Top 5 Books I'd Save in a Fire

Feels like it's been eons since I did one of these. The minute I knew of this week's topic, I had to get to it.  The list is fairly strange for once and mostly here due to the sentimental value they hold.

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I loved everything about The Help. Loved the movie as much. Each character was so poignant irrespective of what kind of role they played. I haven't really professed my love for this book as much I probably should do. Stockett has written this keeping in mind the Jackson, Mississippi accent and also doesn't shy away from switching viewpoints. The Help will make you laugh, make you cry and it will touch your heart for certain.

4. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I just got this book! The timing couldn't be anymore perfect. I was heading to the mall to buy this, saw the parking situation and opted to buy it the next day. Little did I know that the very next day I would receive the same as a gift! Just my luck I'd say! I've heard nothing but fabulous things about it and can't wait to get on with it!

3. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

The reason I'd save this in a fire because it's the biggest book I own, also something that wouldn't burn easily. I've only read it halfway through since it manages to either suffocate me because of my reading stance or requires relocation in order to pursue it without interruptions. Nonetheless, I can't say I haven't enjoyed his writing so far.

2. The Client by John Grisham

One of my very first reads that made me feel like I had evolved to better literary material. Fun fact: do you know how in 12th grade you had to get all your dues cleared in order to get your finals hall ticket? Turns out I did not returned this to my school library and surprisingly the Librarian didn't even know! Ha! I still have that book with all the library tags on them! So that deserves the 2nd position.

1. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

How. Just how is it possible that something so simple and short could be the perfect life guide?! I neglected this for the longest time and now I even got a beautiful burgundy hard cover copy of The Prophet for my dad since he's been such a heavy endorser and promoter of it. He says that this book is based on the verses of the Holy Quran but a simplified version of it, written in a format that is relatable to anyone regardless of their beliefs or what they follow. That too something that was written in the 1920s!

What books would you save in case of fire? I'd love to know.

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Top 5 Non-Young Adult Books

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of Non- YA books I had read so far. I usually gravitate to them more whenever I crave great prose and an abundance of emotional overwhelm.  As much as I love Young Adult fiction for the thrill it gives, It's the Non - YA books that predominantly stay imprinted on my mind for years to come.

Here are my top 5 favourites:

5. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

I just finished this book last night. I remember picking it up years ago and abandoning it halfway. What a poignant read! This is a book where you don't love the characters , you observe them. You awe at their mannerism and shock at their moves. Their actions are open yet not short of causing chaos beyond repair. Also something I call a 'conflict read ' because, as I mentioned , their actions and reactions are natural but it manages to yield the most tragic turn of events.  A day does change everything. 

4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

All of my friends who have read this book have not fallen short of praises. I immediately jumped on the bandwagon too and don't regret it one bit. The characters , irrespective of what social or economic strata they belong to, were warm loving and well rooted. The underlining guilt grows like a creeper. The language is simple with a beautiful intermix of Farsi  mostly to translate the on-going emotions, which I loved. Hosseini is so in touch with his Afghan roots and his introduction of it left me spellbound.

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson 

Highly explicit, graphic and also, if I dare say, controversial. This book is no fun and games. It's very hardcore in its elements, well researched and thorough in detail. At first, I was skeptical, thinking that keeping in mind all the names and sub plots I would end up losing track of the chain of events. That did not happen! By far the best paced mystery novel I have ever read, with  perfect closure and justifications to all the sub plots. No loose ends and no further questions asked. A must-read for all murder mystery lovers.

2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 

The book and I have a connection. So it feels like. There is not one character I did not like in the book (Yes, even Miss Hilly). I adored the country accent it was written in. Stockett's ability to have various narratives of the three different women run parallel then converging them and weaving them together with laughter , love and loss is commendable. The stories are their own, the pain and the way they deal with it is heterogeneous. You love them , you laugh with them and you hurt like it was your own .The movie was equally fantastic. Exactly how I had envisioned it. Can we make this a classic already!

1. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 

*cue gasp* Majority of people could not stomach this book and I completely understand why. For the longest time, this has been and still is a controversial and unacceptable-in-society kind of read. There is a niche audience that has found the true motive and meaning behind Nabokov. He challenges you with words to empathize with a inadmissible love. Something you would never support in real life. His description and language is unmatched.  To read this book one would have to be really open-minded.

What are your favourite Non YA books? I'd love to know!

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