10 Best Indian Novels for Beginners (Our 2026 Reading List)

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Why We Are Starting Our World Literature Journey in India

I’ll be the first to admit it: my bookshelf has been living in a bubble.

For years, I’ve considered myself a "keeper" of stories, yet I’ve mostly stuck to one corner of the library: Western authors from English-speaking countries.

Unless a book becomes a global bestseller, it is all too easy to miss the thousands of masterpieces that define cultures outside our own.

So, we are changing that. We decided it was time to unlock the rest of the "room of wonders." Each month, we will try focusing our lens on a specific country to explore its most celebrated literary creations.

Why Start With India? India is the perfect starting point not just because of its size, but because of its complicated, fascinating relationship with the English language.

British rule left a tremendous mark on Indian writing. Following the education system established in 1835, English became a dominant force.

When independence finally arrived in 1947, the country faced a massive debate: Should English be kept as an official language, or rejected as a colonial scar?

The language prevailed. But instead of just mimicking Western styles, post-independence authors took English and made it their own. They used it to tell distinctly Indian stories, creating a unique literary voice that blends local myths, history, and modern struggles.

Beyond the "Booker Prize" Hits While superstars like Salman Rushdie and Arundhati Roy have put Indian literature on the global map, there is so much more to discover. India recognizes 21 other official languages, and today, translated works are finally getting the spotlight they deserve.

Our Curated List I wanted to dive into this world, but I didn't know where to start. So, Stani and I did the research. We scoured forums, asked our local book club, and cross-referenced recommendations from trusted critics.

The result is this curated list of 10 Indian novels that are now at the top of our TBR (To Be Read) pile. We have already bought the first three—Midnight's Children, Untouchable, and The Story of a Goat—and we invite you to read along with us.

Midnight's Children: The Best Magical Realism Novel

Who picked it: Alex

• The Vibe: Magical Realism meets Historical Epic.

• Why it’s on our list:

  I’ll be honest: I was intimidated by this one. It won the 'Booker of Bookers' and is often called the definitive novel of modern India. But as a fantasy fan, the premise hooked me, 1,001 children born at the exact moment of India's independence, each with magical powers? That sounds like the historical fiction version of the X-Men.

  What I expect: I’m looking for that deep, immersive world-building I love in fantasy (see my list of The 10 Best Fantasy Book Series of All Time), but grounded in real history. Stani is worried it might be too dense, but I’m ready for the challenge.

• Genre: Magical Realism / Historical Fiction

• Length: ~600 pages

• Difficulty: High (Dense prose, non-linear timeline)

The White Tiger: A Dark & Cynical Thriller

Why it’s on the list:

If Midnight's Children is the classic, this is the modern disruptor. Written as a letter from a driver to the Chinese Premier, it offers a dark, humorous, and cynical look at India's class struggle. I added this to my list because I loved the Netflix adaptation and want to see how the book dives deeper into the protagonist's voice.

• Genre: Epistolary Novel / Dark Thriller

• Length: ~300 pages

• Difficulty: Medium (Fast-paced and cynical)

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line: A Mystery Through a Child’s Eyes

Why it’s on the list:

This is a recent release that caught our eye. It’s a mystery thriller about a nine-year-old boy trying to solve the disappearance of a classmate in a slum. It sounds like Stranger Things meets Slumdog Millionaire, and we are eager to see how it handles such a dark topic through a child’s eyes.

• Genre: Mystery / Contemporary Thriller

• Length: ~350 pages

• Difficulty: Medium (Voice of a child narrator)

The Story of a Goat: A Modern Political Satire

Who picked it: A Joint Choice

• The Vibe: Contemporary Satire, Fable-like.

• Why it’s on our list:

  We wanted something modern to balance out the classics. This book kept popping up in our research as a unique political satire told from the perspective of... a goat.

  The Draw: It sounds deceptively simple, almost like a fable, but critics say it packs a massive punch regarding social hierarchy and farming life. Plus, it’s translated from Tamil, and we really wanted to explore Indian literature beyond just the English-language authors like Rushdie.

  Much like Mark Twain used humor to critique society, Perumal Murugan uses the life of a goat to expose the absurdities of class and caste.

• Genre: Political Satire / Fable

• Length: ~180 pages

• Difficulty: Easy (Deceptively simple storytelling)

A Fine Balance: The Most Heartbreaking Indian Epic

Why it’s on the list:

We are saving this one for last because everyone tells us it will break our hearts. It’s a massive saga set during 'The Emergency' in 1975. It’s widely considered a masterpiece of character writing, but reviews warn that it is relentlessly sad. We are building up the emotional fortitude to tackle it later this year!

• Genre: Historical Epic / Tragedy

• Length: ~600+ pages

• Difficulty: High (A massive, emotionally draining masterpiece)

Malgudi Days: Best Short Stories for Beginners

Why it’s on the list:

Sometimes you don't want a 600-page novel. This is a collection of short stories set in the fictional town of Malgudi. It was recommended to us as the perfect 'comfort read': simple, charming stories that capture the essence of daily life in South India without being overly heavy.

• Genre: Short Story Collection

• Length: ~250 pages

• Difficulty: Easy (Perfect for casual reading)
  

The God of Small Things: The Best Indian Family Drama

Why it’s on the list:

You can’t talk about Indian literature without this book. It won the Booker Prize in 1997 and is famous for its lyrical, almost poetic prose. We chose this for the family drama aspect—it explores the tragic decline of a family in Kerala. Stani is particularly interested in this one because the setting (the backwaters of Kerala) is supposed to be a character in itself.

The complex family dynamics make this a perfect choice for discussions, similar to the debates we had over Pride and Prejudice.

• Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Drama

• Length: ~340 pages

• Difficulty: Medium/High (Beautiful but complex prose)

Untouchable: A Classic of Social Protest

Who picked it: Stani

• The Vibe: Social Realism, Raw, Emotional.

• Why it’s on our list:

  While Alex went for the massive epic, I wanted something more grounded and human. Untouchable was recommended to us as a classic of social protest, covering a single day in the life of a caste-sweeper in 1930s India.

  Why we bought it: It’s short (under 200 pages), which makes it a perfect entry point before tackling the bigger books on this list. I’m preparing myself for a heavy, emotional read, as reviews warn that it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the caste system.

• Genre: Social Realism / Classic

• Length: ~160 pages

• Difficulty: Medium (Short, but emotionally heavy)

Train to Pakistan: Essential Historical Fiction (Partition)

Why it’s on the list:

This is a historical essential. It deals with the Partition of India in 1947, a massive event that defined the region's modern history. Unlike the magical realism of Rushdie, this is known for being stark, realistic, and heartbreaking. It’s on our list for when we want to understand the history behind the borders.

• Genre: Historical Fiction

• Length: ~190 pages

• Difficulty: Medium (Stark, realistic, and intense)

The Palace of Illusions: A Mythology Retelling (Mahabharata)

Why it’s on the list:

As a fantasy fan, I’m a sucker for a good mythology retelling. This is a reimagining of the Indian epic The Mahabharata, but told from the perspective of Draupadi (the wife of the five Pandava brothers). It’s basically the Indian equivalent of Circe or The Song of Achilles.

• Genre: Mythological Retelling (The Mahabharata)

• Length: ~360 pages

• Difficulty: Medium ( Accessible fantasy style)

What do you think of our list for the 10 best Indian Novels for Beginners in 2026? Did we miss one of your favourite titles?

Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more content from His and Hers Book Club!

Frequently Asked Questions about Indian Literature

Who is the most famous Indian writer in English?Salman Rushdie is arguably the most globally recognized name, largely due to Midnight's Children winning the "Booker of Bookers." However, Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things) and R.K. Narayan are equally pivotal figures in establishing Indian English literature.

Which Indian book is best for beginners? If you want a gentle introduction, start with Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan—the short stories are accessible and charming. If you want something modern and gritty, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is a fast-paced thriller that is easy to read but hard to forget.

What is the longest Indian novel? While not on this specific starter list, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is famous for being one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume (over 1,300 pages). It is a masterpiece, but we recommend starting with shorter works like Untouchable or The Guide first!

Are there Indian fantasy books? Yes! India has a rich tradition of mythology that feeds into modern fantasy. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a fantastic entry point—it retells the epic Mahabharata from a female perspective, similar to Circe in Greek mythology.