As I sit down to review my annual list of books that I’ve read, or listened to, this year, I’m struck by how hard it has become to choose a book that truly piques my interest and keeps me engaged. Over time, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for historical fiction. Perhaps it’s age, or perhaps it’s a growing desire to understand how we came to be who we are. Maybe many of us feel this way, which could explain why Sapiens resonated with so many readers. That’s a rumination for another day.
For now, here’s my list, presented in no particular order:
- A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
- All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
- James: A Novel by Percival Everett
- The Teacher by Freida McFadden
- The Evening and the Morning: A Novel (Kingsbridge Book 4) by Ken Follett
- The Armor of Light: A Novel (Kingsbridge Book 5) by Ken Follett
- Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger
- The Dharma Burns by Jack Kerouac
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
- Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison
- I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
- The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant
- Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier
- The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
- The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley
I began the year immersed in historical fiction, finishing the Kingsbridge novels by Ken Follett. I’m ending the year working my way through Sujata Massey’s series set in 1920s Bombay, seen through the eyes of a twenty-something Parsi woman navigating life as a solicitor. These books quietly bookended my year.
In between were several autobiographies. The one that stood out—somewhat unexpectedly—was Kevin Hart’s. While Arnold Schwarzenegger (Arnie, to those of us from Hyderabad who grew up in gyms where his bodybuilding encyclopedia was treated like scripture) tells a compelling story, his book felt carefully constructed to sell his own myth. I didn’t find it particularly inspiring. That said, his accomplishments are undeniable, and his work ethic is formidable. I came away respecting his ego, which likely rivaled the size of his biceps or quads in their prime.
The true standouts for me this year were James and The Covenant of Water.
James is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told through the eyes of the enslaved Jim. Having grown up reading Twain, I became an instant admirer of Percival Everett’s audacity and brilliance. His portrayal of James is both vulnerable and incisive. It’s rare to see a familiar story reframed so powerfully.
My experiences with Indian authors have been mixed. Some, like Amitav Ghosh, are consistently brilliant. Others feel cursory (Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi), while a few overwhelm me with dense prose (Arundhati Roy, Aravind Adiga). My reservations proved unfounded with Abraham Verghese. The Covenant of Water is a masterpiece.
Set in Kerala and spanning the pre-Independence era through the 1970s, the novel follows multiple generations of a family while documenting a changing nation. The geography felt deeply familiar, and the storytelling was expansive yet intimate. Verghese brings time, place, and people together with remarkable finesse. After finishing a book like this, I often find myself craving comic relief—something lighter, something that doesn’t make an overthinker like me think even more. Still, I would happily read more of his work, though sustaining that level of excellence book after book is a rare feat.
I began the year with historical fiction – finishing the Kingsbridge Novels by Ken Follett. I end the year making progress on the series of books by Sujata Massey, which are set in Bombay of the 1920s, as seen by the eyes of a 20 something year old woman Parsi solicitor. Through the year, there were a few autobiographies. The one that stood out somewhat was Kevin Hart’s. Although Arnold (Arnie to all those of us from Hyderabad who would workout at a gym that treated his encyclopedia on body building like a Bible) tells a good story, you could tell that he has tried hard to sell his own story. I did not find it very inspiring. He has accomplished a lot in his life and his work ethic is tremendous. I came away with a respect for his ego which likely matches the size of his biceps or quads from his heyday.
My standout books were James and The Covenant of Water. The former is a spin-off from Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as seen by the eyes of the slave, James. Having read Mark Twain’s books as a child, I became an instant fan of Perceival Everett for writing such a brilliant book. I loved the depiction of the protagonist. He was vulnerable and smart in equal measure.
My experience with Indian authors has been a mixed bag of sorts. Some are brilliant (Amitav Ghosh), others are cursory (Chetan Bhagat and Amish Patel), while others overwhelmed me with the prose (Arundhati Roy and Aravind Adiga). My fears were unfounded with Abraham Varghese, who penned a masterpiece with the Covenant of Water. Set in Kerala and spanning the pre-Independence era all the way until the 1970s India, it was fantastic. The geography of the land was relatable to me and the storyline itself was superb. He takes the reader through multiple generations of the family and documents the changing landscape over the decades. Such a good job. It is after being immersed in books like these that I look for comic relief, something that doesn’t make me, an over-thinker at the best of times, think even more about the story. Still, I would read other books by him although it is usually a hard act to follow – one successful story after another is seldom seen.
What were some of your standout books this year? Any recommendations, especially in the autobiographical or historical fiction genres?
Mithun's Musings 