FUCHSIA Brings A Cocktail Of Genres For Your Winter Break, So Embrace Yourself For A Warm Read
When the temperatures drop and the halls are decked with holly, ‘tis the time to curl up under a warm blanket for some cozy reads. As the year 2022 wraps up and we gear up for the toll of 2023, FUCHSIA has rounded up some brilliant reads that are a perfect escape for the chill and thrill of winter nights.
From warm comfort food cookbooks with a story behind every recipe to a charming rom-com, and a thrilling mystery from the streets of Karachi, we have you covered.
Rohzin by Rahman Abbas
In the backdrop of Mumbai, this novel will take you through the city’s geography, history, folklore, and the dreams of its citizens. With a Bollywood-style romance between the characters, Asrar and Hina, and some thought-provoking poetry and couplets, this story will immerse you in the love and folly of the heart. The author has explored diverse topics such as infidelity, class divides, and age-gap relationships. The story is subliminally also peppered with djinns and deities.
More importantly, what was really relatable was how many epochal happenings were a depiction of the city of Karachi. For instance, the notable riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, the Zaveri Market bomb blast, and the 2005 flood transect with the characters.
Mumbai almost feels like it is a battleground for the “unstoppable rainwater and the roaring sea”.
Mumbai, a lot like Karachi, is notorious for its torrential rains, as though fodder for the forthcoming disaster.
Degh to Dastarkhwan by Tarana Husain Khan
Tarana Husain Khan was an unenthusiastic cook and even more of an indifferent eater. However, her love for Rampur cuisine began when she came across a 19th-century cookbook with fables and stories about the food itself.
This book is not just about delicious comfort food. The stories strung around every dish are equally heart-warming. It is a festivity of sorts for the Rampur cuisine. Every chapter is dominated by emotion and a unique celebration. So what better time to indulge in this cozy read than while the festive season is still on?
From grandiose spreads of Dastarkhwans to simple fares for the daily routine, this book is a lifesaver for all your culinary needs. And it comes with a story! With characters from all walks of life, the book is brimmed with compelling princesses, to the spiritual notion of a Sufi shrine, with fables of khansamas, weddings, and funerals you name it!
Legends of Karachi by Muhammad Ali Samejo
While all of us know that Karachi is the hub of many problems, this book is one that has all the problems listed down. And these issues could be faced by any of us – such as street crimes, workplace harassment, mafias, the media fraternity, police shenanigans, domestic abuse, power outages, medical ethics, and power politics.
Thrilling roller coaster ride between 6 parallel stories, depicted by 6 signs, each of which is symbolic to the characters, all of whom are interconnected in a web of the plot, culminating in a feature that dominates the city of Karachi – chaos.
This novel will make you feel sad about the current state of affairs, and hopefully at the same time become an active part in bettering the city, the citizens, and the country. Despite being a fiction read, not only is the book relatable, but it gets as real as it could.
So whether you are looking for a thrilling mystery or a romcom, literary works from debut novelists or established writers, these books must be on your radar for your winter holidays. And one of the things about these is their longevity – they are pertinent to read at any time of the year. So if you are an introvert stuck at home, you can go on a literary escapade with these books. And if you are busy with those cookies and cakes, curl up on the couch after the guests have left later at night for stories that are page-turners.
