| A book shortlisted for the Man Booker prize, a fastpaced
thriller from the King himself, a hauntingly
endearing debut, get to know the latest and the best |
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Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2010, it is a novel with unusual and dislocating appeal. The first half takes place entirely within the 12-foot-square room in which a young woman has spent her last seven years since being abducted at 19. Raped repeatedly, she now has a five-yearold boy, Jack, in whose voice Donoghue tells the story. The dazzling use of language, with its storytelling darkly beautiful and revelatory, makes this novel unparalleled.
Room
Emma Donoghue, Picador, ` 499 |
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When ‘the King’ writes, you have to read. Dome is the story of a small town, Chester’s Mill, which is abruptly cut off
from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. What ensues is a story of primal human nature, complete with
dirty politics, gory murder, and the instinct to survive at any cost. The novel is also a reflection of the problems we face -- the environmental crisis, the state of our legal and political system and the apathy of the general public.
Under The Dome
Stephen King, Hachette, ` 350 |
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Not much is known about Lalan Fakir, the wandering minstrel whose poetry influenced Rabindranath Tagore. The
Fakir is a fictional biography on Lalan who lived in Nadia (West Bengal) in the early 18th century. Born a Hindu, cared to by a Muslim following his illness, Lalan was made an outcaste, leading to the birth of a poet-philosopher. In a simple prose, Gangopadhyay recreates the life and times of the mystic poet whose songs are a part of Bengal’s folk culture.
The Fakir
Sunil Gangopadhyay, Translated by Monabi Mitra, Harper Perennial, ` 199 |
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Classic and intense, Sarita Mandanna makes a remarkable
debut with the story of star-crossed lovers, set in picturesque Coorg with its lush hills, luscious woods and coffee plantations. A catastrophic twist of fate unleashes agony and
pain in the lives of Devi, Devanna and Machu, the tiger killer. A single incident alters their lives forever with repercussions that are felt by the next generation too. Vivid imagery, strong characterisation, lyrical prose and the tragic story make this a hauntingly endearing book.
Tiger Hills
Sarita Mandanna, Penguin, ` 599 |
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Writing her debut novel has been
a jolly good experience, Sajita Nair says in a chat with Srirekha Pillai |
How difficult is it to balance fact
and fiction while writing about
a familiar environment, in your
case Army?
I found it rather easy, since I knew the facts accurately and could use it as a
background for my fictional plot. As I wrote, facts and fiction seemed to merge and fall into place.
How much of Sajita Nair is there
in Deepa Shekar?
I have given Deepa many of my own traits, but made her much stronger to
contrast well with Anju, the softer
one. I have drawn from many of my own experiences, but there are also those that are purely imagined and some that I have borrowed from my father’s life in the Air Force, my husband’s in the Navy and from my friends’ who served in the Army.
What were your most fulfilling and
awkward moments in the Army?
Fulfilling moments were plenty -
commissioning, when I got the
coveted stars after the grueling training at the OTA, when I successfully undertook challenges. I also have memorable experiences of staying in field conditions, in tents, which was an adventure in itself. This was also where the awkward moments came in, especially at times when I needed
my privacy.
Where do Sajita Nair and Deepa
Shekhar go from here?
Sajita Nair has just lived her dream of publishing her novel! And now, she is writing another one, where she takes Capatin Deepa Shekhar’s life forward.
She’s A Jolly Good Fellow
Hachette, ` 250
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