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SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation

SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation

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About This Event

Reshma Ruia will be in conversation at Blackwell's Bookshop on 18 November 2026, discussing her latest novel, Something Black In The Lentil Soup. Attendees can hear her read from the book and engage in a discussion. Tickets are priced between £5.00 and £12.00.

Join us to hear Reshma read from and discuss her latest novel, Something Black In The Lentil Soup

We are thrilled to welcome Reshma Ruia back to Blackwell's to celebrate the Renard Press publication of Something Black In The Lentil Soup, described in the Sunday Times as ‘a gem of straight-faced comedy,’ and The Guardian as ‘wonderfully comic.’ Refreshments will be served and Reshma will be signing books at the end of the evening.

Doors: 6.30pm, Starts 6.45pm

General admission is £5 or included in the price of a Book & Ticket.

About the book:

Kavi Naidu is a great poet in the tradition of Wordsworth and Shelley (well, he thinks so, anyway). Pompous, sentimental and hell-bent on finding literary fame and romantic glory, he is catapulted from his humdrum routine into the heady distractions of London.

Urged on by his mother, Kavi sets out to win the prestigious Commonwealth Poetry Prize - but arriving in London, he is beset by people who bewilder him, and over everything looms Seth, India's most celebrated writer, Kavi's nemesis for many years. Failing to see the pitfalls all around, he stumbles from muddle to faux pas to disaster.

Suffused with warm, sly humour and a sharp eye for human failings, Something Black in the Lentil Soup is an irreverent portrayal of three parallel cultures - British, Indian and British-Indian - and an entertaining tale of an innocent abroad.

About the author:

Reshma Ruia is an award-winning author and poet. She has a PhD and Master’s in Creative Writing from Manchester University, as well as a Bachelor and Master’s from the London School of Economics.

She has published a poetry collection, A Dinner Party in the Home Counties, and a short story collection, Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness; her work has appeared in international anthologies and journals, and she has had work commissioned by the BBC. She is the co-founder of The Whole Kahani – a writers’ collective of British South Asian writers.

Born in India and brought up in Rome, her writing explores the preoccupations of those who possess a multiple sense of belonging.

If you cannot make the event but would like a dedicated copy of the book, please email events.manchester@blackwell.co.uk or call us on 0161 274 3331.

Our event format is usually a 45 minute discussion between the author and interviewer, followed by a chance for audience members to ask questions. There will be the opportunity to get your book signed/dedicated after the event. Events are a brilliant opportunity to discover new books, meet authors and likeminded readers and learn something new.

Support your local bookshop and help us keep the Manchester literary scene vibrant and exciting. You can follow us on Eventbrite and social media (@BlackwellsMCR) to keep up to date on upcoming events.

Description supplied by the event organiser.

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Searching near 146 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9GP
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Frequently asked questions

SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation takes place on Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at 18:30.

SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation is held at Blackwell's Bookshop in Manchester (146 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9GP).

Tickets for SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation range from £5 to £12. Live prices and availability are shown on Eventbrite.

Yes — hotels within walking distance of Blackwell's Bookshop can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.

Tickets for SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LENTIL SOUP: Reshma Ruia in conversation can be booked via Eventbrite using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.