After
an exciting start to the New Year with releases of over 30 books across genres
in January, the upcoming month is once again dotted with several interesting
titles that may catch the attention of many literature lovers across the nation.
Narrowing down a list from dozens of books releasing in February, recommendations
for the month, dominated largely by fiction and accompanied by a memoir and a
commentary on Pakistan, is both subtle and appealing at the same time.
Here are the five books that we cannot wait to read this February:
1. A Century is Not
Enough, by Sourav Ganguly
A
sporting classic and a manual for living Sourav Ganguly's life has been full of
highs and lows. Arguably among India's greatest cricket captains, he gave
confidence to the team, re-energised it and took India, for the first time, to
spectacular overseas victories. But Ganguly's story also came with great
challenges -- from his early days when he had to wait four long years before
being included in the team to the ugly battle with coach Greg Chappell. He
fought his way out of every corner and climbed back up from every defeat,
becoming India's ultimate comeback king.
What does it take to perform when the pressure is sky-high? How do you fight
back and win? How do you make a name for
yourself when you are young and have started the journey which is closest to
your heart? As Sourav takes you through his life, he looks at how to overcome
challenges and come out a winner. Time and time again.
2. Do We Not Bleed?
Reflections of a 21st-Century Pakistani, by Mehr Tarar
This
is a passionate, illuminating book about contemporary Pakistan. Comprising
original profiles of diverse Pakistanis - some of whom are internationally
feted and many others who are relatively unknown -- as well as essays that
examine the major fault lines in Pakistani society, the book offers the reader
an insider's perspective on the state of affairs in the country today.
The book is divided into five thematic sections, each corresponding to a
subject that the author feels strongly about. 'Religious Persecution and Other
Discontents' delves into the killings and oppression generated by religious
discord that are now a routine feature of life in Pakistan. 'The Pakistan You
Do Not Know' shows us little known aspects of everyday life in Pakistan. And
the other three sections of the book too focus on similar aspects and bring
many unknown facets to the fore.
3. Karmachari: Short Stories About Ordinary People, by Vasant
Purushottam Kale and Vikrant Pande
You
who stand in a queue, who try to board a running local, who tolerate your
boss's snide remarks and the trials and tribulations of marital life -- you still
manage to discuss politics with enthusiasm, to finish a game of cards, to laugh
and to make others laugh... You are a true karmachari.
A collection of unforgettable short stories about ordinary people, Karmachari
is a mirror held up to society. Set in suburban Mumbai of the 1970s, yet
universal, it is peopled by characters we might meet in real life. They come
alive under V.P. Kale's sharp but compassionate gaze, and prod us gently
towards a world of greater kindness and understanding.
4. On The Road To
Tarascon, by Arnab Nandy
A
lover's note among a senile woman's possessions sets off a chain of events that
could lead to the discovery of a Van
Gogh masterpiece -- one of the most important paintings to have been lost in
World War II. When travel writer Neil Bose falls for Eva Schicktanz, he does
not know he is getting involved with
much more than a dimpled girl in nerd glasses. Neil and Eva must stay ahead of
unknown pursuers after a common goal, and follow an unusual trail charted in
1945. But after so many years, does the trail even exist? A quest spanning
continents and seven decades, this edge-of-the-seat thriller keeps you hooked
till the last page.
5. A Murder on Malabar
Hill, by Sujata Massey
Sujata
Massey is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed mystery writer best
known for her Rei Shimura series. Set in the multicultural mix of 1920s'
Bombay, "A Murder on Malabar Hill" expertly combines the delights of
Agatha Christie with the period charm of Downton Abbey. Intrepid and
intelligent, young Perveen Mistry joins her father's prestigious law firm to
become one of India's first female lawyers. Her tumultuous past also makes her
especially devoted to championing and protecting women's rights.
When Mistry Law is appointed to execute the will of Omar Farid, a wealthy mill
owner, Perveen's suspicions are aroused by a curious provision which could
disinherit Farid's three widows and leave them vulnerable. Are the Farid widows
-- who live in strict seclusion, never leaving the women's quarters or speaking
to men -- being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian? Perveen decides
to investigate, but when tensions escalate to murder, it becomes clear that her
own life is in mortal peril and she will need to use everything in her power to
outwit a dangerous criminal.
We
hope that you like the list and will surely like all those books too, go and read then. Stay tuned to IAAN
Blog for more such updates.
