Bookmarked

In our monthly column for aspiring writers, professionals from the world of publishing talk about a book that inspired them, and why it left such a lasting impression. From narrative structure to unforgettable characters, discover what makes these titles stand out to the experts.

Copy of Sayari Debnath

Bookmarked with Sayari Debnath: I Named My Sister Silence by Manoj Rupda 

Writer, translator and journalist Sayari Debnath writes about a Hindi novel that chronicles the harrowing human cost of brutalising land.

Copy of Sohini Basak

Bookmarked with Sohini Basak: Our Non-Veg Cow and Other Stories by Mahasweta Devi 

Author, translator and editor Sohini Basak writes about a collection of Bengali stories that capture the whimsies of childhood.

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Bookmarked with Srinath Perur: Carvalho by K.P. Purnachandra Tejaswi 

Author and award-winning translator Srinath Perur writes about a Kannada book that shows meaningful ways of immersing ourselves in the natural world. 

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Bookmarked with Mallika Ravikumar: How I Became a Tree by Sumana Roy 

Author Mallika Ravikumar writes about a lyrical and philosophical book that celebrates oneness with trees. 

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Bookmarked with Neha Sinha ‑Intertidal by Yuvan Aves 

Conservation biologist and author Neha Sinha writes about a book that reminds us that we are never alone if we take the trouble to look at nature around us.

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Bookmarked with Kavitha Iyer — Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey 

Journalist and award-winning author Kavitha Iyer recommends a book that reminds us to stand still long enough for the landscape to speak.

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Bookmarked with Somak Ghoshal: Chander Pahar (Moon Mountain) by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay 

Writer, critic and reporter Somak Ghoshal recommends a book that gave him his first taste of life in the wild. 

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Bookmarked with Roman Gautam: Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide by Charles Foster 

Editor of Himal Southasian Roman Gautam writes about a book that makes him wonder what it is like to be an animal

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Bookmarked with Theyiesinuo Keditsu: Last Child in the Woods — Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv 

Author and educator Theyiesinuo Keditsu writes about her favourite book, a deep and lyrical meditation on nature and childhood. 

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Bookmarked with Karan Mahajan: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

Widely acclaimed Indian-American novelist, essayist and critic Karan Mahajan writes about his favourite book that lavishes enormous attention on small, living things. 

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Bookmarked with Rupert Barrington: Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson 

A long-time producer at the BBC’s Natural History Unit, Rupert Barrington writes about his favourite book that sums up the essence of the best nature writing. 

Copy of Nandini Nayar

Bookmarked with Nandini Nayar: Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones 

Children’s author Nandini Nayar writes about her favourite book which shows how stories on stewardship of the natural world can be exuberantly silly and subtly magical.  

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Bookmarked with Samanth Subramanian: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome 

Writer and Journalist Samanth Subramanian writes about a series of children’s adventure novels set in England’s Lake District that opened his eyes to the wonder and pleasure of the great outdoors.

Copy of ROOPA PAI

Bookmarked with Roopa Pai: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell 

Bestselling children’s author Roopa Pai talks about her favourite nature book and why it’s a bushel of learning – and laughs!

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Bookmarked with Harini Nagendra: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb 

Harini Nagendra, Director of the School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University, kicks off a new column about favourite books that celebrate the natural world. 

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Be The Change You Wish To Read 

Book curator and co-founder of Funky Rainbow Vidya Mani talks about why booksellers should be champions of green literature that the world needs – and should definitely read!

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Chronicles of a Cli-Fi Writer 

Award-winning author and editor Bijal Vachharajani reflects on her writing journey and describes how it veered towards putting the climate crisis up front and centre in Indian children’s literature.

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Getting the Green Light 

Vatsala Kaul Banerjee, publisher of children’s and young adult books at Hachette India, outlines key considerations for writers pitching their nature writing for publication

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Green in Glorious Technicolour 

Award-winning illustrator Rajiv Eipe shows and tells us why illustrated books are the perfect way to explore nature, and how they influence what young readers think, feel and do about the environment

Walking the Talk 

Sujatha Padmanabhan at the Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group narrates her experience of publishing children’s literature on nature, environment and community conservation.

Factually Speaking 

Author and publisher Tanya Majumdar gets into the nitty-gritties of creating books of environmental non-fiction for young readers. 

Birds, Beasties and Bachhas 

Prolific children’s writer Ranjit Lal tells us why creatures great and small (rather than people) inspire him and how he uses them as characters in his fiction.

The Art of Writing a Picture Book 

Internationally acclaimed children’s author Uma Krishnaswami writes lyrically about how art and words meld together to form a heartful picture book that celebrates the natural world.

A Sense of Place 

Award-winning author Stephen Alter writes about how evoking a sense of place in nature writing can encourage young readers to explore wild spaces with awe and wonder.

Is My Book Idea Age-Appropriate? 

Editor and Publishing Consultant Smit Zaveri conducts a convoluted enquiry into turning book ideas inspired by nature into age-appropriate children’s books.

What We Write About When We Write About Nature 

Author Meghaa Gupta tells us how writers of green literature for children are inspired, nurtured and nourished by the vastness and diversity of nature.

Write the Drop 

Author and conservationist Zai Whitaker writes about nature writing for children, what makes it a worthwhile pursuit, and why every drop of it counts!