Made in China and other books

Author Parinda Joshi's book 'Made in China', her third novel has been adapted for a motion picture by Maddock Films starring Rajkummar Rao, Boman Irani and Mouni Roy, Sumeet Vyas, and Paresh Rawal that was released a few months ago.

Made in China is about Raghu Mehta, a desperate man. His handicraft imports business has unexpectedly collapsed and cash is drying out quickly, his wife thinks he is a loser and society considers him irrelevant. Meanwhile, his closest friends and family all seem to be running flourishing businesses and living luxurious lives in Surat, the diamond capital of India. A trip to China to scout for a new consumer goods business offers a glimmer of hope. But Raghu instead gets sucked into the black-market trade in the back alleys of Beijing. Everything about this new opportunity goes against his god-fearing, vegetarian, middle-class mindset.

In the present context when people increasingly talk about ban on Made in China; this title of Parinda Joshi does get a wee bit interesting.

An avid reader; she shares the books that kept her company during the lockdown and social distancing days.

Becoming by Michelle Obama – 8 years in the White House, described in a deeply personal perspective combined with her roots and her coming of age makes this a must read for anyone looking for inspiration or motivation, apart from a crackling narrative. It's endearing, insightful, and presents her humble world view. Michelle is the epitome of grace, perseverance and courage. It's her story and she tells it with much honesty.

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger – Holsinger's book is set in an affluent fictional town called Crystal in Western USA. In that town everyone said or thought, "we are happy, we are fit, we are woke, and even our streets are named for gems". The novel follows the dreams, aspirations and conflicts of 4 contemporary families and their drive to get into a good school. It's hilarious, sharp, delicious and timely and showcases how far parents will go as they compete to ensure crème de la crème educational opportunities for their children.

Men without Women by Murakami – the best part about Murakami is that his plots are easy to fathom. They unravel gradually, taking the reader into a world of surprising twists and turns that create a magical atmosphere, This one is a collection of short stories that talk about men who have lost their women to death or to other men. Well-developed storylines, unusual but plausible characters sympathetically described, and the deft use of similes makes it a compelling read and is not to be confused with Hemingway's collection of the same name.

Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey – Los Angeles, to me, goes beyond the US. Like Mumbai, it's truly a world city, with its own underbelly and ecosystem. James Fray paints a canvas that captures the city in its narrative through complex characterization that gives it an epical landscape. A must read.

Solo by Rana Dasgupta – This is one amazing novel. The story is told from the perspective of Ulrich, a blind Bulgarian centenarian. He's a magnificently sketched character. Ulrich gives his perspective of the 20th century in an epically honest journey of agony and ecstasy that left me teary-eyed and happy at the same time. Daringly experimental, the book has two parts, which represent the two parts of our lives, the world of reality and the world of the imagination and memory. It's literary subtle, and profoundly moving.