Sep 04, 2025

8 Books By Anita Desai You Must Read

Aanya Mehta

Baumgartner’s Bombay (1988)

Follows a German Jewish refugee in India, touching on themes of exile, identity, and displacement.

Source: amazon.in

Clear Light of Day (1980)

A deeply moving family saga set in Old Delhi, weaving memory, Partition history, and sibling relationships.

Source: amazon.in

Cry, The Peacock (1963)

Her debut novel explores the psychological breakdown of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, a pioneering work in Indian English fiction.

Source: amazon.in

Fasting, Feasting (1999)

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, this novel contrasts lives in small-town India with suburban America through themes of family and freedom.

Source: unsplash

Fire on the Mountain (1977)

A haunting story about isolation and female solitude, set in the hills of Kasauli. This book won the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Source: amazon.in

In Custody (1984)

A poignant tale of a Hindi professor who interviews a fading Urdu poet, shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Source: amazon.in

The Village by the Sea (1982)

A heartwarming children’s novel about rural hardship and resilience, winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award.

Source: amazon.in

Where Shall We Go This Summer (1975)

A lyrical story of a woman seeking escape on an island, reflecting on motherhood, freedom, and personal identity.

Source: amazon.in

8 books to start your September with