BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THIS WEEK

From a novel set during the Spanish civil war, to one that looks at Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s cosmopolitan court, our picks

FICTION

“A Long Petal of the Sea: A Novel” by Isabel Allende

This book has been described as “a masterful work of historical fiction about hope, exile, and belonging”. Set in the late 1930s during the Spanish civil war, the book follows Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. In order to survive, the two protagonists must unite in a marriage neither of them desires.



NON-FICTION

“The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia: Stories from the Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh” by Sarbpreet Singh

In this book, author Sarbpreet Singh presents a portrait of Ranjit Singh and his times that focuses on a wide array of colourful characters that populated his court. The cosmopolitan court includes French officers, Punjabi courtiers, an American quaker, among others. All these stories combine to present a nuanced and complex image of Maharaja Ranjit Singh through his interactions with these characters.



PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT & SELF-HELP

“Fluid: The Approach Applied by Geniuses Over Centuries” by Ashish Jaiswal

In this book, Ashish Jaiswal takes the readers through groundbreaking research, and unravells what binds the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, CV Raman, Steve Jobs, Charles Darwin and other geniuses. He also delves into why being fluid like them could be our biggest winning strategy in the age of artificial intelligence. Read this book to learn the approach required for world-class innovations, groundbreaking solutions and game-changing ideas.



SHORT STORIES

“The Rickshaw Reveries” by Ipshita Nath

In this debut book by Ipshita Nath, Delhi is at its primal best. With stories that are both terrifying and enticing, The Rickshaw Reveries takes one into the bizarre and fantastic, while exploring Delhi's many subterranean truths.