Asian Booklist: October 2024
Discover new books by British-Asian authors
Update from Kia
Hello,
It’s a rather thin edition of Asian Booklist this month so I’ve collated two months in one. Sadly, this has become a bit of a theme around this time of year. As publishers gear up for their Christmas push, books by British-Asian authors become thin on the ground, which says something about who does (and does not) get chosen for “big books” around Christmas time.
Despite this, I remain optimistic. As I say in an upcoming article for The Author magazine, this industry, for all its faults, is full of good people doing good work and they persist in the face of much fuckery. I am grateful for them and for my fellow writers who continue to put out amazing work even when it lands quietly.
In my own news, Book Five is pretty much done and is off to my copy-editor as we speak. I am celebrating with a 15-day trip to China, one of the countries at the top of my bucket list. This does mean that November’s Asian Booklist will be a few days late, but based on the below, there won’t be much to report. 😕
Until then.
Kia x
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New books by British-Asian authors
3 October 2024
Muslims Don’t Matter
Three grandfathers killed on the streets of England in three separate incidents by three different men. Each targeted simply for being Muslim. Each attack a consequence of the insidious rise in Islamophobia in Britain. From the far-right violence that broke out in summer 2024 to the hatred directed at Muslims in public life during the Gaza conflict, anti-Muslim racism is dangerously out-of-control […]
3 October 2024
Reggie Rabbit and The Ghost of Seagull Rock
Reggie Rabbit isn’t sure about his best friend Pipsquark’s other best friend, Kai. She seems too good to be true and he doesn’t believe her stories about the terrifying ghost that is haunting Seagull Rock, where her family live. But when Reggie and Pipsquark are invited to Kai’s for a sleepover, they hear the ghost howling with their own ears! Could it really be the phantom of seagull pirate Blackbeak? Or is something else afoot? […]
7 November 2024
Why Don’t Things Fall Up?: and Six Other Science Lessons You Missed at School
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing? Why Don't Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way […]
28 November 2024
City of Destruction
Bombay, 1951. A political rally ends in tragedy when India's first female police detective, Persis Wadia, kills a lone gunman as he attempts to assassinate the divisive new defence minister, a man calling for war with India's new post-Independence neighbours. With the Malabar House team tasked to hunt down the assassin's co-conspirators – aided by agents from Britain’s MI6 security service – Persis is quickly relegated to the sidelines […]
Books out last month
5 September 2024
The Shoulders We Stand On: How Black and Brown people fought for change in the United Kingdom
Have you heard of the Indian Workers’ Association? The Grunwick Strike? The Brixton Black Women’s Group? The Battle of Brick Lane? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. The Shoulders We Stand On tells the stories of 10 remarkable movements, campaigns and organisations led by Black and Brown people across Britain that fought against racism and capitalism and impacted the way we live now. […]
5 September 2024
Here to Slay
Kali has a lot to deal with. Her crush doesn’t notice her, her parents love her cousin more, and a big family wedding is overshadowing her 16th birthday. So, she really did NOT need a demon appearing in her bedroom and for the fate of the world to rest in her hands. It turns out that all girls named after the Indian demon-fighting goddess Kali are imbued with special powers, and are destined to fight demons. […]
5 September 2024
A Bollywood State of Mind: A journey into the world’s biggest cinema
Sunny Singh was born and brought up in a country of film fanatics. She and her friends waited impatiently for the latest releases, listened to the songs on radio and wore clothes inspired by those seen on screen. They learned about India and the world and chose their moralities thanks to films. A Bollywood State of Mind is a personal, intellectual and emotional journey which crosses five continents and 50 years of modern Indian history and cinema […]
10 September 2024
Sona Sharma, Looking After Planet Earth
Sona is determined to get her whole suburban Indian neighborhood to help fight climate change in this second heartwarming story. When Sona learns about the climate crisis at school, she worries that nobody is doing enough to combat it. So she takes up the challenge herself! But her family isn't amused when Sona suddenly gets rid of her sister's diapers and turns off Thatha and Paatti's fan during their nap. […]
26 September 2024
Sanjana Feasts: Modern vegetarian and vegan Indian recipes to feed your soul
Sanjana Modha’s flavourful recipes are rooted in her Indian heritage, East African family background, and Yorkshire childhood. This book showcases the unique combinations that are authentic to Sanjana’s upbringing, and includes signature dishes such as Ruffled Biryani, Madras Mac and Cheese, Desi-inspired French Bread Pizza and Sticky Toffee Gulab Jamun, as well as delicious Indian classics. […]
Editor’s choice
Why Don’t Things Fall Up? brings together science and storytelling in a joyful guide to life’s big answers. With warmth, humour and humanity, author Alom Shaha takes complex concepts and distils them into simple language.
As someone who didn’t ace science at school, I found this book to be a fun, clever, accessible corrective. It reminded me that science can be interesting when you have the right teacher, as we do here with Alom Shaha.
Suitable for kids and adults alike, Why Don’t Things Fall Up? is a perfect stocking filler for anyone curious about life.
Order it from Amazon, Waterstones or your local independent bookshop.
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