The Readers Starting Kit (Volume 2)

The concluding part on all the books you need to begin reading. Love/hate our suggestions? Let us know!
Religious & Spiritual
18 Days: Volume 1, by Grant Morrison

18 Days: The Mahabharata Volume -I

There has always been a belief (which has gained prominence in the last 3 years) that during Vedic times, we Indians were the masters of science; plastic surgery, nuclear sciences, aeroplanes, everything. Whether that idea should be ridiculed or considered, that is your personal opinion, but here, Grant Morrison takes the idea of advanced technology during the Mahabharata and runs away with it; it is like a hyper-stylized version of the epic, but hey, this is what we asked for. For all the others who wondered how Mahabharata would look in Baahubali-style, wonder no more.

Romance
Emma, by Jane Austen

Romance has always had some of the most enduring stories; after all, that language of finding the one, waiting for the time you get to spend with them, that feeling of longing when you cannot, and the elation of finally being together, this language can be understood by every living soul. Jane Austen’s works are famous enough, with her Pride & Prejudice’s hero being the last generation’s Christian Grey; however here, it is indisputably Emma who occupies centre stage. Even normal lives can be very interesting when narrated by the right voice, and Emma & Jane Austen are perfectly matched.
HorrorThe Dark Tower series, by Stephen King

Dark Towers Boxed Set

Horror doesn’t have to be limited to creaking doors and dangerous monsters. It can also be more subtle, like a world dying because of what its people did; it could be unconventional, like a supersonic train which promises to take you to your death unless you come up with an unanswerable riddle. The entire series is filled with horrors like that, and more. It can be a bit morbid at times, but the payoff when you complete it and turn to the (hopefully awesome) coming-soon movie adaptation is just way too good. Plus, this is written by STEPHEN KING!

(again, OUT OF STOCK. But a movie based on it is coming soon, and two other movies based on the author’s works are also coming in this year. Do stock them)

Action & Adventure
Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum
Action & Adventure
Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum

 

 

Before the glut of recent action movies, there was Bourne, Jason Bourne. In many ways, the stories are the predecessors of today’s action movies; the breakneck pace, moving from one country to the other, shadow organizations, and incredible action set pieces. And hey, Jason Bourne has jumped, kicked and outsmarted people on the big screen too!

Suspense & Thriller
The Complete Short Stories of Sherlock Holmes,  by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

 

From the frenetic pace of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock to Elementary’s female Watson, everything around Sherlock Holmes (and the man himself) has been tinkered with, and still people are willing to watch. The timelessness of the detective and his companion, as they labor to solve unexplainable cases, does not require explanation. Reading the original work, however, can only make you appreciate it more.

Travel Writing
Barcelona, Lonely Planet
 

When it comes to most of us, travelling to our dream destinations is only possible through second hand experiences. But before Facebook albums and Snapchat filters, there was (and still is) one travel guidebook which could tell you everything you needed to know about the city/country you wanted to visit and virtually transport you there; the detailed descriptions, the rich images, the maps…this is among the best in modern travel writing.  It doesn’t hurt either that Lonely Planet can find all of the awe-striking destinations in the world. 

Essays
Broken Republic, by Arundhati Roy

For someone who won the Booker Prize with her debut fiction attempt, Arundhati Roy doesn’t seem to have a lot of fans in her home country. Courtesy her opinions on the politics played with the poor in our country, she has often been the target of hate online. But what really are her opinions? Among the many non-fiction works she has penned, this is a good place to start; what is Arundhati Roy saying, and is it really relevant? You be the judge. But please, judge only after reading.
IMPORTANT: 

 

 
This book has got its author wrong. The author is Roland Smith/ Roly Smith, not Bill Bryson

National Parks of Britain