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Everything about ‘The Husbands’ by Holly Gramazio called to me. It’s the writer and game designer’s first novel and I believe first novels hold immense potential. But apart from that fact, the bright blue cover with neon orange ladder and lightbulb, blurbs by two of my favorite authors, Marian Keyes and Gabrielle Zevin, and the plural form of husband all seemed to promise a rollicking read. It felt like a treat and I’m pleased to say that it was every bit as fun as I thought it would be. 

The Husbands has a solid premise and what makes it better is that the writing is witty too. One night drunk Lauren finds a strange man in her flat who claims to be her husband. There is lots of evidence that attest to the fact though Lauren can’t remember ever getting married to this man. There are photos of him on her phone, and her friends know him. Then he goes into the attic and another one comes down instead of the one who went up. Lauren realizes that her attic is creating an endless supply of husbands.

For Lauren, it’s a chance to reset her life whenever she doesn’t like it or she doesn’t like the man she’s with. But when it’s so easy to change who you are with, then how do you know if the one you are with is the best for you? How long should you keep trying to find the ‘perfect’ one?  Lauren ends up sending one ‘husband’ after another to the attic when she can’t stand something about them and sometimes they are issues as small as innuendo filled jokes or that he’s overly effusive. 

It’s been less than two weeks since I got the book and just a few days since I finished it but I’ve already recommended it to all of my friends and even given the book to a few. It makes you forget your worries for a little while because it’s just so funny and interesting. However, it’s not just fun and games either. It makes you think about your own life and the choices you have made along the way that have led you to where you are. Would you erase something or someone from your life if you could have a chance to lead a brand new one? The Husbands might have been a book I had a good time reading and a book I used as an excuse to poke fun at my husband but it made me realize that sometimes the best life is the one you are living. 

Fiction

The Husbands

Holly Gramazio

Published: 2024

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

Pages: 353, Paperback

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