In Books & Fiction, we celebrate the power of the written word through in-depth book reviews, literary analysis, and original storytelling. From gripping contemporary thrillers to timeless classics and international literature, find your next great read and explore the themes that resonate across cultures. This section also houses my own fictional narratives and short stories—where imagination meets observation.
Discover the inside story of Project Cheetah in this book review of Bringing the Cheetah Back to India. Learn how diplomatic statecraft saved a historic mission. Continue reading Bringing the Cheetah Back to India: Book Review
Discover our review of Omer Bartov’s Israel: What Went Wrong? Explore how a renowned genocide scholar critiques the nation’s shifting ethno-nationalism. Continue reading Omer Bartov’s Israel: What Went Wrong?: Haunted Past, Tainted Present
Psychologist and children’s author Dr Dale Atkins believes that nature is not a luxury for children but an essential part of healthy development. In this conversation, she discusses grandparents, storytelling, screen culture, illustrated books, and the enduring power of wonder. Continue reading Why Children Need Nature, Stories & Grandparents More Than Ever
Discover how the chilli traveled from ancient Mesoamerica to Indian kitchens. A review of Heather Arndt Anderson’s Chillies: A Global History. Continue reading Chilli Trail: Sun Gods, Silk Routes & Subcontinent Pickles
A reflective review of Rosarita by Anita Desai, exploring memory, identity, Mexico, nature, and the quiet complexities of belonging through lyrical prose and shifting realities. Continue reading Rosarita: Anita Desai’s Mexican Spell
Discover the slow travel legacy of Robert Lee Eskridge, a biography by CJ Cook. From Tahiti to lost Brazil manuscripts, explore an artist who captured beauty before it vanished. Continue reading Who Was Robert Lee Eskridge? Artist, Adventurer, Chronicler of a Vanishing World
Explore the human landscape of the Iran War through Dr. Nizam Missaghi’s memoir, Passport to Freedom. From the 1979 Revolution to the current tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, we peel back the layers of theocracy, Gen X resilience, and the enduring quest for civil liberties. Continue reading From Missiles to Memoir: The Human Story of Iran’s War Beyond Hormuz
Explore the delicate web of life in Michiko Aoyama’s ‘Hot Chocolate on Thursday.’ A restorative reflection on Japanese healing fiction, stillness, and connection. Continue reading Michiko Aoyama’s Hot Chocolate on Thursday: A Sanctuary Beyond the Steam
Queen of Treasures 