Avid book readers are always looking for their next pick. In a sea of outstanding books, it can get difficult to choose the best one to read. But when it comes to choosing a book written by an Indian author, the struggle is real.
Indian authors have books that are not as widely chosen as we would like to believe, but there are prolific authors who have penned down unforgettable stories through their impeccable style of writing and storytelling.
We’ve put together a list of books written by Indian authors that you must consider reading.
1. Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakurni
“A situation in itself,” he said, “is neither happy nor unhappy. It’s only your response to it that causes your sorrow.”
If you love mythology and are looking for a fresh read, then Palace of Illusions is one book that must be on your bookshelf. The author’s interpretation on Indian mythology has beautifully been narrated through the eyes of Draupadi, the wife of the Pandava brothers in Mahabharata. Draupadi’s life is stunningly described from her birth to the many secrets of her life she keeps close to her heart. Forest of Enchantments is the author’s other best work as well.
2. The Inheritance of loss by Kiran Desai
“Could fulfilment be felt as deeply as loss?”
Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss has been around for a while and is considered as one of the best books of all times. The story is extremely poignant in its narrative with characters carrying their own baggage of struggles and experiences through the narration of the plot. Span across two countries and eras time and again, the reader experiences the foot of Himalayas in his palms.
3. Chanakya’s Chant by Ashwin Sanghi
“Character is what you are. Reputation is what people think you are.”
Chanakya’s Chant is a story that jumps between the two India’s we know of- the ancient and the Modern. Stunningly introduced with characters like Chanakya and Gangasagar Mishra born in two millenniums, the two protagonists create pawns that become ultimate decision makers in the world of politics. The two timelines progress simultaneously with plots that make it an ultimate page turner.
4. Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta
“This is the true meaning of exile : some insurmountable force that keeps you from going back.”
From describing the gleaming city lights to walking you through narrow slums of Mumbai, Maximum City is a book that you cannot miss reading. Mumbai is known for its illustrious stories of Bollywood, mafia, corruption among many and how this city can either make or break you. The book is packed with many intriguing stories of the city that makes Mumbai what it is today.
5. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
“After all, our lives are but a sequence of accidents – a clanking chain of chance events. A string of choices, casual or deliberate, which add up to that one big calamity we call life.”
The book is set in the 70’s during the state of emergency with four characters that develop a profound relationship in the face of chaos. This is Rohinton Mistry’s third book which won the Giller prize in 1995 for its realism.
6. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
“Sometimes I write the best about the things that I care about least”
Currently made into a mini series, A Suitable boy is a book enriched with stories of a post-independence India that is struggling with the complexities of caste system and religious intolerance. The book introduces you to a family eagerly waiting to get their daughter Lata married to a suitable boy. This book is all heart.
7. Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi
“If the entire society was conscious of its duties, nobody would need to fight for their individual rights. Since everybody’s rights would be automatically taken care of through someone else’s duties.”
The list would be incomplete without mentioning Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy. A refreshing read and a new take on Shiva, Amish Tripathi’s exceptional writing skill comes through his series of books. His vivid imagination and story pace has had non-readers applaud his mythological exuberance.
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