The Reading List: A Novel

Fiction can have powerful effects on readers, as portrayed in the lives of two self-avowed non-readers, Mukesh and Aleisha. Aleisha is a young adult abandoned by her parents and is struggling to find her place in the world despite the demands of a dysfunctional family. Mukesh is an older adult who had an incredibly happy life until losing his beloved wife. Mukesh and Aleisha have been hurt and are dealing with their own types of grief and loneliness, but find solace and hope by sharing the books they read. This novel illustrates the profound effects of reading and sharing books with others.