For beginners, 'The Guide' by R.K. Narayan is a great start. It's a simple yet profound story set in a small South Indian town. The characters are relatable, and Narayan's writing style is easy to follow, which makes it accessible for those new to Indian literature.
One great Indian author of fiction is Arundhati Roy. Her book 'The God of Small Things' is a masterpiece. It beautifully weaves together a story of love, caste, and family in Kerala. The prose is lyrical and the characters are vividly drawn.
Well, 'Interpreter of Maladies' by Jhumpa Lahiri is a must - read among Indian author novels. Her short stories in this collection are poignant and full of human emotions. 'White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga is also very good. It offers a different perspective on the class divide in India. And if you're into historical fiction, 'The Palace of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, which retells the Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view, is a great choice.
Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children' is a must - mention. It's a magical realist take on India's independence and the generation born at that time. It's filled with political and cultural references.
One of the well - known ones is 'A Suitable Boy' by Vikram Seth. It weaves a complex web of relationships and love stories in post - independence India. Another is 'The Palace of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni which retells the story of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective, with elements of love and longing.
One of the best Indian novels is 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy. It beautifully portrays the complex relationships within a family in Kerala. Another great one is 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie. It weaves a magical story around the children born at the stroke of India's independence. 'A Suitable Boy' by Vikram Seth is also a classic, which gives a detailed look into post - independence India's society through the story of finding a suitable boy for a girl in a family.
You might also enjoy 'A Suitable Boy' by Vikram Seth. It's a long and immersive read that gives a detailed picture of post - independence India. The story focuses on the search for a suitable boy for a young woman, but in the process, it showcases the diverse cultures, traditions, and values of the country.
The novel 'The Association of Small Bombs' by Karan Mahajan is also a notable one from 2015. It delves deep into the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Delhi and how it affects the lives of different characters. It gives a profound look at the human psyche in the face of such tragedies. There are complex characters and the writing is both poignant and thought - provoking.
There are many excellent books for Indian stories. 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie is a famous one. It tells the story of India's transition to independence through the lives of those born at midnight on the day of independence. 'Train to Pakistan' by Khushwant Singh gives a heart - rending account of the partition of India. And don't forget 'The Jungle Book' by Rudyard Kipling, which, although written by a British author, is set in India and contains many Indian - inspired stories.
I would recommend 'The Namesake' by Jhumpa Lahiri. It's a story about an Indian - American family, but it has a lot of flashbacks to India. It gives a great perspective on the immigrant experience and also showcases different parts of India through the characters' memories. You can feel the pull of the homeland and the differences between the two cultures.