Literary high during the downpour: Here's what Mumbaikars are reading this monsoon

I read Adania Shibli’s book in a single sitting, and I was left deeply silenced by the subtle yet unrelenting barbarism of the story. The first half of the novel documents the capture, rape, and death of a young Bedouin girl, while the second half follows a journalist’s independent investigation into this ‘minor detail’ of the Nakba, reported precisely 25 years before her birth. For most of the second half, I assumed the protagonist was male. Who else but a man, privileged in his gender, would attempt to singly investigate a murder within the bounds of contested territory? It was only when I briefly flipped to the front of the book that I found the protagonist was a Palestinian woman. Thereon, I was in awe of her resolve, and I feared for her life.

Exploding the Phone
Surya Basu, technology consultant, Santacruz

I came across this book by Phil Lapsley as a recommendation from ChatGPT, which I find quite useful for the purpose. The book explains the set-up and functioning of the early phone networks in the United States. I found this interesting especially now when we take the communication networks for granted. The book explores early US telephone networks and their in‑band signalling, where control tones travelled with voice. A group of curious kids discovered they could make free calls by reproducing the tones. It’s remarkable how every system inspires ingenious loopholes its designers never imagined.

Broccoli Punch
Nayanika Chatterjee, animator-illustrator, Versova

I came across this book by Lee Yuri at the Liberia bookstore in Brick Lane, London. I’d requested the person working there to recommend some books because I was going through as many as I could — every book looked so inviting. Since I had asked for short stories, she suggested this and said I wouldn’t be able to put it down. She was right. Each story in the collection ends with something completely unexpected, and the strangeness of the stories somehow make them quite relatable.

Unnatural Habits (The Phryne Fisher murder mysteries)
Anjali Menon, media and cultural studies student, Borivli

I was working at Champaca Bookstore in Bengaluru, when I stumbled upon Kerry Greenwood’s series. I had gotten a copy of this book from the series back then, but never read it. I decided to read it this week, since it’s been raining and I’ve been stuck at home. I love the character of Phryne Fisher, who’s a very flamboyant, fashionable woman solving crimes. The writing style is simple. The book is about three factory workers who disappear after they get pregnant. I love it because it talks about so many socio-political aspects, especially women workers, exploitative tendencies of religious institutions, and much more — all while remaining fun and engaging throughout.

Careless People
Zinia Bhattacharya, senior marketing manager, Powai

I recently read this memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams. It dives deep into Facebook — its rise, its internal culture, and the way it has shaped global politics and social behaviour. Since I spent a huge part of my post-teenage years and early twenties online, on Facebook, the topic felt personal. The book exposes controversies surrounding Facebook’s senior leadership, its algorithms, and its approach to data privacy. What really struck me was how she told the story — with humour, rigorous research, and the kind of honesty you rarely get from insiders.

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