My 2020 in Books
2020 began with a pandemic, the entire world came to a standstill. There are no happy stories to narrate from 2020 but yes there are many heartwarming and resilient stories which we have shared with each other and which keeps us going. For some people the global lockdown was like a creative playground where they tried their hands at everything from drawing, cooking and some even started writing prose and poetry. For some it came with too much hardship.
Now, 2021 is here, we hope very soon we should be able to say bye bye to masks and live a happy normal life again. And of course go back to bookstores which we have stayed away from from a very long time now.
During lockdown, I initially couldn’t bring myself to read books because all of us were caught in a collective anxiety. But slowly, I picked up a book and two and started reading. This year wasn’t a good year for me in terms of books. Of the 23 books I read this year, most of them were particularly not of my liking, however some books really had a huge impact on me.
Today, I’ll write about some of the books I read this year which really were impactful and I believe you will enjoy them too, and help you pile up your TBR.
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
“The Nickle Boys” was written by Colson Whitehead in 2019 and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2020. It’s a fictional account of a real life juvenile correction facility named — “Dozier School” which was based in Florida. It’s dark history was exposed by a University recently based on some testimonies.
A young academically sound black boy, Elwood Curtis leaves his home to attend his first day at University, he rides in a stolen vehicle of which he has no idea. In Jim Crow Era America, he’s sent to a notorious juvenile reform school. The novel moves between an older Elwood while he’s working in New York City and his school life in Nickel. The novel is slow, but the slow nature of the book gives the events in the book a deeper meaning — as if you are walking in a dark basement full of deadly snakes. Elwood’s life is an account of how systematic violence against blacks instilled fear and alienation in the hearts of blacks in America.
It’s historically important novel based on racial segregation and history of black profiling in Jim Crow Era America which in one form or the other still continues today.
2. Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami
If I’d to sum up “Kafka On The Shore” in a single word, that word would be “Metaphor”. The entire novel is a metaphor. A mild magical realism, a bit of romantic touch and a thoroughly enjoyable adventure novel. “Kafka On The Shore” is a New York Times bestseller published in 2002 written by Haruki Murakami in Japanese and was later translated in 2005 by Philip Gabriel into English.
The Book is basically two plots which are magically correlated with each other. On one hand you have Kafka Tamura, a 15 year old boy who leaves his home leaving alone his father. On the other hand you’ve Nakata, an old man who has a special ability to talk to cats. Nakata has lost all his memory due to a certain uncanny event which took place in the mountains of Japan in the Second World War.
Nakata’s perspective of life is a very strange but happy one. He puzzles not only the characters in the novel but also the readers. He’s looking for something, something which he himself doesn’t know and no one else knows either. He’s there for a purpose, the purpose he’s himself unaware of.
“Kafka On The Shore” is a novel which will leave you fascinated, puzzled, overwhelmed all at the same time.
3. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri is talented, and there aren’t many writers out there who can match the literary skills she possesses — having won a Pulitzer along with Hemingway Award and New Yorker debut award in a very short span of time one is just left in awe of her stories she juggles with. “The Namesake” is one such story which talks of clash of cultures by taking us through the life of Ganguli family.
After Ashoke survives a train accident while holding the pages of Nikolai Gogol’s book in his hand, he’s soon wed to Ashima in a traditional Bengali wedding and together they move to America where Ashima finds it hard to reconcile with the American culture.
Lahiri has created powerful characters. Ashoke’s story is one of success and hope. After nearly dying in a train crash, he carves his own success in an alien land. “Do I remind you of that night?” — “”You remind me of everything that followed”.
Lahiri has crafted a tale which will keep you hooked. The story is beautiful and real — the shared tragedies between continents, the heartache of immigration, the togetherness of family and the intimacy of love. Jhumpa Lahiri has written a masterpiece we all should read.
4. The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai
“The Inheritance Of Loss” is the second novel by Kiran Desai. It’s published in 2006 and it went on to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize, and also the Vodafone Crossword Book Award.
“The Inheritance Of Loss” is a gripping, comic and poignant take on the cultural commotions through the lives of 16 year old anglicized Sia who lives with her grandfather (Jemubhai Patel) in Kalimpong, and through the eyes of Biju- the son of the cook working in the house of Sia.
The story takes place in 1985. Young charismatic Nepali Indians are fighting for their rights which involves asking for a separate Gorkhaland. Sia’s grandfather allots a math tutor named Gyan for her. Unable to suppress her loneliness she falls for Gyan. Meanwhile, in the US, the cook’s son, Biju is trying to make a living for himself by doing petty jobs in small restaurants.
In the stories of Biju and Sia you see a contrast — a girl with English habits living in India and a village boy with conservative mindset living in the US.
The best part of this book is that it didn’t succumb to the narrative of political correctness. Kiran Desai has courageously written hard truths — she’s not feared using the unforgivable words. A must read.
5. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
“Sweet Bean Paste” is a short novel written by Durian Sukegawa and translated into English by Alison Watts. It’s a soft paced novel which reminds you of spring and cherry blossoms. A short tale of friendship and hope which starts from a small confectionery shop in Tokyo selling dorayaki (a type of pancake) and goes on to talk of a gross medical past of Japan, this tale will fill your eyes with tears and at the same time will fill your heart with the sweetness of sweet bean paste.
Sentaro is under the debt of his employee who has passed away so he’s taking care of his dorayaki shop while trying to make for the unpaid debts. Having a drinking problem and being recently discharged from the prison, Sentaro is living a tough life. His pancakes aren’t popular. One fine day, an old lady comes to his shop to find work — Tokue has crippling fingers which freaks him out, but eventually for a small wage let’s her work at the shop. They develop very close bond. When people start noticing her fingers, it’s then when her dark past comes to the forefront. From not letting his employer know about Tokue, his personal problems mounting on top of his drinking problems makes the emotional tension scream on each page.
This book has deeper and serious themes which include the gross treatment of Leprosy patients in Japan when they were isolated in sanatoriums. How much the past can affect your present and how you can make the most of it, or is it even possible to be happy one more time?
I wish and pray 2021 brings happiness and peace to each and everyone. I also pray that in 2021 we are able to help unprivileged people read books by trying to donate not only academic books but our novels as well.
