Writing on the wall

Mona

Have an idea for a great novel? Well, turn it into reality this month for it is celebrated as ‘novel writing month’. If many were reading them earlier, many more are writing now. We touch base with some young novelists from the region.

Read on

Rana Preet Gill is a readaholic with an average of two books a week. There are days when she starts one in the morning and sleeps only after finishing it. Novels are this veterinary officer’s first love. “This genre allows one to get lost in a train of thought; simpler the text the better.”

Playing favourites 

Novel: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini. This tale of love and loss introduces one to Afghanistan.

Novelists: Rohinton Mistry for providing a peep into the world of Parsis. Sophie Kinsella; for taking us into the world of shopaholics.

Story wise

All of 17, Sumrit Shahi had a story that he strongly wanted to say and that turned out to be his first novel - Just Friends. Two more followed and yes in the ‘month of novels’, this scriptwriter is penning his fourth. “It’s story of some folks having the worst day of their life and how over the night the situation changes completely.”

Playing favourites 

Novel: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan – it’s rather a deep story that puts forward the life of LGBT community.

Novelists: Love by JK Rowling for its rich imagery. I am also a huge fan of Jhumpa Lahiri’s effortless poetic style and her rich use of metaphors. 

Keen eye

Three-novels-old Bhaavna Arora has moved into non-fiction space. With best sellers The Deliberate Sinner, Mistress of Honour and Love Bi the Way to her credit, she is next exploring Kashmir through a third person’s view. “It’s my attempt to grow with my readers,” she smiles.

Playing favourites 

Novel: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho. As a woman, I relate to this one at many levels.

Novelists: I associate my early young reading with Sidney Sheldon.

Winning hearts

Reekrit Sarai started his college life with penning novels, and moved on to be an educationist, publisher and investor. His first, ‘Impulse’ was followed by As I Turn Twenty. “Any interesting story that people find relatable is sure to win hearts.”

Playing favourites 

Novel: Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is one raw piece that bares emotions in their true sense.

Novelists: Wouldn’t look beyond Dostoevsky. He excels in showing the true face of humanity.

Modern charm

‘A Rebound Done Right’ is the debut novel by Samridhi Arora, who is pursuing MBA at ISB Hyderabad. Her book explores lost charm of a true relationship in the current generation.

Playing favourites 

Novel: The Perfect Us by Durjoy Datta. The way he brings his characters to life is commendable.

Novelists: Ravinder Singh. He has a social message in each of his books. 

Life’s tale

A school lecturer, Parul Sharma finds novels an expression of life. His debut novel ‘Searching My Land’ is another take on vacuum in relationships.

Playing favourites 

Novel: The book by my father Ajay Sharma - Basra Ki Galiyan – will remain close to my heart forever. 

Novelists: John Green; how beautifully he portrays love and all its struggles.

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