Actress Kajol offered a glimpse at five books she handpicked from a Mumbai-based store recently. Here’s a look at the books on the 50-year-old’s reading list.

Fake History: Ten Great Lies and How They Shaped the World by Otto English

Written by journalist Andrew Scott under the pseudonym of Otto English, the book takes on the ten biggest lies from history and highlights instances where doctored history has been used to achieve specific goals. Some of the topics covered in the book include the sinking of Titanic, the fabricated stories about Napoleon Bonaparte’s height, and tales of World War I.

Dead End Memories by Banana Yoshimoto

Dead End Memories is a Japanese anthology by writer Banana Yoshimoto, published in 2003. The anthology is a collection of short stories that explore themes of love, loss, memory and identity. The theme is set in modern-day Tokyo and revolves around a group of young people navigating their lives through the complexities of relationships, careers and adulthood.

The Conditions of Unconditional Love by Alexander McCall Smith

Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith’s The Conditions of Unconditional Love is a novel based on a young woman, Emily, who struggles to come to terms with her past. As she navigates her relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners, Through Emily's journey, McCall Smith explores the complexities of human relationships.

On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a novel by Ocean Vuong, a Vietnamese-American poet, essayist, and novelist. The book, published in 2019, is Vuong's debut novel and has received widespread critical acclaim. It explores topics of identity, family, love, and the immigrant experience through a series of letters addressed by a young Vietnamese-American man named Little Dog to his illiterate mother, Rose.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World is a novel by Turkish-British author Elif Shafak, published in 2019. The book explores human relationships, identity, and the complexities of life. The story revolves around Tequila Leila, a sex worker in Istanbul, who spends the last minutes of her life in a rubbish dumpster after being brutally assaulted. As she breathes her last, Leila recounts her life story, memories, and experiences, weaving together a rich tapestry of human connection, love, and loss.