Love, Lust and Loyalty
by Yuimi Vashum (2018); Penthrill Publications This book by a young poet from Manipur is confessional poetry in its rawest form. Not only does it tell the reader about the poet’s ordeal during her childhood but also inspires others to be brave when coping with sexual abuse.
Angaaray
by Sajjad Zaheer, Ahmed Ali, Rashid Jahan and Mahmud-uz-Zafar, translated by Snehal Shingavi (1932); Penguin India Published in 1932 — and translated into English for the first time in 2014 — this is a collection of short stories that attacks the hypocrisy of conservative Islam as well as British colonialism. The book was once burned in protest and later even banned by the British. Its four young writers were instrumental in revolutionising Urdu literature and provided the foundation for the Progressive Writers’ Association whose members included Ismat Chughtai, Sadat Hasan Manto, Munshi Premchand and Faiz Ahmed Faiz among others.
Conversations with Friends
by Sally Rooney (2017); Faber & Faber This novel is about two university students and how their relationship gets entangled awkwardly with that of another couple. What sets this book apart from most others in its genre is Sally Rooney’s style of writing. Her stories are not perfect, nor are her characters, and that’s why they are very real — the reader can easily feel a sense of familiarity with them.
Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave
by Zora Neale Hurston (2018); HarperCollins This book acts as a record of a history which is written from the perspective of someone who lived through slavery. In the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston interviewed Cudjoe Lewis — one of the last-known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. In this book, the author masterfully illustrates the tragedy of slavery and the life of Lewis.
Milk Teeth
by Amrita Mahale (2018); Westland Publications This is an engaging read from a debut author. It not only explores human relationships but also the changing face of Bombay to Mumbai. Amrita Mahale’s attention to detail is simply mind-blowing. The book almost transports the reader ton the charm of Bombay of yore.
