Scenes of a Reclusive Writer and Reader of Mumbai by Fiza Pathan

If the bookshelf of a bibliophile could come to life, perhaps it would tell a story like the one Fiza Pathan has woven throughout Scenes of a Reclusive Writer and Reader of Mumbai. These essays are brimming with nostalgia and visceral honesty, rife with intensely personal detail, but also stitched together with universal wisdom. The language feels organic, but also carefully chosen and polished, a delicate balancing act that makes the writing feel effortless. Whether the recollections are silly or tragic, forgettable or seminal, the world as Pathan sees it is refreshingly accessible and richly layered.