These are not in any particular order. (Although I will admit that A Fine Balance is in the number one position for a reason.)
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
Set in the 1970's, during the state of emergency in India. This is not just my favorite work of Indian fiction... it's the best book I have read.
http://smile.amazon.com/A-Fine-Balance-Rohinton-Mistry/dp/140003065X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994422&sr=8-1&keywords=a+fine+balance
A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth
For an Indian woman (er... girl), the search for a "suitable boy" becomes an all-consuming process. This classic book is set in the 1950's.
http://smile.amazon.com/Suitable-Boy-Novel-Modern-Classics/dp/0060786523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994463&sr=8-1&keywords=a+suitable+boy
The Toss of a Lemon, by Padma Viswanathan
The story of a proper Brahmin widow and her family. Evocative and engaging.
http://smile.amazon.com/Toss-Lemon-Padma-Viswanathan-ebook/dp/B003K16PNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994492&sr=8-1&keywords=toss+of+a+lemon
Sacred Games, by Vikram Chandra
A police story - but so much more than that. This is a massive novel, and may prove a little hard to get into.... but really worth the effort.
http://smile.amazon.com/Sacred-Games-A-Novel-P-S/dp/0061130362/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994656&sr=8-2&keywords=vikram+chandra
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, by Kiran Desai
A rollicking good time.
http://smile.amazon.com/Hullabaloo-Guava-Orchard-A-Novel/dp/0802144500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994697&sr=8-1&keywords=guava+orchard
Train to Pakistan, by Khushwant Singh
Set during Partition. Deeply moving.
http://smile.amazon.com/Train-Pakistan-Khushwant-Singh/dp/0802132219/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414161356&sr=8-1&keywords=train+to+pakistan
The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai
This is a book where I find myself saying "it's like that scene in Inheritance of Loss, where..." -- the scenes and the characters stayed with me long after I had finished the book.
http://smile.amazon.com/The-Inheritance-Loss-Kiran-Desai/dp/0802142818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414161322&sr=8-1&keywords=the+inheritance+of+loss
The Death of Vishnu, by Manil Suri
Vishnu is dying in the stairwell... and the entire book takes place while he is dying. You will feel like you have met the characters, and at dinner time you may be able to smell the chapattis cooking. (This was Suri's first novel, and I loved it -- but I was disappointed in his other novels.)
http://smile.amazon.com/The-Death-Vishnu-A-Novel/dp/0393342824/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994731&sr=8-1&keywords=death+of+vishnu
The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga
Members of my Indian fiction book group all loved this one. Hard to put down.
http://smile.amazon.com/White-Tiger-Novel-Aravind-Adiga/dp/1416562605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413994767&sr=1-1&keywords=white+tiger
The Space Between Us, by Thrity Umrigar
Deeply moving story about castes and relationships. A wonderful read.
http://smile.amazon.com/Space-Between-Us-Thrity-Umrigar/dp/006079156X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413994992&sr=1-1&keywords=the+space+between+us
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
Set in the 1970's, during the state of emergency in India. This is not just my favorite work of Indian fiction... it's the best book I have read.
http://smile.amazon.com/A-Fine-Balance-Rohinton-Mistry/dp/140003065X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994422&sr=8-1&keywords=a+fine+balance
A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth
For an Indian woman (er... girl), the search for a "suitable boy" becomes an all-consuming process. This classic book is set in the 1950's.
http://smile.amazon.com/Suitable-Boy-Novel-Modern-Classics/dp/0060786523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994463&sr=8-1&keywords=a+suitable+boy
The Toss of a Lemon, by Padma Viswanathan
The story of a proper Brahmin widow and her family. Evocative and engaging.
http://smile.amazon.com/Toss-Lemon-Padma-Viswanathan-ebook/dp/B003K16PNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994492&sr=8-1&keywords=toss+of+a+lemon
Sacred Games, by Vikram Chandra
A police story - but so much more than that. This is a massive novel, and may prove a little hard to get into.... but really worth the effort.
http://smile.amazon.com/Sacred-Games-A-Novel-P-S/dp/0061130362/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994656&sr=8-2&keywords=vikram+chandra
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, by Kiran Desai
A rollicking good time.
http://smile.amazon.com/Hullabaloo-Guava-Orchard-A-Novel/dp/0802144500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994697&sr=8-1&keywords=guava+orchard
Train to Pakistan, by Khushwant Singh
Set during Partition. Deeply moving.
http://smile.amazon.com/Train-Pakistan-Khushwant-Singh/dp/0802132219/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414161356&sr=8-1&keywords=train+to+pakistan
The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai
This is a book where I find myself saying "it's like that scene in Inheritance of Loss, where..." -- the scenes and the characters stayed with me long after I had finished the book.
http://smile.amazon.com/The-Inheritance-Loss-Kiran-Desai/dp/0802142818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414161322&sr=8-1&keywords=the+inheritance+of+loss
The Death of Vishnu, by Manil Suri
Vishnu is dying in the stairwell... and the entire book takes place while he is dying. You will feel like you have met the characters, and at dinner time you may be able to smell the chapattis cooking. (This was Suri's first novel, and I loved it -- but I was disappointed in his other novels.)
http://smile.amazon.com/The-Death-Vishnu-A-Novel/dp/0393342824/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413994731&sr=8-1&keywords=death+of+vishnu
The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga
Members of my Indian fiction book group all loved this one. Hard to put down.
http://smile.amazon.com/White-Tiger-Novel-Aravind-Adiga/dp/1416562605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413994767&sr=1-1&keywords=white+tiger
The Space Between Us, by Thrity Umrigar
Deeply moving story about castes and relationships. A wonderful read.
http://smile.amazon.com/Space-Between-Us-Thrity-Umrigar/dp/006079156X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413994992&sr=1-1&keywords=the+space+between+us
Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts
Gritty, and a great read. (I did not like the sequel The Mountain Shadow as well, alas.)
The City of Joy, by Dominique LaPierre.
Non-fiction -- but as easy to read as a novel. I was so moved by this story.
And a few more books that I really enjoyed
Serious Men, by Manu Joseph
The Sari Shop, by Rupa Bajwa
Everything written by Rohinton Mistry -- all of his books are wonderful
The House of Blue Mangoes, by David Davidar
Tiger Hills, by Sarita Mandanna
No comments:
Post a Comment