My Year 2023 in 16 Books

The year that was #2023 in 16 books. 

1. Jan: Winning Middle India, TN Hari, Bala Srinivasa- recommended by @deepikawarrier, this became the first book of the year, painting the picture of the new Middle India, based on insights from successful new gen start up companies that are creating products and services for this audience. 

2. Feb: If It Bleeds, Stephen King - Short stories in classic King style of haunting storytelling of unexpected events, including a sequel to the outstandingly terrifying novel “Outsider” (also an HBO series) a few years ago

3. Mar: The Man Who Died Twice, Richard Osman- the second book of what is now one of the most successful novel franchise in recent times, The Thursday Murder Club, though this one underwhelmed vs the first, but dying to read the third one. 

4. April: Now We Are 40, Tiffanie Drake: Thoroughly enjoyable narration of us, Gen X’ers life, culture, growing up (or not), influences and a validation of our legacy (if we do say so ourselves

5. April: The Half Known Life, Pico Iyer: A beautifully narrated travelogue of places around the world that give a semblance or illusion of paradise, across Iran, Australia, North Korea, Kashmir, Israel, Japan

6. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, Charlie Mackesy- a soulful, beautifully illustrated feel good book in a dark dark time. 

7.  The Immortals of Meluha, Amish - Did this as my first audiobook, and it worked better than my skepticism had suggested. Listening to stories can be as fun as reading them. And for this pop mythological fiction, it hit the spot. 

8. 1984, George Orwell - With intention to read atleast one classic every few months, picked this iconic novel, that was scaringly contemporary and absolutely genius in its almost prophetic vision of nation and politics. 

9. July: Good Omens, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman- as hilariously whacky and mad hatter joyride as can be, since Douglas Adams. 

10. Aug: A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle, audio book again. Always wanted to read this classic and narrated by Stephen Fry, absolute joy to ‘listen’ to this book. 

11. Aug: Illegitimate Authority, Noam Chomsky- Fantastic conversations between brilliant political brains of our times, with penetrating insights on American politics, decisions, democracy and what it means for the US and the world. 

12. Sep: Pyre, Perumal Murugan - longlisted for the Booker, this English translation of the acclaimed author’s Tamil novel, was a real portrayal of the extreme intolerance of inter-caste marriage, but didn’t speak to me despite the poignant narrative in every page. 

13. Sep: The Inimitable Jeeves, P G Wodehouse- My all time favourite author, this time read it as an audio book, enjoying listening to the narration of the classic light hearted innocent and very British humour fix that we need from time to time. 

14. Oct: Metamorphosis, Ivy Logan- my author friend’s second book in the series of Breach Chronicles, with a classic young adult fantasy-romance fiction for the new reader. 

15. Nov: Ve Din, Nirmal Verma - decided to read a Hindi novel for the first time in my life to start honing my other language, which arguable is my first language. Not always easy, but got the hang of it and appreciate how different a language can make to the experience of a book, having assumed that English reading is the only option. An immersive story of few days of friends and love, in the life of an Indian student in university at Prague. 

16. Dec: Roman Stories, Jhumpa Lahiri - nothing like one of my favourite authors to end the year with. Another master stroke of short stories, all set in her current adopted city Rome. Indian origin English author writing in Italian and translating back to English! Go figure! In typical Lahiri style, each story a unique gem of portraying nuanced and authentic stories of people and their lives, each with their own pain and joy, their own freedom and prisons, with a recurring underlying theme of migrant lives in an increasingly intolerant world.