10 Day Challenge: Four Books

Books. Everyone probably knows by now just how much I love my books. So how in the world am I supposed to choose just four? Oh well. I will mention four books that have left me speechless and have just been fantastic.  These are books I have read more than once and can still vividly remember them. They are books where I have identified with one or more characters and basically, lived the story. That to me, is the sign of a great author.

1. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This was the first book I read by the author and I have been hooked on her ever since. A story about a family struggling with one daughter who has leukaemia and another who has been conceived to be a donor. For life. The ups and downs, the pain and little joys…they are all beautifully depicted. This heart-wrenching book had me sobbing in the end. And to those who have watched the movie (which I haven’t), and haven’t read the book, apparently the movie changed the ending. So reading the book is well worth it. You can read my complete review here.


2. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is about India in the 70s under the reign of Indira Gandhi seen through the eyes of Dina Dalal, a widowed Parsi woman, Ishvar Darji and his nephew Omprakash, two tailors working for Dina, and Maneck Kohlah, a paying guest at Dina’s house. The book is about how the lives of these four characters from completely different backgrounds inter-connect thereby taking a look at the government, the caste system and how life in general hangs by a thin rope. It is by far, one of the best books by an Indian author I’ve read and to this day, I cannot believe that it didn’t win the Booker prize when crap like Arundhati Roy’s did! My review of this book can be found here.

3. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling began a new era of fantasy and school novels. She had people reading again. While her novels appear to be mainly for kids and teens, I would disagree. Given that I started reading them at 18 and continue to enjoy them today when I am almost 28 should say something. Yes, it is about an orphaned boy wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they attend Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, however, is not just any wizard. As a baby, when the most evil dark wizrd, Voldermort tried to kill him, the curse backfired and Harry lived. Something no other wizard or witch had ever done. The novels follow Harry and his friends throughout school, dealing with adolescent years as well as him trying to fight Lord Voldermort. While on the surface it is a good versus evil story, it has several underlying themes and in fact, is making a comment on society over the years. I am currently in the process of reviewing the books on our book blog. So you can read those for more…

4. We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

This is a book written by a woman Eva Khatchadourian to her absent husband about their 15 year old son Kevin. Who is currently in prison for murdering seven classmates, a teacher and a canteen worker. Eva never wanted to have a child when she fell pregnant with Kevin. And therein lies the issues that Shriver tries to bring through her book. She makes you question the nature versus nurture debate, motherhood and issues surrounding it, the source of evil, the apparent taboo of a woman not wanting to have kids. It is a brilliant yet disturbing book and will linger with you a long time after you are done. Here’s a detailed review of the same. It has now been made into a movie and I am looking forward to seeing it. Hopefully it won’t disappoint.

So that’s it. Four books that have had a massive impact on me. Four books that I can remember vividly till today. And that I would re-read whenever I have the chance.

Any books that impacted on your life? Or stayed with you long after you were done with it? Do share.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!