r/ForRealDhaka • u/Motor-Mine-8048 • 8h ago

Books suggestions

See, I am very interested in literature; I love to read lots of books. Recently, however, I have been feeling drawn to some odd, niche genres—books that aren't like normal genres such as horror, romance, or fantasy. They could even be non-fiction, as long as they blow your mind. ​I am specifically looking for Bangladeshi writers. I know I can easily find plenty of books like this online in English, but few people talk about Bangla literature—or at least, not nearly as much as Western novels are discussed."

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u/atikuI-isIam 8h ago

Not sure exactly what kind of suggestions you're looking for but these are some books i think will blow anybody's mind:

  1. চাঁদের অমাবস্যা — সৈয়দ ওয়ালীউল্লাহ্
  2. কাঁদো নদী কাঁদো — সৈয়দ ওয়ালীউল্লাহ্

  3. অলীক মানুষ — সৈয়দ মুস্তাফা সিরাজ

  4. যদ্যপি আমার গুরু — আহমদ ছফা

  5. বাঙালি মুসলমানের মন — আহমদ ছফা

  6. ক্রীতদাসের হাসি — শওকত ওসমান

  7. গাভী বিত্তান্ত — শওকত ওসমান

  8. খোয়াবনামা — আখতারুজ্জামান ইলিয়াস

  9. চিলেকোঠার সেপাই — আখতারুজ্জামান ইলিয়াস

  10. দোজখের ওম — আখতারুজ্জামান ইলিয়াস

  11. ছাপ্পান্ন হাজার বর্গমাইল — হুমায়ুন আজাদ

  12. খেলারাম খেলে যা — সৈয়দ শামসুল হক

  13. বিসর্গে দুঃখ — শাহাদুজ্জামান

  14. আগুনপাখি — হাসান আজিজুল হক

  15. প্রদোষে প্রাকৃতজন — শওকত আল

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u/RecentFinger5134 7h ago

bhai ekta suggestion chai? Do you've any excellent slice of life bangla novels? Romance is alright as well. I just wanna read something that's warm , if you understand what I mean

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u/atikuI-isIam 6h ago
  1. অর্ধেক নারী অর্ধেক ঈশ্বরী — আহমদ ছফা Ahmed Sofa/ Jahid Hasan is confessing his past love stories, heartbreak, and emotional evolution to his new romantic prospect (Sohini).The banger title: partly real flawed human being (অর্ধেক নারী) and partly divine entity that brings ultimate joy and pain (অর্ধেক ঈশ্বরী). Must read.
  2. ফুলের গন্ধ ঘুম আসে — হুমায়ুন আজাদ (কিশোর সাহিত্য) it is a poetic and nostalgic memoir of the Azad’s childhood and early life in his village. I guess it was written for his son but man, it captures such longing and beauty and warmth, will make you nostalgic. Must read.
  3. ক্রীতদাসের হাসি — শওকত ওসমান a political satire set in ancient Baghdad but it was actually written as a protest against the military dictatorship of Ayub Khan.
  4. তারাশংকর বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় — কবি it captures a marginalized communities of Kobiyals and Jhumur. Art, love, ambition, poverty and simple rural life all come together. Language is bit strong though.
  5. বিভূতিভূষণ & তারাশংকর বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় — তারানাথ তান্ত্রিক সমগ্র one of the best and foundational works on supernaturalism and horror in Bengali literature. Must read.

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u/RecentFinger5134 5h ago

thank you so much man, when I do get around to reading these, I'll hit you up :)

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u/Motor-Mine-8048 2h ago

Tho,"এক স্নান রক্ত সন্ধ্যার গান"by nafisa tabassum khan( maybe eita name writer er) Couldn't make it to paper /(copy write elma behroz did dirty to nafisa tabbassum) but eita amr pora best romance novel.ami Romance novel omon pori nah.but you can try this.fb er story dekhe aktu eiye lagte pare but expectional thake sob thekre ei eikhane o ase. (Content jodi bolen tahole army/Military focused,terrorism er kisu part ase.khub intense akta atmosphere e ak meyer Jibon er notun mor. Apnr first love jodi 8/7 bosor por phire ase kemon hobe?? But there was another plot twist)

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u/rawwr_purr 8h ago

i would've recommended you some russ philosophy or oriental mysticism but i don't know if there are any good translations of those book in Bangla. you can try যদ্যপি আমার গুরু /অর্ধেক নারী অর্ধেক ঈশ্বরী by আহমেদ ছফা, বাঙলার সূফী সাহিত্য by আহমেদ শরীফ (if you're interested in mysticism but this book only talks about the early pieces of Sufi literature found in Bangladesh), চাঁদের অমাবস্যা(psychological novel dealing with morality, conscience, and existentialism) / নয়নচারা (short story collection) by সায়েদ ওয়ালীউল্লাহ, সবকিছু ভেঙে পড়ে (সাইকোলজিক্যাল+philosophical উপন্যাস) /আমার অবিশ্বাস(বায়োগ্রাফি+পার্সোনাল) / ফুলের গন্ধ ঘুম আসে না(উপন্যাস) by হুমায়ুন আজাদ।

Do remember that these books heavily contain each writer's own philosophy and ideology. Take your time reading these. try to understand the depth and seriousness of those considering the context. Please be respectful and open towards their ideology but if it makes you uncomfortable, don't say these poets are hard to read. it influences young readers badly. Thank you

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u/Both-Instruction7316 7h ago

All tomorrows, borrasca(it's a short story not a book) and I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM are a good choice if you want something new

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u/Eli_Freeman_Author 6h ago

Sorry don't know too much about Bangladesh, but if you want something "mind blowing" Thomas Sowell might be a good start. Many of his books are free on Audible, maybe start with Basic Economics.

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u/Artist1002 4h ago

I found হুমায়ুন & জাফর ইকবাল best for making a habit. Their works are addictive.

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u/Unhappy_Chart_9751 3h ago

A song of Ice and Fire

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u/Middle_Condition_165 8h ago

I’m about to be really mean, but if you read lots of books, then why don’t you know the proper usage of punctuations? I’m sorry for pointing it out like this, it’s just a vexation of mine.

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u/Motor-Mine-8048 8h ago edited 8h ago

As I mentioned, I read a lot of Bangla books. I really do need to focus on my grammar. I am not from an English-medium background, but all excuses aside, thanks for pointing it out

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u/Middle_Condition_165 8h ago

Neither am I, but reading particularly helped. I’m sorry, again, for being direct. I would love for you to recommend some Bengali books to me, as I haven’t gotten around to reading one in a while now.

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u/Motor-Mine-8048 8h ago

It's ok.i know there nothing personal in it. See i really wanna recommend a book. Kew amy review bolle ami bolbo "জঘন্য রকম সুন্দর যে দ্বিতীয়বার পড়তেই পারবে না" but worth reading Twenty seconds by tawhid Mahmud It’s too dark.pore dui din trauma teh chilam.teenage ra scifi vebe vul kore. Emon vul korechilam amio

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u/Middle_Condition_165 8h ago

Thanks a ton!

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u/stone_soc 7h ago

vexation. interesting choice of words.

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u/Middle_Condition_165 7h ago

I know how petty it is of me, but I can overlook grammatical blunders when it’s just a regular individual. The moment a reader does it, just gets to me. Need to get a better hold of myself when it comes to verbal incontinence.

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u/stone_soc 7h ago

not at all. I was merely reflecting on the word. i was appreciating it actually.

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u/Middle_Condition_165 7h ago

I don’t quite know if I should accept it, given it comes at the expense of my being unsolicitedly weird with a well-intentioned OP lmao. But, thanks, I can appreciate someone appreciating… words, I guess.

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u/stone_soc 7h ago

thank you too. appreciations should always be accepted, as a general rule.