Mumbai’s readers veered towards fiction from across the world, with a sprinkling of non-fiction for a few
Representation Pic/Istock
Mithun Number 2
Avishesh Jha, Screenwriter, Andheri
I loved Jayant Kaikini’s short story collection. These are written from an insider’s perspective on Mumbai and its inhabitants, without glorifying the struggle and the magic of the mundane. My favourite one is the titular story, where the protagonist is called “Mithun” because of how he mimics actor Mithun Chakraborty. He gets to play the role of his stunt double for an action sequence. There is one moment where the protagonist performs the challenging stunt, and then the real Mithun arrives and acts for the camera. In that moment, the duplicate thinks that, all his life, he had been mimicking the actor, and here is the actor pretending to be him in the stunt.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
Rati Pednekar, Writer, Santacruz
I recently read Hwang Bo-reum’s novel, translated into English by Shanna Tan. To me, this has been a slow read, but a very comforting one. The story is soothing and encourages me to slow down, which I love. Even when not much is happening, it’s incredibly introspective, and the doubts and insecurities the characters struggle with can be relatable. It is perfect for a long, leisurely read.
Convenience Store Woman
Aditya Ahir, Actor, Andheri West
Japanese author Sayaka Murata’s novel is about a woman who has been working in a convenience store for nearly two decades. When society begins to pressure her to live according to their norms, everything starts to change. I love the writing — it’s simply beautiful. It’s also easy to love the protagonist because of the way the writer has portrayed her inner beauty and depth.
The Sense of an Ending
Prachi Gohil, Technology consultant/writer, Juhu
I JUST finished reading Julian Barnes’s novel for a book club last weekend. With just 150 pages, the author manages to arrest our attention. The narrator, Tony Webster goes down the memory lane after receiving a mysterious cheque for 500 pounds, and a cryptic letter from his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Mysterious, philosophical, lyrical, this book left me in a state of unrest with many questions on the meaning of a life well lived.
The Wreckers
Nairika Lodhi, Film professional, BKC
BELLA Bathurst’s novel is a historical non-fiction that explores the chilling legacy of wrecking ships and salvaging the loot in small coastal villages in the UK. She’s taken inspiration from the accounts she came across while researching her first book, and has interviewed people who have witnessed the practice. She introduces the book by quoting an excerpt from Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Family of Engineers, which was haunting, and then continues tonally with the same voice throughout, which I found gripping. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of non-fiction, her writing style really sold it like a fairy tale.
Shadow of the Moon
Lilyn Kamath Shenoy Homemaker, Kalyan
Every once in a while, while thrifting, I pick up a book I know nothing about, except what I read in the blurb. MM Kaye’s novel tells a story of two people who fall in love against the backdrop of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Though the story starts much earlier, it culminates during this significant moment in our history, which is also of great historical interest to me. The writer’s love for her adopted motherland comes through in the way she portrays her characters — neither taking sides nor hiding any flaws. Though her other book The Far Pavilions has had more success, this book stands the test of time for me.
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