So this is for all the booklovers out there? What is your fallbook? As in which is the book you read when you don't feel very good, or need to take a break from the Universe?
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
I stumbled upon this book when I was going through a really bad phase of my life. I knew I had gotten into a complicated maze of bad habits, but I was not able to find my way out of it. Then, Charles Duhigg’s masterpiece came in my life! It would not be exaggeration if I call it a watershed event of my life. It brought me back from getting lost to oblivion in terms of personal, professional and romantic aspects of life.
This book aptly captures the iconic quote from ‘Shawshank Redemption’, No good thing ever dies. Good things remain in abeyance only as long as one is not ready to grasp the goodness in them. As soon as one gets rid of the vision mired in bad habits, they can be seen conspicuously present everywhere.
It still think about this book. I still revisit a few pages that are my favourite<3
Rashmirathi by Dinkar ji
It is indeed a masterpiece. It is a must-read for all Hindi-speakers! Dinkar ji's name is taken in every Bihari household. I had already listened a lot of it from my Grandparents before reading the actual book. I'd love to read it again sometime as I do not recall most of it. The choice of words and their usage is peculiarly amazing and amazingly peculiar!
Autobiography of a Yogi
the most epic line of this book: “You may control a mad elephant; you may shut the mouth of the bear and the tiger; Ride the lion and play with the cobra;...
you may wander through the universe incognito ;Make vassals of the gods ; be ever youthful...But control of the mind is better and more difficult’
Harry Potter or Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy
Harry Potter is one of the first few books I picked up, and probably why I have a reading habit of sorts in the first place. As a kid, reading them was nothing short of a magical experience, and I find going back to them again and again - each time I interpret them in someway new. Especially the later books which are more complex.
I find people developing contrarian attitude towards ubiquitous things such as HP. When something goes too mainstream, people like to avoid it, like Game of Thrones. If that’s keeping someone from picking these up, then let this be the push you need :P The series is very engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed Rowling’s writing, so much so that I have read all her work (including her adult works such as The Strike series which is perfect for someone into mystery). Harry Potter is the perfect immersive experience.
Then comes Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the thing about the works of Douglas Adams is that they make no sense whatsoever. So if you want a quick witty, funny absurdist adventure - look nowhere else. Ever since I’ve begun reading up on philosophy, my appreciation for Adam’s work has skyrocketed. We humans like to rationalise things and think so much...but is there really a pattern to things? Don’t most things just happen? Is the world supposed to make sense?
"Papillon" - don't watch movie. Reading this book is not parallel to movie. Theme: Ambitious young man in his twenties imprisoned on forged charges. He makes plan to fly from prison. Every time is plan don't get success. For each failed attempt to escape, punishment get stricter. At last he imprisoned on isolated island. With a brilliant plan he successfully escapes.
But main catch is here, Those who had helped him in his 18 years of imprisonment, he wanted to pay back. He gave gold ring to one prison mate, some dollar cash to other, likewise... One who helped him in his master plan, he wanted to give him more. He decided to escape that friend also. So, both get escaped, travels about 32 days from handmade small ship. After a month, they reach nearby shore. They were hungry, thirsty, impatient to jump to shore. Papillon could maintain his calm and patience. His friend was impatient to touch soil. about couple of feet from shore, his friend jumped in sea to reach shore............... BUT, that place was marshy..... his feet stuck there. Big wave came and escaped him from life..... Papillon later settled in other country, made indian wife in his 40s. opened restaurant and lived happy life. Takeaways: Work hard (made about 20 escape attempts); be optimistic (even after many failures, injuries he believed one day he will escape) help friends , believe in spirit of cooperation, pay back gratitude. Have a patience. Who knows you may be very close to success (like his impatient friend who jumped out of impatience just few feet away fro destination) AND this story compels to believe in fate
Harry Potter or Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy
This + Russell's Conquest of Happiness (esp Chap 2 -Byronic Unhappiness - for those who believe that ignorance is bliss, hence, knowledge entails unhappiness).
Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Ruskin Bond's Hidden Pool (look for the Hindi translation if you can; a bittersweet tale of friendships of adolescence with the usual Ruskin bond magic)
Harry Potter or Hitchhiker’s Guide to GalaxyThis + Russell's Conquest of Happiness (esp Chap 2 -Byronic Unhappiness - for those who believe that ignorance is bliss, hence, knowledge entails unhappiness).
Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Ruskin Bond's Hidden Pool (look for the Hindi translation if you can; a bittersweet tale of friendships of adolescence with the usual Ruskin bond magic)
I have only watched the movie, Perks of Being a Wallflower and still watch it every now and then. I can imagine how wonderful the book would be. I did not read the book after the movie gave away the story.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.Every year when I feel that's it, I can't take anymore, I go back to that book. It's comfortable and familiar and it makes me feel I would get through and that this moment will just be another story someday.Been doing that since I was 14 now am 23. At this point I can almost quote it in whole.Also The catcher in the rye, if I want to feel someone can crib more than I do, but great book and Kafka on the shore, if I want to immerse myself and feel in a dream like state
Coming of age/young adult is my fav genre, though budhapa aane ko hai :D
Saw 'Vijeta' today, good stuff (Parallel Cinema version of 'Lakshya')
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.Every year when I feel that's it, I can't take anymore, I go back to that book. It's comfortable and familiar and it makes me feel I would get through and that this moment will just be another story someday.Been doing that since I was 14 now am 23. At this point I can almost quote it in whole.Also The catcher in the rye, if I want to feel someone can crib more than I do, but great book and Kafka on the shore, if I want to immerse myself and feel in a dream like state
I wish I knew what I was getting into while reading both of these works.
As far as coming of age genre goes, Little Women and Call Me By Your Name were great too
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