books
An invaluable study of Bangladesh's political history
"In Fool’s Paradise" is aptly named as it gives us a glimpse of post-independence Bangladesh, a young nation still struggling to find its identity amidst post-war blows.
A refugee's tale in Calcutta
Unlike many of the war refugees from Bangladesh in Calcutta, he felt no urge to be involved in the war. He had fled the country to save his life, not to participate in the fight.
Reading as a form of resistance: Some anecdotes from the 1971 war
After the war, the library authorities placed advertisements requesting people to return any books from the library that they might have in their possession, but the response was poor. The library's hundred-year-old collection was lost forever.
5 new books that explore family life in fiction
Among the new books we’re excited to read this season, these March releases hold special promise.
Books / Fantasy book series you might be missing out on
The best fantasy book series seem to have figured the formulae out in their own unique ways.
'Teestar Kanna' brings Teesta shoal residents to tears
Poet and writer Ishor Dulon Roy, author of Teestar Kanna, told The Daily Star that many of his relatives live on the Teesta shoal. Once they were all rich, all now lost to the river erosion.
The University Press Limited heads to Chittagong
On Saturday, March 18, UPL will inaugurate its new sales centre in Chittagong at Jamal Khan Road’s Sanmar Spring Garden.
Book Excerpt / A memoir that helps understand development
Perhaps the most important contribution of the book lies in providing intimate insights into how NGOs work in Bangladesh.
Fiction Review / Can ideology win over desire?
Set in 1990s Dhaka against the backdrop of the military occupation, the novella follows the lives of a young university professor, his wife, and their house help, Phulbanu. The story is narrated entirely from Phulbanu’s perspective.
5 new books to read this week
Set in the backdrop of a nameless forest, the narrative of the play 'Ekti Moragachh O Charjon Narir Shopnobhongo' revolves around characters of William Shakespeare’s creation.
A diverse longlist for the 2023 International Booker Prize
Novels from India, the Caribbean, Ukraine, Spain, Bulgaria, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, China, Norway and South Korea in the longlist.
Love the Oscars winners? Here’s what you should read
The book behind the Oscar-winning adaptations, and books about the history of the award
To survive is to hope, in Nasreen Jahan’s ‘Urukku’
Originally published in 1993, 'Urukku' by Nasreen Jahan is a dive into the life of a young woman and a powerful commentary on human need.
Ghazala Wahab to speak at ULAB Lit Salon on Tuesday
Also a journalist, Wahab will speak about her nonfiction, Born A Muslim, a book that talks about the increasing political irrelevance of Muslims in India and the importance of feminist interpretations of the Quran, besides highlighting other relevant socio political issues.
What to look forward to in the Gulshan Society Book Fair 3
Star Literature will be hosting a short story reading session moderated by Sarah Anjum Bari, the Books and Literary Editor of The Daily Star, on Friday at 4PM.
A legacy of women's freedom in art
Schwartz’s narrator speaks in the choral “we”, and like a daisy chain, they connect all these women’s shared yet individual experiences of feeling closed in, being violated, feeling misunderstood by society, until they all shed their names and managed to “escap[e] the century”.
4 nonfiction books that unpack South Asian feminism with nuance
The collection comprises essays, poetry, short fiction, feature pieces, interviews, research reports, and photographs and artwork that explore the physical, psychological and political experiences of menstruation across South Asia.
Why Iceland is a masterclass in equality
The government is better than any other nation in supporting single mothers. Parental leave is generous, and the choices and decisions by all are respected.
Feminist retellings: How books reimagine mythological women
These women display extensive strength, determination and valour, acting as the pillars of their families and masters of their own fate.