I know, I know. Like an old book gathering dust in the corner, my “best books of 2023” list now threatens to become tragically overdue. I can’t say how exactly it works. I loathe to linger, but delay somehow keeps pursuing me. That reminds me of Munir Niazi’s beautiful lines:
हमेशा देर कर देता हूं मैं…
ज़रूरी बात कहनी हो
कोई वादा निभाना हो
Translation: I always delay…
The words I should say.
The promises I should obey.
Munir Niazi
Coming to the more important matters, now that I am here, let me briefly explain how I curated this list.
I peeked around the bookstores, sniffing the scent of new books and looking for familiar names, media trends or what the gossips in publishing circles were suggesting — and I picked a few.
Then I started reading them, but let’s just say, not all of them were winners. This list is your shortcut, skipping past the self-help section’s promises of instant wisdom. So, grab a cup of tea (or coffee), find your comfy corner, and get ready for an adventure where the only goal is to find a book for you from 2023.
Novel: Victory City by Salman Rushdie
What would happen if “Game of Thrones” met “The Odyssey” with Salman Rushdie’s wit and eloquence? One hell of a crossover, isn’t it?
That’s what we find in Victory City. It’s a historical fiction where we are transported to a battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in the fourteenth-century southern India. Here we meet Pampa Kampana, nine years old and suddenly the mouthpiece of a deity. Gifted with powers beyond her wildest dreams, she’s tasked with birthing Bisnaga — literally “victory city” — a utopian marvel.
Over the next couple of centuries (yes, it’s that long), Pampa Kampana’s life becomes one with Bisnaga’s, from planting magical seeds to witnessing its tragic downfall. It’s not wars or monsters that bring the city low, but something far more relatable — the age-old human cocktail of greed and power. Sounds exotic, right?
Culture: The Sweet Salt of Tamil by Tho Paramasivan
Tamil is one of the oldest surviving languages of the world and its literary landscape is as rich and vast as you could imagine. Still, a lot of people (in India as well outside) don’t know much about the land of the Tamils. Here’s a brilliant book that will help you understand it better.
The Sweet Salt of Tamil is all about knowing an ancient culture — and not just through facts and figures but also stories that bring the human element to it. For instance, we discover how black became the ideal of beauty for Tamils. Or how the Hindu gods from the north of India find their different avatars in the south. Or how the Tamil kari spread throughout the world and came to be known as curry.
The last part is important because it’s the unique Tamil flavour that we find throughout the book. Are you ready for this literary feast?
Memoir: Spare by Prince Harry
My sincere regards to Prince Harry, who, instead of serving his royal duties, decided to serve up the royal gossip in his book, Spare. If you ever felt that you are at the receiving end of the family drama, our prince will make you forget those dark moments.
Imagine finding out your sibling borrowed your favorite crown jewels for a “casual night out” with the Queen (and maybe “accidentally” lost a priceless earring). That’s the level of juicy gossip Harry spills in this book.
He talks about everything from childhood fights over who gets to ride shotgun in the royal carriage (spoiler alert, it involves a well-placed slingshot and a strategically placed puddle) to the time he “borrowed” his brother’s wig for a Halloween costume (let’s just say, “ginger wigs and tiaras” wasn’t the best fashion choice).
If you are someone who doesn’t read books but keeps looking for celebrity gossips, paparazzi pics or other unimportant news, then this might be your moment… Go for it!
Non fiction: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Here’s a true-crime story that intertwines with the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, history of the Mormon faith. Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven is a book that you wouldn’t want to put down.
Krakauer doesn’t just present a sensationalised crime story. He delves deeper, unearthing the complex history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from its origins and practices to the rise of fundamentalist sects.
It’s not going to be an easy read. When you see the dark side of a belief system, especially when it leads to a heinous crime, it makes you suspicious. It makes you question your own beliefs. But we cannot (and we shouldn’t) shy away from facing the reality. And hence the book!
Poetry: Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky
Deaf Republic opens in a time of political unrest in an occupied territory. It is uncertain where we are or when, in what country or during what conflict, but we come to recognise that these events are also happening here, right now. And it would seem even more relatable if you’ve been following the news in recent times.
This poetic parable unfolds in a place where a gunshot meant to silence a protest instead deafens the entire town. The people, denied their hearing, create a profound new language of resistance — the sign language becomes their act of defiance.
The book dives into the lives of ordinary people amidst this extraordinary situation. There’s a newly married couple expecting a child, a mother who ignites rebellion through her puppet theatre, and others who use their new way of communicating to strike back.
Think of it as a love story laced with defiance, an elegy sung in signs. It’s going to please your ears and touch your heart.
Graphic Novel: Ducks – Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
From ears, we turn to eyes with this brilliant graphic memoir called Ducks: Two Years kn the Oil Sands. Here, we travel to the Canadian oil sands through the eyes of the author.
Kate Beaton, a young woman burdened with student debt, dives headfirst into the harsh reality of working in the remote oil fields of Alberta. With her distinctive cartooning style, Beaton paints a vivid picture of the landscape — the colossal machinery, the endless stretches of boreal forest, and the breathtaking aurora borealis dancing across the night sky.
However, the true heart of the book lies in the people. Through humour and poignant moments, Beaton portrays the lives of those who call the oil sands home. She captures the camaraderie forged in the face of challenging work and harsh conditions, the struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating an unconventional life, and the complex emotions surrounding this controversial industry.
So…
What do you make of this list? Have you read them? Have I missed a book (or two) that deserved to be here? Let me know your thoughts on this.
Kalampedia 