books

ESSAY / ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’: Fan service and repetitive themes weigh down ‘Hunger Games’ prequel

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series has captivated pop culture with its bold take on tyranny, sacrifice, and resistance, spanning Katniss Everdeen’s blazing defiance in The Hunger Games (2008) to her final stand in Mockingjay (2010) against Coriolanus Snow’s cold cruelty.

EVENT REPORT / ‘Bengal Photography’s Reality Quest’: A discourse with Naeem Mohaiemen

Throughout the session, Mohaiemen’s passionate, spontaneous, and engaging demeanour captivated the audience, fostering a deeper understanding of storytelling through images.

The enduring presence of cats in Japanese literature

What’s with all the cats in Japanese literature?

#Perspective / Why I will always love the month of Ramadan

Ramadan holds a special place in the heart, rooted in childhood memories of fasting, reading, and spending time with family. The sacred month provides a chance for reflection, reconnecting with loved ones, and appreciating life's simple, meaningful moments.

#Perspective / Humayun Ahmed: Still captivating Bangladesh, one book at a time

Humayun Ahmed’s legacy remains strong, captivating generations with relatable storytelling. His novels transcend time, making literature accessible to all. Despite criticism, his emotional depth and simplicity keep readers engaged, proving his enduring influence in Bengali literary culture.

Taliban govt clearing 'un-Islamic' books from Afghanistan shelves

In October, the ministry announced the commission had identified 400 books "that conflicted with Islamic and Afghan values, most of which have been collected from the markets".

THE SHELF / 8 books to read in celebration of Women in Translation month

Women in Translation Month is an annual celebration that toasts to women authors from around the globe who write in languages other than English

Books / The book that rebelled: Arek Falgun by Zahir Raihan

The book is not only ardent in its refusal of authority but also speaks of detaching oneself from aspects of one’s life that add meaning in the pursuit of revolution.

Book recommendations on post-independence history of Bangladesh

A list of books that might help you get started on the political climate of Bangladesh after 1971

July 29, 2024
July 29, 2024

Where is my dictionary?

The recent internet blackout in Bangladesh put a spotlight on an often-forgotten tool: the dictionary. For writers and anyone who relies on crafting basic-level English communications, the lack of digital access was a stark reminder of our dependency on the internet.

July 13, 2024
July 13, 2024

The tiny space between science and literature

"Growing to love something, and allowing that to change me is not immediate, it is not profound. Nor is it something caused just by reading a handful of books"

June 20, 2024
June 20, 2024

Book-to-screen adaptations to look forward to in the second half of 2024

The first half of this year has treated us with some truly amazing book-to-screen adaptations like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Ripley. The second half is also unlikely to disappoint. Here are some book-to-screen adaptations to pack the rest of your year with.

May 29, 2024
May 29, 2024

Unseen chains of consequences

When a few boys arrive at the couple’s flat to seek out their college-going daughter, Rekha, the parents are thrown into a whirlwind of adventure.

May 26, 2024
May 26, 2024

Evil never looked this good

Even without a full-blown sympathetic backstory, a villain’s motivations can be complex.

May 15, 2024
May 15, 2024

Musings of a romance reader

Navigating the lines between gender politics, feminist beliefs and love for romance

May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024

Beyond the page: Podcasts discussing POC authors

The following are podcasts that focus on POC writers, a list made because of the heavy Eurocentrism still present in the lists and bookstores known around Bangladesh.

May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024

Beyond Nilkhet: Dhaka’s second-hand book markets

The second-hand book market is a buoyant one and there are places in Dhaka, other than Nilkhet, where your desire to buy books meets affordability. With a keen eye and some bargaining skills, it is possible to make a deal at these places.

May 8, 2024
May 8, 2024

Conquering that stack: 5 ways to finish a book in a week

Let's face it. Our to-be-read piles have started to look like a leaning tower of literary Pisa now. If you are a bookworm, you will relate to this one much too well.

May 4, 2024
May 4, 2024

It’s ‘Mean Girls’ meets ‘Heathers’ meets ‘The Craft’

The best part of this book is perhaps the fact that all the weird, bonkers cultish stuff just happens with no rhyme or reason to it.