Salman Rushdie’s latest novel describes how an orphan girl, Pampa Kampana, receives a boon from a goddess that turns her into a demi-god and a fundamental pillar in creating the kingdom of Bisnaga in 14th-century South India. In a world ruled by men, she tries to give women an equal right that comes with a share of power, freedom and will. But with time, rulers, power and allegiance change, and Pampa’s story is no exception. The novel is a perfect blend of myth, history and love.

This book makes us realize how much our encounters shape our destiny.

Beautiful retelling of an Indian folk tale about the life of the Buddha from a western perspective. It was written just after WW1, I think it resonated with a lot of people who had lost hope for humanity. Similarly, when times are tough or the world seems hostile, I fall back on what I learned in this book.

An all time favourite read, this autobiography from Tina Fey walks through the story of her life from her roots as a young shy kid to becoming the head writer of Saturday Night Live and her own TV show. It’s funny, thoughtful, and incredibly interesting (especially if you’re a comedy nerd like myself!).