The year 2020 was a year like no other. Life as we knew it was upended everywhere. Yet, despite it being the year of the pandemic, one source of enjoyment and entertainment was available for people in the country: books. And in spite of all odds, Nepali publication houses came forward and published some new ones. Here’s a list of what people were reading in 2020.

Cabals & Cartels
Writer: Rajib Upadhya
Publisher: FinePrint

Rajib Upadhyay’s part memoir and part political-economy analysis talks about the country’s development and its political and economical transition and gives a glimpse into how cartels and cabals shaped the country’s reforms.

Jijivisha
Writer: Manisha Koirala/ Translator: Swarup Acharya
Publisher: FinePrint

The Nepali translation of actress Manisha Koirala's autobiography 'Healed', Jijivisha is a moving and deeply personal story of the actor’s battle against ovarian cancer—of how she rebuilt her life.

Between Queens and the Cities
Writer: Niranjan Kunwar
Publisher: FinePrint

Writer and educator Niranjan Kunwar’s memoir Between Queens and the Cities is an ordinary story about a queer man uncertain of life and what he wants, and his long journey from Kathmandu to New York and back.

Corona Kairan
Writer: Khagendra Sangraula
Publisher: Bela Publication

The book is a collection of the author’s reflections during the time of Corona—his frustrations, emotional fluctuations, stress. Beyond that, the book also acts as the voice for the common people’s turmoils.

Daman Raj Tuladhar
Writer: Daman Raj Tuladhar
Publisher: Book Hill

An autobiography penned by the activist Daman Raj Tuladhar, the book contains the inner story of King Mahendra’s administration to the role Tuladhar played in laying the foundation of the 2007 revolution and other treaties.

Koshi Ko Katha
Writer: Matrika Prasad Koirala
Publisher: Nepalaya

Koshi Ko Katha is a collection of nine essays by the late prime minister Matrika Prasad Koirala. A republication of the original work, which was published in 1990 AD, the book sheds insight into Koirala’s political persona and also into Nepal’s history.

Singha Durbar Ko Ghumne Mech
Writer: Sudha Sharma
Publisher: Nepalaya

Singha Durbar ko Ghumne Mech chronicles the writer’s challenges as one of the few women secretaries in the government formed post 2006.

Vimukti
Writer: Malla K Sundar
Publisher: Book Hill

Vimukti is a fictional tale of inter-conflict between the nuns in Nirvana Marg and Mukt Marg. In the book, writer Malla explores various issues of cultural differences and social hierarchy and oppression.

Aaphainlai Khojda—Kehi Chhopiyeka, Kehi Ughariyeka
Writer: Bishwambher Pyakurel
Publisher: FinePrint

The autobiography portrays the author's arduous journey from belonging to a small village in Bardiya to becoming a respectable name in academia in the heart of Kathmandu.

Dumero
Writer: Sarala Gautam
Publisher: Nepalaya

Sarala Gautam’s debut novel Dumero is a coming-of-age story of a small town girl, trying to find her identity and voice in a big world.

Kumari Prashnaharu
Writer: Durga Karki
Publisher: Nepalaya

Durga Karki’s debut book Kumari Prashnaharu is an anthology of 13 short stories that explore social realism. Karki, through her stories, brings to the front issues of social justice and gender equality.

Beyond Possible
Writer: Nirmal Purja
Publisher: Safu

Record-breaking mountaineer Nirmal Purja, aka ‘Nimdai’, tells his story about conquering the 14 highest peaks of the world and what led him to become a mountaineer. He also dives into his past and his dream of becoming a Gurkha soldier.

Laalas
Writer: Bhuwan Hari Sigdel
Publisher: Shikha Books

The latest novel by writer Bhuwan Hari Sigdel, Laalas is a tale of lust, hunger and pleasure.

Shramatan
Writer: B N Joshi
Publisher: Sangri-La Books

Joshi writes about his experience of living abroad in the 1990s and shows the struggles of Nepali youth working in foreign land as migrants.

Samanta Ka Paila Haru
Writer: Binda Pandey
Publisher FinePrint

Binda Pandey, a politician who was a member of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly, gives a feminist perspective to the country’s current political movements.

Nyaypalika Ma Char Dashak
Writer: Min Bahadur Rayamajhi
Publisher: Sangri-La Books

Former Chief Justice Min Bahadur Rayamajhi’s autobiography enlightens the readers with some tell-tale stories of major figures in Nepal’s judiciary and the tortuous course that it has had to historically undergo.

Artha Rajneetik Bimarsha
Writer: Baburam Bhattarai
Publisher: Sangri-La Books

Authored by Baburam Bhattarai, the book deep-dives into the turmoil of the current political scenario where the ruling party has not been able to find the right identity and solution to the problems of the nation.