17 Favourite Books of 2019: Desire, Memoirs & Bollywood

It is mid-year and time of the best-so-far lists. 2019 was quite dull in terms of number of new releases. But quality over quantity any day. This year had some of the most fun releases, be it time travel or Bollywoodesque (you will notice the word constantly repeated in the descriptions) and bizarre stories. There are so many other titles I wish I could’ve included like Manu. S . Pillai’s The Courtesan, the Mahatma and the Italian Brahmin, for the sole reason that I haven’t finished reading it yet (Quite the doorstopper, but highly recommended already if you love essays and stories on Indian history).

I loved reading the Women’s Prize shortlist this year, which has become a tradition for me, and wrote about it on Huffpost India. It is dominant with mythical retellings and probably the best list to read contemporary women writers. Then there are almost-favourites like The Silent Patient and My Sister, the Serial killer (a murderous beauty and a few corpses) and more which might feature in another list. This is the best ten (well, eighteen I mean) books I’ve loved this year. I’ve also compiled a ‘Summer Reading list 2019′ on Huffpost India if you are craving for more books.

1.The Heavens by Sandra Newman (2019)

I have lost count of the number of times I have screamed into the internet (and real life) that this is ‘Book of the year’. I was transported to a whole new world of rich girl parties, Conde Nast interns and people in love in New York summers and briskly thrown into 1500s Elizabethean England with diseases, mistresses and gay men. It is original with dreams, madness and time travel and starring Shakespeare and the ‘dark lady of his sonnets’.

2.Adéle by Leila Slimani, translated from the French by Sam Taylor (2019)

Slimani’s books are thrilling and unputdownable. The ending was a bit disappointing (but that was the case with Slimani’s The Lullaby too), I admit. But Adéle was absolutely enchanting with the adultery, one night stands, secrets, desire, and the inability to contain herself as a highly paid journalist in a happy, married life.

3.The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal (2019)

Dysfunctional sibling relationships in hilarious scenarios? Yes, please. When three Britain-bred sisters who do not see eye to eye travel together, there is ought to be a lot of bickering and cat fights, but how unfortunate all the bottled up energy comes out during their pilgrimage to India to fulfill their mother’s last wish! Jaswal’s latest is funny, enriching and dense with secrets.

4.On Earth we’re briefly gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (2019)

This one’s for the lyrical lovers out there. I could’ve underlined this whole book because Vuong’s prose is mesmerizing and melodious, perhaps a bit too poetic that is misses its mark in piercing you in the bitter scenes. It is a memoir about Vietnam, war, immigrant life and growing up gay.

5.Heat by Poomani, translated from the Tamil by N. Kalyan Raman (2019)

Poomani’s Heat captures the duality of innocence of a child in Tamil Nadu who murders a tyrant, and the implications of his action. The father-son duo on the run survive on foraging for food, cleaning abandoned pots for cookware, and reminiscing the power struggles between the rich landlords and the poor.

6.Things in Jars by Jess Kidd (2019)

Slow, atmospheric and curiosity-filled. The red haired Bridie, the best detective in 1800s London is entrusted with the task of finding a kidnapped child. With her sidekicks, the bearded 7-feet housemaid, and a tattooed ghost of a boxer who is infatuated with her, Bridie bolts through wicked surgeons, curiosity collectors, circusmen and ancient folklore.

Read : Victorian Crime Novel with Circus Freaks, Pickled Babies & Irish Folklore

8.The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden (2019)

I have been following Arden’s Winternight trilogy set in 14^th century Rus’ (old Russia) and it is a fitting end. After I finished the book, I was overcome with the desire to read Russian fairytales (and read I did). This is a glorious book about frost, fairytales, history and war.

Read : Arden’s historical fantasy will leave snowdrifts in your heart and lure you to nuzzle against ancient magic (in Huffpost India)

9.Mouthful of Birds by Samantha Schweblin, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell (2019)

Girls eating live birds, butterfly clouds, cinematic scenes and many other bizarre stories make up this collection. Schweblin writes the most enticing first paragraphs and I thoroughly savoured the weird and not-so-weird stories in all their darkness.

10.Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)

Born a Crime tells Noah’s story of a South African childhood, his relationship with his father and his badass of a mother. You’ll be in awe of Noah’s mother, and probably end up being a big fan of hers in this riotously funny memoir with thought provoking moments wrapped in humour. The audiobook is the best.

11.The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary (2019)

When days get lonely, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, turn on some fairylights and read this under the covers — two people share a flat because one works day shifts and the other night shifts. It is romantic, filled with butter fly-in-your-tummy moments and read like a romantic comedy. Netflix, are you listening?

12.Bombay Brides by Esther David (2018)

Dark skinned brides, casanovas, match making aunties, Prophet Elijah who disappears and a Bollywood crazy Israeli woman— to name a few of the eclectic characters that make up this collection of interconnected stories set in a housing society in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Read for cultural nuances like Biblical kirtans in Marathi, Yom Kippur celebrations, bar mitzvahs and a lip smacking array of dishes.

Read : Two novels set in India — Of buildings and cultural nuances

13.My Lovely wife by Samantha Downing (2019)

One of those books that makes you pull an all nighter. Serial killer couples who masquerade as a normal, suburban family, their black mailing son and double crossing twists!

15.Pride, Prejudice and other Flavors by Sonali Dev (2019)

Rich surgeon Trisha is arrogant and proud, and dislikes British accented Le Cordeon Bleu chef, DJ, works on fusions of French and North Indian cuisine. This gender flipped retelling of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is fun, mushy (sometimes a bit too much, be warned) with generous Bollywood masala.

16.Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale (2018)

Mahale’s Bombay is brimming with the essence of the city, bun muskas, Uduppi dosas, Irani chai debates, South Bombay grandeur, Matunga’s housing crunch and renovation and the inevitable commute around the city. If you’ve ever lived in Mumbai, you’ll fall in love with the book; if you haven’t you’ll want to.

17.Three Women by Lisa Taddeo (2019)

Lisa Taddeo’s non fictional account of three women and their desire, written over a period of eight years of interviews, is intense and all consuming. Lina, in a sexless marriage with a husband who is offended by kissing, falls into an affair with her high-school boyfriend; Maggie is in a sexual relationship with her high-school teacher; Sloane finds herself in a swinging lifestyle which is essential to her marriage. At the root, the erotic longing in America is lined with power dynamics and gender limits.

18.What Red Was by Rosie Price (2019)

Rosie Price’s debut starts off as ‘Boy meets girl, friendship blossoms’, (reminded me of Before Sunrise movie) but quickly spirals into a commentary on class, privilege, and money. You might find yourself wary of the subplots but stay for the beautiful, incisive prose.

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