New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Publishing house Westland Books on Sunday announced the launch of writer and publisher Minakshi Thakur’s latest novel, “Grief Burns Like Fever”, a work of fiction set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi.
To be released on August 6 under Westland’s ‘Tranquebar’ imprint, the novel explores themes of love, loss and resilience during the pandemic years through the lives of a diverse group of characters, including an ambulance driver, a woman reassessing her marriage and career, and an orphaned boy working in a doll factory.
Set during the second lockdown, the novel examines how lives are shaped and transformed by grief, uncertainty and unexpected acts of compassion, with intersecting narratives reflecting
the emotional and social impact of the pandemic.
“Writing this book during the second wave of Covid-19 became a way for me to cope with the isolation of the lockdown as well as the news of personal losses coming in every day.
“Several events described in the novel are based on true incidents. It was a cruel time that changed us all irrevocably. But it was also punctuated by small acts of kindness, which turn this into a tender story about love, hope and resilience,” said the author in a statement.
Thakur writes poetry and prose in both English and Hindi. Her previous works include three poetry collections and the novel “Lovers Like You and I”, which was shortlisted for the ‘Tibor Jones South Asia Prize’.
Her Hindi poetry collection “Neend ka Akhiri Pul” was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Young Writer’s Prize in 2010.
“Grief Burns Like Fever”, priced at Rs 499, is currently available for pre-order online. PTI MG ATR ATR
