Hi there Loves! 

August is over and accomplished with and with that comes to finish my yearly studying custom of studying solely books from India and the Indian Subcontinent. 

It’s often certainly one of my favorite studying months of the 12 months and this 12 months was no totally different. 

I learn a complete of 20 books and I beloved most of them. 

I learn books from India, translated books, a spot of non-fiction, a memoir, some essays and books from throughout the border. 

A strong good month of studying. 

And I am unable to wait to speak about my reads, so what are we ready for? 

Let’s bounce proper in we could? 

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST 2022: 

1. The Chronicles of Misplaced Daughters by Debarati Mukhopadhyay, Trans. by Arunava Sinha: I began my month with this absolute gem of a guide and it was an ideal solution to kick begin my studying month and it was one thing that additionally ticked off studying one thing in honour of Studying Girls in Translation. 

This guide is ready in a period I like, the Golden Age in Bengal. The age when some actually magnificent folks lived and altered lives in Bengal. Tagore, Kadambari Ganguli, Ishwar Vidyasagar, Ramkrishna…and so many extra. I’ve learn These Days by Sunil Gangopadhyay (which if you have not learn, you completely should!) and this time interval simply makes me really feel like I’m strolling alongside some exceptional folks. This guide, whereas speaking (somewhat) about these nice women and men, additionally reveals us a less than excellent facet of society and actually, actually reveals us the ugly facet of our society. The deplorable place of ladies and the rampant abuse that they have been subjected to within the identify of custom and tradition are laid naked. This was such a robust and eye-opening learn that I’m so glad I learn and I can not advocate it sufficient. 

4/5 

2. Paati Goes Viral by Prabhu Viswanathan: Then I wanted to learn one thing lighter and hotter. So I picked up somewhat kidlit guide. Additionally, I like and can at all times be as much as examine Grandmothers. So a guide a couple of Paati who travels the world, finds new connections and turns into somewhat viral was an ideal choose me up. Good enjoyable this. I learn this by way of Kindle Limitless. 

3.5/5 

3. Teething by Megha Rao: Subsequent I picked up some up to date poetry. I’m not a poetry particular person however occasionally I prefer to learn somewhat from this house. This guide and it is author bought numerous buzz when this guide got here out and I used to be curious to select it up. 

Hmm…this wasn’t for me. And whereas some poems have been fairly highly effective and shifting, on the entire this felt like studying an angsty particular person’s IG posts. Not terribly good. 

2/5 

4. Lalita Kothandapani and The Heinous Crime by Aruna Nambiar: One other enjoyable guide to steadiness out the gloomy reads. This one is a about an older lady who writes a guide after which goes on to low-key stalk (solely on socials) her writer, or fairly some one she hopes will publish her guide. Enjoyable and relatable and immensely fulfilling. One other guide I learn by way of Kindle Limitless. 

3/5 

5. I Got here Upon a Lighthouse by Shantanu Naidu: Then I learn somewhat memoir. Not probably the most conventional memoir, it is extra of a slice of an individual’s relationship and a narrative of a really particular friendship and mentorship. And naturally, it is in regards to the nice Ratan Tata. I had been that means to learn this guide because it first got here out and I’m glad I learn it. It was mild and enjoyable and fulfilling. Completely alright, not nice however good. I actually beloved the chapter on the Nano, it may be my favorite bit within the guide. 

3/5 

6. The Associations of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan: This guide was very, very buzzed when it got here out again in 2016 (I feel). I’ve had this on my cabinets since just about 2018 and I saved that means to select it up. This was one other good however heavy learn. It is a couple of small (comparatively) bomb that kills two teenage brothers in Delhi in 1998. The guide is especially a glance into the aftermath, and rippling penalties of this mindless act of terror. 

We see the dad and mom reeling from this unthinkable loss. 

The good friend who survived however is modified ceaselessly. 

And we see the terrorists and bomb makers perspective too. 

I actually appreciated this guide. I oddly get pleasure from (undecided if that is the proper phrase) books like these. Books that make me cease and suppose and see the identical occasion and it is impact on a number of folks. 

Actually good. 

4/5 

7. Panchali by Sibaji Bandopadhyay, Artwork by Sankha Banerjee: Then it was graphic novel time and time to examine my favorite epic. I will be trustworthy I’ll at all times and ceaselessly examine The Mahabharata, each model and each unique approach makes me glad and at all times provides me one thing to consider. This one was no totally different. This guide is each lovely and I particularly appreciated that it reveals folks in all their shades and flaws. The factor I like greatest in regards to the Mahabharata is that how nobody, not one single character is ideal or remotely flawless and I beloved that guide even reveals our supposed heroes in not one of the best mild. 

guide to select up for those who adore this epic as a lot as I do. 

3.5/5 

8. One Thousand Days in a Fridge by Manoj Panda: One other guide that I’ve had for a lot too lengthy, this month I did my greatest to learn older books from my cabinets and this guide of Odia quick tales was a fantastic choose. I appreciated just about each story on this assortment. They have been a great mixture of rural and concrete tales and I breezed by way of them. 

3.5/5 

9. & 10. Adi Parva and Sauptik by Amruta Patil: I’ve wished to learn this books ceaselessly. Like significantly since they got here out, fortunately for me, I noticed that the box-set was closely marked down on Amazon and I promptly bought them and browse them in fast succession. And I beloved them. They’re in regards to the Mahabharata too, however not in the obvious or direct approach, there’s additionally a spot of Vedic and Puranic historical past, which I beloved a lot. I’ll do a full correct overview quickly. 

4/5 for each. 

11. The Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina Ahmad: This guide was so so so good. 

Set in Pakistan within the late 1960s and early 70s, it is primarily a couple of man and his seek for his mom and sister, his household within the notorious pink mild space of Lahore. Faraz Ali was taken out of his mom’s dwelling when he was 5 by his father’s famiy, all in a bid to present him a good dwelling and upbringing, away from his mom and her occupation. An act of affection however not fairly. All his life Faraz has questioned about his mom and is first dwelling. Now, all grown up and a cop, he’s again within the locality to research the demise of fifteen 12 months outdated intercourse employee. He has been requested to hush up this demise however he desires solutions and desires to search out his household…even when it might value him the whole lot. 

We see this world from Faraz’s perspective, for many half however we additionally see his sister and her life, as a former actress and the way her life has panned out. 

Like I mentioned I completely beloved this guide and the folks we meet right here. I like studying about subcultures and totally different communities and the way they dwell, and studying in regards to the lives of courtesans and intercourse employees is at all times a troublesome however thought frightening expertise. 

Extremely advocate. 

4/5 

12. Breaking Free by Vaasanthi, Trans. by N. Kalyan Raman: One other work of translation and one other historic fiction and a guide that was so so so good. Like I used to be saying, studying about lives totally different from those I do know and those we do not typically hear about are ones I like diving into. This guide offers with the lives two ladies born into the Devdaasi clan. Two ladies who’ve very totally different reactions to the life path set out for them. One is glad to pursue the creative route and is a gifted dancer and thinks nothing improper with the best way ladies in her household and group life. One other, desires nothing to do with this demeaning way of life. She desires out and thru grit and dedication, she makes her approach out. 

A compelling learn that I loved very a lot. 

There may be additionally a touch of a thriller, which is at all times a great factor be. 

The ending was somewhat rushed in my view, however nonetheless a great learn. 

4/5 

13. The Sari Store by Rupa Bajwa: I learn Inform Me a Story by Bajwa a number of years in the past and it broke my coronary heart and made me cry and I beloved it. Name me loopy however I like and weirdly routinely love books that make me cry. I just about instantly went out and acquired The Sari Store and it took me some 4 years to select it up! *Cries in Bookworm Issues*

This guide is ready in a Amritsar, in a sari store in a bustling bazaar within the outdated metropolis. Our protagonist, Ramchand is an atypical man. A younger man who hasn’t had the best or happiest life. He is sort of a million different males in India, who work very arduous for little or no. Cash is tight and so is respect. He sees how the opposite half lives due to his job and may solely think about what their lives are like, a life he desires to possibly get nearer to and he thinks the best way to get to that dream is by studying English and he begins to be taught the language in earnest. 

He simply breaks your coronary heart. 

I wished to one way or the other attain out to him and assist him and need him nicely. Such an exquisite guide, unhappy..fairly unhappy however so good. 

4/5 

14. Penumbra by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay: A re-read of a thriller that I like and I picked this up when it was raining and I wished one thing atmospheric and murder-y. This one is an ideal choose for when this type of temper strikes. A home in the course of nowhere, a celebration and homicide. 

Good enjoyable. 

4/5 

15. Janani- Moms, Daughters and Motherhood Edited by Rinki Bhattacharya: This may have made for an ideal learn for Mom’s Day. Nonetheless, this was an ideal learn. Whether or not you’re a mom or not, this assortment of private essays, could have you hooked and gives you lots to consider. I like how inclusive and consultant this guide was. Moms of every kind and moms with numerous variations have been included her. There have been essays about loss and grief and selecting to not be a mom. I personally was very satisfied to learn an essay from my former professor. 

A strong guide and an ideal learn for mothers and truthfully anybody actually. 

4/5 

16. Manolita by Sara Rajan: One thing mild and candy was wanted to steadiness out some heavy books and this guide a couple of ichadaari seal hit the spot. A younger lady meets a mysterious and odd woman who…could be extraordinary. Candy and fast and enjoyable. One other Kindle Limitless learn. 

3/5 

17. Mahashweta by Sudha Murty: One other re-read and a guide I like. One of many earliest Murty’s I learn some time again and it was so good going again to this world. Anupama is a form and easy woman, who marries the person of her desires however this happiness will not be lengthy lived as a result of quickly after her huge, fats, opulent marriage ceremony, white patches seem on her pores and skin and this modifications her life and her relationships irrevocably. The guide is so life like and seeing Anupama discover herself and her self-worth is really a satisfying studying expertise. 

4/5 

18. The Final White Man by Mohsin Hamid: Oh boy. This guide. Oh. 

Nicely, the premise is attention-grabbing sufficient. White folks get up in non-white our bodies and life will not be as easy because it was once. Violence, identification disaster and racism erupts. Hmmm..OK. I get it..however..there’s nothing a lot else. Anger, racism after which sluggish acceptance…OK. Low key pointless and actually nothing particular. I’ve at all times had a blended bag studying expertise with Hamid. I’ve learn all his fiction and I assume I’m not a fan. 

2/5 

19. A Full Night time’s Thievery by Mitra Phukan: Squeezed in one other quick story assortment which I’ve had since 2020. I actually beloved these tales, set in Assam, tales about marriages, music, magic and thieves and life and violence and love. So good. 

4/5 

20. & 21. The Wind on the Haunted Hill and Getting Granny’s Glasses by Ruskin Bond: I ended my month with good, outdated pleasure aka Ruskin Bond. Two teeny tiny books that really feel like a heat hug. Each are re-reads and each are completely superb. Love. Love. Love. 

5/5 

Carried out. 

A really glad studying month in my nook of the world. 

Hope August was good for you too.