I grew up in a house that loved books. They formed an integral part of my growing years. I loved to live in the world of those characters. Perhaps that exposure to books also explains why I took to writing as a profession. It takes sheer talent to convince people of a world that does not exist and make them want to live a life that does not exist.
Where was I? Ah yes books! Today I am listing 7 ( I wish the number was more!) books that I love. Some I love for the world of fantasy, some have inspired me and some I wish I could think as creatively as the author did.
pic source: www.enidblyton.net
1. The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
Okay, let me start with a confession. For a long time I thought her name was Gnid Blyton because I never got the E in the Enid. Done! Confession out of my system! I think her books are every child’s fantasy and you have no idea how much I would walk around the long trees with a hope that I would find a magic faraway tree too. From the land of gifts to the upside down world, toffee shock, the slide in the heart of the tree, Mr. Saucepan man, Dame-wash-a-lot, Mr.Whatzhisname? Silky….whew! the list is pretty endless. As a kid, I would list of all the things I could do when I would climb that tree and visit a passing cloud.
Pic source: islingtontribune.com
2. The William series – Richmal Crompton
I would crack up at his doings and chuckle to myself reading the books. I would wonder what the mother would go through with a kid like him. My wait lasted all of 20 years. I am a mom to 4 year old twin boys who fill my life with drama that can last a life time. I know what William’s mother must have gone through. I shudder to think what I will be faced with when the boys are older.
3. From Heaven’s Lake – Vikram Seth
I was wondering if I should mention this book or his epic tome A Suitable Boy, I settled for something easy to read, just in case I convince you read this book. It is a travelogue and if you like reading travelogues, you should pick this one up. It describes the authors journey across China. I also created a list of the places I would like to visit after I read this book.
pic source:books.simonandschuster.com
4. God on a Harley – Joan Brady
Answers come to you when you seek. And this book came when I was doing exactly that, seeking answers for things I needed to know. The author calls it a spiritual fable while I know it as a book that gave me the strength to think better and feel good. The six tenets of the book are a mantra to live by:
- Do not build walls but learn to transcend them.
- Live in the moment, for each one is precious and not to be squandered.
- Take care of yourself, first and foremost.
- Drop the ego. Be real. And watch what happens.
- All things are possible all of the time.
- Maintain Universal Flow. In giving, something is gained, and it is an act of generosity to receive.
Did I make sense to you?
5. Harry Potter – J.K Rowling
Yes, I am one of the die hard HP fans, who was up at 4 am in the morning to stand in the line to lay my hands on the last HP book despite pre-ordering it and had friends kind enough to send me the same versions of the book with different covers! I loved his life and was sad when the series came to an end. Another series where I knew the books are better than a movie.
6. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
One of the MOST beautiful books ever written. I waited to see the movie and compare it with the book but was sad when some of the most descriptive parts were missed out. The story of Amir and Hassan is too beautiful to be missed. The book has its dark moments and beautiful moments.
pic source: swamyview.wordpress.com
7. Asuras – Tale of the Vaquished – Neelkanthan Rao Anand Neelkantan
All of us have grown up listening to the story of Ramayan. Yes, the story of how good triumphs over evil and the story of Lord Rama. Even as a child I wondered why no one spoke about Ravana. And when I saw the book that chronicled his life, needless to say I picked it up without a second thought. What unfolded was a brilliant read. If you love Indian authors and Indian mythology, don’t miss reading this.
Choosing 7 just makes me realize of all the other lovely books I have not mentioned! Will park that for a later post.
I am taking part in the WriteTribe Festival. This is my entry for Day 5.
Kite Runner is truly phenomenal. I loved the last line , ” For you , a thousand times over “. Have you read a thousand splendid suns ? Its from the same writer. Another masterpiece .
Oh yes, I did not quite like And the Mountains Echoed though 🙁
The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton, I miss it.. I loved the book.. Still recollect every place they went to in the book …one og her best books..
And the Fatty Series! Never got enough of them!
I’ve grown up on Enid blyton…faraway tree, Gallianos circus, 5 find outers, Malory towers, st.claire to name a few. The William series was another one which brought me memories..I still remember these books in the school library- the red hard bound classic series… I loved each and every one of them too, and now when I think of him, I think he had a saint for a mother. Haha
Your 3 & 4 rec seem rather interesting and up my interest alley..so will probably get hold of them soon. 🙂
Oh yes the Enid Blyton list is endless, I stuck to one! I love God on a Harley. One of my very fav books.
I enjoyed the Enid Blyton books My favourites were the Famous Five series and the Twins at St Clare’s. enjoyed the harry potter books too.
Did you read the Malory Towers too?
Your love for books is appreciable. Reading makes a man perfect!
Reading has always been healing for me 🙂
I liked Kite Runner alot, but I couldnt finish Asura. Harry potter – I can never read…have read the entire Enid Blyton list…other two I should plan to read based on recommendation.
Would you like to write/share a review for my project 30 days 30 books? Maybe one that you have written already?
Try and complete the Asuras, I thought it was a terrific read. Try reading God on a Harley of you like spiritual fables, it is more to do with self healing. I found the book when I was seeking answers, so it worked for me 🙂
Oops sorry! Missed the last line, when does it start? And your blog link?
Except J.K.Rowling , I love a the others and Kite Runner is written so well.
Kite Runner was a book that made me cry! It was one of the best reads!
You brought back memories – the William series – how long has it been since I heard it mentioned 🙂
I loved the kid! He was such a delight to read. And now that my boys behave that way, I am not so amused!
Nice Post!!! craving to lay me hands on the HP series. hmm….how long will I have to wait!!!
Not much! Just order all the books at one go!
Love six and Five. I bookmarked the first TWO and someone got me Asura..need to take it from her. Right now, I am on Oath of Vyaputras and am so keen to read bout Ravana. I am ahuge fan of HP and love A suitable Boy. Great collection:)
Oh please take it quickly and start reading NOW!
Pratibha what about sharing a post for my project?
Sorry, but did I miss a snippet of conversation here? What project?
Pratibha, I was doing a project – 30 days 30 books which I suspended temporarily…I am planning to finish the remaing 12 days with guest posts…for which I invite you to write/share a book review.
Again a flashback series…loved the enid blyton series during childhood days.
Read the kite runner…inspirational
Harry potter…could read only 2 volumes then gave up!
Will check out others,
Thanks, pratibha
Most welcome! the list of favourites is pretty endless and it was actually difficult to select just 7!
HI..that’s a nice list of books…I enjoyed the Thousand Splendid Suns more than the Kite Runner.
I’ve read both, I liked the Kite Runner a little more than a Thousand Splendid Sons. Have you read And the Mountains echoed? I read it but could not complete it, it was not as nice as the earlier books.
Is that from Khalid Hosseini as well ? I have read Princess series . Its by Jean Sasson . Really nice. Actually more than a novel , its an sccount of the lives of royal females in Saudi Arabia. Really a moving piece! Btw , when I was a child , I used to wonder that how people manage to complete such thick novels. Although I always had a charm for reading them , the thickness fear always kept me at distance from them. So Iam not that familiar with the oldies tagged by you , except for Enid Blyton ! 😀 But yes a few years later, I came across The Kite Runner , and I cannot describe the emotional mix I underwent while reading it. Phenomenal ! And yes , the movie stands no where in front of the novel. Btw I like Jane Austen classics very much. Presently Iam reading Persuasion 🙂
And the Mountains Echoed? yes, that is written by him as well. I don’t quite like Jean Sasson, I think she writes really depressing stuff 🙁 I have a really looooong list of books, but I settled for 7, keeping in mind the theme for the WriteTribe Contest 🙂
So hows “And the mountains echoed” ? Actually , yes princess series may seem a lil depressing , but then as I mentioned its not a novel , not a literary masterpiece , but yes a very well written account of the plight of women in Saudi Arabia. And its based on a true story. Being a female , I found it a terrible experience. Really a sad one ! Btw good luck for the contest! 🙂 And although I haven’t read harry potter, I really liked its movie ( the whole series) ! 😀
I did not like it as much as I like the earlier ones, yes I know Jean Sasson writes on true stories and I read one For the Love of a Son, I thought it was really very depressing. And for me books are always way better than the movies, preferred that all the time!
I absolutely LOVED the Harry Potter books and the intricate all inclusive world JK Rowlings created. Awesome!
I loved it too and how I wish I could visit it once!
I love books. Loved Famous Five Series of Enid Blyton. Planning to read Kite Runner. Just finished the Shiva Trilogy (Awesome) and the Krishna Key (also loved it)
I was very upset with the end of Krishna Key. It was such a sad one! He built the story so well and the end was so meh! I started wth the Oath of Vayuputras and it was not even close to the initial books, so I have kept it aside.
My childhood memories are filled with Enid Blyton’s books… and also Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys…. i also loved children’s classics…. Ur list is very interesting… I agree HP series is one where the books are definitely better than the movies…However, for Chronicles of Narnia… the movies have been very well made… specially the 1st part..Kite Runner got too heavy for me.. probably coz i was already going through a difficult time…maybe i should try reading it again…God on a Harley and Asuras added to my list… i enjoy mythology.. recently discovered the Shopaholic series… they’re such a fun read!! Currently reading Catcher in the rye…
recently discovered your blog… and couldn’t resist commenting on this post… i love reading…. keedaaaa…:) very nice blog and its fun to see the world thru your blog lens
Shopaholic Series are very girly and after a while you realise that all the Shopaholic series are just the same. Kite Runner is a very heavy book and again the movie did not live up to the expectations. I recently read And the Mountains echoed and I had to stop midway because I just could not go ahead with it! For me books are my world of illusion. I loved the world of Faraway trees and spent half my childhood to discover a magic tree.
Asuras is a brilliant read and I never knew much about Ravana till I read the book and I was simply amazed!
My twin boys who are four and half want me to read a story to them every night from the Enid Blyton collection even if I have to end the story with Goldilocks!! Reading for me is healing! there are times when days pass by and I dont have the time to read a book and sometimes I finish reading two books in a day!
And thank you for stopping by!