Page 26 - Masala Lite Issue 167 November 2024

26 MASALA RECOMMENDS
Diwali, the festival of lights, isn’t just about light triumphant over darkness, knowledge
over ignorance, and good over evil; it’s also the beginning of a new year. This is a time of
renewal, utilising the tools we have at hand towards self-improvement, and restoring the
balance in your lives. Shedding the old becomes easier when there are compelling resources
to guide you through the many phases of your evolution. So we’ve put together a list of books
written by South Asian authors within the last few years, which we hope will provide fresh
perspectives to those who feel lost, urging readers to reflect and embark on new enriching
paths of personal growth.
The Magic Mindset: How to Find Your Happy Place
by Preeti Shenoy (2021)
Author Preeti Shenoy presents a set of principles for
every aspect of one’s existence, prompted by the various
challenges we face throughout life’s many stages. While
we generally try to adopt a positive approach when facing
hurdles, it’s not always possible to see the brighter side
of things. The magic mindset that she talks about is
all about embracing and accepting the less desirable
outcomes – even the ones where our surroundings seem
so bleak that our minds refuse to find the silver lining. This
book becomes a guide to help us shift our perspectives
from hopelessness and despair to hope, joy, and belief. In
other words, things are not as bad as they seem; and on
the path of renewal, there are more favourable outlooks
with purpose and joy.
Available on Kindle.
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo (2023)
This coming-of-age story bundles up the themes of
grief, sisterhood, losing, and winning. Western Lane,
longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024 and
shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023, revolves around an
11-year-old girl named Gopi, who has been playing squash
all her life. After her mother dies, her father enlists
Gopi in a gruelling training regimen, which becomes her
entire world and creates a tense rift between her and
her sisters. The author’s debut novel, it highlights the
complexities of a young girl’s journey of overcoming loss
and finding comfort in sport, channelling her emotions
through physical means in an all-too-relatable immigrant
experience. From tragedy and sporting trials, to her
maturation and finding a path to potential triumph, this
is a story of a young girl transcending herself. Available
on Kindle, Apple Books, Kinokuniya, and Asia Books.
Untold: Defining Moments of the Uprooted
by Multiple Authors (2021)
Edited by Gabrielle Deonath and Kamini Ramdeen,
this unique book is a Brown Girl Magazine anthology –
a collection of real stories, exploring the South Asian
experience in the United States of America, United
Kingdom, and Canada. With the contribution of over
30 authors, these pages cover the subjects of identity,
relationships, and the state of being, sharing intimate or
personal moments that relate to immigration, infertility,
divorce, mental health, racism, religion, and much more.
Adding to those character-defining topics is the challenge
of balancing the push and pull between two cultures
that are rooted in two different hemispheres. Each story
sheds light on the harsh truths faced by brown women,
all while they resiliently uphold their true, authentic
selves. Available on Kindle.
MASAL A LITE ISSUE 167 - NOVEMBER 2024
Mahmood Hossain and
Ayush Madan
compile a list of
must-read South Asian
books this Diwali, shedding
light on self-reflection and
overcoming life’s various
challenges.
11 Rules For Life: Secrets to Level Up
by Chetan Bhagat (2024)
The movie 3 Idiots (2009) is almost universally adored,
but few actually know that the source material for the
film was a book that came out five years prior. The novel,
Five Point Someone, was written by Chetan Bhagat,
one of India’s most successful and best-selling authors.
Earlier this year, he published his 14th book, 11 Rules
For Life, with each chapter revealing a ‘rule’ Chetan has
learned from his own setbacks and successes. Framed
as a back-and-forth between him and a food delivery
driver, Chetan uses his trademark conversational and
relatable prose to explore Indian cultural pressures
and mentorship, giving readers a guide to rewiring their
mindsets for success. You can catch more of Bhagat’s
life advice on his YouTube channel, @ChetanBhagat1.
Available on Kindle, Asia Books or Naiin.
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden
Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma (2024)
Society has sold us a version of success that has left
many of us feeling empty and frustrated. The truth
is, real wealth is more than flashy cars, exotic island
vacations, and zeroes in your bank account. In this
book, New York Times bestseller and personal growth
expert Robin Sharma gives you the practical tools and
transformational tactics to create ‘real wealth’ - a life
full of happiness, vitality, and serenity. Do you have
what it takes to ‘go ghost’ for a year, coming back the
most evolved version of yourself? Are you ready to learn
the secrets that keep the rich, rich? Readers say Robin’s
small, daily, improvements when done consistently lead
to stunning results. But don’t just take their word for
it, pick up his book for yourself. Available on Kindle,
Audible, Kinokuniya, Asia Books, and Naiin.
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff (2023)
A national bestseller that took the US by storm, The
Bandit Queens is Parini Shroff’s smashing debut novel.
The story of a young Indian woman named Geeta who is
falsely blamed for the death of her husband, the story
follows her as she discovers that being known as a ‘self-
made’ widow has some surprising perks. No one messes
with her, no one threatens her, and no one tries to control
her. That is, until other women in the village start asking
Geeta for help getting rid of their own husbands. Blending
humour with sharp social insight, Parini explores the
unexpected camaraderie among women, inspired by her
own experiences growing up in Ahmedabad, the capital
of Gujarat. Infused with the tenacity of those who must
find light in dark places, The Bandit Queens offers a fresh
perspective of courage and freedom.
Available on Kindle, Asia Books and Kinokuniya.