All the amazing Books I read

in April 2023

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April has been a fun reading month for me with a mixed bag of six books including graphic novels, Japanese fiction, non-fiction essays, short stories, and some Indian history.

April also happens to be Dalit History Month in India very much like Black History Month celebrated in America. So I created a post dedicated to Dalit writers and Dalit stories this month and read the Annihilation of caste by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar who is the architect of the Dalit Movement.

 Also, I read two ARCs sent by publishers and loved both books. My favorite BOTM has to be Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto that I picked from my library and my least favorite would be A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There by Krishna Sobti.

Do get in touch with me to share your favorites, recommendations, and anything more you’d like me to read.

Linking all the important posts of the last three months down below for your perusal.

Books I read in February

Books I Read in March

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Recent Reads April 2023

Inquilab Zindabad : A Graphic Biography of Bhagat Singh by Ikroop Sandhu

Inquilab Zindabad is a graphic biography of Bhagat Singh, an Indian revolutionary, written by Ikroop Sandhu. Right from how he was driven into the freedom movement with inspiration from his Uncle to the day he was hanged and the after-effects in the country post his death. I have read the book Why I am an atheist by Bhagat Singh, a collection of his letters/statements to the government or speeches and even to his friends and family members. The fiery spirit of this young man shines through in both books. Because his words were said with such honesty and determination to do the right thing you are affected by them.

Although considered dangerous by the British in that era, his ideas were rational and well thought out. His actions were never sporadic. His sentiments never betrayed his country. His spirit was indomitable. He fought until the very end. This book does bring out all these radical incidents and portrays them through equally fiery illustrations. I liked that the graphics are in black and white because adding color I feel would have taken away the gravity and the importance of the man to the freedom movement. That time in Indian history was dark and should be shown accordingly.

Overall I enjoyed revisiting Bhagat Singh’s history through this graphic tale and uncovered some new facts about him like the indecent disposal of his body carried out by the jail authorities etc.

Any reader interested in history or in India’s past must read this biography.

Kitchen by Banana Yashimoto

An absolutely unexpected find. I was looking for Japanese books to diversify my reading experience and for one of my upcoming blog posts and came across this short book. The author's name and the title of the book intrigued me and I ordered it from my library. I am glad I did.

The book has two love stories that will capture your heart. Both stories are very different from each other but both talk about dealing with the loss of a loved one. 

There are so many places in the book where I could highlight as a quote to use as an inspiration when I am felling low. The writing is very powerful, it takes you with it to the shores of Japan where these happened. The love stories are not exactly romantic or sexy or smutty. And yet they manage to deeply satisfy you through the swirling emotions of the characters.

I also loved the references to the homely dishes mentioned in both stories. Although I had no clue how they looked or tasted their description was satiating.

Games and Rituals: Stories by Katherine Heiny

The first story was about driving examiners, and the details of their work life were quite interesting to know, specially how they divided the clients among themselves. The story also had an unexpected twist towards the end.

The second story explored a mother-son relationship discussing how generations don’t emulate each other but switch between the roles of a caretaker. It was a sweet story.

The third one explores the perils of caring for your old and now-alone father.

Turn Back, Turn Back was another interesting one from the POV of a wife and mother whose husband took care of their girls in the day but was actually having an affair.

The titular story failed to impress, as it was a lovers’ story who plays different conversational games with each other.

Cobra, so far my favorite, was such a sweet story about a married couple in their mid-life and the infinite, unending love they share. The title was hilarious by the way.

A married Charlie helps relocate her husband’s ex-wife who also happened to volunteer as a helpline counselor with her.

Pandemic Behaviour is set during the pandemic and speaks of how roommates became everything at the time, and how doctor-patient appointments were conducted.

Bridesmaid, Revisited sees Marlee wear her bridesmaid dress to the office one day and initially welcomes the attention but then regrets her decision. She had worn that dress as a bridesmaid to a particularly clingy friend whom she did not like much, and then she ends up regretting her behavior towards the friend.

King Midas has a married man Oscar who is deeply hopelessly in love or so it seems with his girlfriend/mistress Tessa. But for Tessa, a wedding photographer, the attention and affection are not new.

Sky Bar sees Fawn at the airport waiting for her flight which gets canceled due to inclement weather. She makes new acquaintances while waiting there and tries to avoid her ex, who is waiting for her and wants to meet her earnestly.

This was my first book by Katherine Heiny, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from her. Overall I enjoyed reading most of the stories. Although the context and characters of the stories seemed very real, I enjoyed the slightly unhinged character allotted to each of the stories. The deeper meaning in the seemingly simple stories was a treat to read.

I think most readers will enjoy at least a few stories in this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me enjoy this book.

Annihilation of Caste by B.R.Ambedkar

“What the Communist Manifesto is to the capitalist world, Annihilation of Caste is to India.” —Anand Teltumbde, author of The Persistence of Caste

B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste is one of the most monumental, yet disregarded, literature of political notation from India. penned in 1936, it's an daredevil condemnation of Hinduism and its caste system. Ambedkar – a figure like W.E.B. Du Bois – offers a knowledgeable criticism of Hindu scriptures, scriptures that authorization a strictly hierarchical and unethical social system. The world’s best- known Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, reacted openly to the incitation. The hatchet was in noway buried.

If there was one man in India that everyone knows worked for the upliftment of the Dalits, it cannot be anyone other than Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. A prolific writer, this man also drafted the constitution of India. Born a Hindu into an ‘Untouchable’ family, he gave up his religion and embraced Buddhism. His views were radical and futuristic and transformed the lives of lakhs of oppressed people.

This particular book is the fruit of his efforts. The Jat Pat Todak Mandal of Lahore invited Dr. Ambedkar for a lecture. But before the lecture they wanted to peruse his speech in advance. When his speech was received they termed its contents unbearable. They felt that Ambedkar was not only criticizing the caste system but was also denouncing the Hindu religion. They withdrew the invitation.

Ambedkar printed his speech himself and distributed 1500 copies of it. The text became a Bible for Dalits, and it was reprinted and translated into numerous other languages by Dalit-owned presses. The text is radical, revolutionary, and dynamiting and questions the very basis of our society and community.

A Gujarat Here, a Gujarat There by Krishna Sobti Translated by Daisy Rockwell

A refugee comes to India from Lahore, now in Pakistan, looking for a means of livelihood and shelter. She ends up becoming a Governess for a royal heir in Sirohi, Rajasthan.

The novel is promoted as a Partition novel. But I felt it was more a feminist novel about a woman fighting patriarchy and the ways and means of a newly independent country, India.

That's all that I could gather from reading the 270 pages. There wasn't a distinct plot or pace to the novel, but neither were the characters memorable. The language also felt elementary and, at times, confusing because it skipped to a new day or new event quite abruptly.

Felt like DNFing the book a couple of times, but kept on reading hoping it would lead to somewhere interesting. I read for Uncorked Reading Challenge 2023 - prompt A Book about Royalty.

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Essays on Desire and Consumption

First and foremost, thank you very much to the publishers for sending me a copy of this book. I don’t think I would ever have picked this book otherwise and therefore would have missed out on a ton of very fascinating information and history.

The book is a collection of ten essays about the world’s many beautiful things – gemstones, silk, perfume, mirror, sea shells, marble, glass, and so on and so forth. What is unique about this book is that it focuses on the dark history of these beautiful things and how the experience of these things has affected the author’s life.

This one was a very different read for me from my usual line-up of books and I am so glad I got to read this. I give a more detailed review here, where I elaborate on what I loved about the book.