Book at a glance
Book at a glance
Via this column a synopsis of the must read books will be shared. So grab it while it’s still on the stands.
Via this column a synopsis of the must read books will be shared. So grab it while it’s still on the stands.
Edition 83
(30 January 2024)
The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind
Book: The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind
Author: Joseph Murphy
Published in: 1963
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind' by Joseph Murphy is a self-help book that explores the potential and influence the subconscious mind can have on our lives. It offers techniques to harness the power of your subconscious mind for personal growth and success.
The underlying theme of this book is the messages we carry from our upbringing through parents, and teachers etc. become our personal stories. Regardless of if they are bad or good, they filter down through our conscious mind and seep into our subconscious which then influences our behavior.
Edition 81
(30 December 2023)
The Little Shop of Happy Ever After
Book: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After
Author: Jenny Colgan
Published on: 11 February 2016
The Little Shop Of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan is a story of love, hope, independence, and courage that will render readers unable to put the book down from the minute they start reading!
The story follows twenty-nine year old Nina Redmond who, following the closure of her beloved library, is left jobless and at a loss as to what she should do next. Her luck changes when she sees the opportunity to own her very own van which she plans to turn into a mobile library. Leaving her old life in Birmingham, Nina moves to the Scottish Highlands in an attempt to pursue her dream. However, reality is no fairy-tale and Nina encounters very real struggles in her attempts to create a new life in the middle-of-nowhere. Luckily for her, whilst this may be the real world, Knights-In-Shining-Armour could very well exist…
In The Little Shop Of Happy Ever After, many valuable lessons can be learned. Throughout the book, readers journey alongside Nina and share with her the experiences she has and the consequences she faces. Along with Nina, readers are able to learn the importance of always being yourself, witness how it one should always dare to dream and follow those dreams… More importantly, Nina and the readers alike are able to come to terms with how love is never where you may originally look and that everyone has a story.
Edition 80
(15 December 2023)
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Published: 19 December, 1843
In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the atmospheric portrayal of the weather as increasingly foggy and colder underscores the harshness of the environment, with frozen water in pipes and youths navigating snow-covered roads. The narrative follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a cantankerous and selfcentered elderly individual who advocates harsh measures for the destitute.
Disdainful of Christmas and begrudgingly generous, if at all, even to himself, Scrooge undergoes a transformative experience when visited by three ghosts on a bitterly cold night. This prompts contemplation on whether this will alter his perspectives.
The thematic essence of the work imparts a lesson in benevolence during the holiday season, advocating appreciation for one’s blessings and fostering connections with loved ones.
The work is inherently festive and didactic, functioning as an allegory illustrating the consequences of unnecessary bitterness and resistance to embracing joyous occasions. Furthermore, it serves as a poignant reminder that an excessive preoccupation with material wealth is ultimately unrewarding. Overall, “A Christmas Carol” emerges as a timeless literary piece that warrants inclusion in one’s holiday reading repertoire.
Edition 79
(30 November 2023)
The Mountain Is You
The Mountain Is You
Author: Brianna Wiest
Published: 2020
"The Mountain Is You" is a profound exploration into the depths of self-sabotage and the pathways that lead to self-mastery. The title itself, evoking imagery of formidable challenges and personal peaks to overcome, sets the tone for the transformative journey the reader is about to undertake. It offers practical strategies for identifying and addressing self-destructive behaviors. The book's relatable examples and anecdotes make it easy to understand and apply the lessons.
Edition 78
(15 November 2023)
You Only Live Once
You Only Live Once
Author: Stuti Changle
Published: 29 February, 2020
The story revolves around the three characters Alara, Aarav and Ricky. All three are somehow connected to the disappeared singer, Elisha; who is Alara's mother, Aarav is biggest fan of her and Ricky is her childhood friend. They'll set up together in Goa to find the mystery behind the lost sensational singer.
This story is a beautiful journey of three people Alara, Arav, and Ricky, who discover themselves at the end after days of struggle and gloom. It is of friendship, love, and hope that one should never let go.
Edition 77
(30 October 2023)
I Fell In Love With Hope
I Fell In Love With Hope
Author: Lancali
Published: 2022
“Lancali” intricately weaves the tale of daring adolescents attempting to outwit mortality and cheat death, delving into the depths of friendship, love, and the invincible human spirit. The narrative follows these cherished characters through their odyssey until their ultimate quest. Can they etch an enduring legacy?
Within its pages lies a tapestry of tragedy, romance, enigma, humor, and an abundance of Shakespearean allusions, making the reading experience truly captivating.
The prose is not just beautiful, it’s a symphony of emotions and intellect. For admirers of Madeline Miller and Victoria Schwab, this is an unparalleled journey. Poetic, intricate, and an utter delight to immerse oneself in.
This narrative is a work of sheer beauty, an emotional upheaval that leaves one shattered, yet eager to embark on the journey repeatedly. (Trigger warnings found in foreword)
Edition 76
(15 October 2023)
Just Kids
Book : Just Kids
Author: Patti Smith
Published: 19 January 2010
“Just Kids” by Patti Smith is a poignant masterpiece that offers a vivid and raw glimpse into the fascinating lives of the artist and her muse, Robert Mapplethorpe.
Smith’s lyrical prose beautifully captures the essence of their struggles, dreams, and love in the vibrant New York City of the late 1960s and 1970s.
The narrative is both tender and honest, making it an emotional and inspiring journey through the world of art, friendship, and self-discovery.
Smith’s storytelling prowess elevates this memoir into a timeless work of art, and it’s a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the transformative power of love, creativity, and the pursuit of one’s passion.
Edition 75
(30 September 2023)
People We Meet On Vacation
People We Meet On Vacation
Author: Emily Henry
Published: 11 May , 2021
In this heartwarming tale of “The People We Meet On Vacation,” the dynamic between Poppy and Alex blossoms from the contrasting natures that have always defined them. Poppy, with her untamed spirit, finds a perfect foil in Alex, who anchors her in the realm of responsibility. Their friendship takes root during a chance summer car ride, the memory of which remains etched in their hearts even as they part ways after college. Years later, Poppy, amidst a life that seems picture-perfect but feels hollow, yearns for the genuine happiness she experienced in the company of Alex during those summer getaways. Determined to rekindle their friendship, she takes the initiative to plan another vacation, seeking to mend the unspoken rift that has kept them apart for the past two years. Emily Henry’s unique writing style weaves a tapestry of emotions, exploring trust, grief, finding a sense of “home,” the power of true friendship, embracing risks, and the beauty of second chances.
Through well-crafted characters and evocative settings, the story paints a vivid picture of their journey, reigniting the spark that made their bond special and reminding them of the genuine happiness they found in each other’s company. With the backdrop of the annual summer vacation, the narrative gains a cohesive rhythm, serving as a beacon of hope and reconciliation.
It invites readers to reflect on their own relationships, reminding us that sometimes, all it takes is one heartfelt attempt to bridge the gaps and revive the magic of genuine connection.
Edition 74
(15 September 2023)
Little Women
Book : Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Published: 1868
Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869 at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. Loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters, it is classified as an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical novel.
Four sisters and their mother, whom they call Marmee, live in a new neighborhood (loosely based on Concord) in Massachusetts in genteel poverty. Having lost all his money, their father is serving as a chaplain for the Union Army in the American Civil War, far from home. The novel has been said to address three major themes: "domesticity, work, and true love, all of them interdependent and each necessary to the achievement of its heroine's individual identity
Edition 72
(15 August 2023)
Letters from a Father to His Daughter
Book : Letters from a Father to His Daughter
Author: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Published: 1929
'Letters from a Father to His Daughter' - Jawaharlal Nehru is a collection of letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira Nehru, originally published in 1929 by Allahabad Law Journal Press at Nehru's request and consisting of only the 30 letters sent in the summer of 1928 when Indira was 10 years old. The letters were educational pieces on the subjects of natural and human history. At the time of the letters' writing, Nehru was in Allahabad, while Indira was in Mussoorie.
While original letters written by Nehru were in English, they were translated into Hindi by the Hindi novelist Munshi Premchand under the name "Pita Ke Patra Putri Ke Naam"
Edition 29
(15 October 2021)
Great Expectations
Novel : Great Expectations
Author : Charles Dickens
Published : August, 1861
Great Expectations follows the childhood and young adult years of Pip a blacksmith's apprentice in a country village. He suddenly comes into a large fortune (his great expectations) from a mysterious benefactor and moves to London where he enters high society. He thinks he knows where the money has come from but he turns out to be sadly mistaken. The story also follows Pip's dealings with Estella, a young woman he adores but who cannot return his love.
Great Expectations tells a story of characters who have ambitious and often unrealistic expectations for both themselves and the people in their lives. It could be argued that the purpose of this novel is to show how people's expectations in life are often unrealistic, uninformed, or unreasonable
Great Expectations' moral premise is straightforward: compassion, devotion, and conviction are more essential than social success, riches, or status. Dickens presents the concept and depicts Pip learning this lesson, largely through experiences of ideas of ambition and self-improvement—themes that swiftly become both the novel's narrative focus and the psychological process that drives much of Pip's growth.
Wings Of Fire
Novel : Wings Of Fire
Author : A.P.J Abdul Kalam
Published : 1999
The Wings of Fire is an autobiography of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam. The book covers his life before he became the President of India and commanded the armed forces, his schooling and formative years, what led to his interest in space and research as well as his biggest influences in life. The chapters at the start that deal with his life before and just after Independence paint a fascinating picture of life during such tumultuous times while our nation as we know it was being born.
An account of a young boy who tries to achieve his dreams beating all odds, he story emphasizes the importance of family, relatives and friends in helping achieve each other's goals and turning dreams to reality. It teaches us how can we achieve success and most important how to manage failure
Edition 28
(15 September 2021)
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Novel: Diary Of a Wimpy Kid – Dog Days
Author: Jeff Kinney
Published : 3 August, 2012
Greg Heffley, a middle-school aged child, is the protagonist of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. The storyline is narrated in the first person through journal entries. Greg is the middle child, and he has two brothers, one older and one younger. Greg has a self-centered and narcissistic personality.
Greg introduces the book by introducing himself as an "indoor geek" who plans to spend his spring break playing video games. Susan, his mother, wants him to spend more time outside. Greg and his family are unable to go to the beach that summer due to a lack of funds. Susan, on the other hand, hopes to enjoy the "greatest summer ever." His perceptions are totally opposite from his mother's.
The protagonist is blissfully unaware of his own immaturity, sloth, and lack of muscle tone, but that doesn't stop him from fantasizing about becoming wealthy and famous one day—despite the fact that the school's potential job survey predicts he'll be a clerk.
I recommend this book to all those who love diary entries and the lazy introverts are going to relate a lot. It’s a perfect combination of comedy, lessons and filled with fun and realism.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Novel: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Published: 1964
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka
Eleven-year-old Charlie Bucket, his parents, and four grandparents all live in poverty in a small house outside a town which is home to a large chocolate factory. One day, Charlie's Grandpa Joe tells him about the legendary and eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, who owns the town's chocolate factory, and all the wonderful candies he made until the other chocolatiers sent in spies to steal his secret recipes, forcing Wonka to close the factory. He reopened the factory three years later, but the gates remained locked and nobody is sure who is providing the factory with its workforce. The next day, the newspaper announces that Wonka is reopening the factory to the public and has invited five lucky children to come on a tour after they find five Golden Tickets in five Wonka Bars. The first four golden tickets are found by gluttonous Augustus Gloop, spoiled Veruca Salt, chewing gum-addicted Violet Beauregarde, and television addict Mike Teavee. After the fourth ticket is found, the family begins to starve after Charlie’s father loses his job at the toothpaste factory and the only job he can find is shoveling snow from the streets during a severe winter. One day, walking home from school, Charlie sees a fifty-pence piece buried in the snow. He buys two Wonka Bars and miraculously finds the last Golden Ticket in the second. Join him in his amazing journey through the chocolate factory..
Edition 27
(5 September 2021)
The Secret Garden
Novel: The Secret Garden
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published: 1911
At the turn of the 20th century, Mary Lennox is a neglected and unloved 10-year-old girl, born in British India to wealthy British parents who never wanted her and made an effort to ignore the girl. She is cared for primarily by native servants, who allow her to become spoilt, demanding and self-centred. After a cholera epidemic kills Mary's parents, She is soon sent to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, whom her father's sister Lilias married.
At first, Mary is as sour and rude as ever. She dislikes her new home, the people living in it. Over time, she befriends her maid Martha Sowerby, who tells Mary about Lilias, who would spend hours in a private walled garden growing roses. Lilias Craven died after an accident in the garden ten years prior and the devastated Archibald locked the garden and buried the key. Mary becomes interested in finding the secret garden herself and the adventure begins...
The Book Thief
Novel: The Book Thief
Author- Markus Zusak
Published- 2005
This story is narrated by Death during World War II, and it is the story of a young German girl who comes of age during one of the most horrific times in recent history. Death has a personality. If something bad is about to happen, Death warns you ahead of time.
Liesel, an orphaned girl, is sent to live with a foster family right before the Nazi's take over Germany.
She has a peculiar attachment to books, her first being a gravedigger's manual that she picks up during her brother's funeral.
Death takes an interest in her and her books on that day and follows her, sometimes constantly and sometimes at a distance.
Meanwhile Liesel slowly grows up in the heart of Nazi Germany. But their idyllic lives cannot stay that way forever. Food shortages are rampart, money becomes ever tighter and Papa's son believes every word from Hitler. And throughout all of this, Death watches.... and waits. Even death has a heart.
The Book Thief was just absolutely perfect in sense. This book was just the right mixture of joys and sorrows, of highs and lows, and of good and evil. I loved Liesel and the way she grew up against the ever-present tide of Nazis.
The way she and her family struggled against the world, by hiding a Jew or showing sympathy, really made this book shine.
Edition 26
(15 August 2021)
Freedom At Midnight
Novel : Freedom at Midnight
Author : Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre
Published - 1975
Beginning with the accession of Lord Mountbatten of Burma as the final Viceroy of British India and ending with Mahatma Gandhi's execution and memorial, Freedom at Midnight is the true account of the incidents underlying Indian liberation. The Union Jack began its final lineage down the flagstaff at Viceroy's House, New Delhi, at midnight on August 14, 1947. A fifth of mankind achieved independence from the richest empire in history—but sovereignty came at a steep cost, as a nation exploded in rioting and slaughter, partition, and war.
A terrifying and authentic description of the tragedy of division and its violent aftermath is also included. The author-duo have looked into some of the darker aspects of the major figures of the day, as well as the general populace, in this article. One can see why this is the one deep blight on both sides of the border that has scarred the minds of every successive generation.
This book is recommended for those willing to learn more about our liberation fighters, the freedom movement, the Raj, the Maharajas, and the Mahatma in general, if not entirely. Above all, it is intended for any Indian who aspires to encounter the mystery that is INDIA.
Spirit Of India
Novel : Spirit of India
Author : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Published : 2010
Reflecting the concerns aspirations and dreams of the Indian youth. "It looks to me that we need a second vision for the nation just like the one we had when we were actively pursuing our freedom movement against alien rule. At that time the spirit of nationalism was very strong. This second vision that is needed for making India a developed nation will once again bring the spirit of nationalism to the fore." Having tasted the fruits of development Indians are hungry for more education, more opportunities, more development. But their dreams of a prosperous and united India seem precariously close to being shattered as the demon of divisive politics, the gaping economic inequalities, the increasing terror and unrest within and at our borders tear into the vitals of the nation and the very idea of nationhood. Under such conditions how do we preserve the core and concept of India and aim for Development? Addressing these concerns and providing some answer is Dr. Kalam who believes that at the heart of the nation is the individual and it is only when each individual citizen achieves success that the nation can succeed. Fired by idealism yet grounded in reality, Spirit of India shows that it is possible to progress at both the individual and national level provided we abide by the principle that the nation is bigger than any individual or organization and understand that only borderless minds can create a borderless society.
Edition 25
(30 July 2021)
Holding Up The Universe
Novel: Holding Up The Universe
Author: Jennifer Niven
Published: 4 April 2016
The novel's major themes must be courage and friendship in the face of their shortcomings. The primary protagonists are Libby, who was previously called "America's fattest teen," and Jack, who suffers from face blindness, in which he is unable to recognize familiar people but hides it.
It features two interesting characters as well as a key message about self-confidence and self-worth that is especially important for teen individuals. You are desired and loved, no matter who you are: as Libby so beautifully puts it, "don't let anyone convince you differently, not even yourself.“
Jennifer Niven has a knack for delivering emotional reads that explore serious subjects such as mental illness, death and self-esteem with beautifully crafted prose and touches of humor.
I think this one book really deserves to be on your bookshelf which will motivate encourage and give you hope to believe in yourself no matter what you look like and what you are facing .
Geronimo Stilton : The Kingdom of Fantasy
Novel: The Kingdom of Fantasy
Author: Elisabetta Dami
Published: 2003
Geronimo knew from the start that it was no ordinary day, but he certainly didn't expect to find a golden staircase in his attic. Up at the top, there was a door. And beyond the door was a world he never could have imagined-the Kingdom of Fantasy!
Along with his guide, a frog named Scribblehopper, he sets off on an incredible adventure to save the Queen of the Fairies. But along the way, he had to face giant scorpions, witches, sea serpents, pixies, and dozens of other creatures that he had only heard stories about. What a journey! Could he save the Queen and his own tail ?
Edition 24
(15 July 2021)
Paper Weight
Novel: Paper Weight
Author: Meg Haston
Published: 2 July, 2015
Paper Weight is an engrossing and wonderfully written novel about a teenager girl named Stevie who is dealing with guilt and loss after her mother abandons the home and her brother passes away.. This book takes the reader on Stevie's traumatic experience. She becomes addicted to alcohol and develops an eating disorder as a result of her binge drinking. The intensity of emotion described by Haston as Stevie and her other patients go through treatment is apparent and sad at moments. Paperweight is all about Stevie finding herself and letting go of the past so that she can live in the present. Before she can do that though, she must learn to love her body and forgive herself.
A Tale of Two Cities
Novel: A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Published: November , 1859
A Tale of Two Cities is an 1859 historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.
As Dickens' best-known work of historical fiction, A Tale of Two Cities is claimed to be one of the best-selling novels of all time
Edition 23
(30 June 2021)
The Alchemist
Ranthambore Adventure
Novel: Ranthambore Adventure
Author: Deepak Dalal
Published: 2013
This story by Deepak Dalal is about a tiger, Genghis who emerges as a mighty predator, the king of the forest. But the isn't just his kingdom. Soon he finds himself fighting his skin against equally powerful predators but of a different kind - humans.
The very same one that Vikram and Aditya had embroiled with when they attempt to lay their hands on a diary that belongs to a ruthless tiger poacher. World's collide when an ill-fated encounter plunges the boys and their friend Aarti into a thrilling chase that takes them deep into the magnificent game park of Ranthambore.
Edition 22
(15 June 2021)
The Discovery of India
Novel: The Discovery of India
Author: Jawaharlal Nehru
Published: 14 November 1946
The Discovery of India was written by the Indian Independence leader, Jawaharlal Nehru (later India's first Prime Minister) during his incarceration in 1942–1945 at Ahmednagar fort in present day Indian state of Maharashtra by British colonial authorities before the independence of India. The book was written in 1944 but published in 1946.
The journey in The Discovery of India begins from ancient history, leading up to the last years of the British Raj. Nehru uses his knowledge of the Upanishads, Vedas, and textbooks on ancient history to introduce to the reader the development of India from the Indus Valley Civilization, through the changes in socio-political scenario every foreign invader brought, to the present day conditions. The book provides a broad view of Indian history, philosophy and culture, as viewed from the eyes of an Indian fighting for the independence of his country. He wrote the book during his imprisonment.
The Blue Umbrella
Novel: The Blue Umbrella
Author: Ruskin Bond
Published: 1974
The Blue Umbrella is written by a famous author Ruskin Bond. He has weaved magic with his words in this simple, sweet story. Binya, a ten-year-old mountain girl, tells a simple yet beautiful tale. She was living with her mother and older brother Vijay in a village near Tehri lane. She was enamored with the blue umbrella in a childish way. This brings her to a variety of situations, as well as an unforeseen twist. As a result, I strongly urge you to read this magnificent novel. This book, I believe, will be more enjoyable for nature lovers because it contains several sections that describe greenery.
Edition 21
(30 May 2021)
The Sun Is Also a Star
Novel: The Sun Is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published: 2016
The Sun Is Also a Star tells the story of Natasha (Jamaican American) and Daniel (Korean American ) — two teens who meet through a twist of fate and then, of course, fall in love.
The film and the book, though, are more than mere teenage love. A Sun Is A Star could be a fictional production, but that doesn't make it any less real. It's one of my favorite stories, and it's a story about two complex, three-dimensional, very realistic people that are going through real life experiences and who have found genuine affection and true love between them . This gorgeous tale penned by Nicole YOON #1 New York bestseller and other references, says this story is based on her own life as a Jamaican American married to a Korean American.
Everything, Everything
Novel: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published: 2015
The theme of Everything, Everything is, to not let little things scare you. Madeline never lived a full teenage life. She never went to a classic high school party where there was inappropriate things going on, she just stayed home and read the same book over and over again. Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years.
It is about the thrill and heartbreak that happens when we break out of our shell to do crazy, sometimes death-defying things for love. Everything, Everything is the debut young adult novel by Jamaican-American author Nicola Yoon, first published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers in 2015.
“Spoiler alert: Love is worth everything”
Edition 20
(15 May 2021)
Gulliver's Travels
Novel: Gulliver's Travels
Author: Jonathan Swift
Published: 1726
Gulliver's Travels is an adventure story involving several voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon, who, because of a series of mishaps en route to recognized ports, ends up, instead, on several unknown islands living with people and animals of unusual sizes, behaviors, and philosophies, but who, after each adventure, is somehow able to return to his home in England where he recovers from these unusual experiences and then sets out again on a new voyage. The book was an immediate success. The English dramatist John Gay remarked "It is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery." In 2015, Robert McCrum released his selection list of 100 best novels of all time in which Gulliver's Travels is listed as "a satirical masterpiece".
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Novel: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Author: John Boyne
Published: 2006
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas' main themes are innocence, friendship, and humanity. Bruno and Shmuel have a childlike purity about them. Even as he becomes acquainted with a concentration camp prisoner, Bruno is largely unaware of the consequences of the Holocaust.
It was adapted into a best-selling film in 2008 . It is an international best-seller and as of 2016 it had sold seven million copies.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is an emotional story for kids told from the eyes of children who saw no difference in each other being a German or Jewish. Unburdened by the distinctions created by adults, the children form their own relationship
The boy in the stripped pajamas is a novel which appears only once in a blue moon with a plot of betrayal, freedom Nationalism, innocence and friendship.
Edition 19
(30 April 2021)
The Adventure Series
Novel: The Adventure Series
Author: Enid Blyton
Published: 1944–1955
The Adventure Series by Enid Blyton, a prolific English children's author, is a series of eight children's novels. These books feature the same child characters: Philip, Jack, Dinah, and Lucy-Ann, along with several adult characters. Jack's pet parrot, Kiki, is also a standard feature in each novel. The stories show the four children off on their own, discovering and solving mysteries without much adult assistance. Although the publication dates span a decade, Blyton reportedly wrote each of the novels in less than a week.
I am Malala : The girl who stood up for Education
Novel: I am Malala : The girl who stood up for Education and was shot by Taliban
Author: Malala Yousafzai
Published: 8 October 2013
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
Malala Yousafzai is the author of this absolutely lovely and significant quote.
I am Malala : The girl who stood up for Education and was shot by Taliban is an autobiographical book by Malala , co-written with Christina Lamb. The main themes of the book are
•Women's Rights
•The Power of Education.
•Islam and Its Interpretations
•Goodness
•Fame, Power, and the Importance of Role Models.
I AM MALALA is a positive message about a family uprooted by global terrorism, the battle for girls' literacy, a father who championed and inspired his daughter to write and receive an education, and courageous parents who have an intense love for their daughter in a world that values sons.
This is without a doubt the best read of the month!! I'd always loved to read it and now I finally have the chance. I couldn't resist but recommend it to all you .
Edition 18
(15 April 2021)
Along for the Ride
Novel: Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published: 16 June 2009
Along for the Ride is a captivating young adult novel from New York Times Number One bestseller Sarah Dessen, about learning to let go and enjoy life. In Along for the Ride, Dessen vividly imagines the very different, but intersecting, lives of two of those late-night denizens. This beautiful teen novel is all about Auden West who has been an insomniac (ones who cannot sleep at night) ever since her parents’ divorce. Along for the Ride’s striking imagery of jumping and landing also reflects Auden’s hard-won ability to let go, to be free, to find her own way, even if it’s not as smooth or perfect a road as she had always planned. Her journey will speak to mothers, daughters and anyone who’s ever needed a second, or even a third, chance to get things right. The main characters are Jake Stock, Eli Joseph
Anne Frank – Diary of a Young Girl
Novel: Anne Frank – Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Published: 25 June 1947
The Diary of a Young Girl, also known as The Diary of Anne Frank, is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during the World War II.
Anne Frank received her diary as a gift on her thirteenth birthday in 1942. At first, it was her place to record observations about friends and school and her innermost thoughts.
She wrote About her schooldays, things that happened in the Secret Annex, or fairytales she invented herself.
There are many important messages in this book, but the most important message is that all people have the right to live in freedom. Anne's story shows us that just because people may be a different religion or race, doesn't mean that they should be treated differently.
Edition 17
(30 March 2021)
Let's Celebrate Holi!
Novel: Let's Celebrate Holi!
Author: Ajanta Chakraborty, Vivek Kumar
Published: 8 February 2017
Let's Celebrate Holi is a great way for kids and adults to learn bout the Indian Festival of Colors. Mayan, Neel, and their squirrel companion learn the story behind Holi, how Holi is celebrated, and experience all the games and food associated with it.
This story introduces the Holi festival in such a fun, bright way. It discusses the overall customs of the holiday, but it also points out region-specific practices. Let's Celebrate Holi is a fantastic look into a fascinating culture.
We Were The Liars
Novel: We Were The Liars
Author: E. Lockhart.
Published: 13 May 2014
We Were Liars focuses on the theme of self-acceptance, family morals, and the possibly-deadly consequences of one's mistakes. It is centered on the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family, who spend every summer gathered on their private island. The liars of the title are three teenage cousins — Johnny, Mirren and our narrator, Cadence — together with an outsider by the name of Gat Patil. We Were Liars was "a classic story of decaying aristocracy and the way that privilege can often hamstring more than help. What I loved so much about We Were Liars is the broken, hazy feel to the story, set off by the short sentences, the poetic vivid imagery. . This book is clever, beautifully tragic, and riveting. I encourage you to pick it up and experience it for yourself. The only way you'll really know what you think about We Were Liars is to read it for yourself.
Edition 16
(15 March 2021)
The Magic of the Lost Temple
Novel: The Magic of the Lost Temple
Author: Sudha Murty
Published: 11 November 2015
This book by Sudha Murty is about a city girl Nooni surprised at the pace of life in her grandparents’ village in Karnataka. But she quickly gets used to the gentle routine there and involves herself in a flurry of activities, including papad making, organizing picnics and learning to ride a cycle, with her new-found friends. Things get exciting when Nooni stumbles upon an ancient fabled stepwell right in the middle of a forest.
This is totally a must read book, it is heart-warming, charming, engrossing and absolutely unputdownable.
Heidi
Novel: Heidi
Author: Johanna Spyri
Published: 1880
Heidi is an elegant yet down to earth story written by Johanna Spyri .
Heidi's main theme is the restorative and healing power of nature. The novel opens with Aunt Dete taking her niece, Heidi, to stay with the young girl's grandfather, a goatherd who lives alone in the Swiss Alps. Dete, who has taken care of Heidi since she was orphaned as a baby, has a new job and can no longer care for the child.
This is one of those classic books that I would highly recommend to anyone, 11 years and upwards; it taught me about the power of friendship and the main character of Heidi is definitely my favourite: a jovial, radiant, chirpy girl who is always grateful and contented, no matter what her situation.
Edition 15
(8 March 2021)
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Novel: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Author: Eugene Yelchin and Matthew Tobin Anderson
Published: 17 October 2018
This book is Thematically staggering. This is a novel that promotes the theme of revealing over telling. The production of the characters is sophisticated. In order to understand these two 'men' and the burden they bear, the reader, at least this one, needs to use patience, piled on by their respective cultures and perceptions. It's one of the few books on the list, I think I need to reread to truly understand it.
The book is all about Historian Brangwain Spurge who is catapulted into goblin territory by a mysterious dark lord. A series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin.
Refugee
Novel: Refugee
Author: Alan Gratz
Published: 2017
We always pull out from a novel one or two main themes and create an essential question. Refugees are certainly about sustenance and fortitude from a refugee's standpoint, but they are also about the courage of those who are not directly affected, the courage to step up and make a difference. One of the three main protagonists in the novel is Josef Landau, The novel starts in Berlin, 1938, from his viewpoint. On the cusp of his bar mitzvah, Josef is a 12-year-old Jewish child. He is Ruthie's older brother, and the son of Aaron and Rachel. Isabel Fernandez, who lived in Cuba in 1994, is the other character. Mahmoud Bashara's story is the most recent: he and his family live in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015 and escape to Germany.
Although each refugee's experience is unique, some common themes in refugee-written literature include war, education, childhood, identity, culture, equality, respect, fear, hope, suffering, sadness, discrimination, and displacement. If you are also the one who likes historical fiction books and enjoys different modes of emotions then I would recommend you do read this book once in your life.
Edition 14
(15 February 2021)
Charlotte's Web
Novel: Charlotte's Web
Author: E. B. White
Published: 1952
Charlotte's Web, classic children's novel by E.B. White, published on October 15, 1952 by Harper and Brother is a widely read tale which takes place on a farm and concerns a pig named Wilbur and his devoted friend Charlotte, the spider who manages to save his life by writing about him in her web When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer.
Friendship is certainly the foundation of the novel. Fern's love for Wilbur saved him, and Charlotte taught Wilbur how to make and be a friend.
Alice Jones - The Impossible Clue
Novel: Alice Jones - The Impossible Clue
Author: Sarah Rubin
Published: 2016
Alice Jones, A smart, sparky young sleuth, a math whiz Alice Jones has already cracked a mystery or two. She's smart and she's fearless, so who else would her classmates turn to? But when a famous local scientist vanishes from a locked room, Alice and her detective skills graduate to the big leagues to face her toughest case yet.
Persuaded by a friend Sammy to investigate a scientist's disappearance, she's soon entangled in her trickiest case yet. Dr. Learner is reputed to have invented an invisibility suit, but is wacky science really to blame for his vanishing? Or is it something more sinister? Fearless Alice won't stop till she knows the truth. With the unlikely help of erstwhile nemesis Kevin, Alice solves the puzzle - only to face another. Will she reveal the truth? Read the book to know what happens...
Edition 13
(30 January 2021)
The Night Diary
Novel: The Night Diary
Author: Veera Hiranandani
Published: 2018
Night diary is a fictional work based on real life events The author narrates the incidents of India's post-World War II independence from British rule and the ensuing partition through the expression of Nisha, a 12-year-old Indian girl. The fictional family in the novel is apparently based on the childhood memories of Hiranandani's father, whose family, like Nisha's, travel to New India when part of India became Pakistan. In The Night Diary, Hiranandani traces the historical relevance of independence and partition and reveals its aggressive and divisive effect on Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
You'd enjoy this story since this book addresses the concepts of optimism, bravery , hope and belonging. It's one of the best novels, because it still has an emotional touch in realistic words.
Black Beauty
Novel: Black Beauty
Author: Anna Sewell
Published: 1877
The Autobiography of a Horse, a novel by Anna Sewell and the first major animal story in children's literature, published in 1877, shortly before Sewell’s death. The author wrote it “to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses”.
The book traces the adventures of the beautiful black horse, Black beauty from his first day to his old age, recording his joys and sorrows as he is sold from one master to another.
This book is a huge success and compelled people to look at animals differently. It is relevant even today as many activists work for better living condition for our furred friends.
Edition 12
(15 January 2021)
The Wrinkle In Time
Novel : The Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeleine L 'Engle
Published : 1962.
In The Wrinkle in Time, the main themes, or prevalent ideas, include the strength of love and the importance of individuality. The primary conflict, or conflict between thoughts or identities, is the dispute between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of love.
I would recommend that you all read this book once in your life, since this story shows that love's strength can overpower evil forces, which means it can overcome evil forces in simple words. It just takes a bit of compassion to wash out years of hurt and hate. A wrinkle in time also shows people that its crucial for us to be true to ourselves and be an individual. Individuality played an important role in the story.
The Report Card
Novel: The Report Card
Author: Andrew Clements
Published : 2004
This Novel deals with the issues of grades, testing, and achievement in school. The main character, Nora, calls the system into question in a way that makes her parents and teachers reconsider their ideas about what education means. Nora is secretly a genius but does not tell anyone for fear that she will be thought of as "different".
I recommend this novel because it proves that grades don't reflect everything about a student. Nora expresses that she thinks grades cause too much competition, it causes the extra smart kids to be all snobbish and stuck-up, and the normal kids to think they're dumb. A teacher also supports Nora, saying that she did think grades were getting too much heed and that we should not take grades as a competition.