Top Books News- IBNLive.com

Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poems translated into German

Mon, 28 May 2012 02:16:55 +0530

A bilingual Urdu-German book of Faiz's poems has been launched by the Goethe Institut in Karachi, Dawn News reported.

Author Markovits explores Jewish sect she left

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:23:08 +0530

Like the characters of her book, Anouk Markovits grew up inside the strict Satmar Hasidic Jewish sect, where reading novels was frowned upon and she was expected to wed in an arranged marriage at a young age.

Story by Pultizer winner serialised on Twitter

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:06:29 +0530

A story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan for the New Yorker is being serialised in 10 installments on Twitter, according to the magazine.

Literary fests new tool of diplomacy in S Asia

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:45:56 +0530

Many Lit fests are mushrooming in South Asia that are discussing and building new bridges across cultures.

'Edge of Desire' mirrors growing frenzy in politics

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:34:46 +0530

Author Tuhin Sinha's writing style comes as a bit of a shock - don't expect it to be a Rushdie or Chaudhury.

'Highway 39' about complexities in North East India

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:06:46 +0530

Sudeep Chakravarti's latest book gives a detail account of the socio-political complexities and ethnic divisions prevalent in the North East.

Upset Mahasweta Devi quits post given by Mamata

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:34:44 +0530

One of West Bengal's biggest intellectuals Mahasweta Devi has quit as the Chairperson of the Bangla Academy, a post that was given to her by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The author and Magsaysay Award winner Mahasweta Devi decided to quit after her proposal to give the prestigious Vidyasagar Award to a young author was allegedly turned down by the state government.

Marvel Comics plan first same-sex marriage in the superhero world

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:30:52 +0530

Marvel comic book crime fighters 'The X-Men' are getting ready for the first same-sex marriage in the superhero world.

Great Gatsby book excerpt: Amitabh's character

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:09:01 +0530

Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of Meyer Wolfshiem in Buz Luhrman's film of F Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel, 'The Great Gatsby'. Who was Meyer Wolfshiem, really? Here are the two excerpts from the novel in which Wolfshiem appears.

Marvel Comics plans wedding for gay hero Northstar

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:13 +0530

Wedding bells will ring this summer for Marvel Comics' first openly gay hero, super speedster Northstar, and his longtime boyfriend.

'Are You My Mother?' is beautifully juxtaposed

Tue, 22 May 2012 01:57:28 +0530

Family relationships are beautifully portrayed in the book and being a graphic novel, it manages to convey a lot.

'The Statistical Probability of Love' a sweet read

Tue, 22 May 2012 01:51:40 +0530

Jennifer E Smith knows the craft of writing for young adults. It is not the typical romance novel.

'It's your move...' an engaging chick-lit

Fri, 18 May 2012 05:18:39 +0530

Based on today's world, where online dating is as common as cheese, this is Wordfreak and Worddiva's love story.

'Abandon' promises more than it delivers

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:54:13 +0530

The story attempts to recreate the myth of Persephone and Hades but falls short miserably.

No humour please, we are Indians!

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:12:13 +0530

In 1923, iconic Bengali humorist Sukumar Ray described a curious race of beings "who were scared to laugh". With the government forced to apologise for a 1949 cartoon on Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar after parliamentarians of all hues raised a massive ruckus, are Indians becoming that humourless race?

Extract: The Householder by Amitabha Bagchi

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:18 +0530

Amitabha Bagchi has knit a plot about Indian bureaucracy, corruption and redemption in his new work, 'The Householder'.

A 'Kahaani' of Indian bureaucracy, corruption

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:57:28 +0530

His surname inspired a key character in the hit Bollywood film "Kahaani". Now writer Amitabha Bagchi has knit a plot about Indian bureaucracy, corruption and redemption in his new work, "The Householder".

Michelle contemplated divorcing Obama in 2000: Book

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:31:35 +0530

Michelle Obama contemplated divorcing Barack Obama in 2000 after he ignored her advice not to run for a House seat in Chicago, making him so "depressed" that friends feared he might commit suicide, says a new book.

New Indian novels mirror contemporary relationships

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:54:54 +0530

Contemporary Indian popular fiction that narrates "desi" cosmopolitan stories has been mirroring the changing man-woman relationship in a more open and accepting urban India, a leading literary agent says.

Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes is dead

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:46:20 +0530

Carlos Fuentes, a towering literary figure in the Spanish-speaking world, died on Tuesday at a hospital in the Mexican capital. He was 83.

Extract: 'The Source - A Manual of Everyday Magic'

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:22:20 +0530

Ursula James is a premier hypnotherapy practitioner and teacher in the UK and has written extensively on related subjects. 'The Source' is her latest work.

India encouraged LTTE in the 1980s: Book

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:54:17 +0530

The Indian policy on Sri Lanka in the 1980s, the formative years of the LTTE, provided encouragement to the separatist group, a new book has claimed. The book, 'Gota's War', talks about India's "covert" role in LTTE's growth as the outfit carried out frequent terrorist strikes in the island.

Why I wrote a book on the 1995 Kashmir abductions

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:50:53 +0530

The author outlines the research and motivation that went into "The Meadow", a book on the 1995 Kashmir kidnappings.

'In the Sea there...' a frank, revealing memoir

Mon, 14 May 2012 05:52:05 +0530

A memoir that describes the fear, insecurity, despair and nostalgia which the refugees face.

Goa CM Parrikar to pen a 'hilarious' memoir

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:26:08 +0530

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is planning to pen down a memoir on his political life and the 56-year-old claims he has enough fodder to make it to the bestseller list.

Indian books on spirituality a big draw: NBT chief

Mon, 14 May 2012 01:31:02 +0530

Books on Indian spiritualism are in great demand in foreign countries, and even the Chinese are impressed, said the National Book Trust (NBT) director MA Sikander.

When cricket became a saviour in Afghanistan

Mon, 14 May 2012 01:20:02 +0530

Literary fiction explores unimaginable possibilities for peace in Afghanistan and escape from the daily acts of subversion.

JK Rowling's 'Pottermore' now open for all

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:54:04 +0530

Pottermore, an online hub developed by author JK Rowling for fans of the boy wizard Harry Potter is now open for all. The free site promises to be an exciting world full of new activities and information on Harry Potter and others from the hit book series.

Free Potter e-books to be offered through Kindle

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:30:39 +0530

Harry Potter has joined the Kindle lending library. Amazon.com announced on Thursday that on June 19, the e-book editions of JK Rowling's seven Potter novels will become part of the Kindle service available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Members can download a book for free once a month. Amazon's library has more than 145,000 books.

Remembering Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:03:11 +0530

Saadat Hasan Manto, the celebrated Urdu writer, is best known for highlighting hypocrisy and evils of the society through his short stories. Saadat Manto is known to have written more than 200 stories in a span of not more than 2 decades. Toba Tek Singh, the story that captured the aftermath of the partition, is perhaps one of his most popular works even today.

Manto now: Irrelevant for young, icon for others

Fri, 11 May 2012 05:56:51 +0530

Literary icon Saadat Hasan Manto finds few takers among young readers because the stories are dark, disturbing and reflect a time they cannot relate to.

'Evolution of Gods' raises a valid question

Fri, 11 May 2012 03:08:30 +0530

Ajay Kansal in his latest book 'The Evolution of Gods' attempts to explain religious beliefs from the world over.

Years later, Mumbai digs up Manto's memories

Fri, 11 May 2012 01:25:12 +0530

100 years after Saadat Hasan Manto's birth, Mumbai is gearing up to remember the eventful time that the legendary Urdu writer spent in the city.

Nupur Talwar writing book on Aarushi's death

Fri, 11 May 2012 03:39:22 +0530

Nupur Talwar, accused in the 2008 twin murder of her teenaged daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, is writing a book on the mystery behind her daughter's death in Dasna jail where she is lodged, prison officials said.

Extract: 'Black Bread White Beer' by Niven Govinden

Thu, 10 May 2012 05:20:23 +0530

'Black Bread White Beer' casts a critical eye on a society in which, despite never-ending advances in social media communications, the young still find it difficult to communicate.

'Moslems are Coming' a smart, sassy, funny read

Wed, 09 May 2012 03:39:51 +0530

Sharp and witty, this is a book through which the reader travels the world with the author while having a bird's eye view on world politics.

Read 'Inspector Singh' for its lovable protagonists

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:10:21 +0530

Shamini Flint's 'Inspector Singh Investigates' emphasises on the psychological trauma caused by communal violence to a family.

'Escape from Camp 14' unbelievable yet compelling

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:44:57 +0530

Veteran journalist Blaine Harden's latest book 'Escape from Camp 14' has been hailed by the media worldwide.

Kolkata celebrates Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:52:37 +0530

It's been 151 years since the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore was born in Kolkata at Jorasanko thakurbari, perhaps the most prominent centre of the Bengal renaissance. As we remember one of the tallest figures of Bengal's history, the city of Kolkata truly turns into a Tagore city.

Nupur Talwar writing a book on Aarushi's murder

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:29:16 +0530

Murdered teenager Aarushi Talwar's mother Nupur Talwar is writing a book titled 'Mystery behind Aarushi's death - story by an unfortunate mother' inside the Dasna Jail. The jailor of Dasna Jail said that she wanted to bring out the real story.

Rabindranath Tagore centre launched at Edinburgh

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:41:46 +0530

A centre dedicated to the life and work of Rabindranath Tagore has been launched in Edinburgh, said to be the first UK hub of its kind dedicated to the Nobel laureate.

'My Days in Prison' a powerful yet disturbing read

Tue, 08 May 2012 03:43:56 +0530

Regular fights, the obscene forms of entertainment, the beatings, the blatant abuse of authority, the constant need to escape reality, Shastri describes her personal experience and observations in 'My days in Prison'.

'Dance of Death' deals with delusions of grandeur

Tue, 08 May 2012 01:28:52 +0530

Money makes the world go round is the crux of Manna Bahadur's book 'The Dance of Death'.

'Would you like some bread...' is unpretentious

Tue, 08 May 2012 01:02:50 +0530

This book's ideal for reading on the go (Mumbai locals, if you're like the author! Or even the Delhi Metro, if you're now settled here like she is,) though it also works on a lazy afternoon.

How Tagore inspired Sri Lanka's national anthem

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:24:53 +0530

Ananda Samarakoon, Rabindranath Tagore's student at Shantiniketan, composed "Sri Lanka Matha."

Rs 150 cr to Visva Bharati on Tagore's birthday

Tue, 08 May 2012 02:00:25 +0530

As a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on the ocassion of his 150th birth anniversary, the government on Monday announced a grant of Rs 150 crore to the Nobel Laureate's abode -- Visva Bharati University -- for restoring it to its old glory.

Rabindranath Tagore songs by band not taboo: Sankho

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:23:06 +0530

Eminent Bengali poet Sankho Ghosh says that launching Rabindranath Tagore's songs by bands can not be a taboo if it conforms to the spirit and basics. For instance "The Tagore song in Bangla band Dohar's 'Sahasro Dotara' album, rendered by 'bauls' (mystic minstrels from Bengal) have been a unique initiative," Ghosh told on Saturday evening.

WB: Rabindranath Tagore's home to be a museum

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:57:47 +0530

To preserve Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral house of Rabindranath Tagore in north Kolkata, the West Bengal government is planning to convert it into a museum.

WB: Musical programmes to celebrate Tagore's birthday

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:51:53 +0530

With a number of musical programs to be held all over the state and a handicraft fair in the city, West Bengal on Monday geared up to celebrate the 151st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on Tuesday.

Rupa Bajwa's 'Tell me a Story' is disappointing

Mon, 07 May 2012 05:02:32 +0530

The book is very readable, the author is at ease with the language and the subject but given the critical acclaim her first book received (which I haven't read, by the way), this book was disappointing.

'Em and the Big Hoom' a frank, in-your-face novel

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:50:10 +0530

For his first novel, Jerry Pinto has taken care not to make it cliched or for that matter sentimental, though it speaks of madness and disjointed family ties.

Excerpt: The Edge of Desire by Tuhin Sinha

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:38:05 +0530

Tuhin A Sinha is an author, scriptwriter and columnist based in Mumbai. Tuhin is best known for his novels, 'Of Love And Politics', 'That Thing Called Love' and '22 Yards'.

Team Anna on '13 Days That Awakened India'

Sat, 05 May 2012 02:21:41 +0530

Members of Team Anna discuss IBN7 Managing Editor Ashutosh's book 'Anna -13 Days That Awakened India' at the book launch.

Book Talk: Steve Coll on Exxon Mobil's oil empire

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:03:11 +0530

Exxon Mobil's vast size and massive profits have often put the oil giant in the crosshairs of critics, and its strict adherence to company protocols and philosophy has created an image of the company as impervious to outside pressure.

'Osama went out not with a bang but with a whimper'

Thu, 03 May 2012 02:45:03 +0530

Slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who all his life boasted that he would go down fighting and would ask his bodyguards to shoot him if ever he came near Americans, offered no resistance when US commandos cornered him in his Abbottabad hideout a year ago, claims a new book.

'Life in a Rectangle' a modest, unassuming book

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:56:09 +0530

Sujit Sanyal may not be quite as handsome as Jon Hamm, but his memoirs are a successful foray into the same genre or subculture, as the case may be.

'Chance at Happiness' an authentic portrait of Delhi

Wed, 02 May 2012 06:14:16 +0530

Aseem Vadehra's book is an authentic portrait of one of the many faces that Delhi has got and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Hocking's 'Torn' a large improvement from 'Switched'

Wed, 02 May 2012 05:52:33 +0530

'Torn' is the sequel to 'Switched', which was Amanda Hocking's first self-published book.

'The Resignation' is a fantastic piece of translation

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:14:24 +0530

The writing is fantastic. Every word is in its place and most credit goes to the translator for the wonderful derivation of setting, meaning and the right words to add the much needed pace and communicative technique to the book.

Hundreds flock to meet '50 Shades of Grey' author

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:00:08 +0530

Young school teachers, middle-aged nurses and even the elderly flocked to a Miami book store Sunday for a chance to meet the author of the bestselling erotic romance 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in the launch of her US book tour.

Excerpt: Business Etiquette by Shital Mehra

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:20:50 +0530

Shital Kakkar Mehra is one of the most experienced practitioners of corporate etiquette and international protocol in India.

'Breakout Nations' a brilliant analysis of new markets

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:11:20 +0530

Like most authors writing on new markets, Ruchir Sharma gives importance to China and India.

Joseph Anton: Rushdie's memoir of hiding days

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:15:00 +0530

Salman Rushdie has written a memoir based on the time he spent hiding while under a fatwa that sentenced him to death in 1989.

Archie comics gender swap: Archie becomes Archina

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:54:21 +0530

The main three characters will become Archina, Billy and Ronnie thanks to a magical spell cast by two special visitors to Riverdale - Sabrina the Teenage Witch and her cat Salem.

Extract: Between Clay and Dust by Musharraf Ali Farooqi

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:12:26 +0530

While the world continues to raise a toast to contemporary Pakistani authors, the latest author to enter the literary marathon is a genius of sorts who translates Urdu tomes and works on his own tales of fiction with equal ease.

'In the orchard...' a story of beauty, love and pain

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:37:22 +0530

Peter Hobbs' book touches upon the war in Afghanistan and what meaning it has to people.

'Fifty Shades of Grey' an entertaining, racy read

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:20:59 +0530

EL James' 'Fifty Shades of Grey' is racy and makes you turn the pages as quick as possible.

Nesbo hits the sweet spot of crime and mystery

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:23:52 +0530

Phantom's strength is that it can be a standalone book and readers do not have to refer to the previous Harry Hole books to make sense of what is happening.

Sharad Pawar releases book on Yashwantrao Chavan

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:11:34 +0530

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday remembered Maharashtra's first chief minister and veteran Congress leader Yashwantrao Chavan as a visionary economist who had the ability to explain the finer points of economics to the common man in simple language.

A 200-page pocketbook on Akhilesh - in 10 languages

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:54:52 +0530

The book has 14 chapters on topics such as Akhilesh Yadav's childhood, college days, political grooming, connection with the next generation, relationship with his father, the Kranti Rath Yatra and his ascent to the chief minister's post.

Noted poet, Booker judge on DSC literature prize panel

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:00:39 +0530

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature Friday announced the induction of five new members to its advisory committee for the 2013 and 2014 editions of the $50,000 prize.

'Che' comic inspired by his most famous portrait

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:27:57 +0530

The most famous photo ever taken of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was shot by Alberto Korda in 1960, an image so endlessly reproduced it became not only a political icon but a marketing and advertising asset. That photo is the point of departure for the new graphic novel about the "Comandante" now being published in Spanish.

Pico Iyer's writing is broken, fragmented yet lovable

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:06:38 +0530

We all have a man within us - someone different, someone similar, and someone who sometimes we want to be.

'Please Look after Mother' a distinct voice

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:55:43 +0530

Please Look after Mother's story will strike a chord in you somewhere. It made me feel the kind of attention may be sometimes I need to give my mother.

'A Life in Words' a stark account of a writer's life

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:45:27 +0530

'A Life in Words: Memoirs' by Ismat Chughtai is an honest and stark account of a writer's life - from childhood to youth to old-age.

Bill Gates to become comic book hero

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:27:23 +0530

Bill Gates is set to become the next comic book hero. The Microsoft founder's life will now be made into a graphic novel releasing by the end of the month. It will also be available on Nook and Kindle.

Manning Marable wins history Pulitzer posthumously

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:15:22 +0530

The late Manning Marable won the Pulitzer Prize for history on Monday, honoured for a Malcolm X book he worked on for decades but did not live to see published. For the first time in 35 years, no fiction prize was given.

1992-93 Mumbai riots chronicled in a book

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:25:02 +0530

Khatun Bi is one of the many real-life protagonists of the recently launched book 'Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation'. The 65-year-old victim of 1992-93 Bombay riots might have a foggy memory about everything else but she clearly remembers the day when she had to hide neck-deep in a gutter as rioters violently raided the streets of Mumbai. Dipped in muck and her own fear, that day will always remain a living nightmare for Khatun Bi.

Kashmir to have first ever international literary fest

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:10:31 +0530

The first ever international Kashmir literary festival, on the lines of the Jaipur Literary Festival, is to be organized in the Valley this year, an official said in Srinagar on Monday.

Rowling working on a Harry Potter encyclopedia

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:04:16 +0530

Author JK Rowling is working on a Harry Potter encyclopedia, and will donate the royalties to charity, she has said on her website.

Govt of India values freedom of expression: Heehs

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:43:21 +0530

Reacting to his visa extension, controversial US historian Peter Heehs has thanked the Home Ministry saying the Indian government values freedom of expression. In a statement, Heehs said, "I'm grateful to the Home Ministry for reviewing my case, and for arriving at a decision that shows that the government values freedom of expression."

Between Clay and Dust: Of rectitude and penance

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:45:54 +0530

This is a book whose pages will emit the smells of blood, sweat and freshly churned clay and stay with you long after you have read the last word.

Author Peter Hees gets 1-year visa extension

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:31:02 +0530

In a reprieve for controversial US historian Peter Heehs who faced deportation from India, the Union Home Ministry on Friday extended his visa by one more year with effect from April 15.

Author Peter Heehs may have to leave India

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:56:48 +0530

Controversial US historian Peter Heehs may have to leave India on Sunday as the Home Ministry is unlikely to intervene in the immigration authorities' decision not to extend his visa.

'Titanic still connects its descendants'

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:38:42 +0530

The sinking of the Titanic April 15, 1912 still connects the descendants of victims and survivors 100 years on, says British journalist, researcher and writer Andrew Wilson.

JK Rowling's next book: 'The Casual Vacancy'

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:49:21 +0530

It may lack wizards and witches, but JK Rowling and her publisher are hoping her first novel for adults, "The Casual Vacancy," will have the magic touch.

Farooqi: Authors are busy writing 'clever' novels

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:05:35 +0530

Musharraf Ali Farooqi is in Delhi for the launch of his latest book 'Between Clay and Dust'. It is the story of two artists - wrestler Ustad Ramzi and courtesan Gohar Jan - approaching the end of their careers.

Boyd to pen new Bond novel set in late 1960s

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:48:03 +0530

Suave and brutal British super-spy James Bond will find himself in the thick of danger at the end of the swinging '60s in a new, official novel by author William Boyd due out next year.

Exclusive: Author Jack Canfield on his success mantra

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:29:20 +0530

Author and motivational speaker Jack Canfield is in India to promote his book, 'The Principles of Success'. He is also holding seminars in Mumbai and Bangalore. Some prominent names of the corporate world are expected to attend these sessions. CNN-IBN's Kajal Iyer caught up with the author to decode his success mantra.

Aleph will be India's premium publishing brand: Davidar

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 04:18:54 +0530

As they announce their maiden line-up and launch their first titles, the publishers of Aleph Book Company disclose their strategy and future publishing plans.

Review: Comic hero Agent Vinod is kick-ass

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:37:47 +0530

What majorly works for the graphic novel is Mumbai-based illustrator Saumin Patel's stunning art work.

Read Guenter Grass' poem 'What Must Be Said'

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:43:41 +0530

Israel has declared Guenter Grass persona non grata, deepening a spat with the Nobel-winning author over a poem that deeply criticises the Jewish state and suggests it is as much a danger as Iran.

Full list: Aleph Book's titles to be released this year

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:12:09 +0530

Aleph Book Company has announced its first list of titles to be released beginning 9 April 2012. The twenty-five books of fiction and non-fiction on the company's launch list will be published across five seasons, and will comprise original works by established authors as well as outstanding new voices.

'Flame': Shahnaz Husain's daughter pens biography

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:58:54 +0530

Popular beauty expert Shahnaz Husain's daughter, Nelofar Currimbhoy, has penned 'Flame', a biography of her mother.

Pak author Farooqi strikes the 'write' chord

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:59:02 +0530

Sri Aurobindo was a spiritual leader, not an avatar: Peter Heehs

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:15:42 +0530

American historian Peter Heehs, whose book 'The Lives of Sri Aurobindo' has sparked protests, says powerful people are pressurizing the government not to renew his visa.

'Tea for Two...' very well executed chick-lit

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:56:18 +0530

Preeti Shenoy writes with urgency - almost like she has to catch the next bus and will miss it, but it is that urgency that gives the book its much needed tone and pace.

FTN: Are historians losing their freedom of expression?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:51:42 +0530

Once again a book has been banned. This time the author is American historian Peter Heehs for his book 'The lives Of Sri Aurobindo'.

Taking poetry to India's young readers

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:04:14 +0530

Prose has for long edged poetry to the margins of contemporary Indian literature. It is only natural that the new reader is not familiar with the late Kamala Das or her bold feminist oeuvre of poetry and short story that gave her cult status in India like Sylvia Plath in the West.

Indo-US relationship drifting apart, says a book

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:37:37 +0530

India should have sent its troops back to Sri Lanka to kill or capture Prabhakaran and the LTTE leadership after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, says a new book by a former US diplomat.

Top 20 Bollywood superstars captured in a book

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:38:53 +0530

A new book by Bhaichand Patel 'Bollywood's Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema' was launched by Kajol recently.

Young Indian writers scripting a new trend

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:00:13 +0530

While mainstream films have seen mass consumption in the country, a new breed of Indian fiction is seen doing the same. These books speak in a language which is hooking on a lot of first time readers. Indian writing in English has moved far beyond the Amitav Ghoshes, Vikram Seths and Salman Rushdies, even past Chetan Bhagat, who barged into the Indian publishing milieu and revolutionised the market.

'Flush,' a great read for a lazy summer day

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:35:15 +0530

'Flush', written by Carl Hiaasen, is a great read for a lazy evening or summer day. It is easy to understand, moderate-paced and can be read by kids of all ages

JD Salinger: Not quite the 'Catcher in the Rye'

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:50:39 +0530

This biography, 'JD Salinger: A Life Raised High', by Kenneth Slawenski, is a tour de force of a tribute.

Pico Iyer's 'The man within...' is a treat to read

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:37:10 +0530

Pico Iyer writes about the man within his head, in the process unraveling and understanding the man who perhaps influenced his life most deeply - his father.

Kishwar Desai talks of surrogacy, IVF in new book

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:08:40 +0530

Celebrities like Aamir Khan and Nicole Kidman going in for surrogacy has helped spread the word about the option and make people aware of it, says author Kishwar Desai, whose new book deals with the issue of assisted reproduction.

Pioneering feminist poet Adrienne Rich dead at 82

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:05:36 +0530

Poet and essayist Adrienne Rich, a feminist literary figure celebrated as much for deeply personal reflections on her own life as for sometimes-biting social commentary, has died at age 82, family members said on Wednesday.

Erotic novel acquired by film producers

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:09:56 +0530

Universal Pictures and Focus Features have acquired the rights to EL James' bestselling erotic novel, 'Fifty Shades of Gray.'

Hachette acquires worldwide rights in Enid Blyton

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:54:00 +0530

Enid Blyton has an extensive publishing portfolio with 800 titles translated into 40 languages. Till date over 500 million copies of Enid Blyton books have been sold, outselling any other children's author.

'Beautiful Forevers' a disturbing, impactful read

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:45:24 +0530

The book removes masks that we sometimes wear and compels the readers to take a better look at their world and surroundings.

Book advising ways to beat wife sparks outrage

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:35:16 +0530

An Islamic marriage guide advising men on 'the best ways' to beat their wives has sparked outrage in Britain, especially among moderate Muslims who say that it encourages domestic violence. The book - A Gift For Muslim Couple - tells husbands that they should beat their wives with "hand or stick or pull her by the ears", the Daily Mail reported.

Teens will enjoy reading Hocking's 'Switched'

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:18:15 +0530

The story begins 11 years before the protagonist, Wendy Everly, knows she is not all human. Remembering her sixth birthday, her mother attempts to kill her, screaming about how Wendy wasn't really her child. It wasn't until 11 years later that she met Finn, a mysterious boy, with whom she starts an odd friendship, and who incidentally has knowledge of her past, and why she is the out-of-place young adult she is now.

Jeffrey Archer does it again

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:07:08 +0530

There's no doubt about it - Jeffrey Archer's got a gift. At first glance, The Sins of the Father is a heady mix of, well, stuff that Archer's given us before - the prison sentence, the wronged innocent, the devoted partner, who fights against all odds - but he does it so well, and injects more drama than you would think possible! There is also a definite seediness that he depicts.

'Bollywood Striptease' leaves a sense of ennui

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:38:20 +0530

Neeta Shah's 'Bollywood Striptease' is a light and frothy take on the big bad world of Hindi cinema.

Tamil writer chosen for Saraswati Samman

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:38:58 +0530

Tamil writer A A Manavalan has been chosen for the 'Saraswati Samman' 2011 for his book on Ramayana, the K K Birla Foundation announced on Thursday.

Penguin India to publish Amit Chaudhuri's works

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:02:42 +0530

In what is a landmark acquisition, Penguin Books India has acquired the Indian subcontinent rights to publish the acclaimed author Amit Chaudhuri's works.

Bonding Through Brotherhood: Freemasons in India

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:32:52 +0530

The coffee-table book is an attempt at not only chronicling the history of Freemasons, but also at educating the Indian readers on the movement's 'glocal' character - its global organisation and principles as well as its local history and spread across India.

Muslims in India are being misled: Salman Rushdie

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:29:42 +0530

Acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie, author of the controversial 'The Satanic Verses' as also bestsellers like 'Midnight's Children' and 'Shame', on Saturday denounced "disgraceful vote bank politics" being practised in the country and said "95 per cent of Muslims in India are not interested in violence being done in their name".

Music, calligraphy, poetry in Vikram Seth's new work

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:37:59 +0530

Music, calligraphy, conversations and poetry merge in Vikram Seth's new anthology of poetry, 'The Rivered Earth', an eclectic journey into the heart of rhythmic lyricism that the writer of 'The Golden Gate' - a novel in verse - is known for.

Salman Rushdie blames Congress for Jaipur fiasco

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:36:33 +0530

Controversial author Salman Rushdie on Saturday targetted the Congress party, particularly Rahul Gandhi at the India Today Conclave, saying his presence was blocked in the Jaipur Literature Festival due to "useless electoral calculations". He suggested that this "led to the debacle" of Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

India deserves better leaders than it has: Rushdie

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 10:38:30 +0530

In India, two months after being forced to skip Jaipur Literary Festival, controversial author Salman Rushdie on Saturday hit out at Congress, suggesting that his presence there was blocked because of "useless electoral calculations" and told Rahul Gandhi that "it did not work".

Salman Rushdie in Delhi, attends function

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:07:45 +0530

Two months after he was forced to skip a literary fest in Jaipur, controversial writer Salman Rushdie on Saturday night attended a function in New Delhi amid tight security.

IT Conclave: Salman Rushdie's session postponed

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:19:29 +0530

Author Salman Rushdie's literary session at the India Today Conclave has been postponed by a day to Saturday following a sudden change in schedule, the organisers said.

Literature is best left alone: Saeed Mirza

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:55:43 +0530

Saeed Mirza became a writer with his debut novel, 'Ammi - Letter to a Democratic Mother', in 2008.

Italian group wants 'racist 'Divine Comedy' banned

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:36:36 +0530

A research group has said 'Divine Comedy' is racist, against Islam and should be banned from schools in Italy.

Imran Khan cancels India trip over Salman Rushdie

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:49:34 +0530

Rushdie's 1988 novel 'The Satanic Verses' is still banned in India and Pakistan for allegedly blaspheming against Islam

Bombay a city of sex and sin: author Corban Addison

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:45:17 +0530

As a white man, Corban Addison acknowledges he took a risk entering the brothels of Mumbai pretending to be customer but he was determined to make his novel about sex trafficking as authentic as possible.

Gautam Bhattacharya's best seller ebook launched

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:40:55 +0530

Sports journalist Gautam Bhattacharya's best-seller on achievers in different fields, chronicling their struggle in life since childhood, became the first Bengali book to be available on ebook platforms worldwide.

Pulitzer-winner Boo unmasks Mumbai poverty in new book

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:09:07 +0530

Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo's idea to spend her days in a Mumbai slum originated one night while she was lying on the floor of her Washington, DC area home with a punctured lung and three broken ribs after tripping over a dictionary.

Rushdie to return to India after death threats

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:59:35 +0530

Salman Rushdie will return to India this week to speak at a conference, under two months after death threats forced the Booker Prize-winning author to pull out of Asia's biggest literary festival, the event organiser said on Tuesday.

Penguin's annual 'Spring Lit Fest' in Delhi March 16

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:36:42 +0530

A series of sneak peeps into new books by top Indian writers will be the cornerstone of a festival of literature, "Spring Fever", to be held March 16-24 at the India Habitat Centre.

Ashutosh: Anna stir foretold Rahul's UP debacle

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:01:39 +0530

Anna had made a solid dent in Rahul's image. New York Times wrote on 28 August 2011, 'For Mr Gandhi, the crisis interrupted what was widely assumed to be his own coming out as the new leader of the Congress . . . Instead, Mr Hazare upended the political landscape and Mr Gandhi disappeared for days before his speech in Parliament.' There can't be a bigger setback for Rahul Gandhi than losing UP. He has staked a lot on his success there. I think this may well decide his chances of succeeding Manmohan Singh as PM. This also explains why every change or shift in the political landscape is carefully analysed. Every minor, even perceived, threat to his career is therefore seen with suspicion. I believe that this is what ultimately dictates his attitude and actions to the Anna stir.

'Fifty Shades of Grey' gets US publisher

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:16:56 +0530

EL James' 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trilogy, a word-of-mouth romance smash so erotic it's sometimes labeled 'mommy porn', has been signed up by a paperback division of Random House Inc.

Farooki's urgency in words works well for 'Flying Man'

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:40:10 +0530

Roopa Farooki's new book is unlike anything else by her earlier.

Book review: What makes business rock

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:50:45 +0530

You wouldn't associate someone who commanded three nuclear bases at the height of the Cold War in the 1970s with running the world's largest entertainment businesses. But that's exactly what Bill Roedy has done, and this book chronicles that journey.

Advaita Kala: Had to tell Vidya's story right

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:36:28 +0530

Almost Single author Advaita Kala is looking forward to her next film Kahaani which will see Vidya Balan playing the central protagonist.

'Neglected Poems': Gulzar at his creative best

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:37:04 +0530

Don't go by the name, as 'Neglected Poems represent Gulzar at his creative and imaginative best, as he meditates on nature, delves into human psychology, explores great cities and confronts the most telling moments of everyday life.

Good as politicians, bad as poets

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:48:00 +0530

Their poetry is an ode to their massive egos, feted and established as great literary pieces by fanatic party workers.

Ashutosh: Was the Anna movement communal?

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:06:51 +0530

Rajiv Gandhi was still alive. The RSS mobilization on the Ayodhya issue was peaking. I was in JNU, studying international politics. The campus was untouched by religious polarization because student politics was dominated by the students' wings of left parties. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) was the leading force. JNU was a very open and liberal campus. Gender equality was a big thing and violence was anathema. The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and their vices had no presence at all. These organizations existed only on paper; to be affiliated with them was to be labelled lumpen and retrograde. I had come from Allahabad University, where student politics was all about caste and community mobilization. To be a student leader, one had to be either a Brahmin or a Thakur, the two dominant castes in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Other middle and lower castes had very little hope for success. There were a few other radical organizations, but their presence was marginal. So when I entered JNU, I found myself in a wonderland. I will freely admit that we were living in an ideal world, a utopia. Our interactions with the outside world were always a little uncomfortable. So even at the peak of the communal mobilization in India, we were not affected and the campus was not divided along Hindu-Muslim lines. Though the Ayodhya issue was at the forefront of campus discussions and debates, our opinions were not divided - we believed that the Ayodhya mobilization was an attack on the secular fabric of the country.

APJ Kalam inspires youth at World Book Fair

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 03:41:56 +0530

It may be age of the iPad or the game console, but India's most popular President, APJ Kalam, showed the way - that with great books comes great imagination.

11-year-old reviews Sudha Murty's latest book

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:35:17 +0530

'Grandma's Bag of Stories' neither a novel nor a short stories book it is a mix of the two.

Lost Charlotte Bronte story finally published

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:15:29 +0530

A long-lost short story written by Charlotte Bronte for a married man with whom she had fallen in love was published online for the first time and comes out in print.

Gul Panag unveils Sachin Garg novel, says it's for all

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:02:27 +0530

Gul Panag unveiled young novelist Sachin Garg's latest book "Never Let Me Go" at the ongoing World Book Fair.

A karmic love story that begins and ends with India

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:26:20 +0530

A bit of India, ancient scriptures, Irish and Scottish myths, reincarnation, metaphysics and the common wisdom of pagan faiths that programmed the lives of pre-Christian people - all these constitute the spice of emerging British spiritual author AK Luthienne's new novel, 'The Sacred Quest', a love story.

Saeed Mirza's latest book is a collector's item

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:47:57 +0530

Director Saeed Akhtar Mirza has given another a masterpiece with his new book 'The Monk, the Moor and Moses Ben Jalloun'.

Book banning helps fundamentalists: Taslima Nasreen

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:49:46 +0530

Robbed of a home and a peaceful life, Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen feels that religious fundamentalists apart, the responsibility for her sufferings lies on the "politicians of the Indian subcontinent" who have labelled her anti-Islam and banned her books.

'Digital format not threatening Urdu books'

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:37:33 +0530

Noted Urdu poet Waseem Barelvi has warned that information without knowledge was useless and that while the digitisation of Urdu literature was a positive step, it must not be seen as a replacement for the printed word.

Website for audio books launched at World Book Fair

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:21:49 +0530

Reado, a website of one of India's biggest audio books company, Think Ink Media Inc, was launched at the World Book Fair 2012 with 100-plus leading book titles which have been converted into downloadable audio books.

Kannada model-actress writes book on Rahul

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:04:10 +0530

The dusky model, movie actress and doctoral fellow from Bangalore is an unlikely political commentator. Meet Lakshmi Priya, an emerging writer who released her political comment, "Rahul Gandhi: The Great Warrior of Indian Politics" at the 20th World Book Fair.

'Cinema, literature on a par, building new synergy'

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:39:14 +0530

Cinema adaptations of novels is a challenge and helps forge new synergy between the screen and literature, speakers at a forum at the World Book Fair said.

'To Kill a Snow...' is vast enough to be epic

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:05:46 +0530

Sharad P Paul's book stirs a sense of faint envy at its brilliance.

World book fair celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:44:22 +0530

The World Delhi book fair commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, along with books celebrating the 100 years of Indian cinema.

'Dating, Diapers and Denial,' a comical view of life

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:46:58 +0530

'Dating, Diapers and Denial' is a novel with a comical view of life for men and women who have dated, raised kids and gone through the sweet-sour moments that they get- it's a novel you'd want to read over and over again, to double up at the funny anecdotal passages and the witty observations.

Book review: 'Rahul', a book on the Gandhi scion

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:32:56 +0530

In October 2005, Rahul Gandhi made a surprise visit to a middle-class haunt in Chennai. With a few friends, he descended on Hotel Saravana Bhavan at Ashok Nagar, not far from the airport and spent the next hour or so getting a taste of south Indian cuisine.

'Opening Night,' chasing the big Bollywood dream

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:47:51 +0530

'Opening Night' by Diksha Basu is the story of Naiya Kapur, a Princeton University graduate who comes to Mumbai to chase the big Indian dream - Bollywood.

JK Rowling has deal for new novel for adults

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:23:44 +0530

Adult fans of JK Rowling can rejoice: She has a new novel coming, for grownups. The kids will have to wait and see.

Lessons in sexual freedom from Taslima Nasreen

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:09:36 +0530

On Twitter, Nasreen has been a champion of causes that affect women and often her scathing posts have upset celebrities opposed to her outspoken stance.

Extract: 'Emerging India' by Bimal Jalan

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:35:12 +0530

Bimal Jalan as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1997 to 2003.

Sanjay Kumar's 'Artist, Undone,' a great debut

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:10:12 +0530

'Artist, Undone' chronicles the life of Harsh Sinha - who sees a likeness of himself in a painting.

Grassroots Comics: New voice for rural issues

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:14:26 +0530

Comics have long been considered a medium of entertainment, but soon the caricatures may become a powerful medium for campaigning and spreading awareness about various social issues that abound in rural India.

Kapil Sibal, the poet, back with his second book

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:30:53 +0530

From a politician and a lawyer Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is also a poet. Sibal's second anthology of poems will be released in Delhi this week. Four years after releasing his first anthology of poems, he's back with his second, 'My World Within', published by Roli Books.

Delhi celebrates its love for comics at Comic Con

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:21:45 +0530

Delhi's annual comic convention's second edition in the capital saw a sea of comic-lovers thronging the venue.

It's a myth that comics are fading: Comic Con organiser

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:02:24 +0530

Organiser Jatin Verma while speaking to IBNLive said that the comic scene in India is still alive but the market needs more investors.

2nd Annual Comic Convention kicks off in Delhi

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:36:37 +0530

The seemingly fading world of comics is set to come alive again as Indian comic book aficionados relive their favourite comic moments at the second edition of the Annual Indian Comic Convention. The Comic Con starts on February 17 at Dilli Haat, New Delhi.

Sahitya Akademi turns spotlight on poetry, nature

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:28:41 +0530

The prestigious Samvatsar lecture turned the spotlight on poetry this year to keep the Sahitya Akademi's commitment to promotion of poetry alive.

'Homesick' has a unique and original voice

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:16:57 +0530

'Homesick' is a collection of seventeen stories - telling the tales of Sri Lankan immigrants in Britain.

Israeli library uploads Newton's theological texts

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:32:14 +0530

Isaac Newton was also an influential theologian who applied a scientific approach to the study of scripture, Hebrew and Jewish mysticism.

Boy genius' book reveals life in college at age 8

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:28:27 +0530

Moshe Kai Cavalin was enroll in college at the age of 8 and earn his first of two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College at age 9, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Guha among 22 awarded Sahitya Akademi Awards

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:11:13 +0530

Eight books of poetry, seven novels, three essays and one each short story, narrative history, biography and play were selected for this year's awards.

Don't expect 'Bali and the Ocean of Milk' to be too smart

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:34:11 +0530

Read Nilanjan P Choudhury's 'Bali and the Ocean of Milk' if you like smart Alec reinterpretations of mythology.

'Dynasty rooted in Indian political tradition'

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:20:56 +0530

Zareer Masani, who courted controversy with a biography of Indira Gandhi, feels dynasty is deeply rooted in the Indian political tradition.

Book extract: Curse of the Godman

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:12:02 +0530

Biddu's 'Curse of the Godman' weaves together romance and deceit, mysticism and bigotry to bring to life the magic of Darjeeling's scenic tea plantations and tells an enthralling story.

New sensibilities emerging in literary translation

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:18:39 +0530

Translations of popular fictions, non-fictions and classics are much in demand in India and adorn bookshelves in many urban homes like status tags.

'Blue', an honest attempt at chronicling love, lust

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:06:40 +0530

'Blue', edited by Ameena Hussein is an honest, earthy attempt at chronicling love, lust and the thin line that often merges/separates - depending on perspective - the two.

Book review: Storming the World Stage

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:39:42 +0530

Part detective, part academic, part chronicler, Stephen Tankel provides what is arguably one of the finest and most detailed accounts of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the terrorist group that represents the greatest threat to India.

A peek into loss and darkness with Dan Chaon

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:18:22 +0530

In the world of Dan Chaon's stories, nothing is quite what it should be - or perhaps it's the way it always was, and nobody saw it clearly before.

Lahore's Hira Mandi: a love affair

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:37:50 +0530

Claudine Le Tourneur d'lson has authored 12 books and is planning to pen a chronicle of her journeys in Pakistan.

Kids will love Padamsee's work: 8-yr-old reviewer

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:56:37 +0530

Reviews of Shamim Padamsee's books 'Rebels in Rajasthan' and 'Poachers in Paradise' by an eight-year-old.

Book extract: Bali and the Ocean of Milk

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:36:08 +0530

The book reimagines the eternal conflict between the gods and the asuras in a whacky thriller littered with bad jokes and corpses.

India celebrates 200 years of Charles Dickens

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:20:44 +0530

As the world celebrates 200 years of Charles Dickens, so does India despite the intense debate on the relevance of Dickensian pedagogy in the 21st century.

Taslima row unfortunate, shameful: Mahasweta Devi

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:33:31 +0530

Magsaysay Award winning author Mahasweta Devi strongly criticised the cancellation of the release of controversial writer Taslima Nasreen's book following objections from fundamentalists.

Is mob violence fuelling intolerance?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:19:50 +0530

Tasleema Nasreen's book launch in Kolkata was cancelled at a book fest after protests by Muslim groups.

BJP, Cong in war of words over Taslima's book

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:46:19 +0530

A war of words ensued between the BJP and the Congress today over the cancellation of the official release of controversial author Taslima Nasreen's book in Kolkata with the former accusing Congress of driving the country towards a dangerous mindset and the latter saying fanaticism was intrinsic to the Opposition party's DNA.

Leading without licence: Leadership the Anna way

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:34:36 +0530

Authors Satheesh Namasivayam and Sivaram Bandhakavi illustrate how Anna Hazare is masterfully practising a set of principles, proven to be effective over the ages, in exercising leadership.

Taslima's book launched despite protests

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:43:10 +0530

Defying protests by 'religious fanatics' on Wednesday, the publisher of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's autobiography, Dey's Publishing, launched her book in front of a stall at the Kolkata Book Fair. This came as a protest against the guild's decision to cancel the book launch.

Kolkata: Taslima's book launch cancelled

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:32:31 +0530

After Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, religious fanatics have targeted Bangladeshi author Tasleema Nasreen. Taslima Nasreen's book launch at the Kolkata Book Fair has been cancelled with sources saying that her book launch was cancelled following objections from some religious extremists groups.

Madhulika Liddle's writing has come of age

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:53:49 +0530

'The Eighth Guest and Other Muzaffar Jang Mysteries' still stands as a testimony that Indian writers can write a good mystery.

Rajiv leader of hearts, Pranab like brother: Mamata

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:58:31 +0530

Although she felt 'betrayed' by the Congress leadership many a time, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee describes the late Rajiv Gandhi as "the leader of our hearts" and Pranab Mukherjee as her brother.

'The Reluctant Detective' fast, well paced book

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:37:21 +0530

The humour in the book doesn't let the mystery element get ignored and vice-versa.

'The Wednesday Soul' is too experimental

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:54:40 +0530

'The Wednesday Soul' is nothing like you have read before. It is funny, sarcastic, doesn't try too hard, simply written, and a whole lot of afterlife.

Rushdie's writings painful for Muslims: Imran

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:21:08 +0530

Describing the writings of Salman Rushdie as "painful" for the Muslim community, Pakistani politician and former cricket captain Imran Khan on Monday said no one had a right to humiliate someone's belief.

'Sensationalism in 'Satanic Verses' has hurt Muslims'

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:26:18 +0530

Attacking Salman Rushdie, Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Markandey Katju today said the "sensationalism" depicted by his book 'Satanic Verses' has deeply hurt Muslim sensitivities and that an individual's freedom of speech has to harmonised with the public interest.

Sentiments vs freedom: Rushdie issue festers

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:26:39 +0530

Days after Salman Rushdie was not allowed to speak at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the issue continues to touch a raw nerve among Muslim clerics and intellectuals even as liberals excoriate the brazen violation of a writer's freedom of creative expression.

We cannot let them break the pen: Vikram Seth

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:23:09 +0530

God and the prophets do not need bullies to defend themselves, says the famous author.

Banning books is a sin: Chetan Bhagat

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:05:58 +0530

Opining that banning books is a sin, popular novelist Chetan Bhagat on Saturday said that the people should appreciate the diversity of opinion in our society. "Different people have different views. We must appreciate that. Nothing is absolute in this world," Bhagat said at the Kolkata Literary Meet.

Police stood by us on Rushdie: JLF Organiser

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:46:27 +0530

Jaipur literature Festival organiser Sanjoy Roy has claimed that JLF organisers chose to call off controversial author Salman Rushdie's video link even after the Rajasthan police promised protection. While speaking exclusively to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, he admitted that it was the festival organisers who decided to call off the video conference with the author at the last minute despite the assurances of security given by the police.

Once Mamata mistook lip balm for lipstick!

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:08:54 +0530

In life as in politics, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is known to have unconventional ways, like when she used saucepans for taking bath during her trip to New York in 1998 or bought lip balms mistaking them for lipsticks.

New book to feature Satyajit Ray's lost articles

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:51:55 +0530

It not only reveals Ray's engagement with cinema, but also provides an invaluable insight into the mind of a genius.

Rushdie row: Religion misused, says Vikram Seth

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:12:12 +0530

Criticising the government for the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie's visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival, novelist Vikram Seth on Thursday said the affair was whipped up because of "power", "politics" and "misuse of religion".

Mamata was 'back stabbed' in childhood

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:11:11 +0530

She had summoned all her political astuteness and understanding to single-handedly unseat the Left Front from power in West Bengal, but when she was a child, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was so innocent that she was often back stabbed by her friends.

'Inventive Indians,' stories of raw intelligence

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:45:17 +0530

There are stories of villages which make their own hydroelectricity, from small mountain streams.

'Tamasha in Bandargaon' won't disappoint

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:14:46 +0530

The back leaf said the short stories inside were a bit like Malgudi Days.

Rushdie is 'poor', 'sub-standard' writer: Katju

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:25:21 +0530

Salman Rushdie is a "poor" and "sub-standard writer" who would have remained largely unknown but for his controversial book 'Satanic Verses', according to Markandey Katju, till recently a judge of the Supreme Court.

JLF: Did the Rajasthan govt fail to protect artistic freedom?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:05:15 +0530

CNN-IBN's Sagarika Ghose and writer Anurag Anand discuss the row over Salman Rushdie's video link cancellation.

Know the real Mamata Banerjee in her new book

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:52 +0530

She's made history by toppling the 34-year-old Left regime in the West Bengal but there's more to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Not many people know that she's written 33 books also. The latest is 'My Unforgettable Memories'.

Rushdie blames politics for his gagging at JLF

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:27:20 +0530

Gagged not once but twice from participating in the Jaipur Literature Festival, controversial author Salman Rushdie says he won't back down and will keep coming back to India. He also blamed the government for bowing to, who he called, religious gangsters.

Rushdie video cancellation: How the day unfolded

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:37:03 +0530

The planned video address by celebrated author Salman Rushdie at the Jaipur Literature Festival was scrapped at the last minute on Tuesday because of security fears. Expressing regret over a situation that he described as 'fairly idiotic', The festival producer Sanjoy Roy said "We are having to step down in a fight for the freedom of expression", before breaking down on stage.

Editor's take: The Rushdie video cancellation row

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:50:38 +0530

Booker winning author Salman Rushdie's video conference was cancelled amidst high drama and following protests by Muslim groups at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Tuesday. The cancellation raises questions on not just the state government, but also the organisers and the freedom of expression.

JLF: Has the state of Rajasthan bowed down to protestors?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:04:17 +0530

Lawyer Akhil Sibal, AIMPLB member-lawyer Zafaryab Jilani and social activist Shabnam Hashmi discuss the Salman Rushdie video conference row.

I'll keep coming to India, deal with it: Rushdie

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:34:06 +0530

Booker winning author Salman Rushdie on Tuesday made it clear that he will keep coming to India despite the events that unfolded in the recent past. In an interview with the television news channel NDTV, Rushdie said, "It's a personal disappointment, but I will keep coming back to India, deal with it."

Rushdie video cancellation not a big issue: Singhvi

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:21:56 +0530

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said on Tuesday that the media was losing a sense of proportion and balance in the Salman Rushdie video conference issue. "We are losing a sense of proportion and balance in this issue. It is not such a great issue for us to exercise over minds over. The government of India never banned his (Rushdie's) visit. Video-link was stopped by the organisers of the festival."

JLF: Activist Kavita Srivastava slams Milli Council

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:09:33 +0530

Human rights activist Kavita Srivastava on Tuesday condemned the organisations which disrupted Salman Rushdie's video link that was supposed to take place at 3.45 PM. Slamming the Jaipur-based Milli Council, she said the threat to the author and the Lit Fest was very disturbing.

Freedom of speech needs a re-look: Rahul Bose

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:52:32 +0530

In the ongoing Rushdie row at the Jaipur Literature Festival, actor Rahul Bose drew attention to the limitations in the Constitution concerning freedom of speech in the country. "We need to take a look at 'Freedom of Speech' under the constitution of India. We need to campaign for change," he said.

Rushdie is welcome to visit Delhi: Sheila Dikshit

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:51:09 +0530

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said she did not want to get into a controversy and that Delhi welcomes everyone.

'Scammed' is readable, holds your attention

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:39:38 +0530

'Scammed' is more or less a page turner, a sort of Chetan Bhagat pot-boiler.

Bina Shah's 'Slum Child' is a compelling story

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:57:41 +0530

This book isn't a copy of anything, it stands for itself.

'Hot Tea across India' is delightfully lighthearted

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:52:27 +0530

If you have any interest at all in travelling - buy this book. If you don't have any interest in travel - but have a few hours to kill on a bus or plane or metro - buy this book.

Scrapping video at Jaipur Lit Fest awful: Rushdie

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:49:57 +0530

Disappointed over the cancellation of his video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie called the decision 'awful'. "#JLF Videolink cancellation: awful...," Rushdie tweeted on Tuesday.

Rushdie should have been allowed to come: Jaitley

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:05:25 +0530

Slamming the government for "bowing to fundamentalists", Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said controversial author Salman Rushdie should have been allowed to come to India.

I don't believe in the idea of banning books: Konkona Sen

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:59:32 +0530

Actress Konkona Sen said that she was disappointed, but not surprised by the cancellation of Rushdie's video link.

Do we need to redefine democracy, people at JLF question

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:31:20 +0530

People at the festival, who had come for Salman Rushdie's video conference were angry over the cancellation of the link.

Rushdie link cancellation not a govt decision: Raj Home Secy

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:09:18 +0530

Rajasthan Home Secretary GS Sandhu said that the government had given clearance and had no role in the cancellation of Rushdie's video link.

Rushdie video cancelled despite assurance: Police

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:07:39 +0530

Jaipur Police Commissioner BL Soni on Tuesday said that Salman Rushdie's live video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival has been cancelled despite Rajasthan Police's assurance to the organisers to provide security.

'Freedom of speech not an absolute right'

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:02:38 +0530

Pavan Kumar Varma, writer and diplomat from New Delhi, said on Tuesday that the Freedom of Speech was not an absolute right. "If one criticizes Salman Rushdie, it does not mean that you are criticizing the freedom of expression," he said.

Govt not coming clean on Rushdie: Mark Tully

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:54:58 +0530

Writer Mark Tully on Tuesday slammed the government for not coming clean on the Salman Rushdie issue, saying if someone has offended religion sentiments then there is law to deal with it.

Author Sukumar Azhikode: a man of the masses

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:37:03 +0530

Veteran Malayalam writer and orator Sukumar Azhikode has on Tuesday breathed his last but his razor-sharp tongue and hard-hitting speeches interlaced with characteristic humour will remain in the memories of many who have heard him at least once.

Rushdie has hurt religious sentiments: AIMPLB

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:32:39 +0530

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) supported the cancellation of Booker prize winner Salman Rushdie's video link at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Tuesday, saying Rushdie had hurt religious sentiments in his book 'The Satanic Verses'.

Rushdie gagged, mob forces Fest to cancel video

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:50:03 +0530

Celebrated author Salman Rushdie's live video conference at Jaipur Literature Festival has been cancelled following protests by Jaipur-based Milli Council.

Rushdie welcome in Delhi, says Sheila Dikshit

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:31:38 +0530

Amid protests by Muslim groups against hosting Salman Rushdie in Jaipur, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said one may have differences with what he writes but the "very, very eminent" writer is welcome in the capital.

Rushdie's video link: Rajasthan offers support

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:21:31 +0530

Rajasthan government have come to the rescue of the Jaipur Literature Festival. The Festiva; organisers and Rajasthan police are holding consultations with Milli Council activists over Salman Rushdie's video conferencing at the Festival.

Threat to Rushdie makes us look like cowards: Shekhar Kapur

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:17:24 +0530

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur says that if at all there is a threat, we should think about everyone at the venue, not just an individual.

Call off Rushdie's video link: Milli Council

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:47:04 +0530

Milli Council activists on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Jaipur Literature Festival venue and demanded that Salman Rushdie's video conference be called off.

Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode dead

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:01:08 +0530

Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode died at a private hospital here on Tuesday morning, family sources said. He was 85.

Rushdie will not break law with his address: JLF

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:53:49 +0530

Noted author and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie will not break any law with his video address at the Jaipur Literature Festival, organisers said on Tuesday.

Best of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:16:07 +0530

In this special CNN-IBN show, we bring to you the best moments and personalities of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012.

Video allowed: Rushdie won't bring up Verses

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:07:28 +0530

In a new twist to the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie's video confernce at the Jaipur Literature Festival, sources on Tuesday said the state authorities will allow him to speak but with certain conditions.

Question mark over Rushdie's video link at JLF

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:14:17 +0530

First it was the suspense over whether he will attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, now it\'s whether Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie will be addressing the festival via videoconferencing.

'Had received inputs of SIMI threat to Rushdie'

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:42:43 +0530

Dismissing Salman Rushdie's charge that the state police had invented a 'plot' to keep him away from the Literature Festival, the Rajasthan government on Monday night said it had received intelligence inputs that the banned SIMI was planning to target him during the festival.

I don't regret reading from Rushdie's book: Joshi

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:40:27 +0530

Author Ruchir Joshi on Monday said that he does not regret reading out extracts from Salman Rushdie's banned book 'The Satanic Verses' at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Talking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai on Talking Point, Joshi said that he was even ready to do it again if required.

JLF: Suspense prevails over Rushdie video address

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:29:49 +0530

The Rushdie controversy continues to cloud Jaipur's Literature Festival. The author is unlikely to be given permission to mark his presence through video conferencing at the festival tomorrow. According to sources, the police may reject the organiser's request for Rushdie's video conference session citing law and order concerns. A police complaint was, meanwhile, filed against organisers and the 4 authors who read from the banned book Satanic Verses.

JLF: Suspense over Rushdie's video address

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:31:58 +0530

Amidst reports that the Rajasthan police planned to deny permission to author Salman Rushdie for his video conference on Tuesday at 3:45 PM at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, festival producer Sanjoy Roy said that he had no information about the whole issue.

Not illegal if I read from Rushdie's book: Jeet Thayil

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:45:26 +0530

The four writers who read excerpts from 'The Satanic Verses' left the Jaipur Fest amidst speculation that they may be arrested.

Rushdie issue has been politicised: Anupam Kher

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:27:43 +0530

As the Salman Rushdie episode looms large on the Jaipur Literature Festival, actor Anupam Kher said the issue has been 'politicised'.

Anupam Kher's lessons from life at Lit Fest

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:50:50 +0530

Bollywood actor Anupam Kher donned a new hat of a self-help guru with the launch of his inspirational book 'The Best Thing About You is...You' at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival Sunday evening.

Salman Rushdie to attend Jaipur Lit Fest via video

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:21:07 +0530

Booker Prize winning author Salman Rushdie will address the Jaipur Literature Festival via video conference on Tuesday. Rushdie will address the Jaipur Festival at 3.45 pm on Tuesday.

Arrest threat forces authors to leave Jaipur Fest

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:14:14 +0530

Famous writer and one of the organisers of Jaipur Literature Festival, William Dalrymple on Monday said that the four authors who read excerpts from Salman Rushdie's banned 'The Satanic Verses' were asked to leave as there was a threat that they would be arrested. Dalrymple said that the organisers didn't know that reading from the 'The Satanic Verses' is an arrestable offence.

Rushdie row: 4 authors asked to leave Jaipur Fest

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:50:44 +0530

The Salman Rushdie row refuses to die down as the four authors who read excerpts from Rusdhie's 'The Satanic Verses' have already left the Jaipur Literature Festival amidst speculation that they may be arrested if they had stayed on.

Campaign to lift ban on 'Satanic Verses' launched

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:39:48 +0530

In what could further stoke the Salman Rushdie controversy, a section of authors at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday launched a campaign demanding immediate lifting of the 23-year-old ban on the controversial writer's book 'The Satanic Verses'.

WB: Mamata Banerjee writes a book on her career

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:23:08 +0530

Chronicling her meteoric rise from a grassroots worker to the highest echelons of power in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a book which has a photographic description of all the important landmarks of her remarkable political career.

'Cong backs Rahul but BJP distrustful of Varun'

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:11:18 +0530

A new book on Rahul Gandhi makes a comparison between him and his cousin who, it feels, is "practically isolated" in his party BJP.

Rushdie slams police, says life threat invented

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:02:41 +0530

Two days after he decided to skip the Jaipur Literature Festival citing threats from a Mumbai don, celebrated author Salman Rushdie on Sunday slammed the Rajasthan police for allegedly inventing a plot to keep him away.

Chetan Bhagat says banned writers not 'heroes'

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:31:17 +0530

Best-selling Indian writer Chetan Bhagat on Saturday criticised the support leant to authors whose books are banned for offending religious communities, a day after Salman Rushdie cancelled his trip to Jaipur citing death threat warning.

Amy Chua on her book 'Tiger Mother'

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:16:03 +0530

Amy Chua, author of 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,' the book which focuses on parenting was published in 2011 evoked positive as well as negative reactions.

'Satanic Verses' reading blasphemous: Owaisi

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:28:17 +0530

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday lashed out at the authors who read from the The Satanic Verses at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, condemning the act as blasphemous. Authors Hari Kunzru and Amitava Kumar had on Friday read out passages from the book as a way of registering their protest over Rushdie's absence from the Festival before the organisers stopped them. An hour later, writer Ruchir Joshi and poet Jeet Thayil repeated the act of defiance.

Author of 'Chinaman' wins the DSC Lit Prize

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:32:01 +0530

Shehan Karunatilaka, Sri Lankan author of 'Chinaman' wins the DSC Literature Prize for South Asia worth 50 thousand dollars.

Joseph Lelyveld on his controversial book on Gandhi

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:21:14 +0530

Pulitzer award winning writer and journalist, Joseph Lelyveld had come under fire in India for 2011 his book 'Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India.'

Purity of expression is most important: Prasoon Joshi

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:16:54 +0530

Writer and lyricist Prasoon Joshi spoke in reaction to the Rushdie episode.

We shouldn't ape the West: Writer-diplomat Pavan Varma

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:11:28 +0530

Writer-diplomat Pavan Varma talks about Rushdie's absence from the festival and why we need to look at this from a different perspective, especially as compared to the MF Husain case.

Ban on any creative person is not acceptable: Deepti Naval

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:41:20 +0530

Bollywood actress and author Deepti Naval who is present at the Jaipur Literature Festival said a ban of any kind on any creative person is not acceptable.

'Shocked that Rushdie is not attending the Lit Fest'

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:23:26 +0530

Noted writer Namita Devidayal expressed deep shock at Rushdie not being able to attend the festival.

Expected Rushdie to skip the Lit Fest: Jaishree Misra

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:18:19 +0530

Writer Jaishree Misra says she expected Salman Rushdie to not attend the Jaipur Literature Festival.

William Dalrymple on Salman Rushdie's works

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:07:34 +0530

William Dalrymple, co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival talks about Rushdie's work and expresses his desire to see Rushdie attend the festival in the coming years.

Rushdie row a blot on democracy: David Remnick

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:37:37 +0530

Pulitzer prize winner David Remnick speaks about Barack Obama's biography and Salman Rushdie's absence from the Jaipur Literature Festival.

MP demands arrest of writers for reading 'Satanic Verses'

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:37:11 +0530

Member of Parliament and president of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded the immediate arrest of the writers who Friday read Salman Rushdie's banned book 'Satanic Verses' at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

No info of threat to Rushdie: Police sources

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:23:48 +0530

Adding a new twist to the controversy over Salman Rushdie's participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival, sources in Mumbai Police denied getting any inputs about paid assassins.

Rushdie row: authors protest, organisers defend

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:55:23 +0530

The controversy over celebrated author Salman Rushdie's participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival has refused to die down. The organisers have now distanced themselves from authors who read Rushdie's banned book 'Satanic Verses' as a mark of protest on Friday.

No Rushdie at JLF: Authors blame politics

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:27:50 +0530

The suspense over Salman Rushdie's participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival ended on Friday, but the row over his absence didn't. Authors Hari Kunzru and Amitava Kumar read out a passage from his banned book the 'Satanic Verses' to lodge their protest over Rushdie's absence before they were stopped by the organisers of the festival.

Oprah to attend Jaipur Literature Fest today

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:08:54 +0530

Salman Rushdie may have decided to give Jaipur Literature Festival a miss but those already at Jaipur are getting ready to catch a glimpse of talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey.

'The Satanic Verses' read at Jaipur Literature Fest

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:01:42 +0530

After days of uncertainty over his presence, and threats from fringe groups, controversial author Salman Rushdie decided to stay away from the Jaipur Literature Festival this year.

Oprah to don green Sabyasachi sari in Jaipur

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:26:33 +0530

An apple green sari with an embroidered black choli is what celebrity talk show host Oprah Winfrey will wear to a dinner at the City Palace as part of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival.

How one Egyptian sold a revolution on the Web

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:21:14 +0530

Wael Ghonim doesn't like being called an activist. The 31-year-old Google employee says he's no different than other Egyptians who took part in the 2011 protests spurred by a Facebook page he created that forced then-president Hosni Mubarak to step down.

Salman Rushdie skips Jaipur Literature Festival

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:11:00 +0530

Celebrated author Salman Rushdie will not attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, which began in Rajasthan's capital on Friday. Rushdie issued a statement through the organisers of the festival saying that he will not be coming to the event.

Jaipur Literature Fest begins without Rushdie

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:43:42 +0530

The Jaipur Literature Festival began on Friday with an impressive line-up of Indian and international authors. However, uncertainty prevailed over the visit of controversial author Salman Rushdie.

Ground report: Jaipur Literature Festival

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:44:09 +0530

There is a heavy security cover although there is uncertainity whether Salman Rushdie will visit the fest or not.

Jaipur Literature Festival kicks off today

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:54:17 +0530

While mystery still surrounds the visit of Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, the Jaipur Literature Festival will kick off on Friday with an array of international and Indian writers and global celebrities including TV mogul Oprah Winfrey.

Book Watch 2012: Rajinikanth, Obama biographies

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:28:34 +0530

Several interesting titles including biographies of Barack Obama, Rajnikanth and Aung San Suu Kyi and fictional works by the likes of Jeffrey Archer and Shobhaa De have been lined up for 2012.

Hitler stole Beetle idea from Jew engineer: book

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:18:40 +0530

Adolf Hitler stole the idea for the iconic Volkswagen Beetle car from a Jewish engineer and had his name written out of history, a historian has said in a new book.

British award for two Indian novelists

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:13:04 +0530

Cultural ties between India and Britain received a new boost with leading London-based literary agency Tibor Jones and the prestigious Foyles Bookstore honouring two emerging south Asian fiction writers, Sri Kumar Sen and Rohit Manchanda, with the maiden Tibor Jones South Asia Prize.

Penguin India to mark 2012 as silver jubilee year

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:01:08 +0530

Penguin India, known for publishing the best writing from the Indian subcontinent, will mark its silver jubilee celebrations in 2012 with a series of initiatives, including the launch of a list comprising some of the best loved titles in its 25 years.

Rushdie may visit Jaipur after all: reports

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:43:01 +0530

According to different reports, author Salman Rushdie may not actually be asked to stay away from India during the Jaipur Literature Festival. Although the Rajasthan government has raised concerns over security in the wake of the Darul Uloom Deoband's demand that Rushdie be banned from India as he had hurt sentiments of Muslims in the past, the Central Government may not be inclined towards making an actual request to Rushdie to not to visit India.

Salman Rushdie asked to skip Jaipur Lit fest?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:09:01 +0530

Jaipur Literature Festival issued a statement saying, "Salman Rushdie will not be in India on January 20 due to a change in his schedule. The festival stands by its invitation to Mr Rushdie."

Rushdie visit row: Gehlot cites security concerns

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:48 +0530

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed security concerns over Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie's visit to the Jaipur Literature festival from January 20 to 24. Gehlot met Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue and acknowledges that there are security implications, saying they hope to come to an understanding with the festival organisers.

Simon & Schuster's 3-book deal with Kishwar Desai

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:29:10 +0530

Kishwar Desai, author and wife of economist Meghnad Desai, signed a three-book deal with Simon & Schuster UK.

The giant chronicles: Two books worth reading

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:08:51 +0530

I'm Feeling Lucky is a memoir by one of Google's early employees. Edwards was one of the few non-geeks in Google's early years. He worked in marketing, and was, in fact, the one responsible for much of the search engine's tone in its interface with users.

Political intolerance limits authors: Nagarkar

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:22:43 +0530

Kiran Nagarkar, best known for his seminal English novel, 'Ravan and Eddie', is out with a sequel called 'The Extras', once again starring Ravan Pawar and Eddie Coutinho.

'The Mine' is a diabolically smart thriller

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:00:15 +0530

The language is effortless and the diabolically smart ending takes your breath away.

Hisar to Kashmir: A journalist's autobiography

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:40:36 +0530

'Jailed Without Crime' is M L Kak's account of his 40-plus years in journalism.

A dialogue between India, Bhutan through fiction

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:10:50 +0530

Diplomat and writer Pavan K Varma, the author of 16 books, is campaigning for literature in the mother tongue. And his debut fiction, set in India and Bhutan, also offers a dialogue between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Lit fests popularise books: Naseeruddin Shah

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:03:57 +0530

Actor Naseeruddin Shah feels that literary festivals play an important role in spreading awareness about books among the new generation.

Feldman to write a book on Hollywood paedophiles

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:55:03 +0530

Former child star Corey Feldman claims to have been sexually abused by paedophiles when he was a teenager and says he will reveal their names in a book.

Mrs Obama: Some give her 'angry black woman' image

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:40:27 +0530

First lady Michelle Obama is challenging assertions she has forcefully imposed her will on White House aides and says people have inaccurately tried to portray her as "some kind of angry black woman."

'Overwinter' a read which stays with you for long

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:30:43 +0530

Ratika Kapur writes with urgency, almost speeding somewhere and that works for the book.

'Yellow Emperor's Cure' is layered but bland

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:25:24 +0530

Kunal Basu set the bar too high with 'The Japanese Wife'. 'The Yellow Emperor's Cure' fails to match it in narration and nuance.

Three Indian writers shortlisted for literary honour

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:50:12 +0530

Works of three Indian writers - Amitav Ghosh, Rahul Bhattacharya and Jahnavi Barua - have been shortlisted for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize.

'For women, love comes from vulnerability'

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:39:26 +0530

Writer and novelist Namita Gokhale runs her readers through a roller-coaster of emotions in her first ever collection of short stories, 'The Habit of Love'.

Elton John turns author, to pen stories about AIDS

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:53:38 +0530

Legendary singer Elton John is all set to share his experiences of the global AIDS epidemic in his first book.

Excerpt: To Kill a Snow Dragonfly by Sharad Paul

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:05:12 +0530

Seen though the eyes of Lobsang, 'To Kill a Snow Dragonfly' is an evocative journey through revolutions and disruptions, desires and memories, friendships and exile, as the narrative moves from a tranquil Tibetan village to a boarding school in south India and eventually to Bombay

Cancel Salman Rushdie's visa: Islamic seminary

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:47:23 +0530

Salman Rushdie's proposed visit to Jaipur for the Literary Festival has come under cloud as Islamic Seminary the Darul Uloom Deoband wants the government to cancel Rushdie's visa for hurting the sentiments of Muslims in the past.

Tom Stoppard in India Jan 23 to talk about adaptations

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:57:10 +0530

Tom Stoppard will team up with leading playwrights Girish Karnad, David Hare and Annie Proulx at the Jaipur Literature Festival Jan 23 to address a session, Adaptation.

Cancel Salman Rushdie's visa: Deoband

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:05:11 +0530

Salman Rushdie is set to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival this month.

First ever gay wedding on Archie Comics cover

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:48:34 +0530

After introducing its first gay character, Archie Comics has now featured the same-sex wedding between Kevin Keller and partner Clay Walker on its front cover for the first time.

Book fair to celebrate 100 years of Indian films

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:09:00 +0530

The NBT Friday unveiled a calendar, 'Literature and Indian Cinema', as a thematic prelude to the book fair.

'The Last Nude,' story of an enigmatic model, lover

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:15:37 +0530

Author Ellis Avery talks about 'The Last Nude,' a 120-page novel set mainly in 1920s Paris .

James Franco set to release his debut novel

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:04:08 +0530

His debut novel is not his first book, he previously released a collection of short stories entitled 'Palo Alto'.

Handbook of Modernity in South Asia is pathbreaking

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:32:11 +0530

Saurabh Dube's 'Handbook of Modernity in South Asia' is a significant contribution to the study of modernity and globalization in South Asia.

'The World We Found' is about bold, sassy women

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:09:42 +0530

Thrity Umrigar's writing unfolds little by little, leaving the reader surprised and shocked.

'Narcopolis' is an intense, disturbing read

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:57:50 +0530

Jeet Thayil's 'Narcopolis' hits the nail on the head, the title totally matches the content of the book.

Jimmy Carter's latest book offers lessons in faith

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:21:45 +0530

In 'Through the Years with Jimmy Carter,' Carter is open about struggles over his own faith.

Anupam Kher launches his book 'The Best Thing...'

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:07:16 +0530

Anupam Kher released his book 'The Best Thing About You Is You' in the presence of superstar Amitabh Bachchan and wife Kirron Kher in Mumbai.

Rushdie to attend Jaipur Lit Fest Jan 20-22

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:55:39 +0530

Breaking a minor jinx in India which began with last September'a failed Harud Festival in Kashmir, celebrated writer Salman Rushdie will attend the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival Jan 20-24, the organisers said on Tuesday.

'Hot Tea Across India' is a reader's delight

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:09:00 +0530

The travelogue could have been substantiated with pictures.

'Jerusalem: The Biography' is a true masterpiece

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:30:46 +0530

Author Sebag Montefiore writes with honesty and passion that is hard to miss.

'The Muddy River' is a mirror of political fiction

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:11:34 +0530

'The Muddy River' is a story of a bureaucrat caught in the machinations of Assamese politics and public sector corruption in the last quarter of the 20th century.

The mystery behind Shimla's 'Scandal Point'

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:08:37 +0530

Manju Jaidka in her historical fiction has tried to get to the bottom of the mystery of Shimla's Scandal Point.

Book excerpt: Delirious Delhi by Dave Prager

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:58:13 +0530

'Delirious Delhi' is a full-length portrait from an outsider's perspective that helps expats demystify Delhi - and helps Delhiites demystify expats.

'The Best Thing About You is You' can motivate

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:35:05 +0530

Excerpts from the actor's autobiographical play 'Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai' are repetitive and could have been edited at places.

Stephen King's 11.22.63 is rather mediocre

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:22:07 +0530

The man known for his thrillers and spine-chillers takes a road he has not oft taken for 11.22.63. What comes out of this detour is a 734 page novel that is interesting, but has nothing new to offer.

What the Adigas and the Khairs read in 2011!

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:37:47 +0530

The year 2011 saw a lot on the writing front but prominent writers like Aravind Adiga, Tabish Khair and Manu Joseph, who were also reading a lot.

'Death in Mumbai' is not for the faint hearted

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:26:42 +0530

'Death in Mumbai' by Meenal Baghel is a gripping account of the infamous killing of Neeraj Grover by an aspiring actress Maria Susairaj and her naval boyfriend Emile Jerome.

Jaiput Litfest 2012: The programme

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:41:03 +0530

On view: Tom Stoppard, Richard Dawkin,s Annie Proulx, Hisham Matar, Jamaia Kincaid, Teju Cole, Michael Ondaatje...

Scrapbook tells how Rudolph went down in history

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:26:13 +0530

Curious to know more about how Rudolph really went down in history? It's all in the pages of a long-overlooked scrapbook compiled by the story's author, Robert L May.

Lonely Tagore was haunted by depression: Biography

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:01:45 +0530

Famed for his literary, artistic and intellectual capabilities the world over, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore led a very lonely life and even suffered from frequent bouts of depression, says his new biography.

Spider-Man creator to make a superhero for India

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:25:06 +0530

Stan Lee, co-creator of some of the world's leading superhero characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, Hulk and Thor will be launching an original superhero for the Indian market.

2012 will be game changer for Indian publishing

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:13:06 +0530

Shobit Arya, the founder and publisher of Wisdom Tree writes about what we can expect from the Indian publishing next year.

Shefaie first Kashmiri woman to get Akademi awards

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:49:43 +0530

Noted Kashmiri poetess Naseem Shafaie has been chosen for this year's Sahitya Akademi awards for her poetic collection, becoming the first Kashmiri woman to get the prestigious literary award.

'A Free Man' is big, both on form and substance

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:11:50 +0530

'A Free Man' by Aman Sethi is easily among 2011's more rewarding reads.

Recipes of dead celebrities featured in new book

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:04:13 +0530

Comedian Frank DeCaro is best known for his stint on 'The Daily Show with John Stewart' but the comedian and talk radio host is now dishing out recipes.

Film comic book 'Don: The Origin' comes to India

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:46:29 +0530

The novel, conceived and scripted by director Farhan Akhtar of 'Don' (2006) and its sequel 'Don 2' which is set to release on Friday, has been published by Om Books.

Book Extract: Dance of Govinda by Ashok Banker

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:38:06 +0530

Ashok Banker's 'Dance of Govinda,' published by Harper Collins, was released recently. Here's an extract from the work.

Yana Gupta talks about the struggle to eat right

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:31:01 +0530

Model turned actress Yana Gupta has written about the difficult relation with food in her new book.

Yana Gupta turns author, writes book on health

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:47:51 +0530

Model turned actress Yana Gupta talks about her book 'How to Love Your Body and Get The Body You Love'.

British author Christopher Hitchens dies at 62

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:18:05 +0530

Christopher Hitchens, the author, essayist and polemicist who waged verbal and occasional physical battle on behalf of causes left and right and wrote the provocative best-seller 'God is Not Great', died on Thursday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.

Banker's 'Flute of Vrindavan' is an average book

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:06:19 +0530

The book centers on Kamsa working and building on his powers to superhuman proportions to slay the infant and not succeeding.

Cyrus delivers what he promises, a funny book

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:13:37 +0530

The book is not a mirror of all Indian men. One must understand that before reading this book.

Tagore's notebook sold for US $ 170,500

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:57:25 +0530

The notebook, estimated to fetch US $ 150,000-250,000, was finally sold for US $ 170,500.

Book extract: 'The Mine' by Arnab 'Great Bong' Ray

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:47:51 +0530

'The Mine', written by popular blogger Arnab Ray is a horror-psychological-thriller published by Westland.

New Holmes sequel: edgy and extraordinary

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:09:01 +0530

Anthony Horowitz's officially sanctioned Sherlock Holmes novel is grim, dark, and superbly plotted.

Red Fort to Raisina: a book on Delhi

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:37:23 +0530

The book traces the development of Delhi from the period of Shah Jahan to the British Delhi.

Tagore's notebook to be auctioned in US today

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:20:47 +0530

Rabindranath Tagore's 83-year-old notebook will be auctioned in New York on Tuesday.

Shah Rukh's 800-page biography to weigh 37 kgs!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:43:45 +0530

'King Khan - The Official Opus of Shah Rukh Khan' is likely to be released next year.

Mediascope launches luxury magazine BlackBook

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:57:13 +0530

Mediascope Publicitas has launched BlackBook, a monthly magazine that will chronicle the ups and downs, the triumphs and struggles of the country's nascent luxury industry.

A brave comeback for comic book hero Bahadur

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:01:37 +0530

It is said that Chambal is the valley where the lions breed.' This is the opening line from The Red Brick House, the first Bahadur comic which was released by Indrajal comics on December 1, 1976. The comic was an instant hit during those days because it was a realistic portrayal of the situation in India. The presence of dacoits, the absence of individuality and the general atmosphere of the country was ripe for the birth of a superhero. Abid Surti did that with style. He created Bahadur, the reformed son of a dacoit, who initially wants to avenge the death of his father, but eventually converts; sides with the police to fight evil for the rest of his life.

Mario Miranda, a chronicler of his times

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:05:55 +0530

Like most cartoonists, Mario de Miranda appeared to be a serious, shy, no-nonsense but soft-spoken person to a first-time acquaintance, but gradually warmed up.

Graphic novel app brings Dickensian London to life

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:02:53 +0530

Stroll the grimy backstreets of Dickensian London and experience for yourself the sights and sounds which inspired one of the greatest writers in English literature.

Sheen 'nourished' by narrating Dalai Lama's book

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:50:37 +0530

For more than 40 years actor Martin Sheen has inhabited complex characters from the troubled Capt. Willard in the Vietnam film 'Apocalypse Now' to US President Josiah Bartlet on the hit TV drama 'The West Wing.'

Satyajit links finance with popular culture

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:02:44 +0530

I started this book in 2005. During the past six years, the entire financial crisis played out. A chunk of the book is first hand reporting. I did not want to write about the global financial crisis and preferred going back 40 years. Finance has become a different beat during these years. I have observed the growth of the hedge fund industry, derivatives and securitisation and private equity. I have seen people do financial manipulation and use finance as a driver of profits. In that sense, this is a very personal history.

Editor's memo: no humbug, honest, clear-eyed

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:27:03 +0530

Vinod Mehta's style as editor is carried over to his autobiography: shunning humbug, honest, with a clear story to tell.

Amazon to buy over 450 children's book titles

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:33:16 +0530

Amazon.com Inc will acquire more than 450 children's book titles in the US from publisher Marshall Cavendish.

Neeraj Grover murder: Maria and the real story

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:56:46 +0530

Meenal Baghel, editor of the Mumbai Mirror, uncovers the true story of the sensational Neeraj Grover murder case in her book 'Death in Mumbai'.

Jobs biography Amazon's best-selling book of 2011

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:54:52 +0530

'Steve Jobs', the only authorised biography of the late Apple co-founder, has climbed to the top of Amazon.com's best-selling books for 2011.

'A Suitable Girl' might become 'An Unsuitable Boy'

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:23:12 +0530

Novelist Vikram Seth, who is writing a sequel to 'A Suitable Boy', may not name his new book 'A Suitable Girl' as everyone was led to believe. It could even be named 'An Unsuitable Boy'.

Katju pushes for Bharat Ratna for Sarat Chandra

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:40:23 +0530

Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju on Tuesday strongly advocated awarding 'Bharat Ratna' to late Bengali novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, describing him as one of the greatest writers of the world.

'Pakistan - Identity and Destiny' a peep into Pakistan

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:45:19 +0530

Javed Jabbar's latest book meanders through too many reasons to justify why Pakistan is Pakistan.

'Death Comes to Pemberley' lacks magic

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:15:42 +0530

PD James is masterful in her craft, and she takes you right back to the 19th century, right back to the Bennett-Darcy mix. And yet. Some of that magic is gone.

Dalai Lama to speak of happiness at Penguin Lecture

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:50:41 +0530

The Dalai Lama will outline his idea of human well-being on Dec 3 at the fifth edition of the annual Penguin Lecture.

Ferrari unveils diamond-encrusted biography

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:32:36 +0530

Ferrari unveiled its official biography 'The Ferrari Official Opus' -- the diamond-encrusted volume is priced at $250,000.

India born doctor wins Guardian First Book Award

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:18:16 +0530

India born doctor Siddhartha Mukherjee has bagged the 10 thousand pound Guardian First Book Award for his book on cancer.

Siddhartha Mukherjee scoops Guardian first book award

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:51:14 +0530

A history of cancer, 'The Emperor of All Maladies', won the 2011 Guardian First Book Award on Thursday, beating four works of fiction also on the shortlist.

Pulitzer journalism entries to be submitted online

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:01:43 +0530

The Pulitzer Prize board is changing how news organizations can enter its competition and says all submissions must now be done online.

Beatles legend Harrison's sister plans tell-all book

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:40:57 +0530

Louise Harrison is the older sister of the late guitarist - who died of lung cancer ten years ago on November 29 - at the age of 58.

I still have a long way to go: Ruskin Bond

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:06:10 +0530

Ruskin Bond, one of the best known English writers in India, once said that 'pen, in honest and gifted hands, is mightier than the grave'. The author, now 77, lives by this philosophy and says he has many more stories to tell.

Doctor by day, musician and writer by night

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:57:33 +0530

Samir K Gupta runs an orthopaedic clinic, is a devoted doctor during the day and spends long hours of his nights composing music and writing books.

Rainbow bookshelf: The queer story, now in print

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:08:52 +0530

Gay literature has arrived in India, the boy actually meets a boy, they fall in love and unlike in the movies - it's not supposed to be funny.

Action Comics 1 sells for $2.16 million in auction

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:50:21 +0530

A rare and pristine copy of the first issue of Action Comics, famed for the first appearance of Superman, has set a record on Wednesday for the most money paid for a single comic book: $2.16 million.

Action Comics Superman debut copy sells for $ 2.16 mn

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:27:57 +0530

A copy of the first issue of Action Comics, featuring Superman's debut, has become the world's most expensive comic, fetching $2.16 million.

Kids' book project marries tech with storytelling

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:58:37 +0530

A project 'Write & Read: By Us For Us' - a compilation of short stories - has turned the portable computer printer into a creative device by using computer printing technology to put together an anthology of short stories.

Book excerpt: Bunny Suraiya's 'Calcutta Exile'

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:25:36 +0530

Bunny Suraiya's 'Calcutta Exile' evokes a bygone era of one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

'Instant City' chronicles the life of Karachi

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:07:34 +0530

Steve Inskeep's book is divided into four parts - Jinnah Road, Landmarks, New Karachi and Renewed Karachi.

'Essential Tagore' nominated best book of year

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:48:10 +0530

'The Essential Tagore', a new anthology of Rabindranath Tagore's translated literature and art works, has been nominated the 'book of the year-2011' by eminent American philosopher, writer and critic Martha Nussbaum.

Assamese writer Indira Goswami dies

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:45:16 +0530

Ailing Assamese writer and Jnanpith award winning litterateur Indira Goswami died on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. The former Delhi University professor was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital following lung infection and breathing problems.

'Wandering Falcon' wins Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:29:40 +0530

Jamil Ahmad's The Wandering Falcon has won the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2011.

'Sita's Ramayana' brings out Sita's angst

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:49:24 +0530

The docile and soft Sita of Ramayana may not be a role model for most women today, however, author Samhita Arni in a new graphic novel has brought out the bolder colours of the epic character.

Rafa's story a fascinating tale of self realisation

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 06:37:16 +0530

Rafa My Story, the biography by John Carlin of one of the greatest players in the history of professional tennis, is a true lesson of the benefits that can be derived, if the will to dig deep and get the best out of oneself is taken to the ultimate limit.

'Never thought Mao's biography would be an expose'

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:40:54 +0530

Jung Chang's book was described as a "bombshell of a devastating work" by the British media.

Fascinating post-mortem of Indian Left

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:52:33 +0530

In 254 crisp and scholarly pages, 'Leftism in India 1917-1947' may well be the ultimate work on Indian Leftists covering a tumultuous period - from when Lenin seized power in Russia in 1917 to when India gained freedom in 1947.

Book Excerpt: 'Experiencing Tarot' by Roopa Patel

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:46:18 +0530

The book is first of its kind as there is no known book on Tarot written by an Indian Tarotologist.

'A book should feel like a real life experience'

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:52:05 +0530

Rahul Bhattacharya, author of 'The Sly Company of People Who Care' talks about his book, his literary inspiration and more.

Indians are now socially aspirational: Suhel Seth

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:07:24 +0530

Suhel Seth on his recently released book 'Get to the Top' and social skills.

Professionals will love 'Saint in the Board Room'

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:32:06 +0530

The book unlike any other, a fictional cocktail of economics and ethics, religion and spirituality, success and failure.

Book excerpt: When Indira's birth drew long faces!

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:43:25 +0530

An excerpt from 24 Rasheed Kidwai's 'Akbar Road' published by Hachette India.

US: Tagore's 83-year-old notebook to be auctioned

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:44:32 +0530

A notebook belonging to legendary Indian poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, containing poems and drafts of his work, will go under the hammer in New York at a Sotheby's auction next month.

Kerala: Second edition of Hay festival kicked off

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:32:21 +0530

The eagerly awaited second edition of the annual Hay Festival kicked off in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The festival for all those who love stories, big ideas and good company started on Thursday and will go on till Saturday.

'Non Stop India' explores beyond the obvious

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:12:53 +0530

Mark Tully speaks with the authority that comes with decades of reporting and studying a region.

Tharoor to write book on India's role in new world

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:30:47 +0530

After a hiatus of two years, politician-writer Shashi Tharoor is back to writing a book. And this time, it's about India's place in the new balanced world.

Kerala set for second edition of the Hay Festival

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:21:47 +0530

A three-day cultural fete featuring poets, authors, journalists and filmmakers, begins on 17th November.

'The Sly Company' lives up to its evocative title

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:09:30 +0530

'The Sly Company' is something you should allow yourself to sink into, and leave your hectic fast-paced life behind.

Booker winner, poet laureate vie for UK Costa prize

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:30:12 +0530

Julian Barnes, who won this year's Man Booker Prize for Fiction, and Carol Ann Duffy, Britain's poet laureate, were among the nominees for the 2011 Costa Book Awards announced on Tuesday.

'Through the Lens...' with love, from Bhutan King

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:56:28 +0530

A compilation of photographs on Bhutan, 'Through the Lens of the King' is published by Roli Books.

I do not write for the critics: Amish Tripathi

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:39:12 +0530

After the success of 'Immortals of Meluha' and 'Secret of Nagas', Amish Tripathi is set to write his third book.

Salman Rushdie wins 'battle of name' with Facebook

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:53:18 +0530

India-born British novelist Salman Rushdie has reportedly won a conflict with the popular social networking site, Facebook, which deactivated his account over a confusion about his real name.

Ronnie Biggs apologises for Great Train Robbery

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:54:09 +0530

Biggs, now 82, who has never before shown remorse for the robbery, has, however, said sorry to Mills' family in an updated version of his autobiography.

'Out of the Blue' is a journey of self-discovery

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:11:07 +0530

How often is a cricket team described as the sum of its parts? The power of the collective over-rides that of the individual. It is an enduring cliche that Aakash Chopra bravely turns on its head in his second book 'Out of the Blue'.

New Indira Gandhi bio narrates her personal story

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:03:38 +0530

Uma Vasudev has authored three political biographies of Indira Gandhi, exploring a wide range from history to fiction.

'My friend Michael' a glimpse of MJ's personal life

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:32:30 +0530

Frank Cascio personal manager to Michael Jackson said the singer was drugged up ahead of his 2001 concerts.

Alzheimer's murder mystery wins medical lit prize

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:16:19 +0530

A thriller told from the perspective of an Alzheimer's-afflicted murder suspect has won the medical-themed Wellcome Trust Book Prize, organizers said on Wednesday.

For cancer survivor, sun shines in heart

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:44:38 +0530

The epilogue of the book brings out the cyclical flow of events and the ability of humans to fight back when faced with adversity.

Shoaib Akhtar's memoirs fall short on controversy

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:19:21 +0530

'Controversially Yours' falls short in delivering what it promised, ironically just as its subject himself did throughout his mercurial career.

Deepti Naval's short stories look at real India

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:43:55 +0530

Actress Deepti Naval has joined the legion of Indian writers with her maiden collection of short stories.

Off to new boom town, with Mark Tully

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:56:07 +0530

Simple, engaging and an easy read, 'Non-Stop India' is a delightful documentary of 21st century India.

Steve Jobs' bio is a fitting tribute to a genius

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:33:58 +0530

The book is a treat for all those who want to know more about Steve Jobs and the kind of person that he was.

Zawahiri set up Osama bin Laden: Book

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:35:43 +0530

Eager to become the leader of al Qaeda, the then number two Aymen Zawahiri set up Osama bin Laden by repeatedly sending a courier to his hiding place in Abbottabad who had been interrogated by the CIA, a new book by a former SEAL has claimed.

Diplomat delights with poetry of promise

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:04:42 +0530

'Candling the Light', an anthology of verses by young poet, diplomat and artist Abhay K., shows the pressures of diplomacy.

'The Dancing Boy' is a waltz of emotions

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:40:54 +0530

Ishani Kar-Purkayastha has told a convincing story set in the sleepy bylanes of Kolkata without falling victim to the urge to impress with high-sounding words and concepts.

Siddhartha, Mahashweta Devi awarded at Lit Live

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:23:33 +0530

Mahashweta Devi won the lifetime achievement award at Mumbai's Literature Live and Siddhartha Mukherjee's 'The Emperor of All Maladies' won best first book.

'That Used...' well describes the post-recession US

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:26:25 +0530

The Ugly American, it would seem, is being replaced by the Introspective American. Many forget that in 1958 too, the year Eugene Burdick and William Lederer wrote their bestselling novel that spoke of the brashness of the American abroad, the US was suffering a recession of the same order as it did in 2008 (Av -3.2per cent growth for 8 months). It was the biggest downturn since the Great Depression of 1929, and was accompanied by a worldwide market drop.

Palash Sen's bio by Ashish Kate, a lyrical tale

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:03:42 +0530

Written in a conversation format, the 'rockumentary' chronicles Sen's journey from his early childhood days in Jammu with his grandparents to his latest work, the story of the band and 90s music revolution through mass media.

Sex manual banned in Malaysia

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:30:41 +0530

The ban slaps the equivalent of a $1,600 fine and up to three years in jail for anybody who publishes the book.

Steve Jobs' pirated biography sold in Shanghai

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:15:54 +0530

The pirated version of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography is being sold in Shanghai as bookstores have run out of the authorised copies, a media report said.

'Chapter Eleven', the corporate tale that wasn't

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:14:55 +0530

Chapter 11, which in legal terms means filing for bankruptcy, is the central theme of this supposed peek-a-boo into the corporate world.

Boosted by relaunch, DC overtakes Marvel

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:44:17 +0530

DC Comics overtook long-time rival Marvel for the first time since 2002 after figures for October sales of comic books showed the publisher of relaunched versions of Superman, Batman, the Flash and others, gathering 51 per cent of the market share for the month compared with nearly 30.3 per cent for Marvel.

Obama is truly USA's hybrid president: biographer

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:28:36 +0530

Barack Obama is America's "truly hybrid" president who represents many continents, races, cultures and histories, his first Indian-American biographer has said.

Clinton offers job creation policies in new book

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:11:30 +0530

In his book, 'Back to Work,' Bill Clinton analyses the factors that contributed to US' economic woes.

Nothing pretentious in Suhel Seth's 'Get to the Top'

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:39:48 +0530

It's a good read for someone who is looking to know something about social etiquette and behaviour.

Amitav Ghosh's 'The Shadow Lines' to be filmed

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:31:50 +0530

is convinced he could make a gripping script out of the story about the narrator's family in Kolkata and Dhaka and their connection with an English family in London.

DU's south campus to host 'book bazaar'

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:00:17 +0530

For the book worms of Delhi, this weekend will offer a new avenue to immerse in the culture of readings, with Delhi University's south campus hosting a three-day 'book bazaar'.

Common ground is not impossible: Rohini Nilekani

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:42:15 +0530

Well known philanthropist and writer Rohini Nilekani's book 'Uncommon Ground' is out. It is a compilation of interviews she did for a TV channel. Rohini Nilekani spoke to CNN-IBN's D P Satish about her book and more.

'Calcutta Exile' captures the pulse of the city

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:41:14 +0530

'Calcutta Exile' is a book that even people who have not lived in Calcutta will enjoy. That it's set in an era when 'globalisation' was yet to be coined makes it more poignant.

Chronicle of Indian business' iron women

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:12:29 +0530

The book of short biographical essays sends the hard-hitting message that gender is of no consequence in male bastions.

Belgian court's adviser says Tintin book not racist

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:56:28 +0530

The court case comes at a time when Tintin's popularity is on a comeback with a new Hollywood film from director Stephen Spielberg about the intrepid Belgian boy journalist on an adventure alongside Snowy, Captain Haddock and Inspector Thompson.

Ragnarok: A savory slice of Norse mythology

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:16:44 +0530

The author seems to revel in gore, giant squids and menacing serpents, and the green matter that ate light.

Crime authors competing for UK morgue honour

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:37:30 +0530

Ten leading crime writers are competing for the honour of having a morgue named after them.

'Literature Live!' Mumbai Lit Fest is back

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:59:31 +0530

The 2011 TATA Literature Live! Mumbai Literature Fest will be held from November 3 to 6 in Mumbai.

Get that book out - self-publish!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:28:36 +0530

A popular concept in the US, the self-publishing industry in India is on a rapid rise.

WSJ best-seller lists to include e-books

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:55:04 +0530

The Wall Street Journal has an agreement with Nielsen BookScan to publish best-seller lists that include both physical books and e-sales.

Dracula author's first vampire sketch found

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:16:06 +0530

The private journal of author Bram Stoker, in which he sketched his first thoughts about his legendary creation 'Dracula', has been unearthed after more than 100 years.

Debut novelist wins 'The Hindu Literary Prize'

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:50:45 +0530

Rahul Bhattacharya bagged the 'The Hindu Literary Prize for Best Fiction 2011' for his 'The Sly Company of People Who Care'.

Man Asian Literary Awards: 5 Indians in long-list

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:01:41 +0530

The forthcoming books of five Indian authors - 'Rebirth' by Jahnavi Barua, 'River of Smoke' by Amitav Ghosh, 'The Sly Company of People Who Care' by Rahul Bhattacharya, 'The Folded Earth' by Anuradha Roy and 'The Valley of Masks' by Tarun J Tejpal - have made their place in the illustrious list of literary honour.

Hay lit fest returns to Kerala for second time

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:46:35 +0530

One of the biggest literary events in the world, the Hay Festival makes its way again into India this November.

Book excerpt: Rakhshanda Jalil's 'A Mighty Heart'

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:27:44 +0530

An excerpt from Rakhshanda Jalil's book 'A Mighty Heart'.

Enigma called Sonia Gandhi revealed in new bio

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:44:46 +0530

'Sonia Gandhi - An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny' is gracefully written by Rani Singh.

How Apple changed the world: author of Jobs' biography

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:26:24 +0530

Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs' biography, has opened up about the Apple creator in his first interview.

DSC Prize for South Asian Lit shortlist announced

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:31:53 +0530

HM Naqvi won the inaugural DSC Prize last year for his novel 'Home Boy'.

Breast cancer survivor's book a moving tale

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:30:37 +0530

Minakshi Chaudhry, a breast cancer survivor has penned a book narrating her innate struggle and eventual triumph.

'King's Speech' to be now published as a book

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:59:26 +0530

Rights to the published scripts and tie-in books for many films have been acquired by HarperCollins.

Jobs bio delves deep into complex man's life

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:26:28 +0530

"Steve Jobs" takes off the rose-colored glasses that often follow an icon's untimely death and instead offers something far more valuable.

Steve Jobs biography on track to be a bestseller

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:24:55 +0530

The new biography of Steve Jobs is likely to be Amazon's top-selling book of 2011.

No one knew me before Beijing: Abhinav Bindra

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:36:31 +0530

Olympic gold medalist-turned-writer Abhinav Bindra, whose shots have rarely missed the bull's eye, says India does not have a long-range sports policy and culture that encourage children to take up sports as a vocation.

Gulzar to open Goa literary festival

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:34:40 +0530

Legendary lyricist and poet Gulzar will be inaugurating the second edition of Goa Art Literary festival.

Jobs questioned authority all his life: Book

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:25:29 +0530

A new biography portrays Steve Jobs as a sceptic all his life - giving up religion because he was troubled by starving children, calling executives who took over Apple "corrupt" and delaying cancer surgery in favour of cleansings and herbal medicine.

Book extract: 'Satin: A Stitch in Time'

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:59:56 +0530

'Satin: A Stitch in Time' by Payal Dhar is published by Harper Collins India.

Exposing corruption: Man who started it all

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:45:15 +0530

Vineet Narain's latest book sequences the developments before and after the biggest scam was exposed.

'Gods without Men' a book with a big heart

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:52:30 +0530

Hari Kunzru's 'Gods without Men' is a book about the human condition spanning from 1778 to 2009.

'When Rama met Hanuman' is short and delightful

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:48:12 +0530

The age-old mythology written with a flair and style that makes the book exciting and gripping.

Biography on Sonia Gandhi hits book shelves

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:33:17 +0530

A new biography of the UPA chairperson - 'Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny' - has hit book shelves in India.

Julian Barnes wins prestigious Booker Prize

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:23:28 +0530

It was fourth time lucky for British writer Julian Barnes, who won literature's Booker Prize on Tuesday after a contest that had as many insults, rivalries and bitter accusations as a paperback potboiler.

'Cat's Table' highly recommended for a lazy weekend

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:07:31 +0530

Michael Ondaatje's graceful use of language ensure you glide right into the story.

Author Barnes backed for Booker amid literary spat

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:47:58 +0530

English author and four-time nominee Julian Barnes, who once dismissed the Man Booker Prize for fiction as "posh bingo," is favored to win it on Tuesday with his novel "The Sense of an Ending."

Stan Lee's got a new universe, and it's for kids

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:46:39 +0530

Stan Lee's had a hand in creating many memorable heroes and villains that have jumped from the pages of comic books to popular culture.

More than 100 authors support Wall Street protests

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:35:29 +0530

Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelists Jennifer Egan and Michael Cunningham are among more than 100 authors who in an online petition are declaring their support for Occupy Wall Street.

Mao's Great Famine: Dikotter does a Jasper Becker

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:19:13 +0530

Frank Dikotter almost equals the feat of Jasper Becker who wrote 'Hungry Ghosts' on the same subject.

'The Service of the State' is lucidly written

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:42:32 +0530

Former secretary to the Government of India Bhaskar Ghose's latest book comes at a time when there is increasing public anger against politicians and bureaucrats for being corrupt and insensitive. As such, the title of the book and the tagline promised to shed some light on the burning question about the relevance of an IAS officer in today's India, where inequalities and social unrest are growing faster than the economy.

Chetan Bhagat's 'Revolution 2020' disappoints

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:41:46 +0530

A languorous love story unfolds on the holy ghats of Varanasi, not unlike the pace of the river that flows through one of India's busiest temple towns which is the backdrop of bestselling author Chetan Bhagat's latest book 'Revolution 2020'.

'Bishan' is a lyrical of India's cricket legend

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:34:16 +0530

The moment you finish reading the book, you are left with a response, "Thanks for introducing Bedi - the person, cricketer, captain, coach and administrator."

My book is on corruption in education: Chetan

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:08:24 +0530

Author Chetan Bhagat says the idea of his latest work 'Revolution 2020' emerged because of the rampant corruption in the education sector which affects millions of youth.

'Silhouettes Unravelled' an honest attempt

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:32:31 +0530

Advika Gupta's book is a reflection of her creativity and a definite vision of her passion for writing.

Gift in Green: poem of land, beauty and pain

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:11:48 +0530

Sarah Joseph's 'Gift in Green' is like a long soulful poem that reflects the beauty and anguish of people.

James writes sequel to Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:08:46 +0530

The 91-year-old detective novelist said on Wednesday she was glad to finally complete a long-desired project - a sequel to Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice.'

Mohammed Hanif on 'Alice Bhatti', Pakistan and more

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:15:45 +0530

Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif talks about his book 'Our Lady of Alice Bhatti', life and more.

Third World icon or crazed despot?

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:24:34 +0530

The books in question are Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday, and Mao's Great Famine by Frank Dikötter.

Coming soon: Biography on Sonia Gandhi

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:15:17 +0530

A new biography of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, written by a non-resident Indian and with a foreword by Mikhail Gorbachev, casts new and intimate light on her life through exclusive interviews with members of the Congress party, political opponents and family friends.

Italian wins free-speech prize for mafia expose

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:02:14 +0530

Italian writer Roberto Saviano, who has lived under police protection since penning 2006 bestseller 'Gomorrah' about Naples' mafia, has won the PEN/Pinter International Writer of Courage Award.

Indian language literature goes to Frankfurt Book Fair

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:58:06 +0530

The literary panorama, initiated by the union culture ministry under the 'ILA: Indian Literature Abroad' project, will be held on Oct 12-16.

Jataka tales add to Buddhist books in Poland

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:31:09 +0530

Polish interest in Buddhist literature has been growing due to the popularity of the Dalai Lama.

My book not inspired by Anna: Chetan Bhagat

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:03:00 +0530

For author Chetan Bhagat, who has explored themes like love, life in call centres and higher education in his novels, the ability to pick the pulse of the youth makes a bestseller.

Karachi violence politically orchestrated: Fatima Bhutto

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:50:23 +0530

Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto talks about her new book 'Songs of Blood and Sword' and how her childhood influenced her writing.

I don't advertise my work loudly: Chetan Bhagat

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:13:51 +0530

Noted author Chetan Bhagat's latest work 'Revolution 2020' has just hit the stands.

Jobs authorised biography so his kids can know him

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:48:10 +0530

Steve Jobs, in pain and too weak to climb stairs a few weeks before his death, wanted his children to understand why he wasn't always there for them, according to the author of his highly anticipated biography.

My father always asked me to write: Fatima Bhutto

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:50:41 +0530

Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto speaks about her father who was assassinated when she was just 14.

Nobel laureate Transtromer's work out of stock

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:43:48 +0530

The work of the 80-year-old Transtromer has been released by several US publishers and reissues are planned.

Steve Jobs biography pushed up for release

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:24:05 +0530

The release date for a Steve Jobs biography has been pushed up to October 24, according to a spokesman for Simon & Schuster, the publishing house behind the long-awaited book.

Literature Nobel for Swedish poet Transtromer

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:42:37 +0530

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2011 is awarded to the Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer.

Rajasthan's 'Shakespeare' elated over Nobel chance

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:46:38 +0530

Author of folk tales Vijaydan Detha, also called Rajasthan's Shakespeare, is elated that his name is doing the rounds for the Nobel prize for literature this year.

Quercus snaps up Oxford student in two-book deal

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:02:26 +0530

Quercus, a young, vibrant, internationally successful and award-winning publisher of fiction, non-fiction and children's books has acquired two books by debut author Prajwal Parajuly.

Kerala poet happy to figure in Nobel speculation

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:25:18 +0530

K Satchidanandan is a leading poet and critic with works in both Malayalam and English.

Test cricket here to stay: Lankan cricket novelist

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:52:02 +0530

Shehan Karunatilaka, the author of 'Chinaman' says Test cricket is here to stay despite the swing in its fortunes.

'Empire of the Moghul' is an epic adventure

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:01:26 +0530

'Ruler of the World' is Akbar's saga, and it is a lively read for lovers of adventure stories.

Nobel Literature winner to be announced Oct 6

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:04:29 +0530

This year's Nobel Prize for Literature will be announced on Thursday, the Swedish Academy, which hands out the 10 million Swedish crown ($ 1.46 million) award, said on Monday.

Bhopal and books - a forever affair

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:56:58 +0530

After the royal era, not only professional writers but even administrators, professors, doctors, officers of state services and journalists have penned their memoirs or done creative writing in the city.

Courtney Love memoir to 'set the record straight'

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:52:17 +0530

The hard-living rock star and actress known for her band Hole and for her brief marriage to Kurt Cobain has a book deal with William Morrow.

'Americastan' will make you laugh out loud

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:11:58 +0530

Jabeen Akhtar talks about identity and what it means to be a Pakistani in America in a candid and tongue-in-cheek manner and yet skillfully done.

A ready reckoner to save cricket's soul

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:53:54 +0530

'Sphere of Influence' is not only an education to those who are less than well-versed in cricket administration, but also brings out the struggle to save cricket's soul.

Reliance MediaWorks to provide digital video library

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:52:40 +0530

Reliance MediaWorks has tied up with video management and licensing service provider Thought Equity Motion, Inc to offer integrated "smart content" to players in advertising, film, television, publishing and interactive media.

Not many takers for Assange's autobiography

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:04:32 +0530

The Unauthorised Autobiography of WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange could not drum up interest of readers, as the first three days of its arrival in the market have seen sales of just over 600 copies.

Harry Potter e-book sales postponed until 2012

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:50:26 +0530

Harry Potter fans will have to wait a bit longer to buy the magic tales in electronic form. The creators of the online Potter portal said on Friday that the launch of an e-book store has been pushed back to next year.

'Easy to write about a country from the outside'

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:00:44 +0530

Dipika Mukherjee's 'Thunder Demons' is based in contemporary Malaysia and address the issues of a multi-cultural scenario in Asia.

Tribal areas come alive in 80-year-old's debut

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:58:15 +0530

It took more than three decades for Pakistan's Jamil Ahmad to get published.

On bookshelf this week: Water, food, love and secrets

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:35:21 +0530

A study of the murky water politics in Asia, a compilation of gastronomic delights, Pakistani author Mohammed Hanif's story of a Catholic choohra and a short-story collection by Ruskin Bond -- the book-cart this week is excitingly distinct.

Bloomsbury venture to bring books 'back from dead'

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:28:46 +0530

The publisher is focusing on books which are out of print and where all English-language rights have reverted back to the author or the author's estate.

Photo book of quake-hit city to be published

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:23:37 +0530

'The Town that Vanished in 4 Minutes' is a collection of photos showing glimpses of a city in north-eastern Japan flattened by the March tsunami.

'Men' producer writing tell-all book on Sheen

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:51:19 +0530

Charlie Sheen's former boss Chuck Lorre is writing a tell-all book on the open hostility between the two.

Palin threatens to sue author of 'Rogue' book

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:44:48 +0530

'The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin' is written by veteran political writer Joe McGinniss.

Assange moans about unofficial autobiography

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:23:11 +0530

An 'unauthorized' version of Assange's autobiography has prompted him to make public some of his own secrets.

Pak author cleared for India visit after visa glitch

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:52:33 +0530

Best-selling Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif, whose visa file was reportedly misplaced by the home ministry, has been given the go-ahead to attend a literature festival in India, the event organisers said on Wednesday.

Al Qaeda isn't near defeat, it's winning: Author

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:16:33 +0530

Even after the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the terror outfit is not going away, in fact it is winning, says Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, the author of 'Bin Laden's Legacy'.

Mamata Banerjee promises to start writing again

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:02:19 +0530

Mamata Banerjee will write a regular column in the party's weekly mouthpiece, Jaago Bangla.

Pak author latest victim of Indo-Pak visa issues?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:46:49 +0530

Pakistani author Mohammed Hanif waited for visa for four weeks, but is now told his file is lost.

When Mahatma threatened to throw out wife

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:44:36 +0530

The heroes of modern India have come alive in their human avatars in a new anthology of biographical sketches by noted writer and former governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

A tale of two writers: A waiter and chaiwala

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:20:35 +0530

Nandkishore Kushwaha, a waiter and Kuwar Dheer Bahadur Singh, a cook are writers, with several of their novels already in the market.

'1888 Dial India' about India and its follies

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:12:38 +0530

Anuvab Pal writes about today's India and what it means to its citizens and how outsiders view it.

Politics, cinema at Delhi literature fest

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:40:07 +0530

Politics, Anna Hazare, new wave cinema and changing trends in contemporary writing will be on offer at the daylong 'The Hindu Lit for Life' festival on Sunday.