Books of the week: From Raza Mir's Murder at the Mushaira to Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's Exiled from Ayodhya, our picks

We love stories, and even in the age of Netflix-and-chill, there’s nothing like a good book that promises a couple of hours of absorption — whether curled up in bed, in your favourite coffeehouse, or that long (and tiresome) commute to work. Every week, we’ll have a succinct pick of books, across diverse genres, that have been newly made available for your reading pleasure. Get them wherever you get your books — the friendly neighbourhood bookseller, e-retail website, chain store — and in whatever form you prefer. Happy reading! For more of our weekly book recommendations, click here . *** – FICTION Murder at the Mushaira By Raza Mir Aleph Book Company | Rs 799 | 360 pages Author Raza Mir’s book is set against the backdrop of India’s First War of Independence in 1857. One morning, a poet is discovered stabbed to death at a Delhi haveli following a grand mushaira. It seems a run-of-the-mill event until East India Company officials make it a matter of high priority. Officer Kirorimal Chainsukh soon discovers that there are several suspects, then turning to poet Mirza Ghalib for help, who uncovers a sinister conspiracy. Read more about the book here. The Parasite By Ferenc Barnás; translated by Paul Olchváry Seagull Books | Rs 799 | 384 pages Paul Olchváry translates Hungarian author Ferenc Barnás’ novel, which follows a young man on his journey through strange obsessions and toward possible recovery. The unnamed narrator is a parasite feeding off others’ aliments and host who attracts people with particular manias. He also easily confesses his attraction to illnesses and hospitals. His real descent begins after his first sexual encounter, becoming first a compulsive masturbator and then fornicator. Read more about the book here. – NON-FICTION Desi Delicacies Edited by Claire Chambers Pan Macmillan India | Rs 450 | 272 pages University of York’s Global Literature professor Claire Chambers edits this anthology of food writing, including essays, stories, and recipes, which explores the histories and cultures of Muslim South Asia. The alchemy of the kitchens affects nations and economies, politics, history, and human relationships. Among the writers are Nadeem Aslam, Rana Safvi, Sadaf Hussain, and Tabish Khair. Read more about the book here. Exiled from Ayodhya: A Journey in Search of Ramayana By Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay; translated by Pratiti Bee Books | Rs 299 | 120 pages Pratiti translates Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s travelogue from the Bengali, centred around Ramanavami, as he traces Rama’s path during banishment by venturing into the hinterlands of UP. He reflects on how even though archaeologists hadn’t yet found Ayodhya, one was propped up since a legend was required, and how history, myth, and reality intermingle to form this narrative. Read an excerpt from the book here. Ghosts, Monsters, and Demons of India By J Furcifer Bhairav and Rakesh Khanna Blaft Publications | Rs 995 | 455 pages An encyclopaedia of the evil characters found in Indian folklore, this is an anthology of stories, poetry, myths, and more, aided with illustrations by Appupen, Samita Chatterjee, Osheen Siva, and others. It covers the cultural breadth of the country, from Mizoram’s Ahmaw to Tamil Nadu’s Kaniyam Pey and from Kumaon’s Airi to Kerala’s kuttichathans, among others. Read more about the book here. The Making of Land and the Making of India By Nikita Sud Oxford University Press India | Rs 1,410 | 280 pages Development studies teacher at the University of Oxford Nikita Sud’s book studies Indian sites and argues that land is not simply the earth’s surface but a materially and conceptually dynamic realm tied closely with the social. Land transitions occur across territory, property, authority, the sacred, history and memory; and in attempting to ‘make’ the land, the book shows how land also ‘makes’ us. Read more about the book here. India’s Long Walk Home Edited by Ishan Chauhan, Zenaida Cubbinz AuthorsUpFront | Rs 595 | 248 pages An anthology of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, the book presents a mirror of our times, raising questions, shattering assumptions, and providing a view of the challenges that India as a diverse country is facing today. Contributors include Arundhati Roy, Ruskin Bond, Mridula Garg, Alok Rai, and Nandita Haskar, among others. Read more about the book here.