Many doses of fiction(IANS Books This Weekend)

Contemporary tales of fiction dipped in different genres is what IANS bookshelf is stacked with this weekend. Take uour pick.

1. Book: Shaping the World, Women Writers on Themselves; Edited By: Manju Kapur; Publisher: Hay House; Pages: 275; Price: Rs.399

On their journey to being acclaimed writers from closet ones, select women authors faced both odds and achievements. In this anthology those women writers, from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, share the "insecurities and triumphs" they underwent on their way to success.

Twenty-three authors, including Amruta Patil, Namita Devidayal, Ru Freeman, Tishani Doshi, Manju Kapur, Moni Mohsin and Bapsi Sidhwa share their inspirations and passions in this collection, giving readers a glimpse into the area of writing and their personal lives.

An interesting read, the compilation is an inspiration for those who are determined to pursue their dreams.

2. Book: How To Screw Up Like A Pro; Author: Abirami M. Krishnan; Publisher: Hachette; Pages: 229; Price: Rs.299

After being away from home for three long years, it becomes difficult for Akola to adjust herself to her "ever-bickering" parents, aged grandparents, and siblings.

Set in a south Indian household, the story revolves around Akola's doctor parents, siblings and grandparents - among whom the feeling of bonding is missing.

However, finding themselves amid old, buried secrets which are revealed, the family leaves behind its differences and comes together as a close knit one.

An inspiring story of a family entwined in the complexities of relationships, and finally overcoming differences and coming together as one.3. Book: S.T.A.L.K.E.D; Author: Girvani Dhyani; Publisher: Harper Collins; Pages: 181; Price: Rs.250

Stuck with a difficult boss, young lawyer Tara Bakshi finds it hard to impress him despite putting in great efforts.

However, things take an unexpected turn when she is asked to work on a top-secret assignment, Project Emerald, Tara discovers that someone had been tampering with the flies and her boss asks her to find the culprit. As time ticks by and Tara uncovers one piece evidence after another, someone starts stalking her every move. He shadows her on the street, in the parking lot, in her own bedroom; nowhere is she safe from his prying gaze. The only cue she has to his identity is a Zippo lighter with a serpent carved on it.

As events turn darker with back-to-back murders, Tara teeters on the verge of a collapse. What does the killer want from her? Is he hiding behind a familiar face? Even as her life turns into a whirling nightmare that pulls her into its web, Tara must discover the truth before he strikes again.

A riveting thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

4. Book: The Legend of Ramulamma; Author: Vithal Rajan; Publisher: Hachette; Pages: 192; Price; Rs. 350

A middle-aged Dalit midwife, Ramulamma goes about her day performing her services as a dai, looking for odd jobs in surrounding villages and occasionally in the city - and countering abuse from the local inspector.

But there's more to Ramulamma than her torn sari and the gold stud twinkling on her nose reveal. Through her wisdom and canny intuition, she finds her way around the most intractable problems with the deftest touch. She brings to book a powerful

landlord for the rape and murder of a young Dalit girl, saves a falsely accused thief from a miserable fate and demonstrates to abusive policemen in her signature, subtle style the real meaning of duty.

With delicate with and never-failing empathy, the 12 stories in this collection expose the hypocrisies of our sharply divided society and celebrate the self-empowerment of its oppressed.