MAGIC OF HOSSEINI!

KHALED HOSSEINI. The name itself can make any book lover go beyond everything and grab a copy of one of his reads (more in the case of a true Hosseini fan like me!) And believe me, putting some extra effort and going out of way to have a Hosseini in your hands never disappoints.

My love affair with Hosseini  started in 2011 when I bought my first ever Khaled Hosseini book- The Kite Runner. It was also the first ever novel I bought for myself by saving my pocket money. It'd cost me 120 rupees. An eleven year old didn't have any idea about the author. I bought it because it was cheap and with the leftover money, I was able to buy a stick kulfi. Such was my naivety at that time. But who knew that such penny- pinching would lead me to his other works and eventually make him one of my most favorite writers. 

The Kite Runner is that debut novel which makes the wait for the next read by the writer almost impossible for its readers. This story, which revolves around Amir and Hassan, first introduced me to the world of the Afghans which I was never aware of. The Kite Runner is an emotionally gripping story of betrayal and redemption. The story is saddening, yet leaves the reader with a hope that good always overcomes the evil, and justice prevails. The last chapter, even today, is my favorite. It leaves me with a hope that past deeds can be forgiven and forgotten and at the end of the day, the possibility of hope can win.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is another remarkably heart- wrenching story of family and friendship. Set against the volatile events of the Afghan struggle, this story puts violence, fear, hope, faith and trust in the hands of a tale which revolves around two generations of characters- Mariam and Laila. With history playing around them, they struggle to survive and find happiness. The end again leaves the heart fluttering for a ray of hope; that things will get better, dreams will suffice the misery.

And The Mountains Echoed is my favorite Hosseini novel. The main characters of this story, the star-duo of Pari and Abdullah have my heart. The story is an ode to siblinghood- the pure bond of a brother and sister. It talks all about the joys and heartbreaks that come with it, the anguish of seperation, the guilt, the comfort of companionship and the burden of responsibility. And like always, Hosseini tells the story in the most amazing way ever. The writing is wonderful, the characters become etched in your heart and leave you smiling, crying, thinking and dreaming about what would have happened after the last page. There is sadness and sorrow as well, but there is also joy, love and again.. a deep sense of hope.

Sea Prayer, the most recent book by Hosseini. I was lucky enough to get a copy of it just two days after its release. And though it took me only ten minutes to finish the whole book, the impact of those 48 pages is so much that your heart goes out to the refugees. The few little words of Hosseini will leave a forever mark on your heart and only Hosseini can use such few words and tell a whole story. Don't banish the book for its number of pages. It's the voice of the refugees, of people who have no home. Hosseini is the voice of them, the voice of those who can't stand for themselves. It is a book which will shine on your bookshelf forever, and everytime you see it, you will say a little prayer for the refugees. The illustrations by Dan Williams will stay in your heart and mind forever. The earnings from this book will go to the UN Refugee Agency. Go on, read it, own it, do your bit.

Khaled Hosseini is that one writer who with only 4 books has broken and joined my heart over and over again. He is the master of weaving stories. His verses are a concoction of emotions, and I always find myself drowned in them. Join in?..

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME!

In honor of all the great fictional characters who have managed to pave their way through the ages while remaining relevant in this era of fast 24-hour news and umpteenth number of new writers, I found some of my favorite and everlasting fictional characters from the literary world. With so many new contemporary writers and characters coming into light, it becomes a hard task to weigh their characteristics and select our favorites. So I spontaneously picked out some of the characters who are still etched in my memories and will continue to be! So, here is my list;

• ELIZABETH BENNET- PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Jane Austen

Lizzy is by far my most favorite female literary character, and in the author Jane Austen's own words, she describes Lizzy as "the most delightful creature ever appeared in print." She is so intelligent, well read, quick witted, beautiful, sensitive and caring. She did make some errors in identifying Darcy, but handled and rectified the error with some wonderful grace and honor. Her ironical quick wit was something not 'socially acceptable' for women in her society, but this showed her boldness and confidence to be herself. She manages to make all her decisions by herself, through accurate intelligence and common sense. By the end of the novel, she manages to find the perfect balance between 'pride and prejudice' and how phenomenally she does that is what makes her one of my favorites. A must read for those who wish to be humble yet strong headed.         
                             
                                     

• SHERLOCK HOLMES- SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES, Arthur Conan Dyle

I might have a biased opinion towards this one, as I saw the show first and then fascinated by it, I read the novels. I am still reading them but already am astound by the wonderful writing of the author! No other character has made my mind rush and think so deeply as Holmes. He is such a genius, the most remarkable observant, extremely educated, and so determined in solving everything he lays his hand on. One of his best characteristics is that no matter how many dead ends he collides into, he just does not give up. His dedication towards his job is what makes him shine after each story. The books are turning out to be exactly what was shown in the show, or I'd say even better! If you're fan of such adrenaline rush, go for the show first and then when you read the books, you'll be even more astound!                                         
                               

• ROMEO AND JULIET- ROMEO AND JULIET, William Shakespeare

Writing a combined feedback, because these two just should not be separated! Starting with Romeo, we see him mature from a comical character, who writes about feelings of love without actually experiencing true love in funny sonnets, to a sad teenager, who falls in love with Juliet but is torn between the family feud. After meeting Juliet, he realizes the value of true love and is ready to fight for his love with the whole world. He is strong, passionate, daring, and his love for Juliet is what is talked about even today. Juliet on the other hand, when introduced in the story, is already a mature girl. She is shy, obedient, quiet, but she has some inner strength which makes her defy her parents and fight for her love. Romeo and Juliet, together are a powerful couple. It was unfortunate that such lively characters faced a tragic ending. But they managed to leave their imprints on us, and became the absolute symbol of love for then, now and forever!

• WILLY WONKA- CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Roald Dahl

While working on this list, Charlie and the chocolate factory happened to be coming on TV, and re- watching the movie, made me re-read the book and I realized that Willy Wonka is my favorite character in it. Other than being "the greatest inventor and maker of chocolates that has ever been", he goes beyond that. Throughout the story, his energy levels are top notch, he not only does his job well, he does it with all his heart and soul and that's something we all should learn from him. He's eccentric. He's funny. He's strange. He sings and dances at the most odd times, but he is the one who adds such light, humor, and excitement to the story that even when you are reading the book, you can visualize his antics. He reminds us that life is fun, life is sweet. And in case you've forgotten, I think you should re-read the book!       

                                

This was my small list. There are so many characters just like these, who have left a long lasting impression on the reader. Let me know yours!!

BOOKS THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES!

Changes are necessary, especially in this whole life thing where we are all trying to succeed in. And these changes are fantastic. Wonderful. Soul-stretching. But, when we're all in this air of change- thinking about going back to school after the vacation, finding ways to get over school, looking for new opportunities, starting afresh, thinking about future, dealing with happiness or sadness- change can be very hard. As a book lover, I have found solace within the mellow pages of a paperback. In them, another person throws us an anchor made from their thoughts and feelings. The words show us that the change we are aiming for, our struggle, our need, our hurt, is not ours alone. That someone before us has been in the thick of it. And in their own small way, they help us change. A lot of us aim for change everyday. A change within ourselves, a change that makes us better and a change that can make this world better. 

After feeling a need of change myself, I went through some of the books which made me feel overwhelmingly positive for a very long time, and made me aim for change. Hope you all also try and aim for the better change with the help of these recommendations.

• The Secret
  The Secret is a self-help book about the power of positive thinking by Rhonda Byrne. The book is based on a  theory called the “law of attraction” – a principle that  basically states “like attracts like.” The author focuses on the idea that our dreams do come true – thinking about what we want, will attract those things to us, causing them to manifest in your life. Likewise, fretting over a negative scenario will only cause our fears to be realized. There are no accidents and bad luck. Instead, the author writes, “Your life right now is a reflection of your past thoughts.” 
  This book gave a very enlightened and fresh perspective into the realm of our thinking. But the lessons in it are effective only when put into practice daily. 
  

•  The Alchemist
  This one was the first book I read by Paulo Coelho, and soon after reading this I was totally hooked on to his work! The main essence of the book lies in its most beautiful line "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." It teaches us that when we really desires something, the whole universe will conspire to help us realize our dream. The book fills one with positivity. We are all born with a goal to achieve. Our work is to realize the goal and work towards achieving it, to never lose hope and have belief that one day we will get through the dark times and reach the ultimate goal of our lives.
  
•  Man's Search for Meaning
  This book was recommended to me by my psychology teacher as it revolves around the therapeutic method of identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about and then attaining the desired outcome. The author and psychologist, Viktor Frankl writes about his experiences in the Auschwitz concentration camps. The book has two parts, Part One talks about the happenings at the Holocaust, and how his stay at Auschwitz striped him of an essential part of his humanity, and how he also realizes that even in the direst of circumstances he still searched for meaning in life. Part Two talks about 'Logotherapy'- the art of searching for purpose in life, which keeps the soul content. Much recommended for psychology enthusiasts!
  
  
  
  
• To Kill a Mockingbird
  Atticus Finch is one of my most favorite fictional character. Striking not only as a noble man, but also a virtuous parent, he teaches his children the skill of acceptance. the ability to not judge a book by  its cover, the power to change as time goes by, the mastery in not destroying nature's beauty and to be courageous and stand up for ourselves.
  There are many lessons the book puts forward and the beauty of Harper Lee's writing is such that these lessons stay with a person for a very long time.
  
  
  
• Like the Flowing River
  Another amazing book by Paulo Coelho, which stayed with me for a very long time. The best thing about this book is that through a collection of anecdotes, thoughts and stories, the author offers glimpses of magic. Some chapters are very short, merely a few paragraphs or maximum two pages. Finishing those chapters may leave you feeling empty – as if a story is suddenly cut short half-way through. Yet as you let the words sink in, you realize that it is us who is meant to fill in the empty spaces with our own thoughts, our own reflections, meanings and dreams. 

All these books give us snippets of the mundane and if you were closer, magic hides behind those words, the magic that will push us forward. Although there may be some parts of some books that get lost, that may not resonate with everyone, but you will all surely find one that speaks to you. You will find in those strange moments where the words seem to reflect back on our life, it’s as if they were written especially for you. And that’s the fascinating thing about words, isn’t it – how you can sometimes see yourself looking back from the page? 

WHY A BIBLIOPHILE?

I was in playschool when the magical world of books was introduced to me. A simple book of alphabets with colorful pictures was enough for me to not cry or disturb anyone during the school time. Over the years, I have spent nights just finishing a book. My love for reading has cultivated more than half of my life. And people keep asking me about what is there in this world of books that draws me away from the actuality. So, I decided to jot down few reasons why I choose to be a bibliophile, or rather why I should be left alone in a room full of books.

·    Source of education
I learn the most from reading. I come across so many random facts, that I would have never looked up for otherwise, and in addition to it, I actually go on researching about them and learn another piece of information that I wouldn't have otherwise. The thirst for knowledge is such that once you get hold of it, you can't let it not affect you. You want more and more it. And Knowledge is Power. The more you know, the lesser it is. So, get hold of a book, any book and go on to become more powerful!

·    Best leisure activity
Whether it’s five minutes or five hours, reading just makes time fly by, which is really nice when you have nothing to do, or when you just want to relax. Books can help you unwind your mind, and make you feel at ease.
P.S. A little warning, what may seem like five minutes can actually be five hours! But the dream world always waits on the other side!

·    Inspire

     Books are one of the greatest invention of man. Any version, whether eBook or paperback, serves mankind in a small way, but capable of changing one’s beliefs in just a few phrases. A blank paper becomes a whole new dimension; through the raise of the pen and imagination, we build connections to the future. Through reading, one can travel from other part of the world with the wonder of words as if we are dreaming with our eyes wide open. We discover things unintentionally through written wisdom of those who dream like us. And this is how books inspire us; human curiosity is a gift, we crave for knowledge and keep on searching for it. Books serve the food of the human’s mind.

·    All time travel buddy!
It’s absolutely astounding how few pages of a paperback can take you places, without even actually moving an inch. Just by flipping few pages you find yourself in a different world. And if you ever get to actually see the places you’ve read about, your visit becomes ten times better! And while discovering the far off lands of Appalachian Mountains or the Mojave Desert, you can feel the serenity in those pages reach out to you, and make you go on a wanderlust.

     Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. I read them not because I don't have a life, but simply because I choose to have many.
What's stopping you all now?? Take some time out. The leaves of the book tree are waiting to be ruffled!!