s the one I read back in school. The pages are a little yellowed and the smell is heavenly. I read it again recently when I was bored and, 20 years later, the book holds the same appeal. I couldn’t stop reading it. Becky is such a frivolous but endearing character. I now want to rewatch its movie adaptation, starring Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood, that came out nine years after the book’s release. It’s every bit as hilarious as the novel. 

Alternatively titled ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ the story follows Rebecca (Becky) who loves to shop. Whether she can afford it is another matter altogether. Becky is a financial journalist. She tells other people how to manage their money. In reality, she doesn’t have a grip on her finances. The answer to all her problems is retail therapy. She knows it’s not a good habit but she can’t stop. This gets her in messy situations which get even messier when she tries to find a way out of them. As her unpaid overdrafts become unmanageable, will Becky be able to find a solution? And what about her desire to find true love? 

In addition to her shopping addiction, Becky’s tendency to spew out absurd lies without thinking to explain her silly purchases lands her in difficult situations. In funny moments, she manages to position herself in embarrassing ways. She comes across as rather dramatic. It endears her to the reader. You know she’s not bad at heart but perhaps just down on her luck. You can also see that she’s not losing hope, that she’s trying to pull herself together. You realize there’s a Becky in all of us and that relatability, I believe, is what makes the book series work. 

The other books in the series are as funny. Reading them in order helps you keep track of what’s happening in Becky’s life but you can pick up a book at random and it will still make sense. I loaned ‘Shopaholic and Sister’ to a friend who had never read the series before and she loved it. Now, she has borrowed a couple of more books in the series. Read the book (and the rest of the series) if you want a lighthearted read that doesn’t require you to exercise your brain muscles.

Fiction

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic

Sophie Kinsella

Published: 2000

Publisher: Black Swan

Pages: 317, Paperback

I have three copies of ‘The Palace of Illusions’ by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni on my bookshelf. Every time someone borrowed my copy of the book, I bought another one because I would want to read it again and it wouldn’t have been returned. Now that all the borrowed books have made their way back to me, I have multiple copies. But I don’t mind it at all. I like looking at the forest-green spines with yellow letters and because there are three of them, it stands out.

I recently gave away quite a few books but I didn’t want to give away a single copy of The Palace of Illusions because I know I will eventually recommend it to someone and they will want to borrow it. It’s a book that brings back happy memories as I grew up watching Mahabharat on TV.  This is Panchaali’s Mahabharat. Narrated by Draupadi, the wife of the Pandava brothers, The Palace of Illusions gives a woman’s perspective on an epic that has largely been shown through the eyes of men.

Mahabharat focuses on the Pandava brothers and how they grew up. Divakaruni’s version tells us about Panchali—her birth, upbringing, her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna, and her secret attraction to her husband’s most dangerous enemy. Some conversations and stories would perhaps not have seen the light of day hadn’t it been for this reimaging. There are a lot of important events of the Mahabharat in the book but it’s the quieter moments, of introspection and affection, that stand out. The peaceful years after marriage, and moments after the battle of Kurukshetra shine light on the essence of life. It makes for an insightful read.

Most of us have watched or read some version of the Mahabharat. But the story will still enchant you as you will see a completely different side to it. You will also come to view Karna, whom we know as Arjuna’s archnemesis, in a renewed light. One of my friends said The Palace of Illusions did what her parents couldn’t during her childhood. It got her interested in Mahabharat. And the book is indeed fascinating. It’s a fresh take on an ancient tale. You get to know the women much more intimately than you do in the original epic. Here, the women are the heroes. And you couldn’t cheer for them any louder if you tried.

Mythology

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1774836.The_Palace_of_Illusions 

The Palace of Illusions

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Published: 2008

Publisher: Picador

Pages: 360, Paperback

“Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. An anniversary they will never forget” reads the blurb of ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ by Alice Feeney. I bought the book for my husband as it will be our 10th marriage anniversary in the next couple of years and I thought I would spook him with a twisted book. But Rock, Paper, Scissors is mediocre at best. The setting is eerie but that’s about it. There is also something quite déjà vu-ish about the story but that could easily just be me having read a lot of thrillers and watched as many on Netflix.

Feeney has written several books but this was my first time reading her work. I wasn’t familiar with her writing style and that should have given a sense of newness to the story. That it didn’t do so makes me believe all thriller writers follow a trope and once you are familiar with it, it’s not difficult to see where the story is going, no matter who is writing it.

Rock, Paper, Scissors is about a couple who go away on a holiday. Adam and Amelia want to reconnect and rekindle their bond. They were once madly in love but lately, they find that they are unable to understand each other. The therapist suggests they go on a trip to try to relax and mend things so when Amelia wins a weekend getaway on a work raffle, the two pack their bags and leave. The place they end up at, braving a storm, is an old chapel converted into a holiday home.

The story is narrated alternately by Adam and Amelia, giving you insights into both their worlds and perspectives. As far as characters go, both of them are flawed and selfish. I didn’t like either of them. They were always blaming each other for everything. When Adam is telling his story, he is making Amelia seem bad. And when it’s Amelia’s turn, you are sure Adam is the problematic one. There is another character, Robin, who comes in a little later and adds a bit of intrigue. Who is she? Why does she have a key to the chapel where Adam and Amelia are staying? Is she trying to spook them?

But the problem is that there are only a few characters, and it’s mostly all about Adam, Amelia, and Robin. You know one of them is responsible for everything bad that is happening but you don’t know who and you are given very few clues to guess as well. Adam has prosopagnosia, meaning he can’t recognize people by their faces. He watched his mother get killed but couldn’t describe the driver to the police. He lives in guilt that his mother’s killer walked free because of him. You realize this is an essential part of the story but how it factors in on what’s happening isn’t clear till the author decides to shove it in your face.

As far as thrillers go, Rock, Paper, Scissors is average. Though there is tension on almost every page, much of it feels forced and fake. Don’t read it on a gloomy day because it will make you feel lonely, sad, and hollow.

Thriller

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56269064-rock-paper-scissors 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Alice Feeney

Published: 2021

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 312, Paperback

I watched Spy × Family on Netflix a year ago. I wanted to read the books first as I had heard great things about Tatusuya Endo’s artwork but I couldn’t find the manga anywhere in Kathmandu. The online bookstores, which generally have titles I can’t find anywhere, didn’t have the books either. I was contemplating asking a friend who lives in Japan to get the book series for me when, lo and behold, Bookverse stocked them. I bought six volumes in one go. The manga series has 12 books. I’m hoping the bookstore will bring the rest soon.

The manga series has great artwork. You can get lost in a page for several minutes. The expressions of the characters will blow your mind, and make you laugh out loud. Though the story is simple and engaging, you will want to take your time with it as it’s entertaining and each page has something or the other you will want to look at for a while. For those of you who are new to manga, it might take some getting used to as you have to read it from right to left—the reverse of English which is read from left to right.

The plot is convoluted, crazy, over-the-top, and so much fun. Twilight is a spy. He works alone and he is great at his job. But for his next mission, he has to create a family as he has to infiltrate a school. So, he needs a wife and a child. Enter Yor and Anya. They are meek and thus the perfect candidates. But Twilight doesn’t know that Yor moonlights as an assassin and Anya can read minds. The fake family now consists of a spy, an assassin, and a mind reader, all of whom are keeping their real identities a secret from one another.

Then there’s the issue of Twilight (or Anya) still having to pass a rigorous interview process at the school to gain access to another student whose father is his target. For that, he must train his fake/temporary wife and daughter how to act like the perfect family. All of it leads to some hilarious and heartwarming moments. Twilight, Yor, and Anya are strong and lovable characters, each with backstories of their own. You will identify with at least one of them.

Spy × Family is a laugh riot. It’s also a wonderful tale of a found family. There’s a lot of suspense and intrigue to keep you hooked. The Netflix adaptation has two seasons with a total of 37 episodes. Each episode is 23 minutes long. It’s as good as the manga series. The characters come alive before you and it’s such a pleasure to watch. Read it or watch it, the choice is yours. But don’t miss it. Better yet, do both. You won’t regret it.

Manga/Graphic Novel

https://www.goodreads.com/series/265020-spy-family  

Spy × Family

Story & Art by: Tatsuya Endo

Translation: Casey Loe

Published: 2020

Publisher: VIZ Media, LLC

Pages: 12 book series, Paperback