Literarily promising 2017

2016 has been the year of biographies, and debut authors, a year of non-fiction – especially of the political kind and in India – it has also been a year of historical fiction. 2017 promises to be even more exciting as publishers line up some exciting titles by Indian authors, and foreign publications (best sellers) too, quickly making their way into India thanks to the collaborations. Here are a few of the much awaited books that will be released in the year 2017.

Jairam Ramesh’s Indira Gandhi: A Life in Nature (Non Fiction / Simon & Schuster)
A different kind biography of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi known for her environmental initiatives like Project Tiger; the book also refers to her relationship with other conservationists like Salim Ali, Arjan Singh, Duleep Matthai and Anne Wright.

My Story - Ralph Lauren (Memoir / Simon & Schuster)
A candid and enthralling memoir by the legendary founder of the company that brought American style to the world—Ralph Lauren shares the inside story of his rise from a tie designer operating out of a single drawer in the Empire State Building to the CEO of one of our most iconic brands.

The Song Rising – Samantha Shannon (Sequel to The Bone Season/ Fiction / Bloomsbury)
The third part that follows The Bone Season and The Mime Order, which were both international New York Times bestsellers.

Lincoln in the Bardo – George Saunders (Fiction / Bloomsbury)
The first novel by the bestselling, Folio Prize-winning, National Book Award-shortlisted George Saunders that received rave reviews, will be launched in India. It is about Abraham Lincoln and the death of his eleven year old son, Willie, at the dawn of the Civil War.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them– JK Rowling (Fiction/ Bloomsbury)
A new rehashed edition of popular books is always looked forward to. Interestingly, even JK Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them’ that released towards the end of 2016, is being relaunched as a brand new edition with new design that will also include a new foreword by the author.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness - Arundhati Roy (Fiction/ Penguin Indian)
Arundhati Roy’s first work of fiction since ‘The God of Small Things’ which won the Booker prize nineteen years ago in 1997, ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’ has been receiving good word from all those who have already had a exclusive preview of the book.

An Unsuitable Boy (Autobiography/ Penguin India)
The autobiography of one of the most celebrated Bollywood director Karan Johar promises to be honest, heart-warming and personal account of his life and the business of Bollywood.

Being Baba Ramdev (Autobiography / Penguin India)
The popular and controversial Baba Ramdev pens the story of his journey from Yoga guru to politics, along with Uday Mahurkar, deputy editor, India Today.

The Exile – Adrian Levy & Cathrine Scott-Clark (Non-fiction / Bloomsbury)
The authors of ‘The Siege’ and investigative journalists Adrian and Catherine Scott trace the growth of Osama bin Laden, his notorious past until the present day and beyond. The book is based on rigorously sourced research material from across the world.

Exit West – Mohsin Hamid (Fiction / Penguin)
From the award winning author of ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ and ‘How To Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia’, ‘Exit West’ is a tale of migration – the story of a young couple in an unnamed country as their city collapses around them and they are forced to join a wave of migrants fleeing for their lives.

India After Gandhi The History of The World’s Largest Democracy (Expanded and Updated 10th Anniversary Edition) – Ramachandra Guha (Non-fiction / Pan Macmillan)
This revised and expanded edition brings the narrative of the popular book to the present, updated to include the two general elections, rise of Narendra Modi, anti-corruption movement, violence against women, Dalits, Nagaland, Kashmir and more and will be published to coincide with the seventy years of Indian independence.

Compiled by Rajeshwari Kalyanam