India, Oct. 8 -- If you think graphic novels are just superhero or adventure stories.Harsho Mohan Chattoraj recommends The Pig Flip

Joshy Benedict's 2023 novel (he narrates and illustrates) is set in Kerala and follows Babycha, a man who can't shake off his obsession with spot flip, the gambling card game of choice in his island village. He's married now. His wife worries about his addiction, as does his family. There are flashbacks, and the weight of family expectation hangs over the tale.

What caught Chattoraj's attention is how different this book feels from other graphic novels. The Pig Flip is small, compact; its panels highly detailed. "Benedict's art and storytelling are quite different from the ones we've seen," he says.

If you...