BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THIS WEEK

From a book chronicling stories and folklore from the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, to a collection of articles elucidating spiritual mindfulness, our book picks this week, curated by Chirdeep Malhotra

HISTORY/ CHRONICLES

“From the bylanes of Delhi, Agra & Jaipur” by R V Smith

This book focuses on tales from Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and provides a rare glimpse into the history and chronicles of the past from these cities. Readers would get to know the gossip and legends that spilled over in the city streets, and what a Delhi Christmas was like in the 1890s, and how New Year was celebrated after the siege of 1857. This book by raconteur and columnist R V Smith featuring little known facts about these cities, and with interesting descriptions of events, is a treat to read.



FICTION

“Imaginations Wild” by Parinieta Ahuja

This is a coming-of-age story and follows the protagonist Anam, who while growing up was always writing and reflecting in her Mr. Journal, and adjusting to life as a child adopted by a white family in America. On her journey to become a lawyer to fulfill her birth mother’s dream, Anam disregards her dream of becoming a writer, and loses Mr. Journal, the one thing that kept her close to her dream. Will she get her Mr. Journal back, and is she ready for all the opportunities that come with finding it? Read this book to find out.



SELF-HELP/ SPIRITUALITY

“Magic of the Mind” by Ravi Valluri

This book consists of a collection of 50 articles that explicate the themes of faith and spiritual techniques, the practice of yoga, pranayama, meditation, chanting mantras, and adopting breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, in an attempt to focus on positivity to conquer the monkey mind. With the world presently coping with the Coronavirus pandemic, the readers will certainly feel emboldened to combat the uncertain times that lie ahead through these articles delineating positive thoughts and consciousness.



SUSPENSE THRILLER

“The Secret of the Stolen Idols” by Vivek R Chaturvedi

This is a tightly woven suspense thriller, and features a myriad of intriguing characters, fascinating sets, and well researched instructive chapters. A story based on real life historical events, this is a fictionalized account about Betaal worshippers in Goa. When his ancestral temple's long stolen idols hit the local markets, Gururaj, the last of Goan priests sworn to the worship of Betaal, leaps into the high stakes chase for the idols. He soon finds out that he is not alone in the chase, and piece by piece, much like the stolen idols, the story unravels itself continuously till the very end.