The backlist: Forget the Alamo
You should read Forget the Alamo if: You grew up in Texas and think you know this story. You love American history. You want to understand why two British rock stars are part of the history of the Alamo.
The backlist: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
For fans of the Saint of Bright Doors and The Kite Runner, Exit West is an exquisitely told story that propels us into a future in which changing countries is as easy as opening a door.
Book review: Lonely People Meet by Sayantan Ghosh
Lonely People Meet combines the bookish vibes of an Emily Henry meet-cute, the themes of Murderbot Diaries, and the characters who dream of PDK’s electric sheep —all set in Delhi’s historic bylanes and writer-friendly bars.
The backlist: Of cancer journals and checklist manifestos
While it might seem odd to say that Lorde and Gawande are in conversation with each other, Lorde‘s and Gawande’s approaches to the system they critique offer parallel and sometimes intersecting perspectives. Furthermore, Lorde has something to offer Gawande. Whereas Lorde’s focus is more on the emotional journey of a patient in treatment, Gawande’s approach is far more focused on the technical aspects. I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more emotion penetrate the clinical nature of his approach.
Book review: Imagination
Every year, rather than making resolutions that I won’t keep, I set my intention for the year by choosing a word. This year‘s word is imagination. That’s why I chose Professor Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination as my bridge book for the year—the book I started in 2024 and finished in 2025. Just over 4 hours and under 200 pages, Imagination is a thoughtful exploration of not only our own imaginations, but how our society creates collective imaginaries.
Book review: Mask of Fear
You should read this book if you:
—Love Andor and Rogue One
—Believe that all reading is political and enjoy the politics of a galaxy far, far away more than our own
—Enjoyed Obi-Wan’s detective story in Attack of the Clones
—Need some hope to get you through the darkness
The backlist: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
You should read the Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi if you:
Think Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) was the true hero of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Observe Talk Like a Pirate Day every year.
Are a woman over 40 who craves adventure, especially if you’re a mom!
Love SA Chakraborty’s City of Brass and The Daevabad Trilogy
Love cozy vibes where a story with even the highest stakes (death and eternal damnation) is still lots of fun.
A few of my favorite blogs
I have been blogging since 2012, so there’s a lot of content you may have missed. As a welcome note, I want to share some of my faves. If you have favorite blogs that aren’t on here, please comment on this post, and I will add them to the list.
Complete/Convenient explores expatriate life for India’s diaspora
This blog was originally published in 2013. Ketan’s book launch was my first in India. Britain has its Bronte sisters; now, India has its Bhagat brothers. With his debut novel, Complete/Convenient, Ketan Bhagat proves that great writing is now the family business. Complete/Convenient tells the story of two NRIs: Kabir and Myra Kapoor. They relocate […]
Book review: Train to Pakistan (1956)
In his debut novel, Train to Pakistan, Khushwant Singh writes about one fictional border community’s response to the horrors of Partition. The arrival of a trainload of dead Sikhs from Pakistan throws the peaceful residents of Mano Majra into a tailspin. Like many communities along the border, Mano Majra is an eclectic mix of Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. Murder, dacoity, and politics change the dynamics among the residents. Will they respond to the ghost train from Pakistan by returning a ghost train of their own?