Woven into 14 sections, this moving prose-poem expressly conveys the dilemmas of identity, race and gender, even as we set out into the 21st century. It enthrals in its lyricism as effortless words open a whole new world of profound thoughts -- more relevant than ever today. Penned in 1937 and unearthed much after the poet's death in 1939, Nadath, is at best, a journey between the known and the unknown, the real and the imaginary, argues Richa Bansal

Insects, by and large, are reckoned to be such repulsive creatures, that not many would contemplate even once about reading a book on them. Books about insects are, needless to say, by and for teachers and students of entomology. At least, that is what common sense would make one believe. If, however, one happens to perforce read the writings about insects assorted by award-winning nature and science writer Erich Hoyt and Smithsonian entomologist and former 'Whole Earth Review' editor Ted Schultz, one might well voluntarily change one's mind about it, writes James Warder

One might expect a book subtitled "The Dynamics of Torture" to be rather lurid. John Conroy's thoughtful, reportorial analysis of how and why ordinary people are capable of inflicting extraordinary pain on others is anything but. He acknowledges in his preface that this book is not a full treatment of the subject. He elects, instead, to focus on three specific cases for which he was able to interview relevant subjects and obtain additional information that was part of the public record (all three cases resulted in trials or investigations), points out Doug Vaughn

This book is not meant for scientists or today's students of science, but for those, like this reviewer, who pursued science for some time, but opted for other avenues because of some compulsion, commitment or otherwise. According to Albert Einstein, all spinning objects have a tendency to drag the space-time continuum in which they are situated around with them. True, Einstein's Theory of Relativity makes as much sense today as it did when he announced it in 1905. For those like this reviewer looking for a starting point to make up for lost time in one sitting, this book would serve the purpose, asserts Subir Ghosh

The struggle for freedom is the refrain of the book but this theme remains mainly in the background. It is life as it is lived by the common man, as it is affected by the ideals of national freedom that is important in the novel. The language is extremely sparse but rich in associations it evokes, the style restrained yet delicate. The translation is simply superb. On the Banks of Mayyazhi richly deserves all the awards that it has got, and leaves the reader eager for more from the pen of M author Mukundan and translator Gita Krishnankutty, says Chandra Holm