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

... a friend indeed!

Winnie The Pooh, once said to his friend Tigger,
"If you live to be a hundred, I would wish to live a hundred minus one day so I won't have to live without you."

The stories I look into here, reflect similar sentiments and devotion, but in completely contrasting circumstances. Both the stories were written to touch our hearts and both succeed effortlessly.

Sam and Frodo:
Sam often said, "He (Gandalf) told me, Don't you lose him Samwise Gamgee!... and I don' t intend to Mr. Frodo." But this shows Sam's devotion to his friend, rather than an awe for Gandalf. He follows Frodo with adamine dedication, even nearly drowning himself to persuade the other to take him along when Frodo decides to renegade the Fellowship.
Sam passes the test of endurance and fellowship with valour, always being Frodo's strength, support and salvaging factor. But Frodo is not spared too, with his trust and faith in Sam tested mercilessly. He nearly succumbs almost chasing away Sam... but everything is restored before it's too late and their friendship survives and shines in the end to tell a tale of bravery and togetherness.

By the by, If you were to ask me, Sam is one friend, i would die for.

Aamir and Hassan,
Must prove their loyalty and friendship in a completely world beseeched with equally daunting evilry.
Irony of their story is Hassan is always there for Aamir, even when Aamir isn't there, or even if he doesn't need him. On the other hand, Aamir is never there for Hassan, even if Hassan is right there and even when he needs him the most.

Hassan undisputably passes his test, but it is Aamir's long at last return that salvages their friendship, it's glory and it's essence. Else, Hassan would have been disgraced to be a fool, than a friend... and Aamir would have proved himself to be worser than a foe.

A story of dedication and disappointment

The debut novel of Khaled Hosseini took us through the lives and times of two friends,

Aamir and Hassan.

The kite runner is a novel for the speaking heart. It reveals the glory and plight of Afghanistan through the lives of these two childhood friend. On one hand, where the rich and sensitive but self absorbed Aamir treated his friendship with Hassan as a plaything and to his convenience (sadly it is how so many today their friendships too!), On the other hand, the sweet, brave and poor Hassan reciprocated with utmost honesty and unimaginable dedication. So much that it haunted Aamir even thousand miles apart across the globe, and to the extend that Hassan remains true to it till the end, even forgiving Aamir unasked.
I have often wondered if there can be friends like Hassan in today's world. I don't know! But it is his version of friendship and Aamir at long last redemption which makes their friendship one of the best in fiction.