8 Books By Indian Authors To Read On An At-Home Evening
There’s nothing more relaxing than curling up on the sofa, on a quiet evening. And a good book for company is like the cherry on the cake. If this is how you like to unwind, we’ve put together a list of books by Indian authors that make great reads. So go ahead and plan a no-frills evening at home with one of these must-reads for company and let the bibliophile in you do the happy dance.
1. English, August: An Indian Story
By Upamanyu Chatterjee
This book gives a glimpse into an Indian government office with a generous sprinkle of humour. Inspired by the author’s real-life experiences, Chatterjee puts forth a funny version of rural India. His writing style is noteworthy and makes for an entertaining read. Grab this one if you want an evening of humour all by yourself.
2. The Palace of Illusions: A Novel
By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The entire story has been written from Draupadi’s point of view, describing the epic tale - Mahabharata. With a balanced mix of emotions, insecurity, love and jealousy, Draupadi’s character becomes the centre of this fictional tale and makes for a great account. A master storyteller, Chitra has done a fabulous job with penning down this must-read book.
3. The Blue Umbrella
By Ruskin Bond
A heartwarming story of a little girl named Binya and her Blue Umbrella, this masterpiece by Ruskin Bond makes for an easy read. Set in Himachal Pradesh, it captures rural life beautifully. With strong characters and lucid writing, this book written in the 1980s has also been adapted into an award-winning movie by the same name. Read it to get mesmerised by its simplicity.
4. Em And The Big Hoom
By Jerry Pinto
A gifted writer, Jerry Pinto pens down a semi-fictional story about his mother’s mental disorder. He tackles this serious topic finely as he weaves it with humour. In fact, some parts of the book are noteworthy as they’ll make you laugh and cry, both at the exact same time. Sure to get you hooked to it.
5. A Suitable Boy
By Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth does an incredible job with this 1000 plus page book set in post-Independence India. It takes the reader through the various stages of groom hunting in India where no emotion is left unexplored. An ordinary story of ordinary people is sure to tug at your heart. This easy-to-read and an extremely relatable book will surely impress you.
6. The Inheritance of Loss
By Kiran Desai
A good mix of humour and wit, Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss is a powerful and honest book. It describes the inner struggles of the characters and conveys every emotion with great clarity. Published in 2006, it won the Man Booker Prize and has been written over a period of seven years. A great read that’ll make you think about your own identity and acquaint you with the sense of loss.
7. Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found
By Suketu Mehta
The best book on Mumbai city, Suketu Mehta’s Maximum City is an insider’s guide to the metropolis. Mehta writes about the life of various people who come to this city with different dreams and what becomes of them. He also gives the reader a glimpse of the poverty in this city that is often ignored. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, this book is a must-read.
8. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata
By Devdutt Pattanaik
The master writer, Devdutt Pattanaik explains beautifully the concepts of dharma and justice in his version of the Mahabharata. With this book, he revamps the greatest Indian epic and retells it in 108 chapters and 250 line drawings. Written with great clarity this simple get gripping book is an enlightening read.
Image courtesy: Google Reads
