2016 saw some great books hitting the shelves- Here are 15!
1. Julian Barnes: The Noise of Time
After the Man Booker prize winning The Sense of An Ending, Barnes is back with yet another masterpiece- this time historical fiction set against the backdrop of Stalinโs purges of the 1930s.
2. ย Siddhartha Mukherjee:The Gene:An Intimate History
Mukherjee combines the scientific with a vivid human aspect- stirring theory and memoir to create a portrayal of the evolution of mankindโs understanding of genetics. This book is indeed one of the best books of 2016.
3. Jhumpa Lahiri: In Other Words
Jhumpa Lahiri has long pondered on the complexities of culture, of belonging and exile- in this bilingual book, featuring translations by Ann Goldstein, she moves beyond the familiar confines of Bengal to pen what is at the core a love story to the Italian language.
4. Aravind Adiga: Selection Day
This family drama and a coming of age tale is one of the best books by Aravind. It revolves around cricket- and, along with a gripping narrative, a powerful commentary on Indian society at large.
5. Tabish Khair: Jihadi Jane
A fascinating story of the women who join terrorist groups, is a striking, insightful work in itself.
6. ย Han Kang: The Vegetarian
The story of a series of troubles that begin with a woman driven to vegetarianism by her nightmares, is the winner of the 2016 Man Booker Prize.
7. Karan Mahajan: The Association of Small Bombs
Disasters make headlines- but what about the human lives actually tangled up in them? The story of two boys killed in an explosion, of their companions, their parents and of the maker of the explosives. This masterpiece truly deserves to be a part of the best books of 2016.
8. Ruskin Bond: Death Under The Deodars
Dark, sinister themes are tied in with domestic placidity as can be only woven together by Bond in this account of an elderly lady getting involved in the murky world of crime.
9. Arunava Sinha: The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told
Everyone deserves to be let into the glorious realm of Bengali fiction, which is what this translated volume of short stories originally in Bengali, ranging from classics like Tagore to contemporary authors ensures.
10.ย Janine di Giovanni: The Morning They Came For Us
Not pleasant, but an important read, these โdispatches from Syriaโ brings to light the political turmoil in Syria, and the abysmal impact it has in the lives of the people.
11. Tahmima Anam: The Bones Of Grace
British Bangladeshi, Tahmima Anamโs latest novel is at its core, an epic love story. It also extends to themes of the nuances of culture and the diasporic experience.
12. Emma Cline : The Girls
This Clineโs debut novel is indeed one of the best books of 2016. It sees a 1969 setting, featuring a fourteen year old looking into the mysteries of a cult like family.
13. Naomi Alderman: The Power
In the imagining of a world where physical strength is the realm of women, Alderman critiques gender roles by the ridicule that stems from the reversal of such preconceptions.
14. Noam Chomsky: Who Rules The World?
Chomskyโs recent release sees fascinating insight into currently prevailing world politics, and a direct challenge to American hegemony.
15. Laura Bates: Girl Up
A striking espousal of feminism, this book is a call to action in the fight against patriarchy-inviting women to shake off societal chains and rally to liberation.
Last Updated on by Laveleena Sharma
Top Comments