books

The growing chasm of BookTok

Are the glory days of BookTok coming to an end?

Are we hardwired for unhappiness?

The sad reality about humans is that we are not wired for happiness. Natural selection prioritises survival and reproduction, which does not necessarily involve being happier. People are now less happy than they ever have been. This is not just an abstract philosophical issue; it is becoming a national concern. 

WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY / A tribute to the written word

'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies'

We didn’t mean to stop reading

There was a time, maybe not that long ago, when the only thing you needed for a perfect evening was a book

ESSAY / ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’: Fan service and repetitive themes weigh down ‘Hunger Games’ prequel

Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series has captivated pop culture with its bold take on tyranny, sacrifice, and resistance, spanning Katniss Everdeen’s blazing defiance in The Hunger Games (2008) to her final stand in Mockingjay (2010) against Coriolanus Snow’s cold cruelty.

EVENT REPORT / ‘Bengal Photography’s Reality Quest’: A discourse with Naeem Mohaiemen

Throughout the session, Mohaiemen’s passionate, spontaneous, and engaging demeanour captivated the audience, fostering a deeper understanding of storytelling through images.

The enduring presence of cats in Japanese literature

What’s with all the cats in Japanese literature?

#Perspective / Why I will always love the month of Ramadan

Ramadan holds a special place in the heart, rooted in childhood memories of fasting, reading, and spending time with family. The sacred month provides a chance for reflection, reconnecting with loved ones, and appreciating life's simple, meaningful moments.

#Perspective / Humayun Ahmed: Still captivating Bangladesh, one book at a time

Humayun Ahmed’s legacy remains strong, captivating generations with relatable storytelling. His novels transcend time, making literature accessible to all. Despite criticism, his emotional depth and simplicity keep readers engaged, proving his enduring influence in Bengali literary culture.

June 4, 2023
June 4, 2023

UPL Summer Book Fair 2023 underway

Some of UPL’s best selling titles include 'Political Parties in India' (2022) by Abdul Razzaq and a Bangla translation of Yuval Noah Harari’s 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' (2014).

June 1, 2023
June 1, 2023

The dust storm

For iftar during that month we were served milk with rosewater which I found quite delicious, and gulab jamun served as dessert. When some girls didn’t want or didn’t finish their portions they would give it to me and I would accept happily.

May 27, 2023
May 27, 2023

Z Library is back for public use

Late last year, on November 4, the domain names of Z-Library were seized by the US Department of Justice after Booktokers began sharing the link publicly.

May 26, 2023
May 26, 2023

Naeem Mohaiemen discusses ‘Midnight’s Third Child’ at ULAB and Bengal Institute

Naeem Mohaiemen called the book and its selections, which comprise fairly short essays and editorials on contemporary matters, “an argument for somehow recording all that seems ephemeral, so we can then look back and trace what was happening.”

May 22, 2023
May 22, 2023

“It’s nice to be back—as opposed to not being back, which was also a possibility”: Salman Rushdie

Rushdie’s surprise appearance was the highlight of an eventful month for PEN, the literary and free expression organisation that has been in the middle—by choice and otherwise—of various conflicts.

May 21, 2023
May 21, 2023

Ruskin Bond, 89, is still writing

The good old man of letters is much loved by his young and old readers. They sometimes post letters to him. He replies to some. In the end, he wants his readers to look at the brighter side of life.

May 19, 2023
May 19, 2023

Grief is something pure and stark in Han Kang’s ‘The White Book’

Han Kang explores the nature of her existence and it is all portrayed through objects and ideas unified by a single color: white. 

May 18, 2023
May 18, 2023

Where to start reading Samaresh Majumdar

Dipabali’s character in Satkahon said aloud what was on every girl’s mind.

May 17, 2023
May 17, 2023

5 books exploring the found-family trope in fiction

A cast of strangers come together as a family based on their common experiences, situations, and relationships rather than their kinship or blood relations.

May 17, 2023
May 17, 2023

The Setting Sun: Dazai’s depiction of the dusk after the end of war

This novel would become eponymous for the death of a nation and its rebirth.