Around India in 30 books

[Saumya]

Want to read some good books from our indigenous authors to understand the cultural depth of my country

[Lisa]

Fantastic goal, Saumya! Good luck in 2021 :)

[Saumya]

Saumya wrote: "Want to read some good books from our indigenous authors to understand the cultural depth of my country"

Thanks Lisa! Look forward to interacting more :)

[Saumya]

Book 1: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Trisha]

Saumya wrote: "Want to read some good books from our indigenous authors to understand the cultural depth of my country"

Saumya, being an Indian, I always feel guilty of not reading more books by our Indian authors. If you read something good, please do recommend the same to me.

Good luck with your challenge! :)

[Saumya]

Trisha wrote: "Saumya wrote: "Want to read some good books from our indigenous authors to understand the cultural depth of my country"

Saumya, being an Indian, I always feel guilty of not reading more books by o..."

Thanks Trisha! I will certainly send across some recommendations!

[Saumya]

Book 2: Mahabharat by C. Rajagopalachari


Still reading this, but so far, it's an epic worth reading. Through my reading I have realized how we have watched / heard dramatized and factually incorrect versions all our lives.

Edit 10:00 p.m.: Finished reading
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Notes and Highlights: https://www.goodreads.com/notes/28319...

[Leena]

ive read his Ramayan and it was brilliant

[Leena]

ive been on this quest too a and luckily for me Scribd seems to have a decent collection of Indigenous writers. I finished
1. Obsession and Wild Pigeons by Ismat Chugtai.
Reading
1.Mandu by Malathì Ramachandran.
2. I, Anupam by Nabaneetha Dev Sen
3. Knit through India is a series of short stories from various regions our country compiled by Shivsankari a Tamil Writer.

[Leena]

I like how you have made a specific thread - im probably do the same.

[Saumya]

Leena wrote: "ive read his Ramayan and it was brilliant"

Thank you Leena for these suggestions! I did not know about Scribd, will definitely check it out.

I'm also currently reading The Meaning of India: Essays by Raja Rao

I have been surfing Amazon and Goodreads for indigenous authors, and I would've loved to visit some bookstores, but unfortunately that isn't possible right now due to COVID. I do have a few books that I plan on reading this year:

- The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay
- Pather Panchali: Song of the Road by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
- Wings of Fire: An Autobiography by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- Vijyant at Kargil: The Biography of a War Hero Kindle Edition by V.N. Thapar

[Leena]

wow! Saumya, your list is amazing. Im prefer reading fiction more - I've also discovered Indian Romance writers as a very happening thing. That sounds so snobbish of me, but for a long time tbe only contemporary Indian writer I knew about was Chetan Bhagat (: .

Im evolving D)

[Saumya]

Book 3: Meaning of India by Raja Rao


50% through, and there are times when I re-read sentences almost 5 times to get an inkling of what is being said.

[Saumya]

Book 4: Aimless in Banaras


Almost done with this one, and it's a lovely book!

Edit 6:30 p.m.: Finished Reading
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Notes and Highlights: https://www.goodreads.com/notes/50050...

[Saumya]

Book 5: Zikora


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book 6: The Girl Who Lived

[Leena]

hey! have you tried Sujata Massey? her book Widows of Malabar Hill is quite an acclaimed thriller.

[Saumya]

Leena wrote: "hey! have you tried Sujata Massey? her book Widows of Malabar Hill is quite an acclaimed thriller."

Hey thanks for the suggestion! Will add it to my list :)

[Saumya]

Book 7: Eat Pray Love


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...