Set in the nostalgic Bombay of the 1940s and 50s, Masooma is a hard-hitting commentary on capitalism and patriarchy entrenched in the Indian society. The book follows the people around Masooma, who corrupt and exploit her for their own gains. Narrated in a conversationalist style, both the writing and the translation bring old Bollywood to life. Chughtai is a master at writing about Indian women.

Still immersed in the corruption of Masooma (the innocent one) in all the nostalgia of old, filmy Bombay. Hoping to finish soon!

While most works of dystopia bear resemblance to the world today, the 2020s in Octavia Butler‘s Parables look uncannily similar to today. The books are written in the form of journal entries by Lauren Olamina (and later her daughter). In this duology, Butler creates a scary fictional world rooted in reality and explores many themes, including race, religion, ambition, familial tensions, class differences, violence, education and space travel.

While most works of dystopia bear resemblance to the world, the 2020s in Octavia Butler‘s Parables look uncannily familiar. The books are written in the form of journal entries by Lauren Olamina (and later her daughter). In this duology, Butler creates a scary fictional world rooted in reality and explores many themes, including race, religion, ambition, familial tensions, class differences, violence, education and space travel.

Book cover art by me!
I absolutely loved this book. It is simple to read and short, but hard hitting. I loved the pacing of the book as well as the style of narration. The writing style and the plot simply blew me away.
Head over to my blog for in depth critique on the universality of Kim Jiyoung, Nam-Joo's research skills and comparison with another fantastic South Korean novels I read this year- The Vegetarian by Han Kang.

This is my first pick of the #WomenInTranslation month. It has so much to say, and Shookoofeh Azar and the anonymous translator use every page to do so rather beautifully. The book tells the story of a family caught in the religious fervour of a revolution in a fast changing country. It is interspersed with commentary not just on religion, politics, corruption, feminism, education, socialism, but also with jinns, ghosts, and other supernatural.

Strolling through old Bombay with this book for the #womenintranslation month