As the leaves change color and the temperature drops, nothing beats cozying up inside with a good book on a chilly fall day. Not sure which books should be on your reading list, Sahelis?  From bestsellers now available in paperback to brand new releases from our favorite authors, check out our picks of books not to be missed this season!

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

From one of the most acclaimed Turkish novelists of our time, this 2002 bestseller is set to be re-released on November 2 with a new introduction from the author.  Set in 16^th-century Istanbul Pamuk beautifully tells a story that is part-murder-mystery, part-love-story.  Pamuk guides the reader through the lavish world of 16^th-century Istanbul with lush prose and vivid descriptions.  

Fireflies in the Mist by Qurratulain Hyder

Hailed as “one of the most important Indian voices of the 20^th century” by Amitav Ghosh, Qurratulain Hyder brings to life the tumult and chaos of contemporary Bengal in this vastly rich novel.  She explores the violence and chaos that accompanied the transformation of Dhaka from a British-ruled Indian city to capital to an independent Bangladesh, and does so with an understated elegance and clarity.

Difficulty of Being Good by Gurcharan Das

Combining the depth of personal reflection with lessons from the epic of the Mahabharat, Gurcharan Das explores the elusive notion of dharma, what he simply terms as doing the right thing.  Das explores the variety of perspectives in the Mahabharata and compares the successes and failures of its many characters to highly visible players in the world of economics, business, and politics. Connecting the timeless epic to the complexities of contemporary society, Das depicts a search for the meaning of dharma that is simultaneously intellectual and emotional.

The Immortals by Amit Chaudhri

Another bestseller makes its way to paperback with Amit Chaudhri’s The Immortals.  The story of a highly regarded voice teacher and his sixteen-year-old student in 1980s Bombay is the center of Chaudhri’s portrait of the chaotic passion that characterizes the infamous Indian city.  With wit and winks to the reader, Chaudhri manages to bring to life the conflict of old confronting the new in this erudite and luminous story.

Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

Rushdie follows up the successful fantasy novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories with the story of Haroun’s younger brother, Luka. Dedicated to his son, the target audience for the novel may be younger than Rushdie’s usual readers, but the imagination behind this story is worth reading at any age.  Older readers will relish the entertaining wordplay as well as the more subtle in-jokes and wry humor.

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