17 Best Indian Novels and Travel Books

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17 best Indian novels and travel books

Transport yourself to the vibrant south Asian nation, with words at least
Daisy Wyatt | @daisy_wyatt | Tuesday 29 September 2015 |
There is such a wealth of information available for travellers heading to

India, it is often hard to know where to start. While travel guides offer
useful travellers tips, nothing can get under the skin of the country
quite like these books.
From classic novels that have been reprinted several times to Man
Booker prize-winners and contemporary accounts of modern-day India,
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history. While novels can often seem more realistic than non-fiction,
travelogues from Western writers also give a humorous, insightful take
on the mind-boggling country.
1. Shantaram/The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts:

20, littlebrown.co.uk
The Mountain Shadow, the hotly anticipated follow-up to Robertss

publishing sensation Shantaram is due out in October, so if youve not
read the 2003 novel, now is your chance. The page-turning thriller,
inspired by the writers own experiences living in the Mumbai slums, is
one of the few books that manages to capture the overwhelmingly
multi-sensory experience of living in India.
Buy Shantaram now
Buy The Mountain Shadow now
2. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy: 8.99,
harpercollins.co.uk
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This Man Booker prize-winner is set in Indias southern state Kerala,

away from the glamour of Deli and Mumbai. The densely descriptive
novel follows the the childhood experiences of fraternal twins,
commenting as much on human nature as it does on Indian politics,
religion and the caste system.
Buy now
3. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry: 8.99, faber.co.uk
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Set during The Emergency, a period of civil unrest when Indira

Gandi was Prime Minister, A Fine Balance is written with beautifully
controlled prose. The novel interweaves Indias political turmoil into
the lives of its four central characters - to devastating effect.
Buy now
4. Nine Lives by William Dalrymple: 7.99, bloomsbury.com
This fascinating non-fiction book tells the stories of nine Indians

following different religions. Acclaimed historian Dalrymple met them
all to write this absorbing account, which begins with a Jain nun who
decides to fast to death after her friend and fellow nun passes away.
Buy now
5. Midnights Children by Salman Rushdie: 9.99,
randomhouse.co.uk
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Rushdies Man Booker prize-winning novel is set against the backdrop

of Indian partition, using a dose of magical realism to tell the story of a
boy born at the exact moment when India became independent of
British rule in 1947. This sprawling, kaleidoscopic account of India is a
true post-modern classic.
Buy now
6. Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh: 10.99,
nicholasbrealey.com
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Monisha Rajesh takes a leaf out of Jules Vernes classic tale in this
travelogue about Indias famous railways. The Norfolk-born author,
who lived in India for two years as a child, covered 40,000km on a
quest to rediscover the country that had become a stranger to her.
Buy now
7. 2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat: 6.99,
rupapublications.co.in
This best-selling novel in India follows two MBA students from

opposing cultural background who decide to get married against their
parents wishes. 2 States is an enjoyable read, offering a perceptive
account of generational clashes in contemporary India.
Buy now
8. Saraswati Park by Anjali Joseph: 7.99, harpercollins.co.uk
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British author Anjali Josephs debut novel explores what it is like to be

homosexual in India, which is still a largely taboo subject in many parts
of the country. The story follows a sexually uncertain 19-year-old
student growing up in Mumbai, who has a relationship with a boy at
college.
Buy now
9. Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chuhan: 13.99,
harpercollins.co.in
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If youre looking for something a bit lighter than a Man Booker winner,
try this fun piece of Indian popular fiction. Set in a posh
neighbourhood in Delhi, the story follows the eccentricities of a retired
Supreme Court judge and his five daughters
Buy now
10. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth: 10.99, orionbooks.co.uk
Another epic, this 1,349 page novel probably isnt for your suitcase but it is one of the most acclaimed pieces of fiction about India. At its
core the novel is a love story about Lata and her mothers attempts to
find her a husband, set against the backdrop of a newly independent
post-partition India.
Buy now
11. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga: 8.99, atlantic-books.co.uk
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This darkly humorous Man Booker prize-winning novel tells the story
of corruption and class struggle in India, seen through the eyes of
village boy Balram Halwai. On his way to the top, he transcends his
caste to become a successful entrepreneur but has to take part in some
questionable deeds to do so.
Buy now
12. City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple: 9.98,
harpercollins.co.uk
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When it comes to Indian travelogues, Dalrymple is king. City of Djinns

is the first account of the British writers love affair with Delhi, where
he has lived on and off for 25 years. Written more like a novel, the
book follows various figures including his Sikh landlady, British
survivors of the Raj and eunuch dancers. Dalrymples Mughal series
also come recommended.
Buy now
13. Q&A by Vikas Swarup: 7.99, randomhouse.co.uk
The novel that spawned the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire

tells the story of a young waiter who becomes the biggest quiz show
winner in history, only to be sent to prison after being accused of
cheating. Written by an Indian diplomat, the novel was nominated for
the Commonwealth Writers Prize.
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14. Behind The Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a

Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo: 7.49, randomhouse.co.uk
Written by a white American during her time living in Mumbai, this

non-fiction book centres on one of the citys biggest slums, following
everyone from a young litter picker to a female slumlord and a
university student. The book was adapted into a play by David Hare in
2014.
Buy now
15. Twilight in Delhi by Ahmed Ali: 8.54, ndbooks.com
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Written in 1940, this novel looks back to Delhi in the 1910s, drawing a
vivid picture of Muslims living in old Delhi during that era. The novel
charts the downfalls of Mughal emperors and the colonial effects on
Indian Muslims living in the countrys capital.
Buy now
16. What The Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin: 15.99,
randomhouse.co.uk
Set in the run-up to Indian partition, Singh Baldwins debut novel

follows the fate of two women married to the same man. Impoverished
girl Roop is pleased to learn she is to become the second wife of a
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older wife, Satya. Their relationship turns out to be far more complex
than she had thought.
Buy now
17. India After Gandhi: The History of the Worlds Largest
Democracy by Ramachandra Guha: 13.48, panmacmillan.com
An insightful look at modern day India, this historical book gives a

lucid account of how the largest democracy in the world continues to
thrive. Guhas take on Indian politics post-independence was named
book of the year by The Economist and The Wall Street Journal in
2007.
Buy now
Verdict
For a page-turning thriller youll want to stay up all night reading,
Gregory David Robertss Shantaram is a vivid introduction to India.
READ MORE
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However, A Fine Balance, the acclaimed novel by Rohinton Mistry,

will stay with you for years. Of all the Indian-born writers whose
command of the English language puts ours to shame, Mistrys
stunningly crisp prose is as enviable as it is admirable.
IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some
occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow
this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and
real-world testing
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There is such a wealth of information available for travellers heading to