BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THIS WEEK

From a memoir of Yuvraj Singh, to a non-fiction presenting an incisive analysis of contemporary Indian politics, our book picks this week, curated by Chirdeep Malhotra

LITERARY FICTION

“Bhaunri: A Novel” by Anukrti Upadhyay

The two books “Bhaunri: A Novel” and “Daura: A Novel” by Anukrti Upadhyay have been described as mini-literary fiction. This book depicts the story of Bhaunri who is married, as is the custom in her tribe of nomadic blacksmiths, when she is still a child. When she is finally sent away to her husband's home as a young woman, she finds herself drawn deeply and powerfully towards the gruff and handsome Bheema. Bheema, however, is far from the ideal husband, and when he strays one time too many, Bhaunri's love for him begins to fester and grow into something dark and fearsome. This is a story of obsessive love and the destructive power of desire. Half real and half fable, and redolent with the songs and myths, the beauty and mystery of Rajasthan, this book announces the arrival of a powerful new literary talent.



“Daura: A Novel” by Anukrti Upadhyay

This book takes the readers on a journey into the dark heart of the desert. A young District Collector is posted to one of the furthest outposts of rural Rajasthan, and finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the lives and troubles of the common people there. Then one day, with the help of a mysterious musician, the Sarangiya, he has an encounter with beauty in its purest, most absolute form - an encounter that precipitates a dangerous descent. The pages from the journal he keeps are combined with the narratives of various people around him to create a compelling account of his slide away from reality.



MEMOIR

“The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back” by Yuvraj Singh

In this book, Yuvraj Singh tells the real story behind the 2011 World Cup when on-the-field triumph hid his increasingly puzzling health problems and worrying illnesses. He reveals how—plagued with insomnia, coughing fits that left him vomiting blood, and an inability to eat—he made a deal with God. On the night before the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, Yuvraj prayed for the World Cup in return for anything God wanted.
In this book, he lays bare his fears, doubts, and the lows he experienced during chemotherapy—when he lost his energy, his appetite, and his hair—and his battle to find the will to survive. Poignant, personal, and moving, “The test of My Life” is about cancer and cricket; but more importantly, it is about the human will to fight adversity and triumph despite all odds.



NON-FICTION

“Newsman: Tracking India in the Modi Era” by Rajdeep Sardesai

The rise of Narendra Modi has heralded one of the most exciting and contentious periods in Indian politics. From the day he was sworn in as prime minister in May 2014, Mr Modi has dominated the news cycle, attracting admirers and critics in equal measure. Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition too have slowly begun to find their voice even as the country is conflicted between a billion aspirations and rising mutinies. What defines the Modi persona? How will the deep divisions in society be bridged? What are the challenges ahead of a ‘new’ India? And what of the lingering credibility crisis confronting the Indian media? As one of the country’s leading journalists with a ringside view to Indian politics, Rajdeep Sardesai’s incisive analysis of contemporary events decodes the key questions of our times.