Chitra Divakaruni's All-Time Favourite Reads

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Vintage,

Atwood plunges the reader into a dystopian future where men rule the world and a woman is valued mostly for her reproductive ability—and punished if she dares to long for anything more. Atwood will keep readers turning the pages with her suspenseful novel; she will also force us to examine the rights of women in our own time.

The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore, Penguin, 

In his ability to understand and depict women’s struggles, Tagore is well ahead of his time. The story of Bimala, who moves from a sheltered, privileged traditional world into the conflict-ridden, politically dangerous arena of pre-independence India, is an amazing one. This timeless novel makes the reader think deeply about a woman’s place in the world and the choices she must make between desire and duty.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Penguin, 

This classic can still make readers’ hearts beat faster as they follow the headstrong Elizabeth and the brooding Darcy, who falls reluctantly in love with her. Their battle of wits is as enjoyable as their slowly burgeoning romance. Both protagonists grow as the novel progresses, and readers might be surprised to find themselves growing along with them, letting go of a few of their own prejudices in the process.

The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh, HarperCollins, 

Set in the fascinating (and relatively little-known) world of Burma of the 1880s, it is at once a story of tender love and ruthless British colonization, filled with some exquisite insights into the human heart.

Circe by Madeline Miller, Bloomsbury Publishing, 

This magical, surprising book daringly reshapes an ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey. As readers follow the charming, dangerous and tragic Circe through the book, they will understand the nature of heroism, as well as its cost, in a new, nuanced way.

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy Rockwell, Penguin, 

This book is an original and unusual look at Partition and its effects. The heroine, an octogenarian confined to her bed through the first half of the novel, will surprise, delight and make us laugh out loud as we follow her unexpected, adventurous and transformative journey from India to Pakistan in search of her past—and her future.

Mother of 1084 by Mahasweta Devi, Seagull Books,

Mahasweta Devi’s searing story, set in 1960s Bengal, about an ordinary yet indomitable mother who has lost her son to the idealistic but violent and ultimately doomed Naxal movement, remains a powerful, thought-provoking read. Every parent who has sent off children into a world full of risk will relate deeply to the heroine’s angst.

Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel, Fourth Estate, 

This novel will delight all who love history, intrigue, adventure, romance, tragedy—and a twisted plot. Set in Henry VIII’s sumptuous court and told from the unusual perspective of Thomas Cromwell, the book, full of lovely descriptions, is sure to astonish readers and make them rethink their notions about heroes and villains.

Pinjar by Amrita Pritam, Shilalekh Publishers, 

Pritam’s book about a Hindu woman who is abducted by a Muslim man in the 1940s, in retaliation for the violence visited upon his own family during the Partition, is a must-read. Pritam provides a masterful portrayal of Paro, the heroine. The transformations that take place in her heart as the novel unfolds will make readers think deeply about revenge and forgiveness. This book inspired me to write my own novel, Independence, about the challenges of women’s lives on the Bengal border during India’s freedom struggle.