The Bookshelf

Books I'm reading. Books I keep returning to.

A slow, honest list. I read for the pleasure of it — sometimes one chapter a night, sometimes two hundred pages on a Sunday. Below: what is on the bedside table, and the books I have already lived inside this year.

Currently reading

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

by Yuval Noah Harari · Non-fiction · currently reading

A sweeping, provocative narrative that traces the journey of Homo sapiens from small bands of foragers on the African savannah to the species that now shapes the fate of the planet. Harari weaves biology, history, and economics into one big, opinionated story — the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific revolutions — and keeps asking the uncomfortable question: are we happier for all of it?

Past reads

The shelf, with notes.

Short summaries and the honest aftertaste. Not reviews — more like postcards I would write to a friend who asked.

My Autobiography

by Charles Chaplin

Chaplin's own account of his extraordinary life — from a bleak Victorian childhood in the workhouses of London, through the vaudeville circuit, to becoming the most recognised face on earth in the silent-film era. He writes candidly about his rise to global stardom, his creative battles, the friendships and loves that shaped him, and the political storms that eventually drove him from America.

My thoughts

The book invites readers to reflect on how adversity can shape greatness and how creativity often emerges from hardship. It also raises deeper questions about fame, loneliness, identity, and the price one pays for artistic brilliance.

গুরুদেব (Gurudev)

by রানী চন্দ (Rani Chanda)

A deeply intimate portrayal of Rabindranath Tagore through the eyes of someone who observed him closely in his later years. The book captures his simplicity, humanity, and the quiet depth behind the revered figure of 'Gurudev'.

My thoughts

It encourages readers to look beyond the legend and see the person — gentle, reflective, and profoundly humane. The narrative evokes a sense of closeness with Tagore, prompting reflection on creativity, humility, and the essence of a life devoted to art and thought.

মংপুতে রবীন্দ্রনাথ (Mongpu-te Rabindranath)

by মৈত্রেয়ী দেবী (Maitreyi Devi)

A tender memoir of Rabindranath Tagore's stays in Mongpu, capturing his daily life, conversations, and quiet creative moments. Through personal recollections, Maitreyi Devi reveals a warm, intimate side of the poet far removed from his public image.

My thoughts

The book evokes a deep sense of closeness to Tagore, highlighting his simplicity, humour, and emotional depth. It invites readers to reflect on the beauty of human connection, the serenity of nature, and how creativity often blossoms in moments of stillness and companionship.