Friday, September 5, 2014

Bound by pain, bonded by love

Previous in this series: 4-6 of my most loved novels.

7-9 of my twelve most loved novels.

The books I speak of here are full of life, innocence, brutality, pain and tragedy. But it is the courage and commitment of the protoganists to never lose hope, never give up on life, never bow down and go down or emerge fighting for right that wins our heart.

I speak of The Diary of a Young girl, Echoes, and The Kite runner here.

> The diary of a young girl, or better known as The Diary of Anne Frank is a first hand account of the terror of Nazi regime and life during the Second world war through the eyes of a 14 year old young jewish girl, Anne Frank. It is so full of innocence, candour and pain... it makes our heart bleed.

Co-incidentally I got to read this book when I was about the same age as her myself, in my high school. Maybe it was this which made connect with her so easily.

> Echoes by Danielle Steel is yet another account of the lives and times during and in between the two world wars. A fictionalised story spanning generations, it maintains an on-the-surface coverage of the political warfare and consequences as the characters get embroilled in it. Yet even this feels so terrible, one can't imagine what went through the actual victims, survivors and witnesses.

> The Kite runner celebrates itself as the debut novel of the prolific present-day author, doctor and acticvist Khaled Hosseini. I must say, what a ground-shattering debut it is! The story of two friends, bonded and separated by fate, tragedy and torture. We grow with Aamir in it, love him, hate it, support him, revolt against him and silently witness the double standards of the soceity and the terror of Taliban just like him. We want to do something about it all, yet feel as helpless as him! Maybe that's why Hosseini chose him as the narrator from all the wonderful characters, and over himself too!

All these three novels have made me cry, but I know they and the people they speak of deserve it and more.

Note: all hyperlinks in this blog redirect to their respective wikipedia pages

Next in the series: Last but not the least

6 comments:

  1. I only read The Diary of Anne Frank and actually went to see the house upon my last visit to Amsterdam years ago. (I lived in that city before we moved to Canada). I haven't read The Kite Runner, at least not yet, though I hear it's a really great read....so many novels/books to read! ;)

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    1. really Elly! How was the experience of your visit to Anne Frank's house? :) and yes, you must try Kite Runner. As you have already heard so much about it, I won't raise your hopes any further :) what about Echoes? Have you read it?

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  2. I also love reading historical novels. The last one I read was when I returned from India in February. The book is Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa. Asma, do you have a Goodreads account? Let's be friends there.

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    1. Thank you Candessa... I will hopefully join goodreads soon

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  3. You know, Asiya, I think it is time for my granddaughter (who will be 12 in a couple of months) to read The Diary of Anne Frank. I remember reading it when I was about that age. What I find amazing is that when I read it, it wasn't so long after the War and the finding of the diary was still somewhat a "current event". It just made it more real.

    I loved The Kiterunner - at least the first part of it. Apart from the moral dilemma, reading about life in Afghanistan was fascinating. Somehow the second part, in the USA, didn't work for me.

    A year or two ago I read Shantaraam by Gregory David Roberts, all about India. Whether it is true or not (which is debatable), I loved reading about life in India (at least certain aspects). It was definitely an eye-opener.
    HUGS <3
    This is so much fun! I am learning so much!

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  4. I guess you have not read Echoes! I suggest you do, and maybe even The Orphan of Angel street... The latter deals with world war 1 partially, and i couldn't gather myself to read it again. I made me wonder why on earth till these wars had to happen! :'(
    And i love the best part of the kite runner after Sohrab's entry. He brings meaning to the novel :)

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