Japan Ki Lok Kathaye (Folktales of Japan) by Suresh Rituparna: Published by the National Book Trust, this book in Hindi contains short stories about the urban legends of Japan. The ease with which these intense stories are written grips me every time.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter: The bestseller that it is, I read it only recently. This book speaks about the importance of financial literacy and I like the innovative idea that one should not work to make money but should make money work for them. This is what got me hooked to this one.

War Diary by Ingeborg Bachmann: I picked this book up especially because of its size. I thought this would be a quick read. It’s a book with letters from a young solider to his lover, whom he misses dearly and longs to meet. In his exchanges, he very subtly mentions the uncertainties and struggles of war, which make your heart wrench.

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink: An international bestseller set in the post-war landscape, the book takes you through a roller-coaster of emotions, the suspense, secrets, and horrors against the fragile love story between two people. You are left with mixed feelings of both, hopelessness and hopefulness.

Desire by Haruki Murakami: This is a collection of short stories, where desire translates as hunger, lust, infatuation and so on. Murakami’s writing is so breathable that you feel like the story is unfolding around you.