I’m recommending novels, which I have read and loved. I haven’t mentioned any translated or Tamil novels. I have concentrated on Indian writers. The world of books fascinates and dazzles everyone. It takes us to places that are both fantastic and unknown. It may create an alternative universe for us.
Compared with foreign authors, the benefits of reading Indian authors are very obvious and very few. We can connect more with a series of events and backgrounds. They discuss culture. There is so much to know about cultural diversity and ancient heritage. If our second language was not English in high school. Reading Indian writers will help us in teaching. I would not advise such people to start directly with the vocabulary of literature or foreign writers.
Indian scriptures and literature are important sources of inspiration and knowledge. If it involves modern writers, please choose carefully. Except for Marsala and novels, they won’t provide you much. If you need a life course, please read the names mentioned by Shiv Khera, Robin Sharma, Khushwant Singh and many others here.
Beginners
Reading Chetan Bhagat books will make us pick up the habit of reading. His books are similar to Bollywood movie scripts. Sudha Murthy’s books are motivational books.
- Chetan Bhagat – Pick any book – ‘One night at the call centre’
- Sudha Murthy – Three thousand stitch
Romantic
Romance is when the eyes meet. Romance is when the hearts smile. Romance is when there is a spark. Romance is when love is in the air. Romance when the smallest thing is important.
- Sudeep Nagakar – ‘That’s the way we met’, ‘All rights reserved for you’
- Durjoy Datta – ‘Till my last Breath’
- Ravinder Singh – ‘Like it happened yesterday
Women writers
Indian women writing in English, there is a wealth of unexplored treasures out there in the world. Often, we hear readers complaining that books written by Indian authors are not women-centric enough, but once you go through the recommendations in this list, I am sure your opinion would change.
- Preeti Shenoy – ‘A Hundred Little Flames’
- Jhumpa Lahiri – ‘Interpreter of Maladies’
- Shashi Despande – ‘Dark Holds No terror’
- Manju Kapur – ‘Difficult Daughters’
- Kamala Markandaya – ‘Nectar in a Sieve’
Retelling Myth
Retelling the myth can reveal the untouched parts of the myth. Most myths are told from a male perspective. The retelling of these myths will be narrated from the perspective of women. Few stories are told by various other mythological characters. The idea of using different characters to tell the same mythological story is becoming more and more popular.
- Chitra Banerjee – ‘Palace of Illusions’
- Kavita Kane – ‘Surphanaka’
- Devdutt Pattanaik – ‘Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana’
- Amish Tripathi – ‘Shiva Trilogy’
- Shashi Tharoor – The Great Indian Novel
Classics
This urge to weave one’s own narrative has led to amazing literary works all over the world. After independence from the UK, works such as A.K. Ramanujan, Satyajit Ray, Khushwant Singh, Mulk Raj Anand, etc. have received much attention and appreciation.
- R. K. Narayanan – Swami and Friends and ‘Malgudi Days’
- Mulk Raj Anand – Untouchables’
- Salman Rushdie – Midnight’s Children
- Khushwant Singh – Train to Pakistan
- Vikram Seth – A Suitable Boy
- Anita Desai – In Custody and Clear Light of Day
- Arundathi Roy – The God of Small Things
- Kiran Desai – Inheritance of loss
- Aravind Adiga – The White Tiger
Try reading these books, we can have a glimpse of Indian writing.
Happy reading
