These have added to my education
Ants among elephants - Sujatha Gidla’s unsentimental story of her untouchable family’s struggles in South India has had a deep impact on me. I am so ashamed of how little I know and how much more I need to understand - not just about my own caste privilege but also about how caste and class are deeply linked in India. I have to think deeply about educating my daughter of her caste privilege. It’s not just a story about Sujatha’s family but a record of a lesser-known but significant moment in India’s history. I bought the book two years ago and finally decided to read it. I’m so glad I did. If you are Indian (nationality, ethnicity) I urge you to give the book a go.
What you are looking for is in the library - This book inspired me to take a look at the role libraries played in my life. So much so that I even wrote about it here. The book is a collection of warm, cozy inspiring tales about how a trip to the library helps people make changes to their life when they feel like they’re in a rut. Reading the book feels like having a small slice of cake and a warm cup of tea on a cold rainy evening. It’s my favourite read of the month.
I’m a Fan - Anything I say will be inadequate about this book. It goes by so fast and the narrator’s anger and self-loathing are palpable. I wish I could whiteboard her life for her. I wish I was her friend but I also felt glad I didn’t know her. And the writing is so so good. I felt the same way when I read Ottessa Moshfegh’s My year of rest and relaxation (my all time favourite)
