My pick for Bangladesh is going to be Lajja:Shame by Taslima Nasrin, a controversial but important novel. Nasrin’s Lajja outlines the religious anti-Hindu riots that follow in the wake of the notorious destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992. While national borders might separate Bangladesh and India, the events thousands of miles away find common ground in communal violence. The narration centers on Duttas, a Hindu Bangladeshi family that must decide if they have…
American writer Michael J. Arlen explores his Armenian identity by making a trip to his ancestral homeland. As he grew up in New York and built a profession as a writer, he sees himself as American first and feels disconnected from his Armenian identity. His relationship with Armenia is as mysterious and confusing as his relationship with his first-generation immigrant father. On his trip, he hopes to find some answers. Passage to Ararat is set…
Review: All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries Series #1) Genre: Introverted Robots “And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day.” ― Martha Wells, All Systems Red The Muderbot Diaries is my 2024 sci-fi discovery. The Hugo-Nebula-Locus winning novella, All Systems Red introduces to our reluctant hero, an artificial construct that calls itself…
The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley Genre: I literally don’t care The first book of the year always sets the tone for the rest of the reading year which for me was an epic fail. As a book club read, I dove into The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, the first novel of a best-selling series. The premise was promising. A rich tycoon adopts seven girls from across the world and raises them on his…
It’s that time when we are all coming off the end-of-year holiday high, a cycle around the sun is in front of you and you are already wondering when is the next long weekend or when will the kids school be closed for spring break. You are wishing you had already planned for the big summer holiday, but let’s be honest, every time you think of going somewhere and start researching, the options available can…
When I first moved to the US in 2009 from my extremely urban life in India, I was in a bit of geographical shock. The great vast unpopulated expanses of the mid-west seemed almost alien. Over the years, I explored the stunning landscapes of this country and understood the American love for the great outdoors. However, I was still baffled by the practice of camping. Coming from a developing country where running hot water and…
When the Indian film industry brings out the most expensive movie in the decade with a stellar cast it’s worth checking out at least once (if only to watch it bomb). The early trailers of Kalki 2898 AD promised something different in Indian Cinema and I was here for it. And can you ask for bigger names than Kamal Hasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Prabhas in one frame? Also, Telugu blockbuster cinema has been…
Gothic sci-fi horror, steampunk action and some good old detective fiction all rolled into one makes Chasm City a page turner. Tanner Mirabel, the protagonist, who is a security expert, and a hired assassin, has your attention from page one. The novel moves in flashbacks & we learn a lot more about why Tanner worked at Sky’s Edge, and why he was one day on the way to Chasm City. The mystery sustaining the pace…
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