Love, Life, & Beyond

Fiction is such a wide ranging genre that it encompasses almost every reader’s preference. Here, stories can be based on reality, or your imagination can take flight, offering fantastical landscapes and intricate characters. Non-fiction, however, unveils the treasures of reality, providing a kaleidoscope of knowledge and perspectives. 

Below are some of the books I read this year as part of my reading challenge. 

This is just one of three posts on my 2023 Reading Challenge. My other posts list out Biographies and Mystery/Thriller books I read in 2023.

Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai:

This coming-of-age novel is set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s political and social tensions during the 1970s and 1980s. We follow Arjie as he explores issues of identity, sexuality, and the complexities of navigating societal expectations. The intricacies of Arjie’s experiences as he grapples with his emerging queer identity in a conservative and restrictive environment are narrated beautifully. You can feel the heartbreak of a child who doesn’t understand why his elders punish him for not wanting to be like the other boys or the pangs and guilt of his first sexual encounter.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: 

This is an enchanting fantasy novel for readers of all ages. The story follows the tale of Luna, a young girl with extraordinary powers raised by a kind witch in a mysterious forest. As the narrative weaves between past and present, secrets are unveiled, and the characters’ lives intertwine unexpectedly.

The poetic writing immerses readers in a world of magic, wonder, and profound emotions. We meet some loveable characters and some truly repulsive ones. The imaginative storytelling has heartwarming themes of love and sacrifice but also talks about how power and greed can corrupt someone wholly.

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy Rockwell:

There are books that tell you a story, and then there are books that take you on a journey. The latter might not be for everyone. It needs to be read at the right time and frame of mind.

In Tombs of Sand, from beginning to end (and there sure are a lot of pages in between), not a lot happens in the story, but at the same time, so much is happening. It is a story about family dynamics, old age, embracing life, and so much more.

It revolves around three central characters, Ma and her two children, Bade and Beti. We understand them through each others’ eyes and thus learn more about their journeys.

Read my full review of Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree

The Girl with the Hazel Eyes by Callie Browning:

I loved the descriptions of the setting of the small island life and its people. The relationships between the characters are well-written. The story seems idyllic until it takes an unexpected turn at the end. It alternates between the lives of two women and how their paths have crossed. Susan is a whistle-blower from Barbados, exiled to America, who has invited Lia, a young woman from Barbados who aspires to be a writer, to write her biography. Dealing with insecurities of her own, she tries to get more out of a guarded Susan to help her become a bestselling author. However, there’s a lot more at work than meets the eye.

The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan: 

This book is a unique way to tell a love story through a series of dictionary entries. Each entry explores a different aspect of the relationship between the two main characters, from the highs of falling in love to the struggles of maintaining a long-term commitment.

The author manages to capture the complexities of love through glimpses in the form of descriptions of words, as in a dictionary. The novel’s unconventional structure adds playfulness and creativity, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

Enemies on Tap by Avery Flynn:

I picked up a romance novel after ages. I had stopped reading them because every raved-about romance I had picked up undervalued the woman’s autonomy. This one was, thankfully, not so. Miranda is intelligent and independent and knows what she wants. A few explicit scenes make for some steamy reading, and it also has a decent plotline!

The House of Rust by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber:

This book wasn’t for me…magical realism is not my cup of tea, I’ve come to realise.

That being said, I liked the descriptions of the relationships and daily life that the author puts forth poetically. The feelings of the main character, Aisha, are voiced with clarity – her hopes, fears, and longings as she goes in search of her father.

Even after she returns, she feels unsettled and is looking out for meaning in her own life.

It was reminiscent of the book Life of Pi in how both books have a child sailing in a boat with talking animals, but the similarity ends there.

I would recommend this to someone who can understand the nuances of the imagery and dialogue.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin:

A story of 3 friends meeting, growing, and creating over a space of a number of years. A beautiful story of relationships between people set against the background of video games.

Although I don’t play video games, I thought it was such an interesting setting for this story. From the concept to how the final game is made and the characters’ relationships blend perfectly.

There’s an understanding of each others’ personalities and trauma, and there’s happiness and tragedy between Sam, Sadie, and Marx. We also get a glimpse of Sam’s childhood and his relationship with his mother.

For all of us who’ve had complicated relationships, we might see a glimpse of it in these pages.

Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa:

This is an exceptional novel set in Iran while the Kurdish people are still fighting for their right to exist. We follow Leila through her life as she grows up in a misogynistic culture and a country that punishes and dehumanises her people for simply existing. When her brother Chia, inspired by their father’s traumatic past, delves into activism and goes missing, Leila launches a perilous campaign for his rescue. The story also delves into her complex relationships with her family and friends. As we are witnessing another genocide in the making right before our eyes, stories like these remind us that there are actual people behind the headlines, with hopes and dreams much like our own.

NON-FICTION: 

Smoke and Ashes by Amitav Ghosh:

The Ibis trilogy was the first book I read by Amitav Ghosh, and I was impressed by every aspect of the book—the storyline, the characters, the writing, and the subject matter. He has followed up with a non-fiction book on the opium trade based on the research he collected for the books. The writing is easy to follow even though there is a lot of information to take in. The history is riveting but also infuriating (as with any colonial-era information). For anyone interested in history as it happened, not how it was written by the ‘victors,’ this is an essential read.

POETRY:

Blush by Shefali Dang:

What a beautiful collection of poems! She writes about topics such as raising your self-worth, love, heartbreak, and moving on. Take your time to read and absorb the words. I read a few pages before bed every night. I have been following the author’s Instagram account for a while, and I’m glad it’s all finally on paper! The book has longer versions of her Instagram poems and some new ones, too!

Note: Some links are part of an affiliate program, which means that if you click on a link and buy something, I might receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you.