Edited by: Vrinda Rastogi
Feeling burnt out during the course of a four-month-long semester is very natural, and kind of inevitable. The academic readings that one usually gets are not something you would do curled up on a couch with a cup of coffee. Reading for leisure, as a result, is daunting and worrying– every page of your favorite book turned with an underlying thought of whether you are “wasting your time”. Here is a list of five books you can consume during a hectic and reading-loaded semester. This is a guilt-free process because a) these are standalone books that can be easily finished in one sitting, and b) they are so good, you won’t even think about feeling guilty. Trust me.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“I know the whole world prefers a woman who doesn’t know her power, but I’m sick of all that.”
Rating: Decadent Red Velvet cupcake
Ever been in a reading slump that you just can’t get out of? This is the perfect book for you. Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood movie icon and legendary starlet, is finally ready to open up about her life– and by life we mean her infamous seven marriages. This article isn’t enough for me to properly convey how much I love this book. It has everything- drama, suspense, angst, romance, and most importantly, amazing women. Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author on whom I have the biggest crush, weaves her stories and structures them so that it is physically impossible to put the book down and stop reading. The Seven Husbands is fast, well-paced, and beautifully written with some of the most iconic dialogues I have ever read. It is also very queer, and I’ll shut up with that. This would be the perfect book to read if you have lost touch with reading. Go ahead and treat yourself to it.
Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey Mcquiston
“The phrase ‘see attached bibliography’ is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me.”
Rating: Lemon meringue tart
If you still haven’t got your hands on this book despite the on-going craze around it, you are a pioneer in the art of resisting peer pressure. This pitch is for you. This book has fluff, angst, humor, and smut. There you go. But honestly, one of the best-written queer stories that manages to be an excellent escape from reality- it is set in a world where Donal Trump doesn’t exist and the President of the United States is a woman. A quirky re-imagination of Pyramus and Thisbe (but it’s gay with no death), exceptionally well-written, funny, unreal, and yet very relatable. It’s the ultimate rom-com we all want to be in. Alex is the personification of bi-panic and you will love him. A perfect book to devour over the weekend.
Circe, by Madeline Miller
“Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story if we crawl and weep.”
Rating: Dark chocolate sorbet
No book does character development better than this one. I’m sure all of you have heard of The Song of Achilles by the great Madeline Miller. Circe is an underrated masterpiece that explores every insecurity and intrusive thought a powerful woman has. It also beautifully captures the intricate characteristics of hardworking women. It would be misleading to say that the book is feminist- it simply shows a woman in her natural element and how she inevitably shines in it. It tells you how strong women experience the unavoidable pain of love and loss and grief and just pure loneliness. You fall in love with Circe as she grows up to become, not who she was destined to be, but someone she chooses to be. A perfect book to finish at 3 am and contemplate your entire existence.
Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“There was finally enough air within her for a fire to ignite.”
Rating: Green Apple Mojito
I will not apologize for too much Taylor Jenkins Reid. There can never be too much Taylor Jenkins Reid. In all seriousness, she is one of the best authors to read if one finds themselves in the thick of an Ashokan semester. Malibu Rising is one of her underappreciated crown jewels. Evelyn Hugo spans over a starlet’s lifetime, Malibu Rising takes place over the course of a day. And yet one of the best-written books with multiple characters and their mind-blowing development. Nina Riva is not a female protagonist you see often- she is quiet, polite, selfless to a fault, and very, very ordinary. Yet the way she is written fills you with fierce protectiveness- you just want to see this girl happy. This book will make you connect with the characters and root for them, and they stay with you for a long time. Pick a Friday and just read- it’s worth it.
Palace of Illusions, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
“Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path- all they do is trip you up.”
Rating: Spicy Pani puri
The Mahabharata, from Draupadi’s perspective. There have been many reimaginations of Draupadi’s feelings and dilemmas throughout the years, but this is one of the few that genuinely stands out. It spans over the life of Draupadi- from birth to death, through love and heartbreak, and truly elucidates how much one loses to become a goddess. It challenges the traditional notions and stories of the Mahabharat so be prepared to read some varying views. The book also has the potential to make one feel a little uncomfortable- you won’t be prepared to see the chinks in the armour of a literal hero. It also presents you with a truly beautiful relationship- between Draupadi and Krishna. Be prepared to sob, scoff and sympathize with one of the greatest women in Indian mythology.
Hopefully, this reading list helps alleviate some of the stress of the semester and manages to make you smile at random moments of the day whenever a particular scene or quote comes to mind. Happy Reading!