From Murakami to Mahabharata: Prajakta Koli's must-read list

Indian Express

08-07-2025

(Written by Krishika Dinesh Rathod)
Prajakta Koli, better known as MostlySane, a content creator, actor, and internet personality, is a voracious reader. She often shares book recommendations ranging from coming-of-age classics to introspective memoirs and feminist retellings of Indian mythology.
Whether you are a long-time fan or simply looking to explore diverse narratives, her recommendations promise stories that are emotional, humorous, thought-provoking, and deeply relatable.
If you feel stuck in a reading slump or want to expand your bookshelf with books that bring both depth and entertainment, her choices are a great place to begin. Here are seven books Prajakta has recommended or mentioned:
Publisher: Vintage
Price: ₹399
The novel is a soul-deep dive into grief, depression, and the ache of nostalgia. Haruki Murakami, known for his surrealism and emotional depth, writes Norwegian Wood through the lens of Toru Watanabe, a college student in 1960s Tokyo. Toru is caught between two women — Naoko, emotionally fragile and bound to his past, and Midori, free-spirited and grounded in the present. As Toru navigates love, loss, and loneliness, the novel reflects on how memory can both heal and haunt.
Why Prajakta loves it:Prajakta has spoken about how this book stayed with her long after she finished it. The book is a mood in itself as it makes one sit in silence, reflect on one's past, and empathise with characters who feel intensely, just as we all do in our 20s. This is a book that grows with you.
Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: ₹299
Do not mistake it for fiction, it is the real diary of Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during World War II. Confined in a secret annex in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Anne wrote honestly about her fears, frustrations, hopes, and dreams. Her words are funny, smart, and heartbreaking, a reminder of the human resilience in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
She often recommends this book as essential reading. For her, it's a symbol of strength, perspective, and the raw honesty of teenage thought. Anne's writing transcends time and age. It helps readers understand history not through dates and wars, but through feelings — fear, loneliness, longing. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom, empathy, and voice.
Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: ₹399
Told through diary entries of Adrian Mole, a hilariously awkward British teenager, this book is a satire on adolescence, class, politics, and puberty. Adrian thinks he is an intellectual trapped in a world that does not understand him. He complains about his pimples, parents, school, and his crush, Pandora, all the while trying to survive the absurdities of growing up.
Why Prajakta Loves It:Adrian Mole's voice is exactly the kind of funny and self-aware tone that fans of MostlySane love. Prajakta admires how the book captures the drama of teenage life in an innocent and sharply funny way. It's a reminder that awkwardness is universal and growing up is messy for everyone.
Publisher: Berkley (Penguin Random House USA)
Price: ₹699
This body-positive romance follows Crystal Chen, a curvy fitness influencer who is unapologetically confident, until a gym nemesis, firefighter Scott Ritchie, starts occupying her space. What begins with rivalry slowly evolves into sparks, vulnerability, and deeper understanding. This isn't just a rom com; it's a statement on body image, societal expectations, and self-worth.
Why Prajakta loves it: Known for embracing self-love and mental health, Prajakta finds this book empowering. It's romantic, but also real. It talks about how difficult it can be to truly love yourself when society sets unrealistic standards. She recommends it for anyone struggling with body image or looking for a feel-good story with substance.
Publisher: Penguin India
Price: ₹499
This is not just another retelling of the Mahabharata. Jaya is a beautifully illustrated and accessible book that explores the philosophical, spiritual, and cultural depths of the epic. Devdutt Pattanaik unpacks each story with modern insight, explaining what it means in the larger context of Indian thought. There are over 250 illustrations that enhance the storytelling.
Why Prajakta loves it: For someone like Prajakta who's deeply rooted in Indian culture yet always questioning, Jaya is a perfect mix of tradition and interpretation. It challenges you to look at mythology beyond good-vs-evil, and instead see it as a reflection of the human condition. It is a great pick for anyone trying to reconnect with their roots in a thoughtful, non-preachy way.
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (UK), Simon Pulse (US)
Price: ₹450
Dimple Shah is a fierce coder who wants to build the next big app. Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic who believes in tradition, and in love arranged by their parents. When they both land at the same tech summer camp, sparks fly, chaos ensues, and the story unfolds with humor, heart, and cultural nuance.
Why Prajakta loves it:This book resonates with Prajakta's core themes, which are a young Indian identity, ambition, love, and the East-meets-West cultural experience. She believes it is refreshing to see Indian protagonists with real goals, flaws, and desires. It's especially great for teens and twenty-somethings trying to balance dreams, romance, and family expectations.
Publisher: Penguin Random House India
Price: ₹399
This candid memoir reveals everything you never knew about Karan Johar, the man behind Bollywood blockbusters. From dealing with body shaming, growing up with privilege yet insecurity, and navigating his sexuality, to becoming a successful filmmaker, Johar opens up about life in front of and behind the camera.
Why Prajakta loves it: Prajakta respects honesty, and this book has it in abundance. It is not sugar-coated or dramatic — just deeply personal. She recommends it as a reminder that no matter how glamorous someone's life may look, everyone has insecurities and stories worth telling. It's an inspiring read for anyone afraid to be their full, authentic self.
Because they are real. These are not just trending bookstagram titles or random bestsellers. These are books that reflect emotions, growth, curiosity, identity, culture, and the endless messiness of life. Each one has something to say, whether it is about grief, growing up, falling in love, chasing dreams, or learning to be okay with who you are.
Prajakta's booklist is diverse, inclusive, and emotionally honest, much like her content. It invites you to cry, laugh, rethink, and most importantly feel. So, if you are looking to build a reading habit with stories that actually matter, her bookshelf is a great place to start.
(The author is an intern with indianexpress.com)