book review

Book Review: Fiction / Western Lane: Grief unfolding on squash court

There is more squash in the book than most readers will take a liking to, but the game sometimes works as a metaphor for the bigger picture.

BOOK REVIEW: NONFICTION / A modern love story in translation

I became an ardent admirer of Amrita Pritam, the maverick Punjabi author, an outspoken critic of the Indian patriarchy and discriminating social practices, three decades back in New York when I was putting together an anthology of world feminist poems in Bangla translation.

Book review: Nonfiction / The records of resilience

Much of the reminiscences in The Murti Boys encompass the grittiness of staving off the Pakistanis with little weaponry and a great deal of quick thinking. 

BOOK REVIEW: NONFICTION / A paean to storytelling

Following the trails of Imaginary Homelands (Penguin Books, 1992) and Step Across The Line (Modern Library, 2003), comprising essays written and lectures given by Salman Rushdie between 2003-2020, Languages of Truth is Rushdie’s third collection of nonfiction works and is as a delectable read as its predecessors if not more.

Book review: Nonfiction / When literature meets food

The author paints an engrossing picture of her experiences and memories, both influenced by food, which is true for most of the people in this world, and particularly for South Asians.

Book Review: Fiction / ‘The Dark Elf Trilogy’: The synergy between the novels and graphic novels

By visually capturing the characters, landscapes, and action scenes, the graphic novels enhance the reading experience and offer a fresh perspective on the beloved story.

Book review: Nonfiction / Navigating the maze of nutrition myths

Unlike online influencers and their various outright claims of right and wrong, Dr Wolrich’s approach is grey.

Reflecting on ‘Amar Dekha Rajnitir Ponchash Bochor’

As I delved into the autobiographical works of Abul Mansur Ahmad, it became evident that he had a penchant for plain speaking, avoiding embellishments.

Book review: Fiction / “Pettiness, Prejudice, and Pets with Panache”

I first came across Anastasia Ryan’s work through my Instagram wanderings and was instantly intrigued by the sound of her recently released novel. Not least by its title, You Should Smile More.

September 24, 2023
September 24, 2023

Western Lane: Grief unfolding on squash court

There is more squash in the book than most readers will take a liking to, but the game sometimes works as a metaphor for the bigger picture.

September 21, 2023
September 21, 2023

A modern love story in translation

I became an ardent admirer of Amrita Pritam, the maverick Punjabi author, an outspoken critic of the Indian patriarchy and discriminating social practices, three decades back in New York when I was putting together an anthology of world feminist poems in Bangla translation.

September 19, 2023
September 19, 2023

The records of resilience

Much of the reminiscences in The Murti Boys encompass the grittiness of staving off the Pakistanis with little weaponry and a great deal of quick thinking. 

September 14, 2023
September 14, 2023

A paean to storytelling

Following the trails of Imaginary Homelands (Penguin Books, 1992) and Step Across The Line (Modern Library, 2003), comprising essays written and lectures given by Salman Rushdie between 2003-2020, Languages of Truth is Rushdie’s third collection of nonfiction works and is as a delectable read as its predecessors if not more.

September 13, 2023
September 13, 2023

When literature meets food

The author paints an engrossing picture of her experiences and memories, both influenced by food, which is true for most of the people in this world, and particularly for South Asians.

September 13, 2023
September 13, 2023

‘The Dark Elf Trilogy’: The synergy between the novels and graphic novels

By visually capturing the characters, landscapes, and action scenes, the graphic novels enhance the reading experience and offer a fresh perspective on the beloved story.

September 8, 2023
September 8, 2023

Navigating the maze of nutrition myths

Unlike online influencers and their various outright claims of right and wrong, Dr Wolrich’s approach is grey.

September 4, 2023
September 4, 2023

Reflecting on ‘Amar Dekha Rajnitir Ponchash Bochor’

As I delved into the autobiographical works of Abul Mansur Ahmad, it became evident that he had a penchant for plain speaking, avoiding embellishments.

August 31, 2023
August 31, 2023

Mood mirror

Whenever depression is depicted in pop culture, it is shown in some visible extreme, with blue-grey lighting, dark rooms, ashen faces peering out through rainy windows, bodies curled up in bed.

August 31, 2023
August 31, 2023

“Pettiness, Prejudice, and Pets with Panache”

I first came across Anastasia Ryan’s work through my Instagram wanderings and was instantly intrigued by the sound of her recently released novel. Not least by its title, You Should Smile More.