My Science School

A poignant twist

I was shocked by the unexpected ending of the film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Directed by Mark Herman and produced by David Heyman and Rosie Alison, the film is about Bruno, the son of a commander of the Nazi army. The film opens with Bruno and his family moving to another place, as his father gets promoted and transferred. Near their new home, there is a Nazi concentration camp. Bruno, who is not aware of concentration camps, constantly asks his parents what those farms (concentration camps) are. They never tell him the truth One day Bruno escapes through the back door of the house, nuns through the forest and reaches the concentration camp, where he meets a Jewish boy named Schmuel. They meet every day and they soon become friends. But, one day, Bruno's mother decides to move the children to their aunt's house as she feels it's not right for the children to live so close to the concentration camp. Bruno tells Schmuel that he is leaving. An upset Schmuel says that his father is lost and Bruno decides to help him find his father. Bruno wears enters the camp. Unfortunately, the guards round up all the men in the camp and send them to the gas chamber. Bruno and Schmuel also end up in the gas chamber. The film ends with Bruno's family realising what happened. The film had a very unexpected ending, and I was truly shocked. I found this sentimental film to be an emotional roller coaster. It also contained some humorous scenes. It is t is one of the best films I have ever seen.

"Matilda"

One of the books I like with an unexpected ending is "Matilda" by Roald Dahl. Matilda is a five-year-old mathematics genius. She lives with her parents and younger brother. But her parents are selfish. They don't appreciate her talent. They hate her and only like their son. When Matilda goes to school, she meets a teacher named Miss. Honey, who is gentle and kind. She loved Matilda for her wonderful brain and immediately places her in the top form. It is fun to read about all of the activities Matilda does with her keen intelligence and her newly discovered powers of telekinesis. One day, Matilda sees her parents pack their bags and run away from the police. Surprisingly, Matilda refuses to leave with her parents and choses to stay with Miss. Honey. She adopts Matilda and they live happily in the red brick house.

The secret scientist

The ending of the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots, is completely unexpected. It shows the fun-loving but genius protagonist, Rancho in a completely different light. The realisation that the ingenious yet humble Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad is the renowned scientist, Phunsukh Wangdu, with 400 patents to his credit, leaves us and his friends happy and dumbstruck. Earlier in the film, they meet the real Ranchoddas and threaten him into telling them the whereabouts of their college mate, Rancho/Phunsukh. During Rancho's college years, he teaches his friends so many life lessons in amusing ways. We are rooting for him throughout the film. The fact that he is a school teacher, who loves his job makes us happy but when the ending is revealed, his stupendous success gives us more joy.

From beyond the grave

(Massive spoilers for "And Then There Were None") If there's any book that pops into my head whenever unexpected endings are brought up, it's most certainly "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. The book begins quite simply and ends spectacularly. Towards the end, there seems to be no clear conclusion in sight. It seems like that there's no way to unravel this mystery. However, the epilogue shows us the mind blowing, yet blatantly obvious answer. The killer was Justice Wargrave. The way Christie reveals the answer is gratifying.

And the last line, "Signed Lawrence Wargrave" is one of the most chilling lines I've ever read. The only other line even that comes remotely close is, of course: "And then there were none"

The wrong suspect

"Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" is one book which has an unexpected ending. Harry suspects that Professor Snape wants to steal the philosopher's stone to get the elixir of life. He also suspects that Snape enchanted his broom during the Quidditch game. But in the end, we find out that Professor Snape was actually trying to save Harry by uttering a counter curse during Quidditch, and Professor Quirrell was the one who was actually trying to harm Harry. Harry only learns the truth when he finds Quirrell before the Mirror of Erised. He never suspects Quirrell before and neither does the reader!

Rags to riches

An ending I would never forget is from the book "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The princess suddenly descends into poverty. The first question that popped up in my mind when I read the story was, "Will she survive? But I need not have worried. Her imagination becomes a weapon that helps her overcome the difficulties. Suddenly as quick as she became poor, she becomes prosperous again. I never expected this ending and it made me breathe a sigh of relief as I closed the book. It will always be my favourite book.

A sweet ending

I think that one book with an unexpected ending is "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. I know that many have written about unexpected sad endings, but I want to write about a happy ending. The book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" revolves around a poor young boy named Charlie Bucket, born to penniless, starving parents. He resides with both his paternal and maternal grandparents, who are bedridden. Along with Charlie's mother and father, they dwell in a dilapidated, tiny house. One day, Charlie gets a ticket to visit Mr. Willy Wonka's factory, and with his grandfather. Towards the end, Mr. Willy Wonka announces that Charlie will become his successor. This came as a surprise. Charlie will not only get to eat lots of sweets and chocolates throughout his life, but he will also own the chocolate factory. How nice!

Many twists and turns

I have read many books with unexpected ending, but one there is only one book which has shocked me four times!

Coincidentally it is the fourth novel in the "Wings of Fire" series by Tui T. Sutherland. Firstly, I was shocked to find that the Nightwings don't have any superpowers. The second time I was shocked was when I read t that the Nightwings weren't neutral and were planning to help Blister win the long war of Sandwing succession. I was shocked again when the scaredy Starflight took the decision to save his tribe from a catastrophic volcanic disaster. And finally, the most unexpected part was that the prophecy, which is the main topic of the series, is not true and was artificially created by the Nightwings. After reading the last part I was heartbroken.

When Death tells a story

"The Book Thief has an unexpected ending. Written by Markus Zusak, it is set during the time of World War II in Germany. The book chronicles the life of a blonde girl named Liesel Meminger, who is fond of reading books. Interspersed by humour and drama, it is a heart-breaking story. The book ends showing a rogue bomb falling on the Himmel Street, her neighbourhood killing everyone except Liesel, who was busy completing her manuscript. Though Liesel leads a happy life, her book is lost during the explosion, and Death who happens to be the narrator of the story returns to her at the time of her death.

Mystery on wheels

A book that had one of the most unexpected endings that I've ever read was "The Murder on the Orient Express". Although I would like to avoid any spoilers, this crime-mystery book by Agatha Christie had ending which you definitely wouldn't have seen coming. This story stars Chrisite's famous detective Hercule Poirot, who on a train to Istanbul in winter, discovers that an American millionaire with a shady past, John Ratchett has been murdered on board the train. He then begins his investigation. I never imagined that there could be more than one killer. Christie really keeps the reader on the edge as Poirot uncovers more and more possibilities, evidences and suspects. The murder of Ratchett is traced down to the kidnapping of a girl in America. This is not a short story, but a full-length novel. Despite this, Christie manages to make the book an exciting read with some red-herrings and false clues.

The other side of Snape

Throughout the "Harry Potter" series there is one truth that most fans agreed that Severus Snape was a negative character. Snape's character is constantly rude to Harry and he used to be a Death Eater, and ultimately even kills Dumbledore.

Anyways, a look inside Snape's memories in "The Deathly Hallow" reveals an entirely different side of Snape. Snape has been holding on to an unrequited love for Harry's mother, Lily. Having loved her since they were children, Snape's anger for Harry and ultimately his secret protection of him drew from his love for Lily.

This scene transforms Snape from a villain in to an anti-hero that fans never knew they wanted.

Witches and wit

The one book that had an unexpected ending was "The Witches" by Roald Dahl. This story starts with a boy who lives with his grandma in London after his parents die in a car accident. His grandma was an old witch-hunter who tells him a lot about witches.

They go on a holiday to Bournemouth. There, the boy sees the Grand High Witch as she meets with the witches from different countries He hears about their evil plans and tries to escape but is caught by the witch and turned into a mouse. But in the end he somehow kills the witches and stops their evil plans.

In this story, even though the protagonist turns into a mouse, he manages to fulfil his mission in a unique and funny way. I liked the way in which the author ends the story.

A surprise for Charlie

Who wouldn't want to become the owner of a chocolate factory? "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl has an unexpected ending. The story is about a poor boy Charlie, who lives with his parents, maternal and paternal grandparents in a small cottage. Charlie, miraculously, along with four other children around the world, wins a "golden ticket" to tour the famous, secretive chocolatier Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Wonka promises each child a lifetime supply of chocolates as a special gift. Throughout the story we are touched by Charlie's simplicity and honesty and these are traits that fascinate even Wonka. The unexpected ending occurs when Wonka sees a responsible friend in Charlie, and ends up handing the entire factory and his faithful workers, the Oompa Loompas over to him, as a successor.

Bittersweet

"The Postmaster" by Rabindranath Tagore has an unexpected ending. The story is set in the fictional Bengal village of Ulapur. It is about a postmaster and a little girl named Ratan who helps him with his household work. The two become close and the postmaster teaches Ratan to read. The postmaster also misses his family. He writes a letter to his seniors asking for a transfer. A few months later the postmasters request gets approved. That night he calls Ratan and tells her the news. Tears form in her eyes, but she holds them back. The next day the new postmaster arrives and the old one gets ready to leave. Ratan runs to him and begs him not to go. The postmaster explains everything to her, gets up and leaves. He never returns. I never expected the story to end like this. I thought the postmaster would return and it would be a happy ending. Yet it was the sudden twist that made the story remarkable.

The twist in the tale

Nothing thrills me more than watching a mystery an unexpected ending. One such movie, the stunning ending of which literally pulled-the-rug-out-from-under-me is an old Hindi suspense-thriller (1999) "Kaun?" directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The movie begins with woman, all alone at home, who has just heard the news about a murderer on-the-loose. The same day, she two oddly-behaving men visit the house and seek entry inside citing illogical reasons. She suspects one of them to be the murderer. The movie kept me on-the-edge as I too assumed that the visitor(s) had come with the intention to murder. At the end of the movie, to my utter surprise, the visitors get murdered instead. It is revealed that the woman herself is the killer and in fact not even the original resident of the house. She also had previously murdered the original house-owner and was waiting for her next prey. Even today, I shudder when I recollect the "unexpected" movie climax

An explosive ending

There's not much that can beat falling headfirst into a book, full of twists, turns and explosive plot points. It all builds up to a surprise or unexpected ending, one that if the writer has done her or his job correctly, will shock and make you flip back through the pages to see how you could have missed it coming. I respect writers, who can skillfully pace out a book so that the ending remains unpredictable and amazing. I also enjoy messy endings where everything is suddenly not what it seems. One book which I like or love to read is "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie. Christie, is the grand ruler of twisted, shocking and downright unforgettable endings you never see coming. In this classic murder mystery, a man is murdered and more deaths follow which raise a lot of questions.

Full of blackmail, secrets and fascinating characters, this is Christie at her best. While this novel competes with many of her other novels in the surprise ending area. This classic mystery leaves a trail of dues, all of which are hidden so well, it's impossible to see where this book will end. I had to read the ending two times to believe it.

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Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin and her mother was the philosopher and feminist activist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Shelley's mother died less than a month after giving birth to her. She was raised by her father, who provided her with a rich if informal education, encouraging her to adhere to his own anarchist political theories. When she was four, her father married a neighbour, Mary Jane Clairmont, with whom Shelley came to have a troubled relationship.

In 1814, Shelley began a romance with one of her father's political followers, Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was already married. Together with her stepsister, Claire Clairmont, she and Percy left for France and travelled through Europe. Upon their return to England, Shelley was pregnant with Percy's child. Over the next two years, she and Percy faced ostracism, constant debt and the death of their prematurely born daughter. They married in late 1816, after the suicide of Percy Shelley's first wife, Harriet.

In 1816, the couple and Mary's stepsister famously spent a summer with Lord Byron and John William Polidori near Geneva, Switzerland, where Shelley conceived the idea for her novel Frankenstein. The Shelleys left Britain in 1818 for Italy, where their second and third children died before Shelley gave birth to her last and only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley. In 1822, her husband drowned when his sailing boat sank during a storm near Viareggio. A year later, Shelley returned to England and from then on devoted herself to the upbringing of her son and a career as a professional author. The last decade of her life was dogged by illness, most likely caused by the brain tumour which killed her at age 53.

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Anne Frank was born in the German city of Frankfurt am Main in 1929. Anne’s sister Margot was three years her senior. Unemployment was high and poverty was severe in Germany, and it was the period in which Adolf Hitler and his party were gaining more and more supporters. Hitler hated the Jews and blamed them for the problems in the country. He took advantage of the rampant antisemitic sentiments in Germany. The hatred of Jews and the poor economic situation made Anne's parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decide to move to Amsterdam. There, Otto founded a company that traded in pectin, a gelling agent for making jam.

Anne Frank was born in the German city of Frankfurt am Main in 1929. Anne’s sister Margot was three years her senior. Unemployment was high and poverty was severe in Germany, and it was the period in which Adolf Hitler and his party were gaining more and more supporters. Hitler hated the Jews and blamed them for the problems in the country. He took advantage of the rampant antisemitic sentiments in Germany. The hatred of Jews and the poor economic situation made Anne's parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decide to move to Amsterdam. There, Otto founded a company that traded in pectin, a gelling agent for making jam.

The Nazis took things further, one step at the time. Jews had to start wearing a Star of David on their clothes and there were rumours that all Jews would have to leave the Netherlands. When Margot received a call-up to report for a so-called ‘labour camp’ in Nazi Germany on 5 July 1942, her parents were suspicious. They did not believe the call-up was about work and decided to go into hiding the next day in order to escape persecution.  

In the spring of 1942, Anne’s father had started furnishing a hiding place in the annex of his business premises at Prinsengracht 263. He received help from his former colleagues. Before long, they were joined by four more people. The hiding place was cramped. Anne had to keep very quiet and was often afraid. 

Anne started rewriting her diary, but before she was done, she and the other people in hiding were discovered and arrested by police officers on 4 August 1944. The police also arrested two of the helpers. To this day, we do not know the reason for the police raid.

Despite the raid, part of Anne’s writing was preserved: two other helpers took the documents before the Secret Annex was emptied by order of the Nazis. 

Credit : Anne Frank house

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One of the most celebrated poets and storytellers of the 20th century, Kipling remains the youngest recipient of Nobel Prize in Literature (1907). He was 41 at the time.

Born to John Lockwood Kipling and Alice Kipling in Bombay, the writer spent the first few years of his life in India.

In his autobiography, Something of Myself for my Friends Known and Unknown, Kipling described his earliest memories of India.

“My first impression is of daybreak, light and colour and golden and purple fruits at the level of my shoulder. This would be the memory of early morning walks to the Bombay fruit market with my ayah and later with my sister in her perambulator, and of our returns with our purchases piled high on the bows of it,” wrote Kipling.

In 1871, Kipling’s parents sent him to England to begin his schooling. Accompanied by his sister Beatrice, he was sent to a boarding house. The siblings spent the next six years there, which they called “The Desolation House”.

After he finished his school education, Kipling returned to Bombay (now Mumbai) on 18 October 1882.

The writer described the moment thus: “So, at sixteen years and nine months, but looking four or five years older, and adorned with real whiskers which the scandalised Mother abolished within one hour of beholding, I found myself at Bombay where I was born, moving among sights and smells that made me deliver in the vernacular sentences whose meaning I knew not. Other Indian-born boys have told me how the same thing happened to them.”

Kipling started working as a journalist at the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore. He referred to the gazette as the “mistress and most true love”.

During these years, he published the Plain Tales from the Hills and Departmental Ditties, his first major collection of poems.

In 1888, Kipling moved to Allahabad to work with The Pioneer.

Several of his works like The Phantom ‘Rickshaw and Other Tales, The Story of the Gadsbys, Soldiers Three, Under the Deodars, and Wee Willie Winkie and Other Child Stories were published during this period.

He then decided to move to England to pursue writing full time.

India remained an inspiration to Kipling for his works. However, in post-colonial India, Kipling is seen as an imperialist, especially by nationalists who saw racism in much of his writing. Several other writers, including George Orwell, too disapproved of his political views.

Credit : The Print 

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Author Christopher Paolini not only writes about fantasy, he lives it. When he was a mere fifteen years old, he penned a sweeping epic called Eragon, which was eventually discovered by a New York publisher—and by thousands of readers. In 2003 the book nestled comfortably on bestseller lists, and by 2004 a movie based on the magnificent tale of a boy and a brilliant blue dragon was poised to take flight. Paolini was also hard at work writing the second and third installments in the Inheritance trilogy. In a teenreads.com interview, the author and boy wonder promised fans that future books would include the same "breathtaking locations, thrilling battles, and searching introspection as Eragon—in addition to true love."

In 1984, when Christopher Paolini was born, his mother, Talita, quit her job as a Montessori preschool teacher to devote her time to raising her new son. Montessori is a system of learning developed by Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952); some of its features include a focus on individual instruction and an early development of writing skills. Talita used the Montessori method to teach Christopher at home, and two years later when sister Angela came along, she, too, became part of the Paolini classroom. Since some of the materials in a Montessori school are expensive, Talita experimented and came up with creative alternatives to inspire and educate her children. She was so successful that by the time Christopher, and later Angela, turned three years old, they were both comfortably working at a first-grade level.

When Christopher was old enough to attend public school, his parents were worried that he would be bored by a traditional curriculum, so they thought long and hard and decided to educate him at home. In fact, focusing on their children was such a top priority that the Paolinis made a deliberate choice to live simply, drawing small salaries from Kenneth Paolini's home-based publishing company. In interviews Paolini has talked about the nurturing environment his parents created for him, and he credits them for being his inspiration. He has also admitted that he was not always a receptive student. A particularly interesting note is that Paolini was a reluctant reader. When he was about three or four, he refused to learn to read, but his mother worked patiently with him until one day a door opened that would change his life.

Credit : Encyclopedia 

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Spellbinding!

Who says school has to be dull? Well, at least not when it teaches you how to cast spells and do magic Welcome to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is housed inside an old castle with moving staircases and talking portraits. A generation of children have grown up following the adventures of Harry, Ron, and

Hermione through their six years at the school (they were hunting for the Horcruxes in their seventh year), sharing in their challenges, disappointments and achievements. Although it's a fantasy, J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series teaches us about the importance of family, friendship and the choices we make as we grow up. Also, flying on brooms and donning the Invisibility Cloak is an additional bonus.

Boarding life

A 12-year-old Darrell Rivers arrives at Malory Towers eager to impress. However, things do not go as smoothly as she had envisaged. Her temper gets her into trouble on many occasions. Darrell's Alicia and Betty, who lessons enjoyable by schoolmates include make playing tricks or telling jokes. Other colourful characters include the reliable Sally, timid Mary-Lou and spoilt, spiteful Gwendoline Mary Lacey. The boarding school attended by Blyton's daughter forms the basis of this series. In 2009, six more books were added to the series by author Pamela Cox

Hop on!

School bus rides will never be the same after you've read "The Magic School Bus" series by Joanna Cole. The stories follow the antics of a fictional Walkerville Elementary School teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and her class, who board a shape-shifting yellow bus that seems to have a mind of its own. It takes them on field trips to unusual times and locations, such as the Cretaceous Period, outer space, and even inside the human body. The books present scientific facts in the form of stories. Each book has a page at the end explaining in a humorous manner which parts of the book represented scientific fact and which were fanciful storytelling.

A kid's tale

Awkward, scraggly sketches by Jeff Kinney aptly capture the misadventures of a middle schooler. Written in the epistolary form, 'The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is the story of the weakling Greg Heffley who desperately tries to "fit in" at Westmore Middle School in the fictional town of Plainview. Kinney drew upon his own school years while writing and illustrating this bestselling series. So far, there are 15 books in the series, along with an additional spin-off series based on Heffley's best friend Rowley Jefferson. A new book "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Go Big or Go Home (Book 16)" is scheduled to hit the shelves on October 26, 2021.

Growing up in Malgudi

The escapades of the 10-year-old Swaminathan and his two best friends, Rajam and Mani, never get old. Although the novel is set in pre-Independence India in the fictitious town of Malgudi, Swami's childhood struggles are universally relatable. He has to prepare for exams, cope with his new baby brother and his new high school, and make amends to his best friend. Rajam. R.K. Narayan's first novel, "Swami and Friends" is the perfect example of students-related fiction. Narayan had a hard time finding a publisher for the book. Fortunately, his friend showed the manuscript to Graham Greene, who helped in getting the book published in 1935. Greene went on to become Narayan's friend and mentor.

Mischief managed!

No list of books about school life can be complete without mentioning the loveable troublemaker, William Brown. Written by Richmal Crompton, "Just William" is the first in a series of books about the incorrigible boy. Follow his adventures from getting over a school teacher crush to a failed attempt at baby-sitting, and from throwing a wild party to meeting his faithful dog Jumble in this hilarious collection of stories.

Teacher's pet

Growing up can be tough, and especially so when it feels like our parents fail to understand us and teachers refuse to spare the rod. Roald Dahl portrays the joys and frustrations of growing up through the brilliantly imaginative novel "Matilda". Matilda is an exceptionally smart girl, who is misunderstood by her parents and loathed by the school's headmistress. Using her newly discovered powers of telekinesis, Matilda stands up for herself, helps her teacher Miss Honey and paves her own way.

Of mythical proportions

Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series busts stereotypes by turning a teen with a learning disorder into a demi-god with supernatural abilities. The bestselling series was born out of bedtime stories that Riordan told his son Haley, who has ADHD. In the "Percy Jackson" universe, ADHD is considered to be sign of heightened senses and a natural aptitude for battle. And while its technically not a school. Camp Half-Blood, attended by Percy and his friends, is the training ground for all kinds of celestial beings. This adventures series is a perfect blend of mythology and school-related fiction.

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Light reads

The book series which I would like to travel with are "Goosebumps" by R.L Stine and the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney. These are lightweight, and easy to keep in our bags. Whenever time permits, we can read those books. These books are a cure for our boredom when we travel.

"Goosebumps" are horror stories and it pleasant to read during the long and boring part of the journey. As I also love scary books, this one is suitable for me as it keeps my heart racing. It keeps me occupied in the journey.

The "Wimpy Kid" books are amusing too and help us forget our worries. They are also a good travel companion. These books are DIARY of d Wimpy Kid CABIM FEVER JEAK easy to read and hence we can finish them fast. There are also many spin-off series so there's always something new to look forward to.

Adventure books

I would like to take many books wherever I go. But if I have to choose only two, it would be "Middle School: From Hero to Zero" by James Patterson and the second, "Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes". I like the "Middle School" series a lot. I started reading the Middle School" series only a few weeks ago but I can't stop reading it! The story is practical and is about Rafe, who he tries get through middle school without any fuss, but unfortunately, he keeps getting into lot of trouble. Unlike the "Middle School" series, "Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes" book is a fantasy in which Percy narrates the adventures of 12 Greek heroes. The characters that feature in the story are Perseus , Phaethon, Otrera , Theseus and many more! This is why I would like to take these two books wherever I go.

Promoting mental strength

The two books are "The Bhagavad Gita" and "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy. "T Bhagavad Gita" by Ved Vyas  encompasses the values of universal truth; contains the conversation between Arjuna and his charioteer Lord Krishna, and conveys life lessons. The book is also motivating. It contains 18 chapters so I can read it while travelling. As the name suggests, the second book "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" reveals the immense power of our subconscious mind. This book is an ultimate guide to unlocking limitless potentials that lie within us and tells us that the capacity that our subconscious mind possess is greater than the than that of our conscious mind. Both the books keep me engrossed while travelling.

Books that help me escape

Books transport the readers into a fantasy world, which we would love to be in. The House of Hades" from the Heroes of Olympus series. and The Half-Blood Prince" from the Harry Potter" series are two books I take with me while traveling. These books are filled with so much emotion that they can make me laugh and cry at the same time. These books transport me to a different world and I become engrossed in the story. The House Of Hades" is a book filled with the difficulties faced by the characters and also portrays the love Percy and Annabeth have for each other. The Half-Blood Prince" shows us the Dark Lord's past: the journey to find the Horcrux which turns out to be fake: the death of Dumbledore, Hamry's grief and how Draco is forced to do something he doesn't want to. These books can teach you values which can change your perspective on life. When you read a book, you are not reading words, you smile when the characters smile cry with them you feel anger guilt and pain. You feel compassion and happiness Reading books transports to a world filled with and is something which everyone should experience and cherish. In the words of Ernest Hemingway, “There is no friend as loyal as a book”.

Dumas and Christie

No matter when or where I travel, be it to the hills or to the beach, I never leave home without my books. Two books are always packed to be read and re-read for the duration I'm away, and these would be "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas and "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie.

These two books, easily my favorite works of literature, can be pored over for hours, no matter what the occasion or destination. If there is ever a shortage of packing space, the above two works are always given first preference.

The eerie narration style of both the stories, combined with the mind-blowing sub-plots and eccentric characters, is something that never induces boredom, despite being read a dozen times. There is always a spot reserved for these books in my travel kit.

Women power

Books create a lasting impression on me. Two books I take with me whenever I travel are "Women Warriors Who Ruled India" and "The Three Musketeers. These are some of my favorite books. The first book is about different women leaders such as Tarabai , Rani Lakshmibai, Nur Jahan, Chand Bibi, and Rani Durgavati. These women were known for their bravery and ruled their kingdom so well that everyone was happy. I like reading books on famous personalities, who have impacted our lives

Science and mythology

The two books which I want to take with me wherever I travel are "The Bhagavad Gita" and "Ignited Minds" by A.PJ Abdul Kalam. Both these books are great. "The Gita" is the main sacred text of the Hindus and also describes the real purpose of life. It helps me to channel my mind to the right direction. The "Ignited Minds" also helps me purify my mind and see things in a different way. That is why these are my favorite books and I take them wherever I travel.

Travel with them...

The two books I would take along while travelling are my own diary and any short story book. I would like to take my diary along so that I can pour my heart out and write details of the beautiful place I visit in its secret pages. I often think that my diary is my dearest friend. Reading short stories while travelling makes the journey really fun. These stories are shortly written but hold a lot of meaning. I simply can't stop reading them. Having a diary, who is like a friend, and a short story book to keep me engaged will make my journey much more fun.

Travel companions

I love travelling and reading books Whenever I travel, ) take two books with me "Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. In "Gulliver's Travels, a man who encounters a terrible ship mishap finds himself in a fictional island town called Liliput. The island inhabited by humans, who are just six inches high. Somehow, he is able to return to his home in England where he recovers from the unusual experiences and then sets out again on a new voyage. Another book is "Robinson Crusoe", which is about a young and impulsive Englishman who defies his parents’ wishes and takes to the seas seeking adventure. The young Robinson Crusoe is ship-wrecked and cast away on a remote tropical island for 28 years. I love reading these books whenever I travel as the characters have also travelled and experienced so many adventures, I also love adventures and when I read such books, I think that maybe someday I can also meet people who are six-inch-high and stay with them for 28 years waiting for the sight of a ship.

On the spiritual route

Travelling, is the one thing that I enjoy a lot. Besides packing clothes and food, I never forget to grab two books along with me - "The Sai Satcharitra and a notepad. The Sai Satcharitra" is the life story of Sai Baba, a saint Shirdi. It contains awe-inspiring experiences of his devotees and highlights his greatness. The habit of carrying it along begun when I was infected with COVID. Although I recovered from it, I was terribly afraid of sleeping all alone during quarantine. So, I would clutch this book and sleep. It consoled me and made me feel secure. The second book would be a notepad, which always remains tucked in my pocket. Since forgetfulness seems to be my best friend, I note down everything in my notepad. Things to be packed are also listed in it. Also, I would record the day's events in it and compile it into a travelogue. A unique joy arises in me when I recollect and preserve my experiences in script.

Bond and Murty

The two books that I take with me whenever I travel are "How To Be a Writer by Ruskin Bond and "The Magic of The Lost Temple" by Sudha Murty. I take the Bond's book with me because its inspiring and motivating to me. It includes the author’s personal writing experiences, funny moments, and advice. My ambition is to become a writer so I take this book whenever I travel and read it as and when I get time. "The Magic of The Lost Temple makes me feel adventurous and thrilled when I read it. It taught me a lot about the fun of exploring and the happiness in finding treasure. I have read many other books by Bond and Murty books, but these two books will always remain special for me.

Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter

Travelling can sometimes be long and boring and because of that I have inculcated the habit of carrying books on my journeys. Two books that I always carry with me are "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". The first book is a simple story, which is filled with humour. It is easier to read. The second book is a perfect combination of adventure and mystery. Together, these books make my travelling a lot easier and certainly save me from boredom.

"The Elephant Thief and” "The Dork Diaries”

I have always enjoyed reading while travelling, it encourages son to read more books, it's better than spending time on gadgets I enjoyed reading these two books while travelling. The Elephant Thief by Jane Kerr and The Dork Diaries-Puppy Love written and illustrated by Rachel Renee Russell. The Elephant Thief is an amazing book. There's something profound about the wonderful elephant and Kerr captures it perfectly in her totally gripping adventure. Although at first it seems like the story of a stolen treasure and an impossible journey, at its heart lies an unlikely and touching friendship between a boy and an elephant. You will experience different emotions ranging from tears of rage to wonder and joy as this classic tale, of hope, transports you to another time.

My second book, The Dork Diaries- Puppy Love, a children's series, written in a diary format uses drawings and comic strips to chronicle the daily life of 14-year-old protagonist Nikki Maxwell. I like this book the best among all the others in the series. It is absolutely hilarious, the main character (Nikki) is really funny, she's just so dramatic. The book is about a dog and seven puppies, who need a home. As the animal shelter is full, Nikki and her friends need to look after until the puppies till they find homes, I would recommend this to people who like puppies; it is filled with lots of fun and cute moments.

Fantasy worlds

When I go on a long, long journey, I take Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll, and "Five Go to the Smuggler's Top" from the "Famous Five" series by Enid Blyton with me. Through the Looking Glass" is an epic, unforgettable journey of Alice in the wonderful world of the Looking Glass. I'm sure all the eccentric characters such as the Sheep lady, Humpty Dumpty, the lion and the unicorn, and their funny little encounters with Alice will fill my journey with laughter and joy, and make my journey a memorable one. When I'm bored,  I’ll think of myself in Alice's shoes, getting confused with all the mixed-up talk with madmen and mad women on her journey across the chessboard as a pawn. Then, I'll think of myself as Julian, who heads the Five whenever challenges come. If I were Julian, life would be great. I would always try to solve problems and tied up by criminals. I'll also think about how I would have led my team skillfully and escaped the tough situations. With me reading these two books and imagining myself as Alice and Julian when I'm bored, the journey will become a moment to cherish.

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