books

WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY / A tribute to the written word

'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies'

We didn’t mean to stop reading

There was a time, maybe not that long ago, when the only thing you needed for a perfect evening was a book

ESSAY / ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’: Fan service and repetitive themes weigh down ‘Hunger Games’ prequel

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series has captivated pop culture with its bold take on tyranny, sacrifice, and resistance, spanning Katniss Everdeen’s blazing defiance in The Hunger Games (2008) to her final stand in Mockingjay (2010) against Coriolanus Snow’s cold cruelty.

EVENT REPORT / ‘Bengal Photography’s Reality Quest’: A discourse with Naeem Mohaiemen

Throughout the session, Mohaiemen’s passionate, spontaneous, and engaging demeanour captivated the audience, fostering a deeper understanding of storytelling through images.

The enduring presence of cats in Japanese literature

What’s with all the cats in Japanese literature?

#Perspective / Why I will always love the month of Ramadan

Ramadan holds a special place in the heart, rooted in childhood memories of fasting, reading, and spending time with family. The sacred month provides a chance for reflection, reconnecting with loved ones, and appreciating life's simple, meaningful moments.

#Perspective / Humayun Ahmed: Still captivating Bangladesh, one book at a time

Humayun Ahmed’s legacy remains strong, captivating generations with relatable storytelling. His novels transcend time, making literature accessible to all. Despite criticism, his emotional depth and simplicity keep readers engaged, proving his enduring influence in Bengali literary culture.

Taliban govt clearing 'un-Islamic' books from Afghanistan shelves

In October, the ministry announced the commission had identified 400 books "that conflicted with Islamic and Afghan values, most of which have been collected from the markets".

THE SHELF / 8 books to read in celebration of Women in Translation month

Women in Translation Month is an annual celebration that toasts to women authors from around the globe who write in languages other than English

May 8, 2024
May 8, 2024

Conquering that stack: 5 ways to finish a book in a week

Let's face it. Our to-be-read piles have started to look like a leaning tower of literary Pisa now. If you are a bookworm, you will relate to this one much too well.

May 4, 2024
May 4, 2024

It’s ‘Mean Girls’ meets ‘Heathers’ meets ‘The Craft’

The best part of this book is perhaps the fact that all the weird, bonkers cultish stuff just happens with no rhyme or reason to it.

May 3, 2024
May 3, 2024

(Re)visit to the alleys of contestation, narratives, and memories that the Partition left behind

The book discusses the lack of sensitivity among policymakers in acknowledging the distinct socio-cultural differences and linguistic and community identities of the refugees that often got merged. It explores how different categories of refugees received different treatments.

April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024

6 Books to add to your summer reading list

As summer rolls around and our lifestyle changes to adjust to the heat, so do a lot of our books! So here are a few books that might make a good addition to this year’s summer reading list.

April 19, 2024
April 19, 2024

The strange library of Haruki Murakami

Review of the Bangla translation of ‘A Strange Library’ (Knopf, 2014) by Haruki Murakami

April 18, 2024
April 18, 2024

The unanticipated consequences of caretaking

From the sensory delights of birdsong in the morning and sunset views from a lookout point to the less appealing realities of monitoring stagnant pond water and counting newts, we accompany Katie on her journey of discovery.

April 11, 2024
April 11, 2024

5 short books you can read and finish on Eid day

Here is a list of 5 short and swift books for fellow bookworms (people who would much rather stay in than socialise) to nestle in with on this Eid day. 

April 9, 2024
April 9, 2024

5 of your favourite iftar items as books

The youthful adventurers in the story spare no effort in unravelling a mystery that proves as elusive as the unyielding strands of jilapi, while also exploring deeper, sweeter themes such as friendship.

March 23, 2024
March 23, 2024

In conversation with Shazia Omar: Fiction, wellness, readership, and everything in between

'I would like to see more writing coming out of Bangladesh,' Shazia Omar said. 'We are still behind'

March 13, 2024
March 13, 2024

A country coming to life

Weaving the grand themes of politics and history, the book is a revelation into how the ordinary lives within a country are buffeted by constant changes.