Warning: This is more a blog post than a status update! When the 10 book challenge started on FB, my first reaction was impossible. Then my friends started sharing their lists and I realised that there are so many books I have not yet read. So every time there is a new list, I go through it eagerly, jotting down the new names and my to-read list is growing! Now people who know me know that I am a reader. Sometimes much to the irritation of my mother, husband, past room mates. My grandfather introduced me to the magic world of books and they have been with me through busy days, lonely times, heart breaks, lazy days. Those of you who do not like reading let me tell you books are brilliant company and often keeps one sane. They for sure play a big role in my life. Out of the thousands of books I have read so far, naming just 10 seems a bit unfair to the rest. So you will find more names crowding in and creating a lot of confusion. Just sticking to English, both fiction and non fiction! Thanks to Muthamma B.Devaya Rubaiyat Sadia and @Swati Sen Sarma for tagging me. Loved reading your lists. 1. Marks & Engels: The Communist Manifesto. Read this in college as a Pol Sc major. I need to thank my Prof Prasanta Roy for opening up the world of political theories. It may be a thin book but it sure packs a punch. One of the most powerful books ever written. And when you read it you just cant fault their theory, lets not go into the practical implications. 2. Samuel Huntington: The Clash of Civilisations, when I first read it as part of my Masters curriculum, I finished the book at one go. A first for a non fiction, academic book. I know its much critiqued and contested, but when I read it, it blew me. 3. Partha Chatterjee: A Princely Impostor? The Strange and Universal History of the Kumar of Bhawal. While reading this almost rambling story which talks in great details about 19th century Bengal, you never know how Chatterjee introduced so many political concepts in your head. 4. Peter Ackroyd: London Biography: Make no mistakes, its a tome, some 800 pages if I remember correctly. But Ackroyd seamlessly takes you through Londons long history starting from pre Celtic days to the present. If you have had any connection with London or ever visited it or are simply interested in civilisations and history its a must read. In this genre there are three more books which I loved and which got me thinking in new ways-- William Dalrymples The City of Djinns, Orhan Pamuks Istanbul: Memories and the City and Tarquin Halls Salaam Brick Lane. 5. Rory Spowers: A Year in Green Tea and Tuk Tuks: Before I read this book, I would support Green Peace but often lack clarity on many of the environmental issues. Lets just say this book cured me of chewing gums, wasting water and made me a recycle devotee! Best bit is its a nice to read as well. Another must mention in this genre is Ramchandra Guhas The Unquiet Woods. If you are interested in trees, woods, the tree hugging movement (the chipkoo movement) its a must read. 6. Amitav Ghoshs The Shadow Lines: Now this book almost drones on and on about this young boy and his family and their friends in Calcutta, Delhi and London. So much so that at one point I almost thought of not reading it any more. But stick on and once you finish, it hits you that Ghosh almost nonchalantly has introduced the concepts of state, borders, nationalism into your head. Funny thing is if you go back and try to locate exactly where he did it in the book, you cant point it out. I have read Ghoshs most works, another book which moved me deeply was The Hungry Tide. Since we are on the topic of Contemporary South Asian writers, need to mention Lahiris The Namesake & Monica Alis Brick Lane (both powerful writers, beautiful capture of daily life of migrants, since I am a migrant myself the connection was instant and helped me put myself in the broader map), Roys The God of Small Things (sheer poetry), Salman Rushdies Midnights Children (you learn to see India in a new light from afar), Khaled Hossenis A Thousand Splendid Suns (since I was a kid I have been fascinated with Afghanistan thanks to Tagores Kabuliwala and Sinhas beautiful movie on that short story. Hosseni has revived that magical country through his books for us) Ruskin Bond (dont know if he fits this category, but his short stories taught me to dream) 7. Devdutt Pattanaiks The Pregnant King. What is gender? If this question has ever bothered you, the author answers beautifully through stories from Indian mythology in this book. His other works are also good. 8. Daphne du Mauriers My Cousin Rachel: I know everyone reads Rebecca, but go beyond that best seller and the author has a list of books with haunting stories like Jamaica Inn, Frenchmans Creek. She was a master at creating moods. Love MCR for the mood and the mystery. 9. Agatha Christies They Came To Baghdad and Man In A Brown Suit. I know these are not her popular books. But absolutely love both these books, both family hand me downs, for the heroines who are the heroes. Christie creates these brave young women who are full of life and verve. if you are a Christie fan and still rereading Miss Marple need to give these books a read. In this genre need to mention Tarquin Halls Vish Puri and Alexander McCall Smiths Precious Ramotswe. 10. Maeve Binchys The Glass Lake: My love for Maeve Binchy is no secret. I absolutely adore her writing. She helped me at a time when I was very lonely and friendless. I love her to the extent where I buy each of her books and guard them with absolute zeal. This one is by far my favourite. Maeve sure knows how to tell a story and draw you deep into it. She passed away last year but she would live on through her books. 11. Gayatri Spivaks The Spivak Reader helped me understand feminism and identity. Her work is really powerful. Now for the tags, I know many of you have already been tagged and have shared your lists, still could not resist tagging you! 1. Swati Sensarma Cos our friendship began with books and went beyond...I know you have done your list but the `Swati I knew can easily churn out another 10 without falling into the stereotypes... 2. @Muthu: Cos our friendship started with blogs and books.... 3. Indranil Datta: Your knowledge of Bengali literature is staggering, the world needs to know at least a bit of it... 4. Sambaran Ghosh: I know you dont frequent FB but hey I know you read a lot of Bengali literature or at least used to, so make time and share... 5. Amitrajit Ch: Cos you are one of the most interesting guys I know and your list would be interesting too... 6. Bidisha Ray: Cos you were one of the most well read and smartest people in our MA class and your list sure would be interesting... 7. Saheli Roychowdhury: If you are still that Saheli from Presi, your list would be super interesting... 8. Soumitra Majumdar: I know you dont read enough, but you are the one who often introduces me to new authors in India and looking forward to new names... 9. Rashed Karim: Dr Karim please share your list, please no obtuse academic books... 10.Areeba Hanif & Omer Tariq: Would you guys like to share your lists? 11. Monideepa Datta Tagkalakis: Cos we share our crush on Orhan Pamuk and I know you read pretty interesting stuff and you took books to your Greek holiday as well... 11. Saswati Majumdar: Can you make Choto khurima to draw up her list, would love to know which books she loves. 12. Last but not the least I would love to know my uncle Moshais top 10. He is not on FB, time to take this on email.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:58:44 +0000