These rainy-inspired novels will make for a cozy rainy-day read!
After multiple short spells of rain showers throughout the country, the monsoon season is finally and officially upon us. However, with monsoon comes many different foods, activities and moods.
As the world slows down, there’s no better time to escape into the pages of a book, especially those that capture the essence of the Indian monsoon. The monsoon season provides an ideal backdrop for immersive reading experiences, where stories set against this dramatic and romantic season come alive, enriching your connection with both the narrative and the natural world around you.
Here is our list of seven books to read in monsoon that will transport you to surreal worlds and make you enjoy the world and nature beyond the confines of your house. What’s more? They’re all set in India and written by authors of Indian origin.
Author: Buddhadeva Bose
The very first monsoon book we recommend is for romance and drama lovers. It Rained All Night, in which rain plays a catalyst, follows Maloti, a middle-class Bengali girl, who marries a college lecturer only to find him insecure and sexually timid. Desire overcomes her when she meets Jayanto whose love provides her with solace from the demands of wifely duties. Interestingly, the novel was banned in 1967 on charges of obscenity. The charges were so severe that Bose was forced to stand inside a wire cage while multiple copies of his book were taken into custody and burnt along with his original manuscript.
Author: Amitav Ghosh
Ghosh’s fourth novel, The Hungry Tide is set in the lush and rich background of the Sundarbans and is the story of an unlikely group of people who travel up the river together in a quest to find a rare dolphin. The trio must constantly navigate tidal floods to reach their destination and acquire what they set out to. This is a rather tense and unnerving monsoon recommendation as themes of social unrest and environmental disasters are highly prevalent throughout the book.
Author: Kanika Saini
The Mumbai Monsoon is a contemporary drama set in the backdrop of Mumbai’s rains written by Saini, a Bollywood journalist working in Mumbai. It follows three women, Ruby, Ayesha and Simi, all from different walks of life, as they navigate various challenges and seek to fulfil their dreams. Ruby is a 20-year-old prostitute who dreams of pursuing an alternate career. Ayesha is a Bollywood actress who is struggling in an unhappy marriage. Lastly, Simi, a Punjabi girl dreams of love in a man she married in an arranged setup.
Author: Ruskin Bond
Rain in the Mountains is a collection and compendium of some of Ruskin Bond’s most beautiful and nostalgic pieces from his years spent in the foothills of the Himalayas in the town of Mussoorie. Filled with vibrant and calming natural imagery in true Ruskin Bond fashion, readers can find stories like ‘Once Upon a Mountain Time’, ‘Sounds I Like to Hear’, ‘How Far Is the River’ and ‘After the Monsoon’ in this collection.
For more on Bond and his work, check this out!
Author: Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Jamel Akib
Through the careful observations of one young girl in urban North India, the reader is taken on a deeply sensory journey. She describes and illustrates for us the scents, sounds and the dazzling colors of the parched city during the final days before the welcome arrival of the monsoon. Through illustrations that almost look like paintings and appear very rustic in style, the author pays homage to North India and the beauty of the monsoon in these parts of India, as seen through the innocent eyes of children.
Author: Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta
Mina loves playing soccer all year round; nothing else compares. However, during the monsoon season, she’s stuck indoors, feeling restless and bored. Neither her ammi nor the doodhwalla understands her frustration. Determined to chase away the clouds herself, Mina embarks on a new adventure, leading to an unexpected discovery that changes soccer forever for her. At the heart of the story is also the heartwarming bond formed between a mother and daughter in the backdrop of a murky, rainy day. This charming picture book also highlights the famous monsoon of East India, thereby teaching kids the importance of the season in everyone’s lives.
Author: Arundhati Roy
Roy’s magnum opus narrates the story of Rahel and Estha, two fraternal twins, whose bond persists over many years of family strife and political unrest, amid the “Love Laws” prevalent in 1960s Kerala. Set in Kerala, this Booker Prize-winning novel by Arundhati Roy masterfully intertwines the monsoon rains with its narrative, showcasing the impact of the season on the characters’ lives. The monsoon too evolves into a character as the story unfolds.
Loved our recommendation? Here are six international rain-day books to read in monsoon curated for you:
Dive into the world of Ruskin Bond. View the entire collection HERE
Curious to explore more children’s books? Read: 5 Best Children’s Authors of All Time
