I’m currently reading A Fine Balance–it has captured my interest.
I adored the book God of Small Things and have read it three times and another by the same author. I’ve read the Kipling stories and also found the book Tiger Hills intriguing.
Could anyone suggest more books relating to India? I really like learning about the culture. (I know I’ve read more–just can’t think of them right now…)
Edit: Thank you for the tips! After looking at some of these on amazon, I know very well I can read them and pass them on to another interested party!
by Ok-Thing-2222
12 Comments
These are two kind of on the opposite end of the spectrum. The first is quite hardboiled and negative. The second is quite cozy.
The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga
The Widows of the Malabar Hills – Sujata Massey
White Tiger is not quite really about India but it is interesting. But I’d actually recommend nonfiction. Anything by William Dalrymple is great, but my two favourites for being a blend of story and humanity are “behind the beautiful forevers” by Katharine Boo and “billionaire Raj” by James crabtree. The first is basically about life in the slums but the author really gets to know the people involved so it’s funny, sad, etc. The second is about the super rich and indian billionaires are like cartoon villians at times and superheroes at others that it feels so specific to India.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a children’s book by Salman Rushdie and is quite beautiful.
Shantaram, though authenticity is questionable, it’s a great read.
For non fiction stuff, check out the works of William Dalrymple, including Sahib and The Anarchy
Jhumpa Lahiri has great stuff as well, check out the Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies and Unaccustomed Earth
Peter Hopkirk’s works, particularly The Great Game are phenomenal. Non-fiction, but reads like a novel. If you enjoy the great game, another telling of the same period is Tournament of Shadows.
Midnight’s Children By Salman Rushdie
I loved “A Fine Balance”! I am currently reading “The Covenant of Water” and thoroughly enjoying it! It’s a new release by Abraham Varghese. It is set in India and I highly recommend it. There’s also “Family Matters” by Rohinton Mistry. I didn’t t like it nearly as much as “A Fine Balance”but still quite good and worth a read.
*India: A History* by John Keay
*The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent* by J. C Harle
*Indian Art* by Partha Mitter
*Taj: A Story of Mughal India* by Timeri N. Murari (Historical Fiction)
The Bandit Queen.
Hi OP, can you share the list when you are done?
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan is YA, but gives great insight into arranged marriage and it’s aftermath in India.
Aravind Adiga: the White Tiger, Selection Day
EM Forster: a Passage to India
Pakistan author but… Mohsin Hamid: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala: Heat and Dust
RK Narayan: the Painter of Signs
VS Naipul: India
Arundhati Roy: the MInistry of Utmost Happiness
Vikram Seth: a Suitable Boy
Mark Tully: no Full Stops in India
MIrza Waheed: the Book of Gold Leaves