Jameel Library features an illustrated novel by Sarnath Banerjee titled ‘17-year Cicada’, with ten chapter entries released every fortnight starting 18 January 2021 on Jameel Arts Centre’s website, which you can visit through the link here.
17-year Cicada is an episodic account of a young woman trapped in a vast library. She goes through the stages of denial, anger and acceptance. Surrendering to her fate she roams around the desolate reading rooms, walks between the shelves, takes selfies and eats from the well-stocked refrigerator. Sometimes she has imaginary conversations. The place feels like the furthest outpost of the Gobi desert.
