My Life, My Text : Episode 12

I was forty years old then. I had requested a transfer from Delhi to Chennai. Delhi, being the capital, it was easy to ask to be transferred to another city from there. Initially, I didn’t want to relocate to Chennai, but due to some unavoidable circumstances, I had to make the move.

” Fiction mirrors the truths, emotions, and complexities of the world we inhabit.” Rohan Monteiro

Rohan Monteiro’s Shadows Rising brings to life an unlikely hero-irreverent, witty and foul-mouthed-who seems to not have a care in the world. Until someone crosses a line. it is an exciting, fresh and unique take on timeless Indian myths told from the POV of a protagonist who might just be a lot more involved in the epics than he cares to admit.

Blood Test

Charles Baxter’s latest novel, “Blood Test,” is a captivating blend of speculative comedy and profound social commentary. The story revolves around Brock Hobson, a divorced Midwestern dad who works as an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher. His life is marked by predictability until he undergoes a predictive blood test that claims to foretell his actions.

When Animals Rule: How NoViolet Bulawayo’s ‘Glory’ Bites Back at African Authoritarianism

NoViolet Bulawayo’s Glory transforms fictional Jidada—populated entirely by animals—into a devastating mirror of postcolonial African governance. This Booker-shortlisted novel tears through liberation mythology with surgical precision, revealing how revolutionary heroes become the very tyrants they once fought, creating a ferocious political allegory that transcends any single nation’s borders.

Madonna in a Fur Coat

Turkish Author Sabahattin Ali’s “Madonna in a Fur Coat”, originally published in 1943, tells the story of Raif Efendi, a young Turkish man who journeys to 1920s Berlin to learn a trade and ends up finding himself through a chance encounter with an artist named Maria Puder. The novel, initially overlooked by critics as just another love story, has since become a celebrated work in Turkish literature, lauded for its poignant exploration of love, longing, and the complexities of the human soul.

Maybe Tomorrow by Penny Parkes

For readers seeking a lighthearted romance novel, Maybe Tomorrow by Penny Parkes might seem like the perfect choice. However, this novel offers something far more profound—a compelling exploration of societal challenges, single motherhood, and the power of female friendships. Unlike traditional romantic fiction, Maybe Tomorrow takes a deeper dive into themes of hardship, resilience, and personal growth.

The Alexander Nderitu Prize for World Literature announces the shortlist…

Themed on “Peace”, the short-story contest received a total of 72 entries from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Kingdom of Eswatini, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Poland, Malawi, The Gambia, Sri Lanka, USA, Botswana and Tanzania. The jurors include Dr. Paula O. M. Otukile (Botswana), Camilla Bauer (Sweden), Henry Akubuiro (Nigeria), Rupasinghe D. Pramudith (Sri Lanka), and Alexander Nderitu (Kenya).