Driven by strong performances from Priyanka Bose and Mohit Agarwal, the festival favourite exposes the suffocating underbelly of small-town India with an unflinching gaze that builds on the layers of sexual repression and familial dysfunction that Behl explored in his debut,Titli
Catherine Thankamma talks about her first anthology of short stories and two kinds of creation as translator and author
East Europe and literary prizes: where David Szalay and Lszl Krasznahorkai meet
Recent award-winning books by several writers on post-war Europe Olga Tokarczuk, Peter Handke, Dubravka Ugrei, Georgi Gospodinov, Jenny Erpenbeck, Mircea Crtrescu, Serhiy Zhadan, Kapka Kassabova to Szalay and Krasznahorkai dont promise resolution but simply keep a ledger of how people live when history moves on, leaving them to work out the details
Maridas Kalloors new book decodes the mystery around Devastha Vili, an ancient exorcism ritual
Devaasth Aroopathilekkulla Vili, in Malayalam, is a deep dive into the history and evolution of the centuries-old Lenten tradition prevalent in coastal Kochi
In a city where breathing is a health hazard, the only thing worth inhaling is a good story
Delhis air might be unbreathable, but its reading culture isnt. Across parks and gardens, silent book clubs are transforming the lonely act of reading into something quietly communal
Pradhan inaugurates Ahmedabad International Book Festival, urges youth to cultivate reading habit
Highlighting the importance of blending traditional reading with technology, Mr. Pradhan said the younger generation should embrace both printed and digital formats
Vir Das and his cinematic dreams
The multi-hyphenate comic on his new memoir and how filmmaking gets him into a flow state all day
David Szalays Booker Prize win and the role of literary awards in building bridges
Szalays novel, Flesh,explores themes of migration and human connection, underscoring how fiction can help people make sense of the world While literary prizes help with greater sales, visibility and readership, they also sustain the conditions in which writers can produce books and readers can read them
Brush with danger | Review of Kaushik Sridhars Kidnapped by Hezbollah
An Australian doctor of Indian origin recalls his harrowing experience in West Asia
What is the latest Gajapati Kulapati picture book about?
The latest in the much-loved picture books series by Ashok Rajagopalan is about the gentle elephants sleep troubles
An illustrated book offers a closer look at the universe, planet and evolution of life
Soul Forest And the Children Who Heard the Earths Secrets, written by Sathya Raghu V Mokkapati and illustrated by Ramesh Manickavel, is a time travel through Earths story and is a read for all ages
How grassroots movements and campaigns are shaping India
In a democracy, peoples aspirations should drive systemic change that boosts equality, education, careers, and economic development. Writers who have worked among the people, from Bela Bhatia to Subroto Bagchi, report on what is happening on the ground and the lessons to be learnt
Global pharmacy | Review of Vaccine Nation by Ameer Shahul
A new book maps the vast and chequered history of Indias immunisation,vaccineresearch and development
American comic book writer Stan Lee passed away on November 12, 2018. Here is a quiz on one of the most well-known creative writers of all time
This book explains all aboutLetter of Intent
Childrens Day: Spotlight on a childrens library in Hyderabad that also caters to adults
Launched by Aparna More Thakur, AppuWorld Books and Toys Library, with its collection of over 22,000 books, brings together different generations of a family to read
Review of Tash Aws novel The South, longlisted for the Booker Prize 2025
This story of young queer love fails to deliver on emotional truth
The Booker Prize 2025 | Read about the nominated titles here
The winner of the 50,000 prize will be announced on November 10
Review of Benjamin Woods Seascraper, longlisted for the Booker Prize 2025
This is a story about navigating the conflicts that arise when duty, generational baggage, and the elemental desire for a better life collide with each other
Rahul Bhattacharya on his novel Railsong and creating powerful women in a mans world
Railsong is a window into Indias historical milestones and the dribble of women into the workforce
Torie Trues Seven Kitchens spotlights culinary traditions of seven Indian communities
The London-based author blends Indian history, storytelling, and recipes in her latest book, Seven Kitchens PRINT: Torie Trues Seven Kitchens spotlights culinary traditions of seven Indian communities
Danish Mahal: inside Lucknows Urdu landmark
In an age of screens and declining sales, devoted patrons and efforts to revive it as a cultural hub may yet save the famous bookstore Danish Mahal
Review of Katie Kitamuras Audition, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025
The author blurs performance and truth, leading to a compelling exploration of relationships and identity
Review of Ben Markovitss The Rest of Our Lives, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025
The author paints an inward-looking picture of family life and the toll it takes on individuals
Memoirs by tennis stars Boris Becker and Bjrn Borg: a cautionary tale
The books show their lives blighted by alcohol, drugs, sex, and in Beckers case, prison
Excerpt from Anand Teltumbdes new book The Caste Con Census
The caste census can be just another means of keeping the caste system going, argues the scholar-activist in his new book
Forgotten men: the story of two peacemakers and their ideas of the world
Their paths didnt cross but U Thant, the UNs first Secretary General from the global south in 1961, and K.M. Panikkar, Indias first ambassador to China in 1947, were both internationalists. Their roles in history have been largely airbrushed, and two biographies try to make amends
49th International Kolkata Book Fair to begin from January 22
The theme country for the 49thedition of the annual book fair is Argentina
Indian vegetables shine in Camellia Panjabis new cookbook
After 25 years of reflection, restaurateur Camellia Panjabi turns the spotlight on Indias overlooked culinary heroes in Vegetables: The Indian Way, a new cookbook that blends traditional recipes with modern sensibilities
Review of Jonathan Buckleys One Boat, longlisted for The Booker Prize 2025
Buckleys narrative embodies the reflective quality of travel, making space for emotion, doubt, and hope
In conversation with Ledia Xhoga, author of Booker-longlisted novel Misinterpretation
In her debut novel, the author asks the unsettling question: is help always benign or can it morph into something darker?
Meet the Bengaluru duo reviving Dakhni through comics and animation
Founded by Bengaluru artists Rahil Mohsin and Alankrita Amaya, Hallubol is a Dakhni comic series that celebrates identity, humour, and cultural pride
Ritwik Ghatak centenary | Excerpt from Unmechanical, ed. Shamya Dasgupta
Enfant terrible of Bengali cinema, Ritwik Ghatak, who would have turned 100 on November 4, bent every rule in the book
Minting a murder | Review of The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
A decade on, Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling is still going strong with her Strike series. However, the magic is wearing off
Poetry experiencing new-found popularity
With Instagram helping budding poets find audiences and publishers pitching in, a slew of English poets is experiencing new-found popularity
Vaishali Shroffs Submerged Worlds explores the untold stories of Indias rivers
In her latest book published by Penguin, Vaishali Shroff uncovers the ecology, history and forgotten human tales that flow beneath Indias mighty rivers. The author will be in Visakhapatnam for the Vizag Junior Lit Fest
Kiran Desai on her new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, shortlisted for Booker Prize 2025
Desai lovingly reconstructs a bygone time, a museum of a past India, in her novel
The Indus conundrum: when water is both a lifeline and a faultline
Writers are beginning to explain the ramifications of the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, which was a shared heritage between India and Pakistan. Others map how global warming is impacting the balance in nature, and take stock of the fallout of political decisions on all rivers
How Stephen King crafts his words
The 25th anniversary edition of On Writing, about the art and life of a best-selling author, distils the emotional core of creating a book: joy
Booker Prize charity launches new Children's Prize worth 50,000 pounds
its part of a movement: a cause that children, parents, carers, teachers and everyone in the world of storytelling can get behind, Gaby Wood said.
Interview with Kunzang Choden on her memoir Telling Me My Stories
Bhutanese author on her memoir, and the role of Bhutans monarchy in its modernisation
Review of anthology The Only City: Bombay in Eighteen Stories, edited by Anindita Ghose
A new short story collection seeks tobring out the complexities of thecity that is more than just a backdrop, via 18 different writers
Journalist Harinder Baweja on her new book They Will Shoot You, Madam
Baweja takes readers through her four-decade journey reporting on seismic events that shaped India
Shock, horror, terror: how Dalit stories are stirring the literary world
Books like Daya Pawars Baluta and Baby Kambles memoir foreground the oppressed and marginalised lives of Dalits. In Dadu Mandrekars Untouchable Goa, the past in the form of myths and legends and the lived reality of the present are highlighted in the hope of a better future
Not all stories begin with the phrase Once upon a time. There are some cases wherein the second you open the book, youll be tossed into a world of chaos and confusion.
In an abyss | Review of Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li
Lis new book is a memoir of radical acceptance about loss, motherhood, and the limitations of language
Review of A Different Story, poetry by Amlanjyoti Goswami
The poets understanding of people results in a collection of over 200 verses both profound and affecting in its restraint
Secrets in the dark | Review of Susan ChoisFlashlight,shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025
With almost Mrquezian descriptions, Choi lends elegance to this story about a migrant family while lifting it from its political moorings
Know thy villain | Review of The Menon Investigation by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari
In this police procedural set in Kerala, male protagonists are the victims of an unjust patriarchal society
Review of The Cell and the Soul by Anand Teltumbde
Teltumbdes Taloja jail memoir is a pathology report on the cancerous rot eating away at the criminal justice system
Emerald Fennells Wuthering Heights: What would Emily Bront think?
Emerald Fennells sexy, scandalous take on Wuthering Heights promises sweat, desire, and fiercely divided opinions. As a lifelong Emily Bront fan, Im not entirely horrified. But does it do the story justice?
Sweet child o mine | Review of Claire Adams LoveForms, longlisted for Booker Prize 2025
Adam keeps readers guessing till the last page in this story about a woman forced to give up her daughter for adoption
Review of The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City, edited by Bilal Moin
This collection of 375 poems is both an audacious undertaking and a tremendous labour of love
A new biography on M.S. Subbulakshmi takes a peek into her art and life
Sivam Subham: The Biography ... of a Couple by Malayalam poet and lyricist Harinarayanan, was launched recently on the legendary singers 109th birth anniversary.
Witch Hat Atelier wins Harvey Award for Best Manga for the second time
Kamome Shirahamas spellbinding fantasy claims the top manga honor at New York Comic Con, marking its second Harvey win in five years
Laszlo Krasznahorkai | Master of melancholy
In the works of the Hungarian novelist, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature for 2025, a central theme is the fleeting and precious nature of human life
Fabien Toulm explores love in Bengaluru
Fabien Toulm, a French graphic novelist researching how couples meet, part, or stay together, has discovered both similarities and differences in Bengalurus approach to relationships
Beyond the full stop: Nobel Laureate Lszl Krasznahorkai and the tradition of the expansive sentence
Where science has failed to effectively communicate consciousness and the bridge between brain and mind, authors have managed it flawlessly
Making sense: On Krasznahorkai and the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2025
Krasznahorkai gets recognition for melancholic stories in an absurd world
Jeffrey Archer: You cant buy a packet of stories
The bestselling author discusses the final chapter of the William Warwick series, concluding his 50-year career with a historical novel bigger than Kane and Abel, and his love for India and cricket
Now, read and sing the Hanuman Chalisa in English
Diplomat-poet Abhay K. launches a singable English version of the Hanuman Chalisa, blending poetic rhythm with devotional spirit.
A pilgrims progress | Review of A Return to Self by Aatish Taseer
Aatish Taseers travel writings seek answers for both historical puzzles and questions about his exile
World Mental Health Day | Review of Homecoming by Neha Kirpal, Nandini Murali
From diagnosis to recovery, two professionals provide a lucid account on ways to negotiate severe mental health conditions
The Hindu Groups coffee-table book on legendary illustrator Maniam released
Veteran actor Sivakumar, an artist himself, released the first copy of the book, produced in association with Maniam Selven, the son of the late illustrator
Bureaucrats latest books turns the spotlight on Indias environmental concerns
In his latest book Testimony By Fire, Atulya Misra traces the journey of a young man across our country to understand its environmental concerns
Nobel Prize in literature goes to Hungarian author Lszl Krasznahorkai
The prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 1.03 crore) and will be awarded on December 10.
Anatomy of a genocide: how it feels to live amid death and ruins in Gaza
In two years of Israels assault on Gaza after Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of them women and children, and thousands displaced. While two books collect testimonies, another explains the conflict in Gaza, providing a historical context
The home of Dracula. Uncovering the story of Bran Castle.
Enter if you dare! Its time to take a step into a gateway that can take us into a vampires fortress in the real world.
This is one gun that isnt specifically used by professional snipers; rather, it is used in a profession where the pen is the mightiest weapon.
British author Jilly Cooper dies at 88
Jilly Coopers book Rivals found a new generation of fans when it was made into a series for Disney+ in 2024
Price of invisibility | Review of Amrita Mahales Real Life
The novelexplores what unfolds when we try to retreat from the grip of near-constant surveillance in a hyper-connected world
Bundle of contradictions | Review of The Hindi Heartland by Ghazala Wahab
Once the political and cultural centre of India, the States that comprise the Hindi heartland are now anchored to restrictive social ideas
How Visvesvaraya, Muthulakshmi and Mahalanobis shaped modern India
Three biographies examine the life of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Muthulakshmi Reddy, and Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis trailblazers born in colonial India in the 19th century, who have gone on to make foundational contributions to independent India in the 20th century
Daily Quiz: On World Translation Day
On International Translation Day, test your knowledge of the art and profession that bridges languages, cultures, and nations
Wild cities: The secret lives of urban lizards, frogs, birds and insects
Bengaluru-based writer and journalist Deepa Padmanabans recently launched book, Invisible Housemates, highlights our dynamic relationship with urban wildlife while also showcasing some of these animals unique traits.
India will reject Chinas arrogance of power, Manmohan Singh wrote in one of his last essays
The late former Prime Minister advised reassessment of India-China ties after 2020 Galwan clashes but urged India to expand trade ties with Asian neighbours, including China
Gangster drama | Review of Shreyas Rajagopals Gunboy
Rajagopals biggest strength is characterisation, and the easy manner in which he conveys the lived reality of small-town India
Review of Sannapureddy Venkatarami Reddys Tiger Lessons, translated from the Telugu
Reddy highlights a summer in the lives of hill-grazing shepherds who navigate extreme wilderness for their livelihood
Imperfect postures | Review of Fascist Yoga by Stewart Home
How Indian or Hindu is yoga? A new book presents another origin story
Experimenting with form and genre, these page-turners invite readers to join in on the fun
Act of resistance | Review of Dapaan by Ipsita Chakravarty
Chakravarty gathers stories from places in Kashmir before they are erased
Meet Chef Karan Gokani of Londons Hoppers in Bengaluru
In a prelude to The Hindu Lit For Life, the Chef will be in conversation withrestaurateurSandesh Reddy as they decode the flavours of India, and talk about their personal journeys with food. Here is how to sign up
Crime, comedy and pensioners | Richard Osman on the fifth book in The Thursday Murder Club series
The Netflix adaptation of the first novel in The Thursday Murder Club series came out in August
How to start conversations around life, death and organ donation
Relative to Indias population, the organ donation rate in India remains low. Here is a reading list that educates and empowers all to make an informed choice about the life-saving contribution as we approach World Heart Day on September 29
Daily Quiz | On F. Scott Fitzgerald
American novelist and writer F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on this day in 1896. Here is a quiz on one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.
Nepal wants more democracy: S.Y. Quraishi on his new book Democracys Heartland
The former Chief Election Commissioner explains the recent Gen Z protests, and why he puts the spotlight on South Asia in his new book
Ex-winner Kiran Desai shortlisted for Booker Prize for The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
The 53-year-old Delhi-born author, who won the Booker Prize 19 years ago in 2006 with The Inheritance of Loss, joins six writers from around the world on the coveted literary shortlist
Kafka in Budapest | Review of David Szalays Booker-longlisted novel,Flesh
What makes this novel about the life of an ordinary man so deeply sensory?
Interview | Author Natasha Brown on her Booker Prize-longlisted novel, Universality
By placing journalism within a novel, Brown plays with the fundamentals of trust, forcing one to question the very basis of society
On Pinochets trail | Review of 38 Londres Street by Philippe Sands
Sands new book on self-delusional tyrants is history, reportage, moral investigation, memoir, and legal chronicle
