Editors Recommend

Smriti Ravindra’s 9 Favourite Books

From her favourite debut novels to the essential Nepali literature books that you should read, Smriti Ravindra’s recommendations must be on your 2023 TBR!

Books from Nepal and the Nepali Diaspora:

  • Song of the Soil by Chuden Kabimo, translated by Ajit Baral


    Song of the Soil
    is a poignant exploration of a childhood friendship and a community’s tumultuous past amid the Gorkhaland revolution, questioning the true victors and victims of political upheaval. Celebrated for its evocative portrayal of harsh realities, the novel beautifully transforms brutal narratives into a poetic expression of life, hope, and shattered dreams.

  • The Wayward Daughter by Shradha Ghale


    The Wayward Daughter
    presents a nuanced coming-of-age tale of Sumnima Tamule, a girl navigating her personal crisis amid looming civil war in Nepal. The narrative brilliantly portrays Kathmandu’s societal complexities and captures the protagonist’s journey towards self-discovery and love amidst familial and societal expectations.
  • Land Where I Flee by Prajwal Parajuly


    Land Where I Flee
    revolves around the compelling journey of three grandchildren, each grappling with personal secrets and expectations, as they converge in Sikkim for their grandmother Chitralekha’s birthday. Amidst family dynamics and unexpected guests, their mission to secure their matriarch’s blessings while keeping their individual truths hidden becomes a challenging endeavour.
  • Seasons of Flight by Manjushree Thapa
    Seasons of Flight
    by Manjushree Thapa is a multifaceted narrative chronicling Prema’s journey from war-ravaged Nepal to the unfamiliar landscapes of Los Angeles. As she grapples with love, sexuality, and a growing connection to an endangered butterfly species, her struggle for self-identity and belonging unfolds against a deeply political backdrop.

Some of my favourite debut novels:

  • The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

    The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao offers a compelling tale of Oscar, a passionate yet socially challenged Dominican-American. His dreams of love and literary greatness are haunted by a generational curse that traces his family’s arduous journey from Santo Domingo to the USA, providing a striking lens on the contemporary American experience and the indomitable human spirit.

  • The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

    The White Tiger is a captivating story that follows Balram Halwai, a poor villager-turned-successful entrepreneur, navigating the deeply entrenched caste system and corruption of modern India. This Booker Prize-winning novel is a provocative exploration of societal contradictions and an audacious debut offering an unfiltered voice of the Third World.
  • Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

    Big Girl is a story about Malaya Clondon, a young girl grappling with societal expectations and body image issues amidst the backdrop of 1990s Harlem. As she navigates self-understanding and acceptance, the narrative offers a striking exploration of Black womanhood in America, illuminating the struggles and joys of living in a body that doesn’t fit conventional norms.
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

    Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a heartwarming tale set in a unique Tokyo café that offers customers a chance to travel back in time. Through the stories of four visitors, each seeking to reconcile with their past, the book poignantly explores the timeless question of what one might change if given the chance to revisit past moments.

  • The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay
    The Far Field
    follows Shalini, a young woman from Bangalore, who ventures into a remote Kashmiri village in pursuit of answers about her mother’s death and a long-lost acquaintance. As she is swept into the region’s tumultuous politics and familial complexities, her decisions risk igniting violence, revealing a critique of Indian politics and class bias through her perspective, and offering profound insights on grief, guilt, and compassion.

 

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