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Quick answer: If you like Sudha Murthy, read R.K. Narayan, Ruskin Bond, Jhumpa Lahiri and Rabindranath Tagore. All write simple, warm and wise stories about Indian life, family and everyday kindness.
Sudha Murthy is a beloved Indian author and philanthropist, known for short stories, memoir-style essays and children's books such as Wise and Otherwise and Grandma's Bag of Stories. Her writing is plain, humane and full of life lessons. The books below offer similar warmth and insight, from classic storytellers to modern voices.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise and Otherwise | Sudha Murthy | Adult | the signature collection |
| Malgudi Days | R.K. Narayan | All ages | small-town India |
| The Blue Umbrella | Ruskin Bond | Ages 8-12 | children's classic |
| The Room on the Roof | Ruskin Bond | Teen | coming of age |
| Interpreter of Maladies | Jhumpa Lahiri | Adult | quiet short stories |
| The Namesake | Jhumpa Lahiri | Adult | immigrant family |
| The God of Small Things | Arundhati Roy | Adult | lush literary fiction |
| A Fine Balance | Rohinton Mistry | Adult | epic of ordinary lives |
| A Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth | Adult | big family saga |
| Godaan | Munshi Premchand | Adult | rural classic |
| The Guide | R.K. Narayan | Adult | redemption story |
| Train to Pakistan | Khushwant Singh | Adult | Partition novel |
| The Inheritance of Loss | Kiran Desai | Adult | global stories |
| The Home and the World | Rabindranath Tagore | Adult | classic novel |
| Five Point Someone | Chetan Bhagat | Adult | campus humour |
1. Wise and Otherwise by Sudha Murthy
True stories from her travels and charity work across India. Short, moving and humane.
Best for: the signature collection.
2. Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan
Stories from the fictional town of Malgudi. Gentle, funny and perfectly observed.
Best for: small-town India.
3. The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond
A girl in a hill village trades for a blue umbrella and learns about envy and kindness. Short and sweet.
Best for: children's classic.
4. The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond
A teenage boy finds friends and freedom in Dehradun. Written by Bond at seventeen, it is simple and evocative.
Best for: coming of age.
5. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Stories of Indian and Indian American lives. Pulitzer Prize winner, subtle and touching.
Best for: quiet short stories.
6. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Gogol Ganguli grows up caught between two cultures. Quiet and emotional.
Best for: immigrant family.
7. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Twins in Kerala live through a family tragedy. Beautiful, dense and powerful.
Best for: lush literary fiction.
8. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Four strangers share a home in 1970s India. Long, heartbreaking and humane.
Best for: epic of ordinary lives.
9. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
A mother searches for a husband for her daughter in post-independence India. Very long and rewarding.
Best for: big family saga.
10. Godaan by Munshi Premchand
A poor farmer dreams of owning a cow. A landmark of Hindi literature, widely available in translation.
Best for: rural classic.
11. The Guide by R.K. Narayan
A tour guide turns into an unlikely holy man. Gentle, ironic and moving.
Best for: redemption story.
12. Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh
A village on the border faces violence in 1947. Short, powerful and unforgettable.
Best for: Partition novel.
13. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
A retired judge, his granddaughter and the cook live in the Himalayas. Won the Booker Prize.
Best for: global stories.
14. The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore
A wife is torn between her husband and a charismatic revolutionary. A thoughtful classic.
Best for: classic novel.
15. Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat
Three friends struggle at an engineering institute. Light and very popular.
Best for: campus humour.
How to Choose
For gentle stories pick Malgudi Days, The Blue Umbrella or Wise and Otherwise. For modern immigrant stories choose Jhumpa Lahiri. For big, immersive novels try A Suitable Boy or A Fine Balance. For history and partition read Train to Pakistan. For light campus fun read Five Point Someone. Many of these books have translations or multiple editions, so check the version before buying. If you want something light and gentle, pick Malgudi Days or The Blue Umbrella. If you want something richer, try Interpreter of Maladies. If you want a long immersive novel, choose A Suitable Boy or A Fine Balance. Readers who enjoy Sudha Murthy's real-life essays may also like memoirs and short story collections by Indian authors, which are widely available in English.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sudha Murthy?
An Indian author and philanthropist who chairs the Infosys Foundation.
What is her most famous book?
Wise and Otherwise is one of the best known, along with her children's books.
Does she write for children?
Yes, including Grandma's Bag of Stories.
Are her books simple to read?
Yes, the language is plain and clear.
What language does she write in?
She writes in both English and Kannada.
Are her stories true?
Many are based on real people and events.
What should I read next?
Try Malgudi Days for a similar gentle tone.
Are these good for young readers?
Malgudi Days and The Blue Umbrella are suitable for older children.
Does Sudha Murthy write fiction or non-fiction?
Both. She writes novels, short stories, travelogues and children's books.
Which of her books should I read first?
Wise and Otherwise or Grandma's Bag of Stories.