BEST WEEKEND BINGE-READS

Five novellas to feast on from brunch to supper

GREY AREA The Immoralist by André Gide

This novella is a binge-friendly insomniac’s dream come true. Gide’s protagonist Michel is nursed back to health by his wife Marceline after an attack of tuberculosis, following which he decides to live a life without a thought for morality. As he soaks himself in an existence where the senses reign supreme, it becomes evident that such a life must be lived at a lethal cost.

LOVE LESSONS Gigi and The Cat by Colette

Part of literary and popular culture legend, this novella tells the story of a Parisian girl being groomed as a courtesan. A wealthy and bored man recruited to initiate her, falls for her. Does love conquer all? This one’s for languorous afternoons with a pot of tea by your side.

LOVE ONLY Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

A sublime, heartbreaking read, this 1912 masterpiece is as much about captivity as liberation. Gustav von Aschenbach, a famous writer, travels to Venice looking for inspiration, and finds it in a beautiful Polish youth. As much a tragedy as a celebration of liberation, this is an important 20th century literary work.

MIND IT Harbart by Nabarun Bhattacharya

The story belongs to Harbart (Sarkar), Bengali rendition of the English Herbert, an intellectual occultist, his making and ‘un-making’, because, and there is no need for a spoiler alert, the novella begins with Harbart committing suicide.

GOING GOTH Bhairavi by Shivani

This is Shivani’s Northanger Abbey, with Gothic imagery and atmospherics, dexterously translated by Priyanka Sarkar and introduced by Shivani’s daughter, renowned writer, Mrinal Pande.