An epic love story set in Dahanu, a kiddie magical ride,
a peek at Africa through Naipaul’s eyes and a book on
books make up our reading list |
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World-over the Warlis are known for their matchstick human and animal figures. This novel reveals the history of the relationship between the landowning Irani clan and the
Warlis who work on the chickoo farms or balloon factories of Dahanu. Beautifully written, this epic love story of three generations of the Irani clan is one of the good books to come out this year. Anish’s turn of phrases, his gentle and at times funny prose makes the book a breezy read.
Dahanu Road
Anosh Irani, Harper Collins, ` 299 |
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Though Roald Dahl and J K Rowling have made children’s fiction a niche market in the West, in India, it still is a largely unexplored realm. The Riddle Of The Seventh Stone
smugly fits in there. What happens when magical herbs turn Rishabh the rat and Shashee the spider into children? They have to deal with all the things kids abhor - algebra, bathing and discipline. How they grapple these minor irritants and save the city from a land shark forms the crux of the story.
Riddle Of The Seventh Stone
Monideepa Sahu, Young Zubaan, ` 195 |
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The author’s love for ‘books on books” is quite evident. He comes out with nuggets like cryptomensia of Nabokov’s Lolita inspired by Heinze von Lichberg’s The Accused Gicaconda, the Zen poetry of 18th hermit poet Ryokan, the bookstore clerk who read books to Jorge Louis Borges and others. Booklovers and bibliomaniacs, you can ignore this book at your own peril. Those who read it will return to get ideas on what to read.
The Groaning Shelf
Pradeep Sebastian, Hachette, ` 395 |
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At the age of 78 Naipaul journeys across the continent in search of the spirit of African belief, the belief systems that preceded the arrival of Christianity and Islam, the cults of
leaders and mythical history. The Masque of Africa is a book for outsiders or for those who may never visit Africa or may know it only superficially. Naipaul’s sharp eye and reportage are illuminating. Sadly, the tales are cleansed of humour, imagination and human sympathy - attributes which we have
come to accept in his writings.
The Masque of Africa
VS Naipaul, Picador India, ` 595 |
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No suspense here. His debut novel
had to be a thriller, Anish Sarkar tells Srirekha Pillai
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Of late there has been a surge
of authors with an IIT-IIM
background. When was it that you
realised that there is a writer
in you?
I started writing Benaami around
five years ago, when the desire to
do something different from my
nine-to-six corporate job became
overwhelming. But only after I signed a publishing contract did it actually register that I had become a writer!
How was the idea born?
From the very beginning, I was keen on writing a thriller and in a very Indian context. The themes of history and reincarnation also came to me early on, as I believe many people, especially Indians, have a visceral fascination with the past, be it events or lives. However, the characters and story developed as I went along.
Who are your favourite authors?
My favourite authors include Lee
Child, Frederick Forsyth, Ian Fleming, Clive Cussler, PG Wodehouse, Gerald Durrell, Jim Corbett.
You have dealt with reincarnation in your debut novel. Are you personally a believer in it?
I think there is enough evidence to
support the reality of reincarnation.
Although I have had no personal
experience myself, I do know several people who have. There is a theory that reincarnation is the third factor, in addition to genetics and upbringing, which determines an individual’s personality.
Benaami
Amaryllis, ` 250
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