Ten titles to watch out for in 2011

From unknown cauldrons of Mumbai's underworld to the dish that continues to catch Britain's fancy, and the life of the woman who sold herbal beauty to the West, readers will have to engage in serious space-saving measures on their bookshelves, come 2011, says Fiona Fernandez

1.u00a0 Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka
About: The plot centres on the ailing, retired sportswriter WG Karunasena who spends his final months drinking arrack, upsets his wife, ignores his son and tracks down Pradeep S Mathew, an elusive spin bowler whom he considers 'the greatest cricketer to walk the earth'. This quest to discover this unsung genius, leads him to find a coach with six fingers, a secret bunker below a famous stadium, an LTTE warlord, and startling truths about Sri Lanka, cricket and himself.
Publisher: Random House India
Release: February

2.u00a0 Leela's Book by Alice Albinia
About:u00a0 Lalita, aloof, self-contained, and haunted, will return to Delhi from New York after 20 years. She knows her return will unlock many secrets. Meanwhile, Sanskrit scholar Vyasa, her dead sister's husband, is readying for his son Ash's marriage to the daughter of his nemesis, Hindu fundamentalist Shiva Prasad. Inventing the drama is Ganesh, the elephantine scribe of the Mahabharata. But when a shocking rape occurs, the great god must ask himself if this story is his making, or if he has lost control of the plot.
Publisher: Random House India
Release: May

3.u00a0 Geek Nation by Angela Saini
About: UK-born Angela Saini presents a fascinating story of how India transforms itself into a global science superpower. Angela's book is about a nation of geeks, swots and nerds. Almost one in five of all medical and dental staff in the UK is of Indian origin, and one in six employed scientists with science or engineering doctorates in the US is Asian. By the turn of the millennium, there were claims that Indians run 750 of its tech companies. Through witty, first-hand reportage, it explains how a spiritual nation squares its soul with hard rationality.u00a0
Publisher: Hachette India
Release: April

4.u00a0 Flame: My Mother, Shahnaz Husain by Nelofar Currimbhoy
About: Written by world-famous beautician Shahnaz Husain's daughter, the book is an inspirational portrayal that journeys through exciting business ideas that have made her mother famous.
Publisher: Hachette Indiau00a0
Release:u00a0 January

5.u00a0 Curry, The Story of Britain's Favourite Dish by Sharabani Basu
About: In 1810, an enterprising Indian called Sake Deen Mahomed opened the
Hindostanee Coffee House in London, laying the foundation of a unique British institutionu00a0-- the curry house. The curry industry has grown over the years. Chicken Tikka Masala has been officially recognised as a British dish. Its popularity has soared and its future looks bright. This book pays tribute to those who put curry on the British map and were responsible for elevating it to a universal favourite.
Publisher: Rupa & Cou00a0
Release: January

6.u00a0 Tinderbox by MJ Akbar
About: In this book, MJ Akbar embarks on a historical whodunnit to trace the journey of an idea, and the events, people, circumstances and mindset that divided India. The investigation spans a thousand years, and has an extraordinary castu00a0-- visionaries, statesmen, plunderers, and an unusual collection of theologians.
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Release: January

7.u00a0 Dongri to Dubai: A history of the Mumbai underworld by Hussain Zaidi
About: Newspaper editor Hussain Zaidi tracks the fascinating history of the underworld in Mumbai from the 1940s till today. The author profiles all the dons whou00a0 have held Mumbai to ransomu00a0-- from Karim Lala to Dawood Ibrahim.
Publisher: Roli
Release:u00a0 September

8.u00a0 The Storyteller: Tales From The Arabian Nights by Anushka Ravishankar
About: Schariar, King of Persia, would marry a woman every night only to chop off her head every morning.
He sentenced the beautiful and clever Scheherazade to the same fate. Determined to save her and other women, she began telling him stories one night, of magic lamps and genies, of fishermen and caliphs. These tales proved so interesting that one night turned into 1,001. But what happens when Scheherazade runs out of yarns to spin? This new collection will keep you hooked to the magical storyteller Scheherazade's tales.
Publisher: Penguin India
Release: January

9.u00a0 Masala Art by Chef Hemant Oberoi
About: Masala Art is the first book by India's top chef, Hemant Oberoi. He is the corporate chef and grand executive chef of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers. Chef Oberoi has catered to all major state banquets for visiting presidents including Bill Clinton and General Musharraf. He has also opened successful restaurants in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Publisher: Roli
Release: February

10.u00a0 Going Places by KR Guruprasad
About:u00a0 This book looks at how 11 men from the margins have changed the way cricket is played and perceived beyond the metros. Among them, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina and S Sreesanth, have made the leap from India's interiors, refusing to let place names like Azamgarh, Davangere, Ikhar, Kakur, Naichanpur or Ranchi deter them from realising their ambitions. Supportive families, determined coaches, raw talent and hard work did the trick for them. Without this mix, Indian cricket would have lost these gifted players to farming, a job in Africa or driving a truck in Canada.
Publisher: Penguin India
Release:u00a0 January

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels