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And one must talk about books by women - they have loved and adored and read and reread over the years, every single chance they get. So here I am with some of the books and authors that I’ve loved over the years.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Brutal, will make you weep, the prose is magnificent though, and might I also add that very redemptive. 
Krishna Sobti. Everything she has written. Everything I have read by her. From Zindaginama to Ae, Ladki to Mitro Marjani. She has a quality to her prose no other writer does in my opinion. Layered and yet so simple.
Christina Stead’s The Man who Loved Children is a singular piece of work on dysfunctional families and complexities of raising kids that must be read by all. Stunning prose.
K R Meera. My personal favourite. Love all her works. Visceral, haunting, and leave you cold and numb for days to come. You’re only reeling in her worlds, almost interacting with her characters. Read her. Today.
Hermione Lee. Her literary biographies are stellar, well-researched, and extremely unbiased. A great view of authors and their lives - Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton, and Penelope Fitzgerald’s lives as laid out by Lee are worth devouring.
Jane Bowles is one author you just must read. Two Serious Ladies and her shorter prose. I wish she had written more.
Tove Jansson. From Moomin to The Summer Book to Fair Play, and her short stories, her writing style is funny and yet searching for answers in the world.
Elizabeth Bowen's short stories will take a lot of time to comprehend. Her stories and novels are about the lost life, the longing for things, and yet they aren't over-dramatic. They are tender and combine social comedy with reportage. Do read her. Please.
Silvina Ocampo. She was a part of Borges's inner circle and yet she was her own woman. NYRB classics published her sizeable amount of short stories. They are mad, sublime, delicious, and romantic too.
Clarice Lispector. A literary figure who had not been discovered till a couple of years ago by the English-reading world and I am so glad she was. A gem of a Latin-American author. Someone who cannot not be read. Start with this one.
Muriel Barbery. I love her books. They are literally comfort food for the heart. They make me want to go out there & hug people. Read The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Please also read Gourmet Rhapsody. And full props to her translator Alison Anderson for making her works accessible.
Qurratulain Hyder. A writer par excellence and I didn't realize that there are so many of her works that are translated. Now to find them all. In the meanwhile, I will reread Aag ka Dariya (River of Fire) and so must you. Please.
Barbara Kingsolver. From climate change to the native American experience to even coming of age, is there anything that Kingsolver can't write about? She has done it all and continues to charm me through her words. Always.
If I haven't already cried hoarse about reading her, well I shall do it again. READ HANYA YANAGIHARA. I don't think any other book now will match up to A Little Life, but I can't wait for her next.
Marguerite Abouet. The Aya graphic novels. The series is about African life, focusing almost only on the middle class. A great read - ranging from topics of class, race, and feminism. Also, graphic novels, so double win!
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. A story of how @anuyeaah and I met her at JLF - that for another time. But read Kintu! thought I wouldn't enjoy it, till I read it and loved it. A book about a curse that travels across generations and an epic saga!
Time to reread these two lovely books. These are more than enough, and maybe even more to read Sally Rooney.
