29 December,2025 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini Varma
Illustration courtesy/istock
This is Gail Honeyman's debut novel and I came upon it through the online platform, Goodreads. I was surprised by the unexpected wit and humour in her writing while addressing poignant subjects like loneliness and mental health. I thoroughly enjoyed how unpredictable the book was till the end. Eleanor felt so real that, even without relating to her, I could empathise with her completely.
This year I read a genre I never have before - true crime. The first book that I read was Gregg Olsen's. I was caught completely off guard. I've read the crime fiction greats, but was not prepared for the visceral and deeply unsettling contents of this book, bolstered by the fact that it is true to real life events. I've also started reading some philosophy with Peter van Inwagen's Metaphysics. In the coming year, I hope to continue with it, and hopefully gather courage to pick up a true crime book again.
I have been reading and re-reading Caroline Criado-Perez's book. You think you know from lived experience the inequity that comes with being a woman. This book startles you. In my varied discussions with friends who think that the world isn't all that bad for women, I keep sharing pages from that book. I insist that they give it a read for a data-driven approach that showcases the reality.
The book follows the life of the navy seal Matt Bissonette - his selection into Seal Team 6, his journey of training with them, and his role in Operation Neptune Spear, the one which killed Osama Bin Laden. Bissonette has written it under his pen name Mark Owen. Since it's a memoir, the account is deeply personal and detailed. It is a gripping story told authentically, and the narrative style keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Arundhati Roy's memoir was recommended as part of a book club; I'm so glad I picked it up. It's a great read and an interesting perspective on how all of Roy's characters are well-rounded. She tells us who someone is, and in many ways shows us why they are that way. It is reminiscent of life for each of us. We may be quick to judge people, but isn't it essential to know why someone is the way they are?
This is a series of autobiographical essays by Kritika Arya that explore the realities of mental health, being a third culture child, and discovering identity, belonging and safety within multiple physical, mental and psychological spaces. 11 illustrators from all over the world make the book a visual treat. As someone who is a third culture kid herself, I have never felt like I belong anywhere. This book made me feel like someone understood me.
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