You could start with 'The God of Small Things'. It's a classic in modern Indian literature. The writing is lyrical and the story is both heart - breaking and thought - provoking. It gives a deep look into the complex social fabric of Kerala, India. The characters are vividly drawn and you can really feel their joys and sorrows. It won the Booker Prize and is widely studied in literature courses around the world.
The latest top Indian novels include 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga. This novel gives a dark and satirical view of India's class divide. 'Half - Girlfriend' by Chetan Bhagat is also quite popular. It tells a love story with a modern Indian backdrop. And 'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi, which is part of a series that reimagines Indian mythology in a fictional and engaging way.
You can start with classic novels. For instance, in 'Wuthering Heights', Catherine's wild and passionate nature is a form of beauty. Her description as a 'wild, wickless thing' gives a sense of a beauty that is untamed. This shows that you can find beauty quotes in novels that depict characters with unique personalities.
If you're new to DC graphic novels, a great place to start is with the classic 'Superman: Red Son'. It presents an alternate version of Superman where he landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States. It's a really interesting take on the character. Another good starting point could be 'Green Lantern: Rebirth' which reintroduces the character in a new and exciting way.
You could start with 'Parthiban Kanavu'. It's a well - loved Tamil romance novel that tells a story full of dreams, love, and the pursuit of one's desires. The characters are very relatable and the love story is quite endearing.
One of the top romantic Indian novels is 'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi. It has a strong romantic sub - plot that is intertwined with the epic adventure. Another good one is 'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts, which, while not strictly an Indian - authored book but set in India, has a great love story. 'The Inheritance of Loss' by Kiran Desai also has elements of love and longing within its broader narrative of loss and identity.
A great Indian horror novel is 'Annihilation' which takes place in a strange, otherworldly setting in India. The sense of isolation and the unknown creates a terrifying atmosphere. Another one is 'It Follows' which has been adapted into a movie. In the book, it has an Indian backdrop and the idea of a menacing entity following the characters is really scary.
You can start by visiting local libraries in areas with a significant Indian community. They often have collections of books that include lesser - known Indian stories. Another way is to explore online platforms dedicated to Indian culture and heritage, such as some Indian - run blogs or digital archives.
The novel 'The Great Weaver from Kashmir' by Halldór Laxness is likely to be in the top 20. It's a complex and thought - provoking work. Another is 'Solaris' by Stanisław Lem, which, although the author is Polish, has strong Icelandic connections in some translations and interpretations. And 'The Day is Dark' by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is a popular Icelandic mystery novel that could be on the list.
Online book communities can also be very helpful. Platforms like Goodreads have groups dedicated to 19th - century literature. Members of these groups might be able to recommend some great unknown novels from that era. They can share their own experiences of reading these works and provide insights into why these novels are worth exploring.
If you're new to Vietnam fiction, 'The Sorrow of War' is a great starting point. It's very accessible and gives you a good sense of the country's recent history through the eyes of a soldier.