Hey Readers,

It’s audio book time, as Mumbai’s Juhu Beach opens after being closed for Covid. February mornings on the beach, and I am transported from football players and fishermen to the

chocolate makers of Tbilisi in Georgia, in this haunting historical novel.

The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili is a family saga covering two world wars, a revolution, the fall of Berlin Wall and the break up of the Soviet Union. Translated from German, this historical novel reads like Ken Follett’s magnificent trilogy of world history, but from a startlingly different vantage point. At 30 plus hours of listening time it is long, but enthralling and well worth your while. Over the weekend, I bought the paperback too and did a hybrid listen and read, which seemed to work !

Self help Books of the Month

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman addresses our anxiety about time. Burkeman writes fluently, draws on lots of relevant research and raises philosophical questions we could do well to ask ourselves. The book goes back to peasant stories, examining how time evolves, Burkeman says

“Once time is a resource to be used, you start to feel the pressure, whether from external sources or from yourself, to use it well, and to berate yourself when you feel you’ve wasted it…The fundamental problem is that this attitude towards time sets up a rigged game in which it’s impossible ever to feel as though you are doing well enough”

The Art of Bitfulness by Nandan Nilekani & Tanuj Bhojwani reinforces this theme, with practical advice on how to stay productive in an age of digital distraction.

Children’s Book of the Month :

Malhar in the Middle by Shruthi Rao is a beautifully written book challenging traditional hierarchies. This one is set in the music world - why for once, can’t the tabla player be in the centre ?

Book Event of the Month

Friday February 18 at 6.30 pm IST :: Author Anindita Ghose will be in conversation with us on her novel The Illuminated. Lots to discuss in this thought provoking novel. The discussion is open to all, please comment here or email sonyasbookbox@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

For regular updates on book events, join our bookish community by subscribing to this newsletter. Also receive a book box at your doorstep every month, with specially curated books. Book a month subscriptions available for 3, 6 & 12 months.

Treat yourself, friends, family or colleagues to the gift of specially curated books !

Next month we have an invitation to a book discussion with author Ira Mukhoty on the women of Mughal India.

Also 6 books every woman should read. What are your recommendations on a book every woman should read ? Tell us in the comments ?

Warm regards,

Sonya