Megha Majumdar's debut novel is a political thriller set in Contemporary India and follows the lives of three people after a terrorist attack on a full train. Trying to move up to middle-class, Jivan makes the mistake of criticizing her government on a comment to a video of the burning train on Facebook. Her fate resides in the hands of Lovely, a transgender hijra and aspiring actress who could set Jivan free with her alibi. However, her former p.e. teacher, PT Sir is climbing the ranks in the right-wing party and he may just secure his spot if he can ensure Jivan's demise. Touching upon class, education, religion, corruption, and violence, A Burning is a fast-read you will not be able to put down.
