Genre : Biography, Travel literature, Autobiography
Summary Linda Leaming, as one of the few Americans to have lived in Bhutan shares about the small country landlocked between India and China. She writes about how Bhutanese are unique and different from the western world and also shares about her experiences of learning the culture, language and religion of Bhutan. She also speaks about her love, a renowned Bhutanese thanka painter, Phurba Namgay. Moreover she describes Bhutan as the kingdom of quirky mountains and the land where enlightenment is possible.
Analysis 'Married To Bhutan' is one of the best and amusing book that allows the reader to be in the writer's shoes and live her experiences. One interesting experience the author has shared in the book is that after coming to Bhutan, she has learnt how to bathe with just two buckets of water within a set time. It is a great book if you wish to get hooked on and learn some things about Bhutan a little in the past.
This book is a fit for both travel lovers and romance lovers as it explores the beauty of Bhutan and its environment with the narration of how Linda fell in love, married and created her live with her husband and Bhutan.
Genre : Manga- Romantic Comedy, Slice of life Supernatural
Summary The manga opens with Tohru Honda, an orphan, who is taken in by the Somas due her situation. After meeting with Yuki, Kyo and Shigure Soma, she learns that thirteen members of the Soma family are cursed and possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac legends and they turn into their animal forms when embraced by someone of the opposite sex. The plot continues with Tohru helping the Somas with the emotional pain caused by the transformations and from the suppression of Akito (a god figure to the Somas). Despite being hurt and lonely, she manages to comfort everyone with her motherly care and breaks the curse that bonds Akito and the thirteen members of the Soma family. In the latter-most part of the manga, it is revealed that everyone is now free from the curse and Tohru had a happily ever after with Kyo as her soulmate.
Analysis This manga is highly recommended for everyone who likes romantic plot with a tint of fantasy. Since this manga is also adapted into animation, it is a must watch for anime lovers. It communicates the message of being kind, the value of love, and how true the saying "What goes around comes around." is. It is a piece of art that will be engraved in your hearts.
Genre : Action and Adventure, Novel
Summary The story is about a girl named Seday who quite sad after hearing that her family would be moving to Haa from Thimphu, since she leaving behind her friends, home and memories. However, once she gets to know the people and begins to settle in, she realizes that she does like Haa. Everything goes on perfectly normal until the night of Lomba when 'she decides to sleep without a feast' which is considered wrong according to the traditions whereby a person should enjoy hontey on the night of Lomba or else they would be taken by the lu. Seday's non-existence belief in the age old tradition is challenged that night as she enters the spirit world but is able to get out by the end with help from her friends.
Analysis Lomba is an amazing novel by one of Bhutan's youngest authors, Pema Euden, who has successfully portrayed the themes of true friendship in her work. This novel also teaches us to appreciate our own culture and society with the help of a wild adventure in the spirit world.
Genre : Novel, Romance novel, Young adult fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Horror fiction, Vampire literature
Summary
The novel continues the story of Bella's relationship with vampire Edward Cullen as she enters her senior year of high school. After Bella is attacked by Jasper, Edward no longer feels she is safe around vampires, so he leaves town with his family after ending the relationship. While Bella is going through a period of heart break, she finds the motivation to be happy around Jacob, however she tries cliff jumping after she imagines that she is able to see Edward when she is near risks.
Upon finding Bella alive after the cliff jump, Alice sees a vision of Edward flying to Italy to kill himself. Hence, Alice and Bella go to Italy and save Edward from getting killed by the Volturi.
Analysis
Though this novel contains a whole chapter for the pain one went through, it mostly shows the amazing work that Stephenie has put in. Her style of writing has the ability to hook a reader to the words. The lesson of love and regret is strongly showcased by the characters.
Genre : Novel, Young adult fiction, Romance novel, Fantasy Fiction, Horror fiction
Summary
The novel continues the story of Bella Swan and her vampire love, Edward Cullen with a third angle whereby her friend a shape-shifter, Jacob Black is in love with her in midst of some strange missing complains in Seattle. Meanwhile, Alice Cullen has a vision that the vampire Victoria has returned to Forks to kill Bella to avenge the death of her mate, James. The Cullens soon realize that the Seattle murders are being committed by an "army" of newborn vampires controlled by Victoria. Therefore, the Cullens join forces with the wolf pack to combat this threat, and are successful before the Volturi intervened.
Analysis
It was really interesting to read with all the action and drama going on in the scenes. As always the book highlights the theme of love, marriage and how important it is to make the right decision, to make the right choice.
Genre : Novel, Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction
Summary
Set in the 1950s Afghanistan, the novel is about a brother and sister,Abdhullah and Pari, separated when the latter is given up for adoption because of their family's financial circumstances. After being adopted by a wealthy family, Pari moves to another country with her new family and gradually forgets about her past while Abdhulla later settles in California. In the final chapter of the book, Abdullah's daughter, Pari(2) receives a call from Pari (who has been reminded that she had a brother), and arranges for Pari to come to California where the two siblings finally reunite. However, the reunion doesn't last long since Abdullah begins to lose his memory but Pari finds a note, dated shortly after Abdullah learned that he was losing his memory, explaining that he's spent his entire life waiting to see Pari again. There the story ends with a happy note.
Analysis
This is one book that focuses on the theme of love between two siblings who had longed to see each other. Not only is the book magical but also a great way to experience the relationship from different perspectives.
Genre : Shonen Manga
Summary
The manga follows the story of a former bully, Shōya Ishida, turned social outcast who decides to reconnect and befriend the deaf girl, Shōko Nishimiya, whom he had bullied during elementary school. After Shōko changes school due to the bullying, Shōya gets the taste of his own medicine and due to which, he starts to lose friends and starts living in a world of ignorance. By the time he realizes his mistakes, he is completely lonely and decides that suicide is the only option left, thus he first begins to correct his wrong doings. He learns sign language to communicate with Shōko, and eventually everything turns out just fine. When Shōya returns to school, he reunites with his friends and realizes how much they still care for him. As they all go to the school festival together, Shōya tears up, realizing he has finally redeemed himself as he stopped ignoring everyone around him.
Analysis
The manga deals with themes of bullying, disability, forgiveness, mental health, suicide, and friendship which can be very much relatable to the current world. It enables the readers to have the courage to stand for themselves and others in times of need. This manga also promotes the need to learn sign language to tackle the communication barrier.
Genre : Poem
Summary
The poem portrays the message that giving up should never be an option. A person should never stop for crying over something that's lost, instead one should keep on trying. Though birds are unable to fly at first but they don't give up, thus they try until their wings grow strong enough to fly them. Even the oak trees that has gone through many blast keeps on growing taller and stronger. It also portrays that easy work might seem appealing to us but we should stick to our morals and try to gain victory from difficult obstacles that come in our life.
This poem truly highlights the importance of being resilient and continuous growth in our life. It even represents some few examples around us whereby the birds and trees are showing us how to never give up in life. No matter how tough one's life gets, he or she should always choose to work harder and have the will to fulfill one's own goals in life.
Genre : Novel
Summary The story revolves around the life of Cherry Costello, who just moved to Somerset with her dad where she struggles to adjust to the new environment . She is overwhelmed to meet and live with her father's girlfriend, Charlotte and her four daughters, Skye, Summer, Coco and Honey. Though Cherry is able to win everyone's heart and manages it quite well in terms of living with her new family, but can't seem to get along with Honey at all since she suspects and hates Cherry getting too close with Shay (Honey's boyfriend). The story concludes with Shay and Cherry travelling in a canoe after Honey slaps her. Suddenly the canoe breaks down and they end up spending the night together and are found in the morning. After that Shay and Cherry end up becoming a couple.
Analysis The story-line features the themes of family struggle, acceptance of new comers, unrequited love and the growth and changes during adolescence. The book in one of a kind and recommended for any age groups, in particular to the teenagers who love to read novels with lots of twist and turns.
Genre : Serial Novel - Coming of Age, Drama
Summary
The story opens with a high school boy,Haruki, who finds a diary in the waiting room of the hospital he was visiting and finds out that it belonged to his popular classmate, Sakura Yamauchi. After that Sakura reveals that she is secretly suffering from a fatal pancreatic illness and asks him to be a normal friend to her until she passes away. Then, they start going out together, fulfill her wish list and enjoy their time together. However, it all comes to an end when Sakura was stabbed in the chest by a homicide and it breaks Haruki. Though thing weren't suppose to end that way, Haruki still remembered and fulfilled her wish to open up to others and become friends with Kyoko.
This story is not only beautiful aesthetically but also tells the audience to live everyday like it's your last. The phrase 'I want to eat your pancreas' is meant to not only say that they want to keep a part of the other with them forever but is also a sign of complete acceptance. When Haruki tells Sakura that he would eat her infected pancreas, he meant that he would consume the very best as well as the very worst of her.