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For many music fans, the music of Hiranya Bhojpure is instantly recognizable, even before his name is. A former band member of the nationally acclaimed ‘Lekali Band’, his creativity extends beyond music. He is known for using his platform to voice the problems of people whose basic rights have been violated. He has also published over a dozen books of poetry, short stories, essays, and children's literature. 

‘Aang Sherpa & The Ocean of Heights’ is his latest release. Set in the Himalayan base camp and Everest, the story is inspired by real events and real figures.

There are two ways to approach a book inspired by real incidents. You can dive into the story without prior research, or you can enrich your experience by familiarizing yourself with the events that fueled Bhojpure’s imagination. 

The first is the 1996 Sagarmatha disaster. Some sherpas believed that the 1996 climbing season was fated for doom after two climbers had sex in a tent, an act they believed had angered the goddess Chomolunga, revered in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Drawing from this, the main protagonist, Aang Sherpa, is portrayed as someone who indulged in sexual activity at the highest altitude as part of a project by Director Moor—a member of the Australian Climbing Society. This act makes him a celebrated figure in the society, while simultaneously drawing fierce backlash from Nepali communities who view his behavior as a desecration of the sacred mountain. This leaves Aang with two choices: settle into a comfortable life in Australia or return to Nepal and face the consequences.  

Though the choice is predictable, it still feels meaningful in how it reflects his values and identity.

Not being able to live without climbing again, he returns to Nepal, knowing he will face a lot of challenges. From giving up his prize money to foregoing a secured future, he accepts everything for the chance of climbing again. Moments like these deepen our understanding the characters, and the tension between cultural values and ambition elevates the storytelling. 

One of the novel’s strengths is its information in regards to culture and traditions like the ‘Rakshi Dalle Laddu’. The novel succeeds in showing the hardships that sherpas face during treacherous climbs. Bhojpure’s background as a singer and a poet lends a lyrical rhythm to his prose. The imagery of the mountains and the scenery are vivid throughout.

As this book is Bhojpure’s first attempt at long-form fiction, there are a few problems. The non-linear narrative structure of the novel makes the opening and some middle sections difficult to follow. Outside of Aang Sherpa himself, most characters receive little development, making it hard to feel invested in their choices or the emotional weight of outcomes that involve them. 

The book’s ending, too, feels somewhat forced and unnatural. Despite its flaws, the story manages to create a moment of tension during Aang’s return to Nepal. It is also worth noting that since this is Bhuwan Thapaliya’s first attempt at translation, some of the issues with the novel may be associated with translation itself.

Altogether, this book has its own charm and disadvantages. Certain passages of this book are lyrical and beautiful, while others leave the reader confused and disoriented. The plot is creative and entertaining, but the execution feels lacking. 

The new travel memoir ‘Jaganmukti’, authored by veteran journalist Dharmendra Jha, was officially released during the Baglung Media Mela-2082. The book was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, at a special ceremony organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Baglung Chapter. Known in the literary world as ‘Dharmendra Bihwal,’ Jha chronicles his spiritual and cultural journey from the sacred heights of Muktinath in Mustang to the coastal Jagannath temple, aiming to bridge the cultural and religious ties between Nepal and India.

According to the author, this 102-page travelogue marks the first book written in the Maithili language regarding Muktinath. Jha expressed confidence that the work will serve as a vital guide for Maithili speakers, noting that the Shaligram stones worshipped in Mithila households originate from the Muktinath region. The book is structured into three sections: the first focusing on Muktinath across the Himalayas, the second on Jagannath by the sea, and the third detailing his experiences at the Mahakumbh and the Kali river.

Dharmendra Jha brings a wealth of experience to this publication, having served as the former Central President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists and the immediate past Executive Chair of the National News Agency (RSS). A prolific writer with numerous titles in poetry, drama, and journalism history, Jha has also held leadership roles in the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Nepal Press Union. This latest work adds to his extensive literary portfolio, which includes titles such as Mithila Mithak and The History of Nepalese Maithili Print Journalism.

I have read so many books in my life but I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed something as much as I enjoyed ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans. I was overjoyed when I found out it was longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction as I was reading it. I’m hoping it will make it to the shortlist which will be announced later this month. I’m rooting for it to win the prize though I hear other books on the list are quite good as well, such as Lily King’s ‘Heart the Lover’ and Susan Choi’s ‘Flashlight’, which was shortlisted for The Booker Prize 2025.

I know I should probably read the others before making such a strong case for The Correspondent but I really don’t care. The Correspondent is brilliant. It’s a joyous celebration of life and it made me so happy. I have been recommending it to everyone I know and feeling jealous of them because they are in for a treat. Sybil, the protagonist, has my heart. She always will. But trust me, if ever there’s been a glorious work of hope, love, and wisdom, it’s this book by Evans. The writing is stunning, and the plot even better. 

I have always said that I don’t have a favorite genre but I recently realized that’s not true. I do and it’s epistolary. I love letters. I’m a nosy parker that way. One of my favorite books is the letter exchange between Paul Austre and J.M. Coetzee. I’m also randomly picking up Franz Kafka’s ‘Letters to Milena’. There’s something so comforting and honest about letter exchanges that you can’t help but be captivated. 

The Correspondent is basically the story of 73-year-old Sybil told through the letters she writes–to her brother, her best friend, her son, and to authors she loves to tell them what she thinks of their works. Sybil is someone who finds it easier to express herself through the written word. There are many things that she can’t bring herself to say out loud that she can put into writing. She’s witty even when she’s being serious. She’s sometimes downright brazen and offends people easily. But Sybil is human, with flaws that she readily owns up to, and that makes her very endearing. 

I loved getting to know her, through the letters and emails she writes to just about everyone, including her neighbor. I might not have necessarily agreed with her on certain things but I found excuses for her behavior and she never, ever put me off. I want to grow up and be Sybil, make the mistakes she has made and learn the lessons she has learnt. The Correspondent is the most charming contemplation of life and aging and it’s the book I’m recommending and giving to everyone this year. 

Fiction

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans

Published: 2025

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

Pages: 270, Pages

Alice Feeney’s book ‘His & Hers’ has a Netflix adaptation that I really enjoyed watching. Though I had heard quite a bit about the author before watching it, I hadn’t actually picked up any of her books. But His & Hers, a mindbending thriller about a murder in Blackdown village where the primary suspects of the case are DCI Jack Harper and his ex-wife, newsreader Anna Andrews, both of whom are investigating the case and suspect each other, had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to read the book despite knowing what happens in the end. 

Initially I couldn’t get my hands on a copy of ‘His & Hers’ but I came across ‘My Husband’s Wife’ at the bookstore and despite the book not being my preferred size (book lovers will understand that there is always a preferred size and font, and maybe even paper), I couldn’t resist getting it. I wanted to read more of the author’s works after having such a good time watching His & Hers. The British novelist and former journalist has quite a few books to her credit and I pretty much intend to read them all. On my list are ‘Daisy Darker’, ‘Rock Paper Scissors’, and ‘Sometimes I Lie’. But I digress. 

Set in a village called Hope Falls, My Husband’s Wife is a far-fetched story full of intricate twists and turns. Eden Fox goes for a run right before her painting exhibition is set to take place and comes back to find that her key doesn’t fit the lock in the home she has recently moved into with her husband. A woman who looks like her opens the door and claims to be her. Worse, her husband says this stranger is his wife and that he doesn’t know who she is. It’s a convoluted plot that gets even more confusing as different narrators tell the story. It doesn’t help that the characters are unreliable and shifty. 

Spoiler Alert: I wasn’t satisfied with the hurried and incredulous ending. Nothing about the plot led to it. The plot and the ending, in my opinion, seemed like they belonged in two separate books. The problem with thrillers with too many twists and turns is that they stop being believable when there are just too many of them. It’s the same with jump scares. They lose their effect. To be honest, I’m still not sure what exactly happened and how it unfolded. I would give it a two and half out of five stars though it could have been a five out of five stars with a little more character development and fewer twists. 

Thriller

My Husband’s Wife

Alice Feeney

Published: 2026

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Pages: 310, Paperback