The world of Fiction books is so vast and diverse that it is easy to find a subject matter or style of writing you like. Fiction connects us with the lives of others, offering windows into worlds both real and imagined. From sweeping sagas of historical fiction, the sharp insights of contemporary narratives, to the boundless creativity of speculative tales, there’s something for everyone. Join me as I discover unforgettable characters, unravel compelling plots, and uncover different cultures through the world of storytelling.
The White Book by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith
This book is less about a story and more about the feeling of loss. Han Kang explores the profound weight of grief for someone she never met—her sister, who died shortly after birth, a loss she grew up hearing about but never truly knowing. Through her musings, the author delves into the feeling of absence, which is a constant presence in her life.
Rather than writing a conventional story, The White Book uses a series of musings, or short paras, to convey the author’s emotions, often comparing her sense of loss to objects or images associated with the color white—snow, swaddle cloths, porcelain. These white things serve as metaphors for the emptiness she feels, for both the innocence and the finality of death. As the narrator moves through her daily life in Warsaw, we feel the weight of her solitude, the quiet sorrow that lingers even in ordinary moments.
The novel is fragmented, composed of short, disjointed passages that mirror the scattered, fleeting nature of thought itself. Han Kang’s writing reflects how grief, memory, and identity intertwine and shift in the mind. While much of the book is about personal sadness, it also talks about collective grief, subtly reminding us of the city’s own history of trauma—Warsaw’s scars from war, loss, and rebuilding.
It is not a book that demands answers, but rather one that encourages readers to sit with their own feelings and to feel the weight of the silence between words.
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino
This book is a delightful departure from the author’s usual mastery of mysteries and suspense, offering instead a heartwarming tapestry of interconnected lives. The novel weaves together tales of people seeking advice from a seemingly ordinary general store that becomes a bridge across time and circumstance. Through these stories, Higashino gently reminds us of the power of empathy and kindness. Each narrative underscores the idea that we can never truly understand the struggles of others, urging us to withhold judgment and offer compassion instead. The book also explores the unpredictability of communication—how advice, even when given with the best intentions, can be interpreted in ways beyond our control. It is also a refreshing reminder of the subtle ways our lives can touch others, often without us realizing it.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is an exploration of moral ambiguity, obsession, and the unraveling of human relationships. How deeply invested I was in characters I didn’t even like! The story follows a group of elite students who form an exclusive bond under the tutelage of their charismatic Latin teacher. When Richard joins this enigmatic circle, he becomes infatuated with their lives of privilege, intellect, and mystery, willing to do anything to belong. To him, they can do no wrong.
However, the facade begins to crack when murder enters the equation, shifting the group’s dynamics and exposing the dark truths lurking beneath their cultivated personas. As hidden secrets and complex personalities come to light, Richard finds himself questioning not just his friends but his own judgment and sanity.
Although the victim and perpetrators are revealed in the beginning itself, there are a few more surprises till the end, and the suspense builds up throughout the book. It is a longish read, but I didn’t want to put it down because it was also addictive!
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
It seems like a frivolously written book at first glance, but the number of truth bombs dropped during the telling of the story is almost enough to make you think it’s a self-help book!
If I had to define the book, I’d say it was a sort of murder mystery that looks at relationships of people with themselves and with others and how lives interconnect without us knowing. I loved how accurately he describes feelings of loneliness and the work it takes to maintain relationships. The realisation of how kids lie for their parents was heartbreaking in its simple reality.
Coming to the actual murder mystery, an unsuccessful bank robber ends up taking hostages without meaning to, and now they must figure out how to get away with it. The hostages each reveal something about themselves as the day progresses. Meanwhile, the father-son police duo are trying their best to not step on each others’ toes while solving the case.
The whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and is a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.
Everyone in This Room will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin
Gilda is a lesbian working as a secretary at the local Catholic Church. Of course, she has to get creative so people don’t discover her reality because she can’t afford to lose this job. She is also in a constant state of anxiety, avoiding people and conversations as much as possible.
When it is discovered that Grace, the previous secretary, could’ve been murdered, Grace tries to solve the case on her own. She is also navigating some screwed-up family dynamics with her parents and brother, and also trying to keep a girlfriend while going on a date with an overly optimistic man recommended by a church colleague she couldn’t refuse.
It is an entertaining read, but I found it quite repetitive without much happening till the end where everything happens at once. Still, it leaves you with a few things to think about: reluctance to accept anything different from the norm, the guilt and anxiety so many people live with, and the lack of understanding and support from society in general.
Pyre by Perumal Murugan
It is a love story filled with hatred. Perumal makes us fall in love one minute with the tender romance between Saroja and Kumaresan, and the next minute, he shows us the intensity of hate directed toward the couple. Saroja and Kumaresan belong to different castes, which is enough reason for everyone to be hostile toward them, including their own families.
Read a full review of books by Perumal Murugan
Fire Bird by Perumal Murugan
Muthu is forced to leave his ancestral home in search of a new piece of land after being cheated out of his share of the property. His wife insists they move to a new land where no one knows them, and they can start afresh. We travel with Muthu and his companion, Kuppanna, in their search for a new home. We also learn what transpired with Muthu’s family for him to be at this junction. He talks about how relationships change over time, over seemingly trivial matters. What also comes across is the bond of a farmer with their land and animals.
Read a full review of books by Perumal Murugan
What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera
Read this book for the vividness of the character’s experiences, the conflicts she faces in her dialogues with herself, and the stark reality of what trauma looks like years after it has happened.
We don’t know the name of the woman telling us her life story or what crime she has committed. We start at the beginning when her mother met her father in Sri Lanka. She takes us through their love story and how her relationship was with them. She talks about her coming-of-age and then suddenly having to leave her home and move to America.
She is welcomed there by her aunt’s family, especially their daughter, who helps her navigate her new world. She learns to blend in and eventually find love. However, her past trauma refuses to leave her and gets in the way of a fulfilling life. It’s a heart-wrenching story from start to end.
Water Under the Bridge by Kels & Denise Stone
This was the perfect antidote to the ‘heavy’ novel I read before it. It has everything you’d want in a romance novel—an independent woman who actually knows her worth, a non-controlling man, and plenty of steamy scenes. Of course, the eco-friendly tech and environmental messaging are a plus!
Avery wants to work at the company run by her role model woman entrepreneur but is rejected from her dream job by the new COO, Luca. Now, they are competitors until they are forced to work together for grant money both their companies could use. A good enemy-to-lovers arc!
Those who read more romance novels might find it just OK. Luca instantly falling for someone so fully seems out of character, and some of the dialogue is cringe.
Six and a Third Acres by Fakir Mohan Senapati
It takes a few chapters to get the flow of the writing style, but I enjoyed the process. The narrator takes a humorous and sarcastic tone in describing people and events, which is reminiscent of many real-life conversations I’ve heard.
The story itself is a cautionary tale of greed and politics, although there’s no difference in the final outcome, even if you are seemingly on the ‘good’ side.
I found this book is more of a social commentary and about the writing style rather than the plot itself. There is a short chapter at the end that provides more socio-political context that was rather helpful in understanding the text better.
Jasmine Days by Benyamin
The story is told by way of letters. Sameera, who lives in City, is writing to someone named Javed about the happenings in her life. We don’t know what their relationship is till the end. Sameera’s life is turned around after she arrives to the City from Pakistan to stay with her father and get a job.
Her job as a radio jockey is more than she could dream of. As she explores the city and makes friends, we see an undertone of dissension by a poor local population against the ruling monarchy, and foreign workers. We see the life of a woman under a patriarchal household as Sameera has to jump through hoops to do things that interest her. We also see the lives of migrants who survive on meagre incomes, which a lot of them send to their families in their home countries.
What stands out is the cruelties of the monarchy on its own citizens on the basis of religion. The horrific tales of imprisonment and its effect on families, and the burden of knowing that they will always be treated as second-class citizens.
The book references the Bahraini uprising, even though not by name. It is an inspiring, frustrating, and heartbreaking tale of a revolution.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Going by many reviews, I was prepared for this to be another over-hyped classic that will go in my DNF folder. But I was pleasantly surprised. The characters are multi-dimensional and presented with all their flaws and doubts. There is a fair bit of social, political, religious, and economic commentary that can get tedious, but some of it is interesting as well.
The story centers around Anna, who is conflicted with her life. Even after she finds happiness with her love, Vronsky, she has many doubts and is unfulfilled. High society doesn’t accept her relationship, and she doesn’t get custody of her son. These issues plague her and makes her possessive towards Vronsky further putting a strain on their relationship.
Apart from Anna, the other main character is Levin, who is said to be based on the author himself. His life, from being an under-confident man proposing and getting rejected by Kitty to a confident husband figuring out his place in society, is depicted in an interesting way. All of Tolstoy’s views are said through him and his interactions.
All other characters are also well-defined with their own views and paths in life. The whole panorama of characters makes this an interesting read.
The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany
The Yacoubian Building is a vivid portrait of mid-20th century Cairo, painted through the lives of the residents of the building. Through their personal stories, we learn of the complexities of Egyptian society, its stark class divisions, evolving political landscape, shifting moral compass, and the human struggles of those navigating those times.
The characters are as diverse. From a young, idealistic man turned disillusioned jihadist to a closeted homosexual grappling with societal judgment, from women exploiting and being exploited in their quest for survival to ambitious individuals striving for power and wealth, each story is a microcosm of a larger societal reality. These lives intersect and collide, creating a rich tapestry of human emotion and conflict.
The Yacoubian Building itself becomes a metaphor for a nation—beautiful, decaying, and layered with untold stories.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
This is a book about many things. Relationships, depression, teenage pressures, ethics, nature, war, geography, and…quantum mechanics(?).
We start with Ruth finding a packet with a young girl’s journal that has drifted from Japan. While dealing with her own sense of meaning and purpose, she desperately wants to reach out to the young girl in the pages.
It is hard to read about the young girl named Nao being bullied ruthlessly while she’s dealing with a father who’s depressed and a mother who’s unable to give her the attention she needs. Ruth, meanwhile, a million miles away in distance and time, is coming to terms with moving to a remote island with her husband and finding her purpose.
It is a journey more than a story with a perfect start, middle, and end. The end especially, will test you, but it was a good read and gives you something to think about.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I did not understand the hype. It’s a decent book with good storytelling and interesting characters, but I don’t know why it’s considered one of the best pieces of literature. Maybe I’m missing something.
I read via Audible and watched the movie to get the whole experience.
The social commentary and imagery of the times are nicely blended with the storyline. The indulgences of the rich, the desperation of the poor, and the class and race divide are evident in the interactions between characters.
Gatsby is driven by love and his need to be respected by society. Nick is caught up between him and his cousin Daisy. Through them, he narrates how people dream of a life they would want and then settle for a life that’s convenient. Or, in the case of Gatsby, a life that remains unfulfilled.
Chronicle of a Corpse Bearer by Cyrus Mistry
Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer is an adaptation of a true story the author heard during his research for a movie. It takes us into the secretive world of the Towers of Silence and the people that live there. The book talks about the religious beliefs and rituals of the Parsi community, especially with regards to death. But mostly, the book is about a man who is ostracised by his family when he chooses to marry the daughter of a corpse bearer.
Phiroze becomes a corpse bearer after he marries Seppy and moves into the enclosure that houses this marginalised community. His role is essential to the community, yet he and his peers are shunned and treated with disdain due to the nature of their work. The book also touches on themes of death and the afterlife.
Set in Bombay when the country was at the crux of gaining Independence, the book offers a reflection of the larger societal changes occurring in India during this transformative period. The book touches on the tensions between tradition and modernity, as well as the struggles of a community striving to maintain its cultural identity in the face of a rapidly changing world.
Reading Challenge 2024:
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Love, Life, & Beyond 
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