Rich Like UsBy Nayantara SahgalHarper CollinsPrice: Rs 295With yet another anniversary of the Emergency rolling by, it’s been a timely re-release. But at any time of the year, it would have been welcome. Sahgal’s 1985 novel scripting the way her first cousin, Indira Gandhi’s decision to suspend democracy in the land impacted so many ordinary lives always makes for an insightful re-read. She documents how those years in the mid-’70s brought politics into every sphere of life — the steel frame was politicised, ideology became a handmaiden to personal advancement and entrepreneurs on the make learnt that proximity to the corridors of power was more important that a sound business plan. Silk BrocadesBy Yashodhara AgrawalRoli, price: Rs 595Silk Brocades is a journey through ancient and medieval India, weaving the origin of silk, zari and a thousand other textiles into the fabric of kingdoms and ancient cities. Agrawal was born into a well-known Varanasi family. And it is in the crowded bylanes of Varanasi that she ends her sojourn, having sampled the zari-laden brocades of the Deccan, the rich fabric of Gujarat and Chanderi. The brocade-weaving centres of India developed in and around the capitals of kingdoms or holy cities because of the demand for expensive fabrics by the royal families and temples, says Agrawal, plunging into an account of Mughal and ancient Indian history. A Thousand Pieces of Gold: A memoir of China’s past through its proverbsBy Adeline Yen MahHarperCollins, price: Rs 500That Adeline Yen Mah’s book is about proverbs popular in China is an interesting subject in itself. What is more interesting is how she decides to tell her tale. Mah is effortless in her narration of the 90-odd proverbs used in China on a regular basis. She starts the story with an anecdote from her childhood in Shanghai and continues the treat she promises in the first few chapters, through the book. There is, therefore, the mention of Aunt Baba, stepmom Niang, grandfather Ye Ye and her husband Bob. And it is because of these characters that the book remains an interesting read. Mah weaves in a story every time she has to talk about a proverb that has been passed down to contemporary China. A perfect peek into life, the Chinese way. Unforgiving HeightsBy Betsey BarnesPenguin IndiaPrice: Rs 350Even before you start reading Barnes’s book, what charms you is the jacket. Set in a thinly disguised Himalayan kingdom, the novel chronicles social life among American diplomats posted there and their acquaintances. This is familiar territory for Barnes, whose diplomat husband served in South Asia for many years. An interesting tale of human relationships and the funny business of life that speaks well of Barnes’ craft. A human saga, in other words. CORRECTIONIn the review of C. Raja Mohan’s book Crossing the Rubicon on June 22, his name was inadvertently mentioned as C. Raja Menon. The mistake is deeply regretted.
