It
is a bit late to compile this list so late in the year, but this one has
slipped my mind for some reason and since I want to do this every year, I chose
to go ahead. It also helps my other resolution of posting at least thrice in a
month.
I
started 2013 with an intention to finish reading 50 books and with regret I say
that I fell woefully short of achieving my target. Towards the end of the year,
probably in October I took a decision not to read any more for the year.
Looking back, I know it is a really silly decision and I was unable to get back
on track with reading for long. Fortunately, I started reading again since
yesterday and hopefully I will complete my target this year, which is again of
50 books. So without any further ado, let me present my year 2013 in books.
I wrote detailed reviews about some of the books I read in 2013 and for the others, I'm just going to give my views.
6. Smoke and Mirrors by Pallavi
Aiyar: This book is a memoir of Pallavi Aiyar on her times spent in China. Any
book which introduces us to our neighboring nations would involuntarily be
rated with how well it relates the nation to ours without halting the narrative
just for the sake of it. Pallavi Aiyar does a pretty decent job in it and her
memoir is a delightful read on the nation that we know so little and have
several misconceptions about. It is a must read for anyone who wants to have a
start in understanding the Great Chinese Growth Story.
7. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri: Jhumpa
Lahiri’s debut collection of short stories has left me rather with mixed
feelings about it, as did her novel Lowland. I can’t say I liked all the
stories and frankly was unable to relate myself to a couple of them. The
stories carry themes ranging from dysfunctional families to effects of
Globalization and Indian’s struggle to relate to their past and their future in
a foreign land. If not for anything, these stories are to be read for the
beauty in the language and Lahiri’s attention to minute detail in portraying
daily life.
8. Notes from Underground by Fyodor
Dostoyesvsky: I relocated to Hyderabad in February after quitting my job in
Pune and had a lot of free time to while away without access to Facebook or
Youtube and that was when I downloaded this book. The novel is narrated in two
parts and though it was sometimes above my head, I enjoyed reading the book all
the same. I could relate myself immensely to the protagonist in the first part
and there are a lot of quotes hidden in each page of the book. This one
warrants a re-read and I think I will pick this one up only after I feel I’m
wise enough for it.
9. The Immortals of Meluha by Amish
Tripathi: I still remember the day when this book first came out in February
2010, I rushed to the nearby crossword, bought it and read the first chapter
sitting in the CCD next to it. I was so excited by the idea of a mythological
fiction on Shiva, but as the book progressed, I lost interest in it. The
narration was rather vapid and the language never impressed me. I struggled to
finish the book and left it midway. I started reading the book again from the
start and finished successfully this time and still didn’t like it despite a
good twist in the last chapter. This series is not for me, I suppose.
10. The Last Burden by Upamanyu
Chatterjee: Upamanyu Chatterjee has been one of my most favorite writers ever
since I first read him in Way to Go, despite him being the writer who requires
me to visit the dictionary at least once for every page. The Last Burden is a
prequel to Way to Go and it presents the gloomiest satire on dysfunctional
families that I have read. Chatterjee’s prose is impeccable and his wit almost
makes the narrative a farcical comedy, yet it is relatable to anyone who is
patient enough to go through the lengthy ruminations that the book is
indulgently peppered with. This is not an easy read, like all other works of
Chatterjee, but this is something that will be appreciated more as it is
understood.
11. Life of Pi by Yann Martel: This
is one of the other books I read in office, I don’t quite recall much of the
actual story in it and I didn’t enjoy reading it much either. It was a tale of
survival and hope and since it has got the immense critical acclaim, including
an endorsement by none other than Barack Obama, I guess I missed something
here. I didn’t see the movie, so cannot comment on that one either.
12. Shantaram by Gregory David
Roberts: This is the second time I read this part memoir, part biography part
fiction and a totally huge book by the escaped convict who spent much of his
time in Bombay. I really enjoyed reading it, though it was unusually long for a
book of this kind, which made it feel a bit repetitive now and then. This book
is also noted for the number of quotable quotes it has and at times it feels as
a eulogy to the spirit of humans in general and to the city of Bombay in
particular, both of which I have not seen much of. Not a great one, but is
certainly a page turner.
13. Swami and his Friends by R.K
Narayan: Yet another anecdotal tale I read in office about the innocent and
ever likeable Swami and his friends. Nothing has to be said about R K Narayan,
Malgudi or Swami. Go and indulge yourself.
14. Weight Loss by Upamanyi
Chatterjee: A farcically absurd tale of sexual encounters of Bhola,
an unusual protagonist, written as it can only be, by Upamanyu. Some of the
sequences in the book were probably written to make the readers cringe, but
Upamanyu never lets his eye off his protagonist even for a single second and
takes us on a ride into the darkest human desires. This one is a guilty
pleasure, though overly long and as indulgent as any other UC book.
15. The Folded Earth by Anuradha Roy:
Books set in hill stations are always a pleasure to read and I’m always
fascinated by the languid life style the people over there have the liberty to
enjoy. Anuradha Roy’s Folded Earth is one such book which takes us into the
village Ranikhet, near the foothills of the Himalayas where her daily
conversations with Diwan Sahib and her relationship with his enigmatic and
charming nephew Veer, make for a relaxed reading on a weekend.
16. Past Continuous by Neel
Mukherjee: Neel Mukherjee’s debut novel, was about Ritwik Ghosh, who loses his
parents at twenty two and goes to England for higher studies. His story is
juxtaposed with that of Miss Gilby, an English Teacher in India at a Zamindar’s
palace during the tumultuous times of the partition of Bengal. Neel’s portrayal
of Ritwik was immaculately detailed right from his nightly gay encounters in
the bathrooms of his hostel to his feelings of loneliness in a foreign land.
His wit is great and takes us through its 400 odd pages rather comfortably, but
the book probably tries to bite more than it can chew in trying to tell the two
stories. In contrast to Ritwik, Gilby’s character was chalked out in rather
broad strokes. Still this one is a great read, just for Neel’s language and the
way it takes us through the grim realities of education abroad.
17. Animal’s People by Indra Sinha:
Indra Sinha’s fictional take on the circumstances prevailed after the Bhopal
Gas Tragedy is seen through the eyes of the eponymous Animal, a man who has to
walk like an animal on four legs due to the repercussions of the tragedy. An
unflinching tale of greed, corruption interspersed with a doomed romance,
Animal’s People makes for a compelling read.
18. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D
Salinger: Probably the most enjoyable book I read by a Non-Indian author. I
enjoyed the conversations Holden Claufield has with his sister Phoebe. A must
read for every young man.
19. The Story of My Assassins by
Tarun Tejpal: Tarun Tejpal is another one of my favorite writers along with
Upamanyu Chatterjee and in this semi-autobiographical tale Tejpal is in top
form as he narrates the story of each of the six assassins who were allegedly
involved in plotting his murder. The book is crisper than his indulgent debut,
and Tejpal’s command over the language is envious to say the least. His
narrative is edgy, honest and most importantly relevant to the times we live
in, as he exposes the dark underbellies and ridiculous rituals our country is
steeped in. A must read.
21. The Disappearance of Tejas Sharma
by Manish Mahajan: A poorly written anthology of ghost stories which left me
disappointed and angry.
23. Paisachikam by Anand Veturi: This
Telugu thriller is written by my brother with a modest bit of help by yours
truly. This genre fiction ticks every box effectively and evocatively and is
written with a genuine passion for pulp literature (Though my brother would
vehemently deny my accusation, I still consider this a Pulp Fiction).
24. Beyond Coffee by Mohammad Kadeer
Babu: Another Telugu anthology in modern times and written with a curious eye
for the darkness in modern men and women. The stories are set in no particular
place and neither the characters are named anywhere making it difficult to
place them in any milieu, but it also helps in creating an alternative
dystopian reality.
25. Nikasham by Kasibhatla Venugopal:
A Telugu Novel written in a stream of consciousness form was unheard of and
Venugopal’s searing book written in a brilliantly staccato prose is probably
the best Telugu book I have read in a very long time.
So
there, I have read 25 books this year out of a determined target of 50. Apart
from the above, there has also been another failed attempt at reading Salman
Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. I’m happy that I read a few books and short
stories in Telugu also, and started to appreciate the writing in my mother
tongue. Better late than never.
PS: My target for this year again is to finish reading 50 books, and I hope I achieve it this time. I'm already a month behind schedule for starters.
PS: My target for this year again is to finish reading 50 books, and I hope I achieve it this time. I'm already a month behind schedule for starters.
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That's a list of interesting books. Maybe I too should keep track of books read and movies watched if just for a walk through the memory lane.
ReplyDeleteThat's the idea Sirish. And also to know the general theme, if there was any, of liking books
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