The Notebook

Nicholas Sparks

Simplicity is what this book is all about.For me the naivete's, The sweetness of the book is what makes it so special.and thank god at least in this one, the guy is not that typical macho man!

The hero is Noah,he is from a small town who is built in and out with the morals and ethics instilled in him by his father, that could not be broken even by a devastating war.Luck favours him, and again it doesn't.When the love of his life, his childhood sweetheart-Allie leaves him, after spending a beautiful summer with him and never looks back,the barriers of wealth,status,family and career stands between them and fate smirks at him .But, then again, his belated-boss leaves quite an amount of his fortune in his them.Thus he becomes able to fulfill his dreams,rebuild his dream house.And then--and then after 14 years, Allie returns to the town.
Noah and Allie are both two heart full people,close to nature.Noah likes poetry and Allie is a painter.Creation always needs inspiration, for them it's one another.At certain places i got drowned in the beauty of those verses,the poetries are an appeal to this story.
And there are times i wondered how can two people ever feel something like this for each other.The writer gave an eternity to the story,something that truly touched me.Just by those simple words,i think any one will get convinced that true love is unending,its infinite, its unconditional.and he made some fantasy seem real,he made the illogical seem the most possible, he made the impractical seem practical.It was as if Noah and Allie were defining love all over again, the abstract thing called 'affection' suddenly bounced out in full form in front of me,as if, love is exactly that, not any less!
Probably the story might not sound that interesting, but trust me it has got much more to it. Here Nicholas Sparks gives you that 'perfect' ending that you were always looking for!

Emma - Jane Austen

A departure from the subsequent thriller-review series underneath, this book I'm reviewing is an all-time favourite Social Comedy (the reason behind it being that this reviewer has never laid her hands on a thriller book, shame on her). Yes, yet another Jane Austen Classic, but unlike any of her other books. The heroine of this book is an exact opposite of P&P's Elizabeth Bennet. Unlike any of her other heroines, Emma Woodhouse is NOT polite, sincere, sensible or thoughtful. Tricky, huh? Well, it must've been so for Austen, because she has deemed Emma as her greatest and most favourite creation.

Getting right down to the story of the novel, Emma Woodhouse is a rich, elegant, beautiful and witty young lady of 19, who is the stereotypical "Popular Girl" of the Victorian age. She gets everything she wants, everybody loves her, and she rules. After her elder sister gets married and moves out of the house, she is the mistress of everybody, and she rather likes to think herself smarter than all other mortals, so she decided to bestow her kindness on her earthly neighbours through her best social skill:- Matchmaking! She makes all kinds of ironic and disastrous matches, creating a sort of havoc in her perfectly prim and proper society. But of course, no one can refuse her. No one except, the 38-year-old handsome, dashing, thoughtful and conveniently rich Mr. Knightley , Emma's sister's brother-in-law. He is like Emma's conscience, while Emma will only pay any heed to Mr. Knightley alone. But nothing stops her from her matchmaking, and she goes on and on trying to make other people fall in love, remaining blissfully clueless about her own true love.

This book is light, funny, witty and nothing else. It's not romance, it's obvious from the first chapter who is destined to end up with who, it's not a character in-depth analysis book, and doesn't pretend to be! It's the ultimate ancestor to romantic comedies. Those of you like that genre will love this book. But I suggest you pick up an abridged version. Because Emma in it's original classic Victorian English? Trust me, the first chapter will put you to sleep.....like it did with me!

To kill a Mocking bird - Harper Lee

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child (Scout). The result is a novel dealing with issues like race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up.

Like the slow-moving occupants of her fictional town, Lee takes her time getting to the heart of her tale. The begining might get a bit boring but it does show the gradual character build-up. At first the circumstances surrounding the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, barely penetrate the children's consciousness. Then Atticus is called on to defend the accused, Tom Robinson, and soon Scout and Jem find themselves caught up in events beyond their understanding. During the trial, the town exhibits its ugly side, but Lee offers plenty of counterbalance as well--in the struggle of an elderly woman to overcome her morphine habit before she dies; in the heroism of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he knows is right; and finally in Scout's hard-won understanding that most people are essentially kind "when you really see them." Lee won the prestigious Pulitzer Award for this book.

The God Of Small Things - Arundhati Roy

An award winning book in all its right, The God Of Small Things will take you to a different realm entirely. But it's up to you whether or not you may like that realm. The novel delves into a the lives of two young siblings in the heart of South India as they go through happiness and tragedies alike. The narrative of this novel is the most unique thing I have ever read. Hard to believe this is Arundhati Roy's first novel, and to this day remains her only novel.

We read the novel through the mindset of the two children; this takes us through very serious subject matters, but in the innocent view-point of two children, bringing a unique and almost disturbing quality to it. Also extraordinary are the nature of its central characters, Estha and Rahel, the two twin siblings who are said to be Siamese twins; but joined not at the body, but said to have "shared a single soul". If you don't read closely, this book will seem only strange and weird to you. But this book is in reality, an in-depth study of the human nature, and its primal instincts and behavior. Yet, strangely enough, this book is centered mostly on the socio-political circumstances of a post-war, communist South India. But this is only expected out of the most famous columnist in the Indian-Subcontinent, as social commentary must be a second nature to her, if not a duty.

A word of caution: this is not a light read. In fact, this is the hardest book I've ever had to read and even more so, to understand. This book deals with racism, child abuse, and at one point, incest. But you have to read through that to find out why this book enchants every adult who reads it, and is Award-Winning to say the least. No wonder readers are demanding a follow-up of this novel. After all, how many times do we come across a classic in this side of the twentieth century?

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

A Spanish classic--Don Quixote by Cervantes is often called the first modern novel and many rate it as one of the best novels ever written in any language. This book reigns the first spot of most of the 'Best novels of the world'--lists. That itself stirs enough interest and curiosity for readers.

After reading a great many chivalric tales—having sold much of his land to obtain the volumes—a 50-year-old gentleman of La Mancha loses his reason. The plot and sub-plots are primarily guided by Don Quixote's obsession with knight-errants, forming acts to chivalry and participating in adventures in a manner he read in such books. Sancho serves as his squire and complements and supplements his master in every possible way. Quixote is kind at heart, his every act is inspired by a good intention, a dreamer trapped in a body that prompts him to be called the "knight of rueful countenance", a loyal lover whose never set eye on her who he so praises and desires in a chaste way! Yet he is so full of imaginary tales and characters that he lives in a make-believe world, where he mistakes windmills for monsters, herds of sheep for armies, and so on, attacks them, defends them, and Cerventes manages to weave a saga of such events in a form that identifies with allegory, fable, epic and comic drama at the same time. The dialogue between Quixote and Sancho is excellent comedy, creating a duo that will make you laugh till your tummy hurts.

However I must warn you this is a big book and the story starts in a slow pace which can easily bore a reader. Since this is a classic one must endure the fact that
they would have to read 100 pages for the establishment of the characters.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

By Jules Verne

Whatever any one might say,but I absolutely loved this book.Indeed,it is famous for a reason. It is a rather simple story,something that might remind you of Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl.But of course in a mature way.
It is a very informative,knowledgeable and an extremely well written book.You will find yourself traveling through out the world along with Phileas Fogg.We get to see Fogg passing through different cultures and also saving a young women from being burned alive. And you also get to learn a lot of geography and history,while being quite unaware of that fact,and i think that is what makes this book so cool.

If you find it child like, then i bet you find Agatha Christie,Rowling,R.L. Stevenson extremely child like as well.And so I'd suggest you not to read the book.
Otherwise, i think you should rush and grab a copy,because this book totally rocks!

Sense & Sensibility-Jane Austen

Her first book ever published, Sense & Sensibility greatly reflects upon the true writing style of Austen. Like Pride & Prejudice, the meaning of this novel too, lies in its title. This story is about the conflict between Sense and Sensibility. The two main characters in the novel are Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, two beautiful sisters of elegant birth but of little fortune. Elinor, extremely mannered and reserved, portrays Sense while Marianne, lively and passionate portrays Sensibility.

Elinor deeply loves Edward Ferarrs, the brother of her sister-in-law; a man who is equally reserved and shy as Elinor herself. Elinor never quite manages to tell Edward about her feelings. This brings a high price, for one day she finds out that Edward has become engaged to another girl.

Marianne, who lives for passion, finds exactly what she wants. John Willoughby, a handsome and dashing bachelor, has almost everything in common with Marianne. The two are open and ardent in their love until their behavior becomes too scandalous and arrogant. They despise the 35-year-old bachelor Colonel Brandon, a man who has neither youth nor passion. Colonel Brandon forms an intimate and deep friendship with Elinor, and at the same time is enchanted with Marianne, who resembles his long lost love. Marianne's dreams are torn away from her as Willoughby betrays her shockingly and marries another girl for money.

So who wins in the end in terms of a happy ending? Sense or Sensibility? The answer is the same as almost all of Austen's other books: A balance between the two. Both the sisters come to terms with their own selves and realize their mistakes and finally, repair the rift between the two of them to help each other through their miseries. And both of them find true love and happiness in the end, in a way none of them had ever imagined. And thus Austen concludes with the fact that while both reserve and passion are important, too much of one can destroy any kind of relationship.

As far as personal opinion goes, I don't like this novel all too much. Though it has a great moral and storyline, the ending almost destroys the whole point of the novel. In my opinion the characters in the novel had a lot more room for development and the ending did none of them justice, especially Elinor and Marianne. Also, if you're looking for a romantic read like Pride and Prejudice, this book is not for you, because the book is more about the analysis of the characters of the two sisters than their love stories. Nonetheless it's a good read if you already like Jane Austen's style and aren't afraid of a somewhat disappointing ending.

Mansfield Park

Though not one of the most remarkable works of Austen,Mansfield Park is a novel which rose much interest among the mass

Yes,those of you who like to read classics, this probably is not one of the best of e kind but what the hell,Austen is Austen!

Fanny Price,the goody good young girl from a poor family starts living with her aunt and her family,the Bertrams. From the beginning she grows this soft corner for her Cousin Edmund.
Fanny is not the gossip raising beauty, and nor much of an outspoken girl,but since she is the heroin at the end of the day every one and evhingeryt goes in her favour.
When the new hotshot brother and sister-Mary and Henry Crawford arrive in her neighbourhood,every one gets drugged by their charm,and steps towards derailment.But obviously none of this affected our Fanny.
Henry Crawford at last becomes aware of the unconventional beauty in Fanny and proposes marriage to her.But our righteous and shy fanny,gave her heart to Edmund who gave his to Mary Crawford.Being refused by Fanny,frustrated Henry Crawford elopes and has a one night stand with Edmund's married sister Maria
Reality dawns on everyone and the spotlight again returns to Fanny

This is supposed to be a love story,but the mutual love is caged in only Chap 5b of a book containing 58 chapters.And it is in this Chapter that Edmund like everyone else figures out that no none suits him better than Fanny Price.And they live happily ever after.