TWO INDIE READS I LOVED RECENTLY

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1. MAGIC SQUARE BY SALINI VINEETH



Magic Square is a compelling, breezy novella on finding the right purpose at the right time, sometimes even by chance, just like how I stumbled upon this book. The time I took to finish this book since the discovery was hardly an hour—an hour that I am very glad to have spent this way.

 

This story starts with Amudha’s not-so-interesting PhD life, where her colleague Dheeraj turns out to be the only reason she continues the grind. Pursuing a PhD degree was never Amudha’s dream, but she took it up for lack of better options. One day, while helping Dheeraj with his project, she comes across a book owned by a certain L.V. Sreenivasan decades ago, who turns out to be not just a mathematics genius but also a literary enthusiast and a romantic at heart. A poem on the back of the book addressed to someone else piques her curiosity, and she sets out to do the unthinkable. Thus begins a journey of adventure, mystery, love, loss and more.

 

What starts as a breezy, light-hearted tale quickly transforms into an adventure mystery that is sure to keep the readers on the edge of their seats, before ending on a heavy, heartbreaking note. I especially loved the vivid descriptions of the streets of Pondicherry, Chennai, and Bengaluru. This picturesque tale is too good to be missed, particularly if you’re familiar with the language politics and cultural struggles of the 1900s.

 

The protagonists are also deeply admirable, with ‘opposites attract’ energy adding a romantic dimension to the plot. So, even if you’re not a fan of mystery, read it for the romance, because so many books marketed as romance these days aren’t really one anymore. Bonus tip - This book is free on Kindle Unlimited.



2. MAJJE BY VIDYA SHANKAR SHETTY



 

When I kicked off the Indian translation readathon this year, I ensured that all the official languages of India were included. Even then, I regretted not being able to include Tulu, which is a very widely spoken language in coastal Karnataka, including Mangalore. I could finally make up for the void with this book, which isn’t ideally a translation but a book deep-rooted in the culture and language of the Bunt community of Tulunadu.

 

Majje, meaning mole or birthmark in Tulu, is essentially the theme of this book and how it is related to the fate of women in a particular Bunt family. It starts with the story of Sonu, who is judged by the bold display of the mole on her arm with a sleeveless garment. The story then traces the tales of her ancestors from her maternal lineage, who were all rebels in their own way.

 

I particularly loved how there was always a birthmark that symbolised their resistance, even though others tried to define their destinies with it. There was someone who stood up to the invaders with power and elegance, someone who wanted a girl child with all her might, someone who fought to protect her relationship but moved on when she knew it wasn’t worth her time.

 

The stories are brilliant and mirror the resilience and courage displayed by women in the face of adversity. This book was a great medium to learn about the heritage, culture, and history of Tulunadu, especially their women. But only there were so many local terms in every paragraph that I was tired to go back to the seven-page glossary every time. But except that, everything was exceptional and inspiring. Give it a try, and you will surely appreciate it as well.



This is a part of #BlogchatterHalfMarathon 

#penbooksandscalpel

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