By Ananya Swaroop
A reading list sourced from bonafide readers!
Bookstagramming gave birth to online clubs that pick a theme, discuss literature, and suggest interesting titles. We curate a reading list suggested by these book clubs to help upgrade your shelf.
Peach Blossom By Melissa Fu | Spoonful Of Pages
“’Within every misfortune, there is a blessing, and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune. And so it goes, until the end of time.’ Peach Blossom Spring, a debut novel by Melissa Fu, revolves around a mother-son duo and their struggles during the Japanese occupation of China. A must-read for history geeks (like me) who love untold stories and fascinating information, not to mention this book’s mesmerising storyline and strong female protagonist.”
I Kissed Shara Wheeler By Casey McQuiston | Chai Books And The Moon
“I absolutely love her writing and the diverse characters she brings to life through her books. Her other two books have been my absolute favourite: Red White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop. The stories of Henry/Alex and August/Jane were like warm hugs on a chilly day, and they will stay with me forever. Red White & Royal Blue is also going to be adapted for Amazon studios with Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine as Alex and Henry. This is one of my fav quotes from I Kissed Shara Wheeler: ‘She feels like the spine of a book about to crack and spill out all the love story guts.’”
The Blue Book: A Writer’s Journal By Amitava Kumar | Books And Teaa
“If there’s one book you must read this year, it’s Amitava Kumar’s The Blue Book. A meditative journey of a writer through his paintings that reflect the pandemic-ridden world we’re now getting used to, of lives lost, and homes uprooted, and how in the midst of it all, art binds us. Amitava has beautifully shared vignettes, anecdotes, and stories about his own life, his writings, and the myriad ways in which literature acts as a catalyst to defy and give strength to those who need it. The Blue Book, in indescribable ways, offers a kaleidoscopic view of the world passing us by.”
Be A Triangle By Lilly Singh | Vidhya A.Thakkar
“From being comfortable in our own skin to fighting our own battles, Lilly Singh’s Be a Triangle is about her journey. The candidness and honesty in her writing style and the fun and interesting illustrations truly do the magic. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense guide, filled with fun. She shares her journey, about the obstacles she faced, and how changing patterns helped her find her happiness. This book has many lessons that can transform our lives, and help witness the change. A short, 91-page book that is a must-read.”
Time Is A Mother By Ocean Vuong | Read A Day Club
“‘What if it wasn’t the crash that made us, but the debris?’ A poignant and sublime poetry collection, which was my first Ocean Vuong read, plucks at the very paradoxes of love, grief, relationships, and the notion of a Self that permits it all. Poetry soothes as well as inflames, not only a love for words and what they mean, but also an intense desire to feel everything all at once, at the cost of shattering into smaller fragments. Time Is A Mother has a very similar effect. Vuong writes about life as it happens here and now, which is for most readers, both alone and aware, the kind of writing that amounts to more than life itself.”
(Lead Image: Unsplash)
Reproduced with permission from Mansworldindia.com
