The Perfect December Book Box – Boxwalla

One of the ways I have widened my reading is through the excellent curated bookish box service, Boxwalla. In this time of trendy books, hyped books, and 1-minute-to-sell-you-a-book videos, Boxwalla is a breath of fresh air. For those who are unfamiliar with this box service, Boxwalla offers subscription plans and sends you boxes—books, food, film, beauty according to what you choose. As a subscriber to the book box or the ‘Book Shop’ service, you receive excellent world literature that deserve your reading time, at your doorstep. I have read the Boxwalla selections for years and never have I been disappointed in what they put together. They specialize in translated books, world lit, underrated gems; so they are great if you are keen to discover new authors.
 

This year, Team Boxwalla have a special December box in stock where you can choose one book that you want (and you’ll also get a mask. Hello, good skincare). I thought this is a perfect time to write a short post about the December selections. Perhaps this guide will help you choose a book for your December box.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

You can never go wrong with Pym. Excellent Women is so cozy that you will crave a cuppa on every other page. Mildred Lathbury is a 30 something ‘mousy’ spinster in 1950s England who loves church, gossip and eavesdropping on the neighbours. When she makes her acquaintance with the new neighbours, the dashing, charming Rockingham and his anthropologist wife Helena who doesn’t care for domestic chores, and the new widow in town, Mrs Gray, who seems to have taken a liking for the unmarried vicar, well, things get interesting. Excellent Women is a witty, odd, warm book—perfect choice for the winter.

The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig, translated by Anthea Bell and Alexander Starritt

If you have not read Stefan Zweig yet, rectify it as soon as possible please. This collection includes five novellas (Burning Secret, A Chess Story, Fear, Confusion, Journey into the Past). Every Zweig story that I have read has been a solid five star so I am sure the two new-to-me stories in this collection aren’t going to disappoint me at all. He has a masterful way of uprooting you from the present and making you forget your existence as his characters dance their way in front of you. His characters are vivid, and his writing takes us deep into their psyche. His writing is lucid, tender, sometimes creating an unrest, and unique. I remember the first time I read Zweig—I thought to myself “Why have I never read him before? He is unlike every other author I have read”. When that’s the first thought, you know all the praise I am piling on his writing is not exaggerated. Highly recommended. Not to forget that the Zweig editions from Pushkin Press are simply stunning!

The Dog of Tithwal by Saadat Hasan Manto, translated by Khalid Hasan and Muhammad Umar Memon

Manto! What to say about the brilliant Manto. No words can describe how wonderful of a writer he is and no comparison would do him justice. For those new to Manto, perhaps Salman Rushdie describing him as “the undisputed master of the modern Indian story” might tempt you to read his works. Manto is a writer with a heart. His writing raised many eyebrows among the authorities, resulting in him being put on trial six times—which in itself proves how truthful his narrations were—for being a menace to the society. He was acquitted. But his writing captured the hearts of readers everywhere. He wrote with a frank and steady pen; about common man, love and religions, prostitutes, daily wage earners, gangsters, pimps, drivers and dogs. His words bleed with the horrors experienced during Partition, his characters stay forever in your heart, and his portraits of the political changes and its effects on the common man make you shake your head in disbelief. One of my best friends gifted me a chunky book of Manto’s short stories—one of the best books I’ve received as a birthday gift. This collection titled The Dog of Tithwal, is a wonderfully curated selection of Manto’s stories. He is a must-read storyteller of our times.

Deep Sightings and Rescue Missions by Toni Cade Bambara

Bambara is a new author for me and I am very much looking forward to dipping into this collection. I cannot speak from my personal reading as I am yet to read it, but in her Introduction to the book, Toni Morrison describes Bambara as “a writer’s writer, an editor’s writer, a reader’s writer.” This book is a collection of stories, essays and interviews, published posthumously. It promises insight into Bambara’s “reflection on culture and politics, literature, and film, on the difficulties and necessity of forging an identity as a writer, activist and black woman.”

And last but not the least, the woohoo moment was finding a Naturallogic Enzyme Resurfacing Mask that looks so sleek and fancy. I could definitely use some skin care in this drying, drab winter.
 

That’s it from me. Boxwalla would be a great choice to gift your friends or family in this holiday season. Or even to give yourself a treat. For Holiday discount codes, check out this Instagram post from Boxwalla. Check their website for more details.
 

Disclaimer : The box was gifted to me by Boxwalla. But this is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. Their quality of service and boxes have been consistently good (or maybe even better with years) for years. Subscribe!