Books of the week: From Ipshita Nath's The Rickshaw Reveries to Namrata Goswami's The Naga Ethnic Movement for a Separate Homeland, 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 Sunday, 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 The Endgame By Kunal Basu Pan Macmillan India | Rs 499 | 188 pages Author Kunal Basu’s The Endgame follows New York reporter Tejaswini Ray who has arrived in war-torn Iraq. Here, she revolts against the strict censorship of the commander of the US Marine Corps and her coverage of American soldiers killed by landmines draws worldwide attention. She also meets Shabnam, an Indian trafficked and sold to the Marine camp. Their friendship eventually reveals an older link and as war threatens the Camp, the two decide to leave, embarking on a daring journey together. Read more about the book here. – SHORT STORY COLLECTION The Rickshaw Reveries: Dark Dazzling Delhi Stories By Ipshita Nath Simon & Schuster India | Rs 350 | 320 pages University of Delhi English teacher Ipshita Nath’s debut collection explores different facets of Delhi. From a rickshaw puller whose lust will lead him to metamorphosis to a scrap metal collector whose life changes by one piece of metal, and from a local perfumer whose attars hold the power of love, life, and death, to a gay man drawn to a djinn in the old Delhi fort. These are stories of delinquents, drug peddlers, and Khan Market diplomats, among others. Read more about the book here. – MEMOIRS and BIOGRAPHIES A Talib’s Tale: The Life and Times of a Pashtoon Englishman By John Butt Penguin Random House India | Rs 599 | 400 pages Islamic scholar John Mohammed Butt, noted as the first Westerner to graduate from Darul Uloom Deoband, details his life story. From coming to Swat in 1970 in search of an education to his travels around the region, he talks about the friends he made and the process of slowly integrating into local culture and life. With reflections and anecdotes, he unravels how he found home in Afghanistan, and how his hearth soon turned Pashtoon. Read more about the book here. The Dalai Lama: An Extraordinary Life By Alexander Norman HarperCollins India | Rs 799 | 432 pages Author and scholar of Tibetan history Alexander Norman presents a definitive biography of the Dalai Lama. He details his life, starting in an isolated Tibetan village, to becoming a worldwide leader. The Dalai Lama’s spiritual practices are rooted in magic and prophecy. Politically, he’s manoeuvred through violence, even placing himself at the centre of a Buddhist schism. Having collaborated with the Dalai Lama on his autobiography, Norman now brings forth his life story. Read more about the book here. – NON-FICTION The Naga Ethnic Movement for a Separate Homeland: Stories from the Field By Namrata Goswami OUP India | Rs 1,100 | 284 pages Author Namrata Goswami’s research around the Naga armed ethnic movement offers a narrative on how conflict has affected their daily lives and is based on over a decade of work with rebels, including interviews. It also offers insight into how they perceive their meeting point with institutions of the Indian state. Reflecting their love for their land, the book also presents stories of courage from a people living amidst unrest. Read more about the book here. The Shaadi Story: Behind the Scenes of the Big Fat Indian Wedding By Amita Nigam Sahaya Pan Macmillan India | Rs 599 | 224 pages Author, activist and social entrepreneur Amita Nigam Sahaya explores Indian marriages and weddings in The Shaadi Story. She looks at the history, tradition, societal attitudes, and industry behind the Big Fat Indian Wedding. The book examines our evolving ideas of love and relationships through the lens of weddings, by considering aspects of ancient Sanskrit scriptures, western philosophy, Bollywood, and voices of the young Indians. Read more about the book here. – YOUNG READERS Zakir And His Tabla: Dha Dhin Na By Sandhya Rao; Illustrations by Priya Kuriyan Tulika Books | Rs 275 | 32 pages With illustrations by Priya Kuriyan, writer Sandhya Rao’s book introduces children to Zakir Hussain. Stringing together stories from his life, the book narrates Hussain’s childhood around music and eventual rise to the performer who took the tabla to the world. Read more about the book here.