We caught up with readers across the city and found heartwarming titles on their bookshelves this month — from good old love stories, to sensitive novels about those living with neurological disorders
Representation pic
The Frozen River
Shagun Luthra, media and HR professional, Lokhandwala
This 2021 novel by Ariel Lawhon has blown me away. Inspired by true events, the book tells the story of a fiercely feminist midwife Martha and the crime that shook her town in the late 1700s in Maine, US. Masterfully written with a deep insight on love, birth, death, crime and justice, the novel is a page turner and historical fiction at its finest. I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it.
Never Let Me Go
Bhumika Sankhla and Malliketh Nagda, management consultant and banker, Mulund
Kazuo Ishiguro’s book is this month’s selection for The Mumbai Literary Club, which we host every month at the Crossword bookstore in Juhu. After reading Klara and the Sun, we were eager to revisit Ishiguro’s subtle, layered storytelling. He masterfully blends the ordinary with the unsettling, exploring memory, identity, and humanity with quiet precision. His writing stays with you — haunting, elegant, and deeply introspective.
Mad Honey
Mala Mehta, retired, Andheri West
This novel by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is a depiction of a mother’s fierce, protective and unconditional love. It is also a learner’s guide to bee-keeping, gender sensitivity, and the intricacies of law. The format of the story is riveting, and the writing is full of beautiful words and phrases which you want to reread. It is an absolute page-turner.
Love Story
Ananya Parthasarathy, law student, Mulund
I was handed Erich Segal’s book as ‘syllabus for life’ at 16 by my aunt. The sadness and brevity of it were beautiful when I first read it, but the book didn’t stay with me then. Re-reading it at 19 has been an otherworldly experience. I realised that love like that puts you in a uniquely vulnerable position, but that’s exactly why it is so sought after. The simplicity of the prose hit harder. There’s space for emotion in the book without performance. Oliver and Jenny’s story is, in that way, immortal.
Shiva Purana
Vaibhavi Trivedi, marketing associate, Powai
Growing up in a Gujarati home, I have seen my parents truly devoted to Lord Shiva and being in such holy surroundings. I was waiting to read Bibek Debroy’s book while I was in the right headspace. From the details with which he decodes how one can be a true devotee to the importance of wearing a rudraksha, the insights mentioned in the book are fascinating. They definitely keep you hooked throughout.
Love Anthony
Swathi Chandrasekar, stay-at-home mom, Chandivali
I stumbled upon this book because I had loved Lisa Genova’s other work, Still Alice, and wanted to explore more. The book is mostly fiction, based on the neurological disorders, the internal sufferings, and unspoken emotions of those on the spectrum, and how their families go through the ordeal with them. Her character is written with the conviction of a mom going through grief, guilt and healing. I could relate with some parts of her. What I liked was that one could learn about the neurological condition in detail, without the book getting preachy.
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