A Burning is the incredible debut novel by Megha Majumdar, set in modern day India. The novel follows the lives of Jivan, a Muslim girl from the slums who aspires to rise to the middle class, PT Sir, a gym teacher hoping to rise to political power, and Lovely, an uneducated outcast with dreams of becoming an actress.

As the story unfolds and builds to its climactic ending, their lives weave together and apart again, while Majumdar demands the reader to ask difficult questions of ourselves. What are the consequences of the choices we make? Can we move forward in good conscience at another’s expense?

A powerful and riveting novel of class, gender, ambition, and corruption. A highly recommended read.