I met Sanjoy K. Roy for the first time at the second edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, where I already knew him as a literary connoisseur. What I hadn’t realised then was what a beautiful and engaging writer he is.
I must admit, I had my moments of doubt before picking up There’s a Ghost in My Room: Living with the Supernatural. I am not a reader who enjoys creepy, gory, or bizarre stories. However, while returning from JLF 2026, I noticed the book at the airport and managed to get a good deal on it. I remember thinking, why not—there’s nothing to lose.
I began reading the book at the airport, and before boarding my flight, I was already 100 pages in—quite an achievement for a slow reader like me. The book is a collection of short stories that recount Sanjoy Roy’s paranormal and supernatural experiences, but what makes it truly compelling is how deeply personal it feels.
Alongside the supernatural, the book offers glimpses into his growth in the media world, his relationship with his wife and children, and how the paranormal has always been an integral part of his life. The narrative begins with a story from his childhood in Calcutta, and being a Bengali, reading stories rooted in my hometown instantly drew me in.
As I read on, I felt that perhaps such experiences are always around us, but we either lack the sensitivity to acknowledge them or are so firmly rooted in logic that we dismiss them as absurd. The stories subtly challenge this mindset without demanding belief.
Each story is beautifully written, carrying a lyrical quality that enhances its intensity. Since these are personal experiences, they leave you with a lingering sense of wonder, repeatedly asking yourself—can such things really happen?
There’s a Ghost in My Room: Living with the Supernatural was a thoroughly engaging read, and I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.