Sitayana
Amit Majmudar
Penguin, 2019, pp 233, Rs 399
Told through multiple perspectives, this epic is
presented in rapid sequence — from Hanuman
and Ravana, down to even the squirrel helping
Rama’s army build the bridge. However, sitting
at the peak of this epic is Sita’s fierce voice as
we’ve never heard it before.
Partitions of the heart
Harsh Mander
Penguin, 2019, pp 290, Rs 599
Through vivid stories from his own work, the
author takes stock of whether the republic has
upheld the values it set out to achieve, and offers
painful, unsparing insight into the contours of
hate violence.
The Pricelesss
Suchethana Swaroop, translated by P P Giridhar
LINCOM Pocket, 2019, pp 290, Rs 1,000
An emperor who rules most parts of the world
disappears one fine day. His grandchildren embark
on a mission, only to come face to face with the harsh
realities of life. The conflicts within the race to
the throne of the kingdom take up the narrative.
The Hungryalists
Maitreyee Bhattacharjee Chowdhury
Penguin, 2019, pp 272, Rs 599
For the first time presented is the story of a
group of barnstorming, anti-establishment
poets, writers and artists in Bengal in the 1960s. Called the Hungryalists, they changed the literary landscape of Bengal (and many South Asian
countries) forever.
The Queen’s last Salute
Moupia Basu
Jaggernaut, 2019, pp 357, Rs 399
As the queen of Jhansee prepares to fight the
powerful British, her lady-in-waiting and companion,
Chandraki, is sent on a mission that has the power to turn the tide. This tells the thrilling story of 1857 through the lives of two extraordinary women —
Maharani Lakshmibai and Chandraki.
The age of awakening
Amit Kapoor
Penguin, 2019, pp 304, Rs 449
The success of India’s economic policy has been
debatable. The economic path that India chose at that time is often questioned and criticised. This tells
India’s economic story since the country gained
independence. It unfolds a tale of titanic figures,
colossal failures, breakthroughs and shortcomings.
Unmarriageable
Soniah Kamal
Penguin, 2019, pp 352, Rs 1,300
Pride and Prejudice, but set in Pakistan. In this the Binat family has destroyed their fortune and prospects for desirable marriages, but Alys, the most
practical of the five Binat daughters, has found
happiness teaching English literature to schoolgirls.
Ganga: The Many Parts of A River
Sudipta Sen
Penguin, 2019, pp 464, Rs 599
The river occupies millions of hearts. In this,
the historian tells the story of the world’s
third-largest river from prehistoric times to the
present — from the river’s first settlers and
its myths of origin in Hinduism to its significance
in popular Buddhism.