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The Odd Book of Baby Names
As a thin ribbon of smoke rose from the edge something stirred in me and I slapped the book against the railing until small specks of fire fell to the floor and died down. It was not just a book of baby names. It was an unusual memoir my father was leaving behind, memories condensed into names; memories of many kisses, lovemaking, panting and feeling spent.
Can a life be like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces waiting to be conjoined? Like a game of hide-and-seek? Like playing statues? Can memories have colour? Can the sins of the father survive his descendants?
In a family – is it a family if they don’t know it? – that does not rely on the weakness of memory runs a strange register of names. The odd book of baby names has been custom-made on palace stationery for the patriarch, an eccentric king, one of the last kings of India, who dutifully records in it the name of his every offspring. As he bitterly draws his final breaths, eight of his one hundred rumoured children trace the savage lies of their father and reckon with the burdens of their lineage.
Layered with multiple perspectives and cadences, each tale recounted in sharp, tantalizing vignettes, this is a rich tapestry of narratives and a kaleidoscopic journey into the dysfunctional heart of the Indian family. Written with the lightness of comedy and the seriousness of tragedy, the playfulness of an inventive riddle and the intellectual heft of a philosophical undertaking, The Odd Book of Baby Names is Salim’s most ambitious novel yet.
Can a life be like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces waiting to be conjoined? Like a game of hide-and-seek? Like playing statues? Can memories have colour? Can the sins of the father survive his descendants?
In a family – is it a family if they don’t know it? – that does not rely on the weakness of memory runs a strange register of names. The odd book of baby names has been custom-made on palace stationery for the patriarch, an eccentric king, one of the last kings of India, who dutifully records in it the name of his every offspring. As he bitterly draws his final breaths, eight of his one hundred rumoured children trace the savage lies of their father and reckon with the burdens of their lineage.
Layered with multiple perspectives and cadences, each tale recounted in sharp, tantalizing vignettes, this is a rich tapestry of narratives and a kaleidoscopic journey into the dysfunctional heart of the Indian family. Written with the lightness of comedy and the seriousness of tragedy, the playfulness of an inventive riddle and the intellectual heft of a philosophical undertaking, The Odd Book of Baby Names is Salim’s most ambitious novel yet.
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2021
9 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Anees Salim
21 books157 followersAnees Salim is an advertising professional and is employed with Draft FCB Ulka. He loves being invisible and lives with his wife and son in Kochi. Vanity Bagh is his second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 10, 2022
So, here's the deal: Once you start reading this book you will be entranced by the simplicity of prose, the flair with which the narrative moves (which it does quite swiftly), and how Anees Salim is meticulous and to the point - at the same time making us imagine so much, from one page to the other. This is what happens right through The Odd Book of Baby Names.
The Odd Book of Baby Names is about eight characters that take centre stage - eight progenies of a king who is dying. Eight unique voices, each with their story to tell about their King, their father, and the circumstances surrounding them. And these are just eight that are known to the reader, perhaps among 100 that the King had sired. The book of baby names is the book in which the King notes the names of the babies (as he has given it to them) along with the meaning.
The book is so layered, way beyond what meets the eye. Of course there is the angle of the dying King and a kingdom that is no longer his. The kingdom in question is hinted at Hyderabad, and the period in which the book is set alludes to the 60s and the 70s. The women that the King was intimate with have no history or agency. One must also look at the time period in which this book is set. The traditions, the advantages taken by royalty, the utter nonchalance of not knowing the future of your children, and more than anything else the mental health issues of these eight people that shows itself to the reader page by page.
Anees Salim’s writing cannot be boxed into any genre. I think there is a unique style, that didn’t remind of me any other writer. The sentences sometimes are long and in detail as needed, some sections are to the point and precise, The book is unique – it is simple in its approach and complex at the same time. There is a lot of difference in all of the 8 voices and to make each of the distinct is true craft.
The Odd Book of Baby Names was a sure hit of a read for me. It was paced just right, the words and expressions used were a delight, and the reader in me couldn’t wait to get back to it till it was done. Please read it.
Books and Authors mentioned in The Odd Book of Baby Names:
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Ghalib
Khusrow
Zafar
The Odd Book of Baby Names is about eight characters that take centre stage - eight progenies of a king who is dying. Eight unique voices, each with their story to tell about their King, their father, and the circumstances surrounding them. And these are just eight that are known to the reader, perhaps among 100 that the King had sired. The book of baby names is the book in which the King notes the names of the babies (as he has given it to them) along with the meaning.
The book is so layered, way beyond what meets the eye. Of course there is the angle of the dying King and a kingdom that is no longer his. The kingdom in question is hinted at Hyderabad, and the period in which the book is set alludes to the 60s and the 70s. The women that the King was intimate with have no history or agency. One must also look at the time period in which this book is set. The traditions, the advantages taken by royalty, the utter nonchalance of not knowing the future of your children, and more than anything else the mental health issues of these eight people that shows itself to the reader page by page.
Anees Salim’s writing cannot be boxed into any genre. I think there is a unique style, that didn’t remind of me any other writer. The sentences sometimes are long and in detail as needed, some sections are to the point and precise, The book is unique – it is simple in its approach and complex at the same time. There is a lot of difference in all of the 8 voices and to make each of the distinct is true craft.
The Odd Book of Baby Names was a sure hit of a read for me. It was paced just right, the words and expressions used were a delight, and the reader in me couldn’t wait to get back to it till it was done. Please read it.
Books and Authors mentioned in The Odd Book of Baby Names:
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Ghalib
Khusrow
Zafar
November 23, 2021
Anees Salim's The Odd Book of Baby Names is a testament to his story telling skill and narrative flair. Eight unforgettable characters hold center stage with their stories and distinct voices; each, a progeny of a King who lies dying after a spell of living in a realm of his own. The eight are just the known progeny of a King rumoured to have fathered over a 100 children, each given a name by him and nothing else.
Set in the mid 60s in an unnamed location but with enough hints to suggest it is Hyderabad and it's last King that is being fictionalized, Salim's latest novel effectively captures the decaying world of a ruler and his kingdom, the hold he once had over his people and courtiers but also touches upon the decay of the physical body and mind. As the King lie dying over the days, the lives of the 8 offspring unfolds, each revealing how little he means to them but throwing a giant shadow over them by his absence. Would that be an analogy for the way citizens trudge through the decisions that present day rulers take with no thought for how it affects the common man and woman? That would be for the author to disclose.
The writing and the structure of the narrative tells you here's creative magic happening and all you have to do is submit. The mood, the expression and tone in the narrative shifts every time there is a change in who is the narrator, just the thing that tells you, here is a wordsmith at work.Go read this if you are looking for something off the track but in a very good way.
Full review here: https://bookandconversations.wordpres...
Set in the mid 60s in an unnamed location but with enough hints to suggest it is Hyderabad and it's last King that is being fictionalized, Salim's latest novel effectively captures the decaying world of a ruler and his kingdom, the hold he once had over his people and courtiers but also touches upon the decay of the physical body and mind. As the King lie dying over the days, the lives of the 8 offspring unfolds, each revealing how little he means to them but throwing a giant shadow over them by his absence. Would that be an analogy for the way citizens trudge through the decisions that present day rulers take with no thought for how it affects the common man and woman? That would be for the author to disclose.
The writing and the structure of the narrative tells you here's creative magic happening and all you have to do is submit. The mood, the expression and tone in the narrative shifts every time there is a change in who is the narrator, just the thing that tells you, here is a wordsmith at work.Go read this if you are looking for something off the track but in a very good way.
Full review here: https://bookandconversations.wordpres...
October 17, 2022
It’s 2.5 and not a 3 . A book of multiple characters and where in the plot gets muddled. Not sure about the central theme of the role book of names play in the story and is not built up to any serious consideration. Many characters but alas none developed and each story element leaves you a feeling of being incomplete.
Book keeps you engaged only to falter at the end . I wanted more closure as a reader but then maybe that is me and others may have liked it as it was .
As I think , this is another book this year where I am against the trend of ratings.
Book keeps you engaged only to falter at the end . I wanted more closure as a reader but then maybe that is me and others may have liked it as it was .
As I think , this is another book this year where I am against the trend of ratings.
October 22, 2022
Let me begin by saying how I adore books, people, places which defy categorisation. Everything which refuses to be boxed into definitions and denies the question of 'about' (borrowing idea from my current read) deserves a special place. Not that 'The Odd Book of Baby Names' entirely defies any categorisation, but this is to say that it is equally unique in its voice and manner of presentation.
At the heart of the narrative is one of the last kings of India, fallen from grace after losing his kingdom. While the palace awaits the death of the ailing king, one of his sons begins a search for the king's book of 'baby names'—a handwritten document by the king himself; a record of the names of his numerous progenies.
Now, addressing the question of 'about'. It could be said that the Salim's book is about the lives of some of the famous king's children. With two of his legitimate sons thinking back on their growing-up years in the palace, and a few others—illegitimate, forgotten, conflicted and poor— living away from the palace yet under the shadow of the authority which their father once had. The story that thus develops has no proper beginning, middle or end, but offers a glimpse into the lives of strikingly dissimilar people thinly linked by their common ancestry.
In deceptively simple prose, Anees Salim weaves a story that is tragic yet humourous, questionable yet rooted in the everyday lives of people. I was personally impressed by the
unpredictability of his storytelling—the humour quietly waiting at unexpected corners. It was simply thrilling to be unaware of what would come next!
'The Odd Book of Baby Names' was such a treat! From the storytelling to character building, the humour, the misfortunes of the celebrated king's progenies to the drama involving their lives—this one was nearly perfect!
At the heart of the narrative is one of the last kings of India, fallen from grace after losing his kingdom. While the palace awaits the death of the ailing king, one of his sons begins a search for the king's book of 'baby names'—a handwritten document by the king himself; a record of the names of his numerous progenies.
Now, addressing the question of 'about'. It could be said that the Salim's book is about the lives of some of the famous king's children. With two of his legitimate sons thinking back on their growing-up years in the palace, and a few others—illegitimate, forgotten, conflicted and poor— living away from the palace yet under the shadow of the authority which their father once had. The story that thus develops has no proper beginning, middle or end, but offers a glimpse into the lives of strikingly dissimilar people thinly linked by their common ancestry.
In deceptively simple prose, Anees Salim weaves a story that is tragic yet humourous, questionable yet rooted in the everyday lives of people. I was personally impressed by the
unpredictability of his storytelling—the humour quietly waiting at unexpected corners. It was simply thrilling to be unaware of what would come next!
'The Odd Book of Baby Names' was such a treat! From the storytelling to character building, the humour, the misfortunes of the celebrated king's progenies to the drama involving their lives—this one was nearly perfect!
July 18, 2025
An immensely enjoyable and entertaining read. The book was my introduction to the writing of Anees Salim, and I am blown away by his ability to craft prose that is simple yet rich.
Salim is remarkably skilled at deploying context specific metaphors and imagery, and arranging words with deftness and precision. He's a master craftsman, no less.
The book would have been worthy of five stars had it not been for the loose, abrupt ending and glaring typos in the copy.
Salim is remarkably skilled at deploying context specific metaphors and imagery, and arranging words with deftness and precision. He's a master craftsman, no less.
The book would have been worthy of five stars had it not been for the loose, abrupt ending and glaring typos in the copy.
February 23, 2022
“This is my side of the story.
Azam, my half brother and archenemy will tell you the same story, but in a different way. He is certain to crop up from nowhere, probably in the next chapter, and give you a completely different version.”
As one of the last kings of India lays dying, eight of his rumoured 149 progenies who lead mostly parallel but sometimes intersecting lives take turns to come centre-stage and narrate their life stories.
One of them is searching for the odd book of baby names, a register of names of all the children begotten by the king who lays dying — “an unusual memoir my father was leaving behind, memories condensed into names; memories of many kisses, lovemaking, panting and feeling spent.”
One gets the sense of being in a dark theatre as each narrator, a dastango, steps into the spotlight and creates vivid scenes of a bygone era. Of kings and royal tailors and lion tamers and cursed apple trees and poets and ghosts and talking, taunting furniture. The tales they tell are sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, often both. An undercurrent of dark humour pervades this poetry of a world between “birth and death… as identical as sunrises and sunsets.” One can tell, Salim really enjoyed himself writing this whimsical multi-narrative, and I really enjoyed reading it.
4.5⭐️ rounded down.
January 15, 2022
Unlike the usual Anees Salim books, The Odd book of Baby Names is told in a split narrative format. However, the stories are told in simple prose enabling it to be a fairly easy read. It was interesting, how the book navigated between characters often retelling the same instance from different point of views.
What didn't work for me, was how certain characters were fleshed out. The characters never deviated from their true sense, but some of the instances were seen to be really bland. It's nevertheless a good read, his previous books worked better.
What didn't work for me, was how certain characters were fleshed out. The characters never deviated from their true sense, but some of the instances were seen to be really bland. It's nevertheless a good read, his previous books worked better.
July 31, 2024
What started off as an easy breezy narrative ended with a heavy hearted ending.
Shahbaz, Humera, Sultan, Zuhab and Azam will be remembered.
One of the enjoyable reads of the year.
Shahbaz, Humera, Sultan, Zuhab and Azam will be remembered.
One of the enjoyable reads of the year.
June 16, 2023
I wouldn't mind being railed at for my audacity for calling Anees Salim as the best among the contemporary Indian English writers.Yes I do acknowledge our likings are subjective and there are writers of far more international statures that might right away render my claim as absurd, but the one thing that stands out in Anees's writing that could earn him the top spot is its consistency.His simple but not compromising on the literary aesthetics consistency in weaving in a story about the everymen who we may easily overlook, cheerful at the outset, tinged with dark comedy and pensive at conclusion has found myself with a lump in my throat many a time.
This novel,my 6th read of his (6/7), is a slight departure from his previous ones, is set in the late 60s in a city which I believe is the Indian city of Hyderabad, thanks to its allusions to Hussain lake (Hussain Sagar lake) and Four Minar (Charminar).The last king of the city, once considered as the richest man by TIMES, is in his deathbed.It's rumored that the king has fathered at least a hundred children, the names of whom he has recorded in a book.The entire narrative,in a multi-first person perspective,is built from an ensemble of his children - Shahbaz the poet, Humera the romantic and who also harbor suicidal thoughts, Moazzam the dipsomaniac, Azzam who is not in talking terms with Moazzam, Sultan the spirit (who also plays marbles at night), Owais the persistent phone enquirer, Muneer the tailor, Hyder the stammerer and Zuhab the nondescript.
Uncluttered and beautiful prose, just over 200 pages makes it a perfect one to be zipped through over a weekend.
Having found all of his previous novels that I read brilliant, I can't wait to dive into Anees's latest novel "The Bellboy'' and finish it off as well with an unfaltering contentment score of 7/7.
This novel,my 6th read of his (6/7), is a slight departure from his previous ones, is set in the late 60s in a city which I believe is the Indian city of Hyderabad, thanks to its allusions to Hussain lake (Hussain Sagar lake) and Four Minar (Charminar).The last king of the city, once considered as the richest man by TIMES, is in his deathbed.It's rumored that the king has fathered at least a hundred children, the names of whom he has recorded in a book.The entire narrative,in a multi-first person perspective,is built from an ensemble of his children - Shahbaz the poet, Humera the romantic and who also harbor suicidal thoughts, Moazzam the dipsomaniac, Azzam who is not in talking terms with Moazzam, Sultan the spirit (who also plays marbles at night), Owais the persistent phone enquirer, Muneer the tailor, Hyder the stammerer and Zuhab the nondescript.
Uncluttered and beautiful prose, just over 200 pages makes it a perfect one to be zipped through over a weekend.
Having found all of his previous novels that I read brilliant, I can't wait to dive into Anees's latest novel "The Bellboy'' and finish it off as well with an unfaltering contentment score of 7/7.
January 2, 2022
More than the actual plot, the narrative style of each individual is laden with sarcasm and wit. I certainly felt for certain characters.
April 21, 2022
Brilliant! Multiple voices that narrate different tales, but all come together at the end to leave you sad and deeply touched.
October 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming novel, which was on the longlist for the JCB Prize for Literature. I was sad and surprised that it didn’t make it onto the shortlist. Throughout Anees Salim’s book the reader is kept engaged across a patchwork of intertwining and intriguing tales, beautifully written and with a sharp sense of humour.
Although it is a work of fiction, there are enough references to historical events to place the story in Hyderabad in 1967, during the dying days of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, or King, to rule the state before Independence, and regarded as one of the richest men in the world. The Nizam is central to the plot and although the author does not mention his name explicitly, he does keep the names of his two legitimate male heirs Azam and Moazzam, with whom the book starts.
The novel narrates the life of the now decrepit Nazim as seen through the eyes of Azam, Moazzam and six other children, born to different women to whom the ruler had taken fancy, in wonderful vignettes each narrated in a different voice. The title of the book comes from a hidden royal notebook that the Nazim kept, containing the names of all the children he had sired (rumoured to be around 100). We come to learn that, in most cases, all he contributed to these many illegitimate children were their names, ignoring any further consequences of his passions.
From Zuhab, who happened to be born 9 months after the royal train broke down near his mother’s village, to Shahbaz who inherits a workshop that is the purveyor of royal fezzes (felt hats), the children grow up aware of who fathered them but without knowing their siblings, despite some surreptitious encounters. These lives and their stories are the only legacy left from the once glorious life of the dying ruler.
I’d definitely recommend this one!
Although it is a work of fiction, there are enough references to historical events to place the story in Hyderabad in 1967, during the dying days of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, or King, to rule the state before Independence, and regarded as one of the richest men in the world. The Nizam is central to the plot and although the author does not mention his name explicitly, he does keep the names of his two legitimate male heirs Azam and Moazzam, with whom the book starts.
The novel narrates the life of the now decrepit Nazim as seen through the eyes of Azam, Moazzam and six other children, born to different women to whom the ruler had taken fancy, in wonderful vignettes each narrated in a different voice. The title of the book comes from a hidden royal notebook that the Nazim kept, containing the names of all the children he had sired (rumoured to be around 100). We come to learn that, in most cases, all he contributed to these many illegitimate children were their names, ignoring any further consequences of his passions.
From Zuhab, who happened to be born 9 months after the royal train broke down near his mother’s village, to Shahbaz who inherits a workshop that is the purveyor of royal fezzes (felt hats), the children grow up aware of who fathered them but without knowing their siblings, despite some surreptitious encounters. These lives and their stories are the only legacy left from the once glorious life of the dying ruler.
I’d definitely recommend this one!
May 14, 2023
It was riveting and heartwarming at the same time. I think it will be impossible for me to put this book in a box. The human emotions portrayed had so many layers and while the king's death united everyone, each had their own perspective, life and lens. I liked how Anees uses raw human emotions to also bring a chuckle at many places. Enjoyed reading it and kept coming back to it until it was done.
April 17, 2022
Loved the simple prose and despite the narrative moving swiftly, you get engrossed in every small detail that’s been given. Anees Salim knows how to draw you in but also knows what needs to be described and how much. Most of all, this book is a great example of brilliant characters, who are central to everything that’s happening.
Highly recommend it!
Highly recommend it!
June 23, 2023
Enjoyable, but I can see why this book might be divisive for some. If you're a fan of Anees Salim's perspectives and style, then this should certainly be brought to the top of your TBR.
On a slightly different note, I would love to see Anees Salim give a shot at mixing literary fiction and hard sci-fi. His mind seems to be attuned to that in spirit
On a slightly different note, I would love to see Anees Salim give a shot at mixing literary fiction and hard sci-fi. His mind seems to be attuned to that in spirit
November 3, 2023
It has a world of its own. And I believe Anees wanted it to work that way with his other-worldly writing. For those who enjoy language and prose and writing that travels fluently, sometimes without perfect endings. Enjoyed the narrative, the names and what this book brought out about broken relationships.
January 4, 2023
The Odd Book Of Baby Names is a whimsical book that pushes the envelope. It is perfect for readers who do not want run-of-the-mill stories.
You can read my full review here
https://undecidedindubai.wordpress.co...
You can read my full review here
https://undecidedindubai.wordpress.co...
February 28, 2022
I just want to live in Humera's and Shahbaz's world.
July 3, 2023
The writing was beautiful, and the story was funny (especially Owais and his sturggles), but T minus one star for every sleazy description of women in this book
November 23, 2023
Whimsical, irreverently humorous , tragicomic in tone, a thread of melancholy running through the whole - this is quintessential Anees Salim stuff.
August 19, 2025
Didn’t have the patience to read this book thoroughly. It was wafting and waning without making much sense . Language was good but I wasn’t hooked in with the characters or plot .
January 30, 2023
Anees Salim’s writing style appears plain and straightforward on the surface. But, it is this manner of writing that leaves the reader in awe. The author begins the book with ‘ This is my side of the story. Azam, my half-brother will tell you the same story, but in a different way. He is certain to crop up from nowhere, probably in the next chapter and give you a completely different version.’
The writing is vivid, enabling the reader to visualize the place and the characters. And while the ability to describe may sound like a necessary prerequisite for any successful author, Anees Salim’s lucid writing and use of unique metaphors to describe any situation is commendable. No longer will you look at the trees, the sky and the lake or even inanimate objects like a bench in the park or even a staircase, in the same way. Anees puts to words that which we notice but find hard to describe.
About the book
The story is set in Hyderabad and makes a passing mention of Nehru and the annexure of the kingdom to India in 1948 resulting in the loss of power of the Nizam of Hyderabad. As the story is set around the last year of the King’s life, the timeline must be around 1965-1967, when the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, died. The book is a work of fiction but clearly draws a leaf out of the late Nizam’s life in terms of the ruler’s loss of power to India, the names of his sons, Azam and Moazzam ( Nizam’s two legitimate children) and his being on the cover of the Times’ magazine (the Nizam was declared the richest person on earth in 1937 as per the Times’ magazine).
Overall, the book is a treat to read for any aspiring writer or anyone who appreciates good writing. Just one warning- the extensive use of metaphors can get tiring sometimes.
To read the entire review, click here
https://smithavpennings.com/2023/01/0...
The writing is vivid, enabling the reader to visualize the place and the characters. And while the ability to describe may sound like a necessary prerequisite for any successful author, Anees Salim’s lucid writing and use of unique metaphors to describe any situation is commendable. No longer will you look at the trees, the sky and the lake or even inanimate objects like a bench in the park or even a staircase, in the same way. Anees puts to words that which we notice but find hard to describe.
About the book
The story is set in Hyderabad and makes a passing mention of Nehru and the annexure of the kingdom to India in 1948 resulting in the loss of power of the Nizam of Hyderabad. As the story is set around the last year of the King’s life, the timeline must be around 1965-1967, when the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, died. The book is a work of fiction but clearly draws a leaf out of the late Nizam’s life in terms of the ruler’s loss of power to India, the names of his sons, Azam and Moazzam ( Nizam’s two legitimate children) and his being on the cover of the Times’ magazine (the Nizam was declared the richest person on earth in 1937 as per the Times’ magazine).
Overall, the book is a treat to read for any aspiring writer or anyone who appreciates good writing. Just one warning- the extensive use of metaphors can get tiring sometimes.
To read the entire review, click here
https://smithavpennings.com/2023/01/0...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews