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Amrita Tripathi

Writer/ Founder/ Former Journalist

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Books by Amrita Tripathi

Books, Books, Books

Let's talk a bit about books that delighted and enthralled this year? The type of books and stories we read are (hopefully!) as diverse as the day is long, depending on our moods, attention spans and 'mindspace' at any given time...so no judgement here! 

I actually do keep a list of books I read --  I don't know why I started this habit years ago, but it makes me happy to more or less track my journey through the year(s). My favourites, starting with the most recent read...

 

 Slade House by David Mitchell  

Beyond fabulous, as with all that I've read of him (Bone Clocks, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, that also goes on this list!), I read it with goosebumps and chills intact. Our wonderful friend makes an entry and at long last, Atemporals will rue the day...I don't want to say anymore, since spoilers ruin everything.  

This sort of story isn't for everyone, I imagine, but a) what is, at the end of the day? and b) it adds to the readers' pleasure to be in a group that excludes someone or the other, I'm sure...look no further than us legions of Murakami fans. 

(Note: So I read the Kindle edition, and just discovered the hardback was actually priced better here in India -- what a drag! My collection is worse for the wear, but that'll teach me to *not* check!)

 

 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Anything I write about this book will sound like garbage compared to its lyrical bedazzlement. The story sort of sneaks up on you, captivating from the get go, and before you know it, your soul has been moved. If that's not great writing, I don't know what is!

I really can't believe I'm at a loss for words, because this is the books I've been evangelizing like there's no tomorrow - set in World War II, what seems to be an unlikely mix of characters will break (and probably re-form) your heart.

 

 

The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

A great read, from earlier this year. Hawkins writes the perfect pacey, taut story that packs the proverbial punch (that sounds quite grisly, given the subject matter, so apologies...) Quite the ride.

I also thoroughly enjoyed, was moved by, and highly recommend: Being Mortal (Atul Gawande), She Will Build Him a City (Raj Kamal Jha), Flood of Fire (Amitav Ghosh), and a host of books I read belatedly, including Death in Mumbai (Meenal Baghel) and Aarushi (Avirook Sen), which both track gruesome murders and tell the stories the mainstream media was unable to, as well as Indian Summer (Alex von Tunzelmann), which I should've read years ago!

Any of your picks match this list? Let me know what you picked out this year and what you're looking forward to next? So many books, so little time! 

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