If there ever were a thing to romanticise about, it would be reading. And your approach would be justified if you pick up a book by a cherished author like Ruskin Bond. Although, Bond’s stories have never been rose-tinted. Instead, they’ve gently guided many by the hand as the author unravels moments of joy, sadness, exploration, and uncertainty. In his new title, Animals in the House (Puffin Books), Bond’s trademark depictions of characters, life’s nuances, relationships and nature come together for another classic. The author explores these themes from his home in Landour.

Ruskin Bond