Pinjar

Name: Pinjar (Hindi)Author: Amrita PritamReading Time: 10 metro rides (only partly read in the metro) About the Book:The book is set around the time of the India-Pakistan partition and is about various issues. It talks of family rivalries, religion, relationships and family ties. The strongest issue discussed throughout the book is that of the role…

The Crimson Throne

Name: The Crimson ThroneAuthor: Sudhir KakarReading Time: Forever.. About the Book:The book is set in the Moghul era and narrates the tale of two doctors/ medicinemen, who have come from the far west. The experiences of the two Europeans of their travels in India and how their lives and destinies meet take up a major…

Intimacy

Name: IntimacyAuthor: Hanif KureishiReading Time: 10 metro rides (not read in the metro) About the Book: Intimacy is a very ‘intimate’ book. It borders on obscenity in its language at many places. Several times I got so disgusted that I wanted to put it down. But if you ever go past the dirty old man…

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Invasion

Name: InvasionAuthor: Robin CookReading Time: 10-15 metro rides About the Book: Invasion, like all robin cook books, is a medical fiction… this time medical fiction took an extra terrestial turn.. an alien life force, took the form of a virus and infected almost the whole of earth, taking it over to ensure a safe environment…

Laakhi

Name: Laakhi (Hindi)Author: Anotn Chekov (Name of translator: unknown)Reading Time: 1 metro ride About the Book:Laakhi is a Russian short story based on a pet dog’s perception of her life. Her getting lost in the hustle bustle of the city, finding a new owner, getting trained for a circus and finding her old master back….

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Babe

Name: Babe: The Gallant PigAuthor: Dick King SmithReading Time: 2-3 metro rides (not read in the metro) About the Book:Babe is the story of a gallant pig who reaches a farmhouse as a piglet. The farmhouse did not want a pig but gets one and welcomes one. The farmer’s dog thinks most animals other than…

Foucault for Beginners

Name: Foucault for BeginnersAuthor: Lydia Alix FillinghamTime Taken: 2 metro rides I have never read Foucualt before. I don’t know if I ever will again. But like all “for beginners” book, this one is interesting and very readable. The supplementary sketches add to the interseting view point Foucault has presented to life. I have unfortunately…

The Untouchable

    Name: The UntouchableAuthor: Mulk Raj AnandTime Taken: 4-5 metro ridesThe title is self explanatory. It is a book that tells the tale of a young boy born in a scavenger family. By caste, the lowest in the hierarchy of the untouchables. Considered touch-worthy only by fellow untouchables of the same caste and the…