My Top Reads of 2023
The year 2023 kept me extremely busy with a lot of welcoming changes but still managed to get into the zone of books experiencing some of the best reads. Though I have always been a reader who gets into a reading supportive radar for focus with less distractions, 2023 has made me realise that I can read amidst anything and everything.
My reading list of 2023 has been diverse, spanning across a few books on memoir, compilation of Indian political history, novels and literature. The reading curve from one book to another plotted against the scale of variety has been cutting across differences. Here I go sharing some of the amazing reads I had,
Why I am a Hindu by Shashi Tharoor
I have always been intrigued to know about the roots of Hinduism and Why I am a Hindu by Shashi Tharoor was a perfect choice to know far beyond the roots of Hinduism. The book is segmented into three parts where the first part is more on the Hindu way from the author’s perspective and the second part gets into how Hinduism has been converted into a Political Propaganda. Part three of the book is more on how to clearly distinguish between the political imposition of hinduism and perspectives of reviving it back.
“Why I am a Hindu is a robust defence of Hinduism in all its vibrant, pluralistic glory. It is a must read for every politically curious Indian, and not only for janeu-dharis,” — Times of India
My Seditious Heart by Arundhati Roy
My Seditious Heart has been one the longest books I have ever read which is a compilation of essays by Arundhati Roy. The book holds the treasure of comprehensive political essays which is a collective of a two decade period of work by Arundhati Roy. The essays hold a strong sense of writing supported with statistics and numbers. The dimension of seeing through perspectives on some of the critical issues of the country is called out in a very bold tone. The book stretches across the depth and breadth of the political arena of the Indian subcontinent valiantly. My Seditious Heart by Arundhati Roy is a daring piece of work which leaves readers to think, simply think.
Sharing a beautiful verse written by the author from “The End of Imagination”
“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its liar. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget”.
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
The entire book revolves on some of the dark secrets of North Korea written by a North Korean herself, Yeonmi Park who has gone through some of the painful moments throughout her childhood. The story moves towards the author along with her mother attempting to search her sister lost in the borders of North Korea trying to escape from all the deprivation she has gone through in the country. She speaks about the psychological hardships she has endured narrating her real life journey leaving readers extremely heart broken.
A quote from Yenomi Park in her own words,
“I am most grateful for two things: that I was born in North Korea, and that I escaped from North Korea”
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is one of the most critically acclaimed plays which has won a lot of awards and accolades. The characters in the play are described very specifically with a lot of details through their actions. The readers are left with a melancholic note towards the end of the play. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a quick read with comprehensive storyline depicting the invariable impact caused by the actions of our loved ones.
We Spread by Iain Reid
We Spread by Iain Reid is a fast paced read which keeps the readers in the curiosity of why things are happening the way they are. The book revolves around a character Penny, an artist in her old age for whom arrangements are made years before to reside in a living facility assisted by people few years after her partner passes away. The book gets into a psychological thriller phase and slowly reveals the destructive effects of ageing. With puzzling twists and turns, We Spread by Iain Reid has an aura that leaves us in a maze letting us connect dots towards the end of the book and wander beyond the amazing story penned.
“I couldn’t put it down. It infected my dreams, A creepy and brilliant book”- Zoe Whittall
To Conclude
One thing that stood out for me in 2023 was the diversity of books I have read, helping me traverse through a range of thoughts and perceptions. The best escape zone to get lost would be books and looking forward to an amplified reading journey coming through the years.
P.S Thanks to Shrinivass chandar for most of the book suggestions through the year.
Have a happy reading! Cheers!
