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5 Books You Should Be Reading This Monsoon

Posted on June 16, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

Monsoon brings with it the perfect time to curl up with a hot cup of coffee and a great book. Here are five amazing books you should pick up this monsoon while enjoying the raindrops on your window pane.

The Colours Of My Heart – Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Remembered for both revolutionary verses and soulful poems of love, Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of the greatest Urdu poets of the twentieth century. The Colours of My Heart celebrates his greatest works, his most memorable poems and ghazals. A must read on a relaxed rainy evening.

A Handful Of Sunshine – Vikram Bhatt

What can be a better time to read a love story than the season of love? This monsoon, pick up Vikram Bhatt’s A Handful of Sunshine and experience the joy of love all over again. A tale of love, hate, and fate, this book will keep your hooked till the end.

The Boy Who Loved – Durjoy Datta

A boy, shying away from love and friendship cannot help but fall in love with a fascinating, quiet girl, so much like him yet different. Durjoy Datta’s The Boy Who Loved is a perfect choice to lose yourself in, this rainy season.

The Thirst – Jo Nesbo

The Thirst is the latest addition to the Harry Hole series. In this edition, Harry Hole hunts down a serial killer who hunts his preys on Tinder. The chief of police knows there’s only one man for this case. But Harry Hole is no longer with the force. He promised the woman he loves, and himself, that he’d never go back: not after his last case, which put the people closest to him in grave danger. Now, despite his promises, Harry throws himself back into the hunt for a figure who haunts him, the monster who got away. With amazing twists and turns, The Thirst will keep you hooked on a rainy night.

Everything Everything – Nicola Yoon

Nicola Yoon’s debut novel is everything perfect you need this monsoon. A beautiful romance, this book is a tale of love that will make you laugh, cry, and weep with joy. Its appeal lies in the vignettes, diary entries, and illustrations that take you through the story.
The season of rains and romance is already here, have you chosen your monsoon read yet?

Worried About the Environment? Five Reads to Enlighten and Educate!

Posted on June 5, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Henry David Thoreau remarked once.
This World Environment Day, here are five of the best reads on environment.
The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh

One of India’s greatest writers, Amitav Ghosh, argues that future generations may well think that we are deranged. How else can we explain our imaginative failure in the face of global warming? In this groundbreaking return to non-fiction, Ghosh examines our inability at the level of literature, history and politics to grasp the scale and impact of climate change.
Environmentalism: A Global History by Ramachandra Guha

An acclaimed historian of the environment, Ramachandra Guha in this book draws on many years of research in three continents. He details the major trends, ideas, campaigns and thinkers within the environmental movement worldwide. Among the thinkers he profiles are John Muir, Mahatma Gandhi, Rachel Carson and Octavia Hill; among the movements, the Chipko Andolan and the German Greens.
The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis by Prerna Singh Bindra

With the high-decibel development versus environment debate dominating headlines, this book reveals how the ‘development at all costs’ model threatens our ecological and economic security. The author travels to far-flung forests to give an eyewitness account, and an insider’s view of India’s vanishing natural heritage. The Vanishing is a sharp and stirring read about today’s desperate scenarios, and the quest for hope for a wild India.
Rage of the River by Hridayesh Joshi

Rage of the River is a riveting commentary on the socio-environmental landscape of Uttarakhand and is filled with vivid imagery of the calamity. Woven into this haunting narrative is also the remarkable history of the ordinary people’s struggle to save the state’s ecology.
Green Poems by Gulzar

One of the country’s best-loved poets and lyricists, Gulzar is renowned for his inimitable way of seeing things, his witty expressions, his quirky turns of phrase. All these creative talents come into play in delightful, unexpected ways in his bilingual collection Green Poems, which celebrates his innate connection with nature.
Fascinated by the list? What is your observation of nature around you? Do you have environmental issues to bring to the fore? Tell us, we are all ears!

8 Books by Jo Nesbo You Should Definitely Read

Posted on May 31, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

Jo Nesbo is a Norwegian crime novelist with awards such as Riverkey Prize and Glass Key Award to his name. Nesbo is primarily known for his Harry Hole series and the Doctor Proctor series of children’s books. He is also the author of several stand-alone novels, including Headhunters which was adapted into a film in 2011.
Here are 8 books by Jo Nesbo that will keep any reader on the edge of their seats:

Knife

The latest installment in the Harry Hole series. In his new book , Knife, Harry Hole is about to face his darkest case yet. The first killer he put behind bars is out to get him. Harry is responsible for the many years Finne spent in prison but now he’s free and ready to pick up where he left off.
When Harry wakes up with blood on his hands, and no memory of what he did the night before, he knows everything is only going to get worse . . .

The Bat

This is the first installment of the Harry Hole series. Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad is dispatched to Sydney to observe a murder case. The victim is a twenty-three-year-old Norwegian woman who is a minor celebrity back home. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Harry befriends one of the lead detectives and one of the witnesses, as he is drawn deeper into the case. As they circle closer and closer to the killer, Harry begins to fear that no one is safe, least of all those investigating the case.
The Bat won the Riverkey Prize and Glass Key Award.

Blood On Snow

Written under the pseudonym of Tom Johansen, Blood on Snow revolves around Olav Johansen, a cold-blooded killer with a heart of gold. Olav is a fixer for a high-profile crime kingpin in 1970s Oslo. He easily takes care of anyone who causes trouble for his boss. But he is more complicated than he seems. Olav’s latest job puts him at the pinnacle of his trade, but it may become his greatest mistake.

The Son

The Son is about Sonny Lofthus who has been in prison for almost half his life: serving time for crimes he didn’t commit. Years earlier Sonny’s father, a corrupt cop, took his own life rather than face exposure. When Sonny discovers a shocking truth about his father’s suicide, he makes a brilliant escape and begins hunting down the people responsible for his and his father’s demise. But he’s also being hunted, and by enemies too many to count. Who will get to him first, and what will he do when he’s cornered?

Headhunters

Roger Brown is a corporate headhunter, and he’s a master of his profession. At an art opening one night he meets Clas Greve, who is not only the perfect candidate for a major CEO job, but also, perhaps, the answer to his financial woes. But when he breaks into Greve’s apartment to steal a painting that has been missing since World War II, Brown realizes that Clas Greve may turn out to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to him.

The Snowman

In the seventh installment of the Harry Hole series, the detective traces a killer who makes his own rules and he’ll break his pattern just to keep the game interesting. With brilliantly realized characters and hair-raising suspense, international bestselling author Jo Nesbo presents his most chilling case yet—one that will test Harry Hole to the very limits of his sanity.

Police

Harry Hole, with his brilliant insights and dedication to his job, saved numerous lives in Oslo. But what happens when Harry is in no position to protect his loved ones in the face of a terrible danger. In this tenth installment of the Harry Hole series, the detective fights against a killer who lures and kills anyone who is or has been a part of the force.

The Redbreast

The third entry to the Harry Hole series, The Redbreast has Harry investigating neo-Nazi in Norway. Having caused an embarrassment in the line of duty, Harry Hole is tasked with surveillance duties. When a rare and unusual gun fires off, followed by the discovery of a former soldier’s dead body, Harry tries to see the connection between the two cases. The Redbreast touches upon Norway’s involvement in Second World War. It won the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize in 2000 for best novel of the year.

Intrigued yet? Tell us what you think of Jo Nesbo’s works in the comments below.

5 Badass Mothers in Literature

Posted on May 13, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

To call mothers a superhero will be an understatement (we are pretty sure they wear an invisible cape). Just like our real-life moms, mothers in literature also pull of some great tasks with breathtaking ease. Whether they are trying to protect the protagonists or just do a great job at raising them, we can’t help but look up to them.
So, here are five badass mothers:
Hester Prynne, The Scarlet Letter

Hester Prynne, in 17^th century, did what other ladies in that era couldn’t even imagine doing i.e. live an independent life while raising a child on her own. Even though punished by her Puritan neighbours, she refuses to give out the names of her lover and their daughter. Deemed as an outcast then, she’d be considered a heroine today, like many of our moms.
Raksha, The Jungle Book

She is the fiercest mother we know. She cared for Mowgli as much as she did for her cubs. When Shere Khan threatened the pack to give up Mowgli, she proclaimed as his protector. Foster or not, a mother is a mother.
Mariam, A Flight of Pigeons

Mariam is an indomitable lady with a charm. Despite being at Javed Khan’s house in the times of turmoil, she refuses his proposition to marry her daughter Ruth. She does not give into the adversity of her circumstances but takes a chance with faith, saving her daughter’s life in the end.
Rosa Hubermann, The Book Thief

Rosa Hubermann is Liesel’s foster mother who has a “wardrobe build”, sharp tongue and a no-nonsense attitude. She does laundry for the wealthier households to help her family financially. She also never got fazed by anybody, not even Nazis during World War II. She is a mom who uses cuss words to show affection.
Marmee, Little Women

Runs the household by herself, raises four daughters, becomes their counsellor and role model, Marmee did it all. She also teaches them and nurtures them to become strong, inspirational women while keeping each of them true to their individuality. If Marmee isn’t a badass mother, we don’t know who is.
Do you know any more names that should be on this list? Tell us.

7 William Wordsworth Quotes that will Brighten Your Weekend

Posted on April 7, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

Born on 7 April 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, William Wordsworth debuted as an author in 1787 when he published a sonnet in The European Magazine.
As a youngster, he was encouraged by his father to learn large portions of verse, by authors such as Shakespeare and Milton.
In 1793, Wordsworth published his first set of poems in a collections titled An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches. In 1795 after receiving an endowment of £900 from Raisley Calvert, he decided to pursue a career as a poet. With Samuel Taylor Coleridge, he published Lyrical Ballads in 1798 and launched the Romantic Age in English literature. Wordsworth was regarded as Britain’s Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.
Today, as we celebrate his 247^th birthday, here are some of his profound words.

Do you have a favourite quote by William Wordsworth?

Classic Translations and Their Breathtaking Book Covers

Posted on March 31, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

The world of literature is full of some enigmatic works that transcend the boundaries of language.
If you are looking to immerse yourself in some beautifully translated works (with stunning covers), look no further.
Here’s a list of five gorgeous looking classic translations that will leave you enthralled!
Kalidasa’s Classics
Kalidasa, perhaps the most extraordinary of India’s classical poets, composed seven major works: three plays, two epic poems and two lyric poems. Originally written in Sanskrit, the legacy of the writings have passed on to generations through various translated media. Kalidasa’s classics are also filled with lush imagery—from the magnificence of the bountiful earth to the glory of the celestial gods, from the hypnotic lilt of birdsong to the passionate love stories between couples. This vibrant verbal imagery translates beautifully into the covers of these books. Whether it be the green hue of the glorious forests in Meghdutam or the myriad of colours in the love story between Shakuntala and Dushyanta in Abhijananashakuntalam or the colour blue depicting the travails of Dashratha in Raghuvamsam, the covers of the translations reflect the beauty of his works.

My Name is Radha by Sadat Hasan Manto
My Name Is Radha is a path-breaking translation of stories that delve deep into Manto’s creative world. In this singular collection, the focus rests on Manto the writer. The vibrant pink hue of the cover reflects the boldness of Manto’s writings and the retro-graphic and font on the cover reflect Muhammad Umar Memon’s attempt to keep true to the artfulness in the translation.

The Broken Mirror, None Other, and Steps in Darkness
Written and translated by the eminent iconoclast Krishna Baldev Vaid, his writings echo an aspect of the turmoil the people and the Indian subcontinent went through during the time of partition. The perpetuating, almost uncontrollable patterns on the covers of these translations perhaps reflect the myriad moods that people suffered through during those times.

Have you seen a cover of a translation which has left you awestruck? Share with us!

5 Books You Should Read This Spring

Posted on March 11, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

Spring is the best season of all. With the flora at full bloom, you just want to stop and admire the beautiful scenes. Not only does spring signify beauty but it also signifies transition. So, what better way to enjoy the season than reading outdoors while basking in the sunlight.
Here’s a list of 5 books you should read this spring:
Anne of Green Gables
Mathew and Mariila Cuthbert were expecting a boy to show up from the orphanage. Little did they know, they will have the dreamy, talkative Anne to take care of their Green Gables. The descriptions of sights of Avonlea and Green Gables are so vivid that it makes you fall in love with nature even more.

Leaves of Grass
Strewn with vivid description of nature, Walt Whitman in this poetry collection professes his love for the universal elements, flora and the fauna. After reading the poems, we also cannot help but awe at the marvels of nature.

Heidi
This little girl was sent to live with her grandfather in the mountains. With each passing day, she grew to be fonder of the scenic beauty. But when she was sent to live in the city, even Clara’s friendship couldn’t make her miss the mountains any less. Honestly, even we wouldn’t have coped to live in the city after living amidst such beauty.

Catcher in the Rye
The protagonist of this story is standing at the brink of adulthood and is yet apprehensive to make the transition. He wants to own a rye field at the edge of a cliff where thousands of children play. He would then catch them if they come close to falling from the cliff. He just wants to be a savior of innocence when he is in the process of losing his.

The Room on the Roof
In a sleepy town of Dehradun, our boy Rusty flees from his house to live with his friends. Enamored by the beauty of his town, Indian customs, festivals and foods. He understands that his life will not be as hunky dory as he thought but he still does not give up on his pursuit of a happier life.

Can you think of any more books that depict change and nature’s beauty with equal panache? Tell us.

6 Wonderful Books You Should Gift the Women in Your Life

Posted on March 7, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them,” Neil Gaiman once remarked. This Women’s Day, do you want to gift her an inspirational world of stories? Worry no more as we have got you covered.
Here are six contemporary books that the women in your life will absolutely love to have!
This Wide Night
If you want to honour the women in your life who rose above unfavourable circumstances and came out on top, then this book is for you!
In this evocative and gripping novel, Sarvat Hasin depicts four beautiful sisters and their unconventional mother, living alone and together in a deeply patriarchal world. The Maliks, as they are called, live a life of relative freedom in 1970s Karachi. It is hard to break into their circle as they have forged the rules of their own universe. In a quietly seething world of This Wide Night, the unconventionality of these women collides with the dogmatism of the society around them.

Me and Ma
A moving memoir from one of the most talented artists of our time, Divya Dutta celebrates her mother’s struggles to turn her into the woman she is today. Capturing the beauty of a mother-child relationship, Divya Dutta walks us through the most intimate memories of her life. The incredible bond she forged with her mother helped her through tragedies and difficulties, and led her to become an award-winning actor of stature.
Me and Ma is one of the most beautiful tributes that you can give your mother!

The Spy
Is there a woman in your life who defied conventions? An epitome of fierce independence? If yes, then this enthralling tale of Mata Hari by Paulo Coehlo is one of the most perfect gifts for her!
Arriving penniless in Paris, Mata Hari swiftly became the most celebrated woman in the city at the back of her delightful dancing and showmanship. She led a liberated life and courted some of the most powerful men of her time. Not before paranoia consumed a country at war and the powers-that-be clanked down upon her, suspicious of her lifestyle that led them to believe she was a spy.

Devi, Diva or She-Devil
Do you know a woman who combines her personal and professional responsibilities with masterful ease? Then Sudha Menon’s take on smart career women would prove to be an enchanting tribute!
The book explores a myriad of complex issues faced by Indian women at the workplace, such as dealing with family pressures, gender perceptions, the glass ceiling, leadership challenges and bringing up children while also excelling in their careers.

Mr and Mrs Jinnah
Sheela Reddy’s fascinating account of a marriage that shook India, that of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Ruttie Petit’s, brings to the fore an unlikely and unforgettable love story.
It was her intelligence and the fact that Ruttie was so widely read that attracted Jinnah. Apart from her beauty, Ruttie’s fierce commitment to the nationalist struggle struck a chord with him. She came across as a young independent woman who saw above the trivialities of the day.
This lucid account of an unlikely union that took the society of the day by storm is a must-give to the women in your life who share Ruttie’s exuberance and intelligence.
The Girl Who Chose
Over the centuries, hundreds have retold the Ramayana, one of the two great epics from ancient India. They added new twists and turns but few have noticed that the tale always depends on the five choices made by Sita. In this charmingly illustrated retelling of the epic, Devdutt Pattanaik brings to the fore the often overlooked story of Sita.
As an epitome of freedom, Sita, the girl who chose, stands tall as a woman who decided not be bound by rules. Gift this book to one of the women in your life and let her know your admiration for her independence!

We hope that the list above solved your worries and provided you with wonderful options for that perfect gift – ones that the women in your life truly deserve!

Feminism Defined Right

Posted on March 6, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

What is Feminism? Feminism is often misinterpreted to state that it propagates female chauvinism. But the original thought behind feminism is equality for women in the domains of economic, personal, social, and political rights.
Here are five iconic quotes about feminism by women authors to set the record straight on feminism.

Know more quotes which define feminism the right away? Tell us in the comments.

5 Novels by Charles Dickens that Dazzled Us

Posted on February 7, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another,” Charles Dickens remarked once. If we care for that standard, Charles Dickens – a colossus standing tall over the literary firmament – is one of the most ‘useful’ people of all time!
Even though he lacked a formal education, he gave us fifteen novels, five novellas and hundreds of short stories that have not only lightened the burdens of numerous generations but also given us a glorious peek into the grand world of his imagination.
Virginia Woolf once tagged Dickens’ works as “mesmerizing” and Truman Capote called him “a great artist”. On Charles Dickens’ birth anniversary, we fetch five of his greatest works that have dazzled men and women, children and elders alike!
David Copperfield
“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”

Great Expectations
“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”

Oliver Twist
“Please, sir, I want some more.”

A Christmas Carol
“I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me.”

A Tale of Two Cities
“Repression is the only lasting philosophy.”

Which is your favourite novel by Charles Dickens, and why? Tell us, and join us in wishing Charles Dickens – Happy Birthday!

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Category: Recommendations

5 Books You Should Be Reading This Monsoon

Worried About the Environment? Five Reads to Enlighten and Educate!

8 Books by Jo Nesbo You Should Definitely Read

5 Badass Mothers in Literature

7 William Wordsworth Quotes that will Brighten Your Weekend

Classic Translations and Their Breathtaking Book Covers

5 Books You Should Read This Spring

6 Wonderful Books You Should Gift the Women in Your Life

Feminism Defined Right

5 Novels by Charles Dickens that Dazzled Us

Follow Penguin

Follow Penguinsters

Follow Penguin Swadesh

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Publish with Us

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