♦ JIHADI JANE (Penguin, Rs 299) by Tabish Khair tells the story of two women, Ameena and Jamilla, who set out to join the Islamic State. The name of the book also reminds one of Colleen LaRose, who was nicknamed 'Jihad Jane'. LaRose had conspired to kill Lars Vilks, the artist who had drawn the infamous cartoons of the prophet, Muhammad. In this novel, Khair tries to explore the minds of young Muslim women who are inspired to give up everything they have known in order to join the cause of jihad, without making excuses for them. It is a thrilling, racy suspense novel. Alongside probing the minds of disillusioned women who are led astray with false promises of a greater life, Khair also draws attention to questions of a Kurdish homeland and the marginalized sections of British society.

♦? MAN TIGER (Speaking Tiger, Rs 299) by Eka Kurniawan is meant for patient readers. The story begins with the character, Margio, murdering Anwar Sadat. (This Sadat is not the Egyptian leader, but a debauched painter.) The author then lets us know that a white tigress resides inside the body of Margio. The murder, thus, was committed by the big cat, and not by Margio himself. Just when one thinks that the plot is going to pick up speed and reveal more about this supernatural phenomenon, Kurniawan decides to digress and tell the story of Margio's life in boring detail. Readers have to wait till the last page for everything to fall into place. Kurniawan could have added an element of suspense to make the book more enjoyable to read.