When wilderness calls
The most enthralling book that I would like to read numerous times is ‘The Call Of The Wild” by Jack London. This novella is a thriller with action-packed scenes, intense dogfights and the message of loyalty. The main character Buck is suddenly taken to Alaska, where he fights his way to become the top dog. Buck learns to adapt to the brutal terrain of Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. This novella shows the reality of the dogs living in Alaska. This story impressed me a lot mainly because unlike other stories, it is not far-fetched nor imaginary. It is based on actual facts. London’s passionate description of the characters and the landscape makes the readers feel as if they are actually inside the book. He takes you on an emotional ride. Really I love this book very much. Another notable book by London is “White Fang”.
The Harry Potter finale
The book which I would love to read again and again is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J. K. Rowling. It is a breathtaking fantasy novel, which marked the ending of the “Harry Potter” series. In this novel, Harry destroys all the Horcruxes of his arch enemy Lord Voldemort and kills him. I like this book because it takes magic to another level. Harry turns 17 and is now able to perform magic even outside Hogwarts. He learns more about the Deathly Hallows, the most powerful magical objects and the trio (Harry, Ron Hermione) go on the run. This book is really a masterpiece because it also explains the Half-Blood Prince’s past. Altogether, this book is great.
Heffley’s Halloween adventures
The book I would like to read again and again is “Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Double Down”. It is very interesting and humorous. It is mostly based on Greg Heffley’s Halloween adventures. When Greg purchases a bunch of horror books, he experiences nightmares and the disasters begin. Greg enters the Balloon Brigade contest in his school. He also tries to learn an instrument, join in the school band and get invited to a party. The story ends with Greg filming a movie with Rowley, which ultimately turns into a goose invasion. I like this book very much as it made me laugh a lot. It’s a good read for people who love Halloween and humour.
Oh Captain!
“Oh Captain! My Captain!” is a beautiful poem penned by Walt Whitman. Written in the form of an elegy, it conveys his respect for the U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. The poet refers to Lincoln as the captain and the ship is America.. The first stanza shows the poet’s happiness over their victory in completing the fearful journey (gaining Independence). The poet then expresses his sorrow over the captain’s death. One of the things I liked about the poem is that the poet calls the captain ‘My Father. This shows us how the captain was a fatherly figure to the narrator. The poem also tells us that the captain would always remain in his heart. While everyone else rejoiced in their victory, the poet could not think of anything else but the loss of his beloved captain. This poem shows us how a single person could change a man’s entire perspective on life. The inner meaning of the poem is incredibly beautiful. This poem touched me, and I hope it will do the same for you.
“Psalm of Life”
A “Psalm of Life” or “What The Heart Of A Young Man Said To The Psalmist’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the only poem that enchants me and compels me to read it again and again. Illustrating the thoughts of a sagacious mind, the poem glorifies the true essence of life. It inspires us to forget the past and also to get away from the thought of an illusionary world (future). Wadsworth instead stresses on the fact that the present is “the greatest opportunity in hand”. The emphasis laid by him on working incessantly and remaining constant in days of deep distress or happiness reminds me that the grave is not life’s goal. I feel that the poem holds a greater significance during today’s COVID-19 pandemic, stimulating a different yet positive approach towards life.
M for mystery
Out of all the books I have read, “The ABC Murders” by Agatha Christie is one I enjoyed a lot. It enthralls me every time I read it. Since I love mystery and thriller novels, this gripping book keeps me on the edge of my seat. “The ABC Murders’ is a brilliant thriller, which I would surely recommend to all fellow thriller lovers.
An inspiring read
An autobiography, “I am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai definitely finds its place in my annual reading list. It showed me the value of education through the eyes of a girl, from whom it was almost snatched away. Born in the Swat valley of Pakistan, she aspired for equal rights for women. In this valley, people gladly showered a baby boy’s cradle with sweets and dates, but they were depressed whenever a girl child was born. “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world,” these words of Malala echo in my mind while studying. I realised that I am learning for a great cause – to change the world. Malala describes her views about the Taliban overtly. A critic of the Right to Education may ask, Who is Malala? To which, she would politely reply. I am Malala and my story is recorded in this book. When the Taliban shot Malala wantonly, her story seemed to have arrived at a full stop. However, she survived and travelled to the United Kingdom. Reading this book taught me history, society and moral values.
Chitra Katha
The book that I would like to read again and again is “Gods and Goddesses”, a collection of 22 stories from Indian mythology. It is published by Amar Chitra Katha. There are various reasons why I read this book time and again. The story of Shiva and Parvati teaches us about the immense love between the husband and his wife. The tale of Ganesh is a poignant account of the sacrifice of a son for his mother. The tale of Durga has taught me to not be afraid even before a formidable enemy. I like Krishna the most, because I am his namesake and we both have a love for mischief and butter! My parents and neighbours often call me to read these stories alout during religious occasions. Reading these stories gives me immense happiness. I feel as if I am one of the characters. I would also like to become like them one day.
Daffodils
Written by William Wordsworth, “Daffodils” is one of his most notable works. Wordsworth’s treatment of nature makes it a unique read. This poem lets us soak in the beauty of nature and realise the importance of imbibing nature in our everyday life. The serene sight of a never-ending line of daffodils fluttering bedsides a lake encountered by the poet, has been described in the poem. Reading this poem can instantly uplift one’s mood by just imagining the nature’s beauty expressed in Wordworth’s words. Wordsworth has proved through this poem that nature has powers to sooth and heal one’s soul. This poem has been a great source of inspiration to me to write as well as experience the joy of nature glorified with the poet’s ‘inward eye’.
Off the beaten track
“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is my all-time favourite poem and probably one out of the few which I would like to read regularly. Every time that I read this poem, it fills my heart with an immeasurable amount of motivation and spirit. This poem is all about the choices that we make in our life. In the future, all of us will be faced with the task of choosing one path over the other, which will mould our future. The poem describes how the decisions we make cannot be changed and hence, we should make these decisions carefully. Whatever we choose, we should never regret it. We should accept the reality and should always be on the move and continue our journey of life. We should always follow our heart and choose a path that is bound to bring us happiness at the end.
Holmes again!
I would like to read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study n Scarlet”, based on the extraordinary sleuth, Sherlock Holmes again and again. It has a thrilling plot and suspense. Each word is compelling and the book is so engrossing that the reader totally loses track of time. The story is intriguing and mind boggling. It cannot be understood fully in just one read. The narrative is gripping and helps in gaining an overall understanding of the story, but you need to pay attention to the minute details to comprehend the case fully. And this can be done by reading the story repeatedly. Even if you read the book a second or a third time, it doesn’t get boring.
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