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Apparently, today is World Book Day, and unlike rumors about other days and awards organized by UNESCO, this one actually is.
A short thread of 10 fiction books that made me sit up and wonder (not considering Wodehouse, Christie, and Doyle).
Share your favorite books as well.
A short thread of 10 fiction books that made me sit up and wonder (not considering Wodehouse, Christie, and Doyle).
Share your favorite books as well.
10. Foundation. Isaac Asimov.
Foundation is classic Science Fiction. Asimov weaves a story that spans centuries and generations, which culminates with an intriguing climax.
While the characters appear flat at times, and the prose prolix, the story keeps the books interesting.
Foundation is classic Science Fiction. Asimov weaves a story that spans centuries and generations, which culminates with an intriguing climax.
While the characters appear flat at times, and the prose prolix, the story keeps the books interesting.
9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
H2G2 is a delectable mix of Science Fiction and Humor. While the later books in the trilogy of five become a tad dark, the story still moves on hilariously.
Of course, this is where the Ultimate Answer is also revealed.
H2G2 is a delectable mix of Science Fiction and Humor. While the later books in the trilogy of five become a tad dark, the story still moves on hilariously.
Of course, this is where the Ultimate Answer is also revealed.
8. The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco
While the first word that comes to my mind about this book is "abstruse", as with any book by Eco, the murder mystery, set in an abbey in the Middle Ages, is actually quite interesting.
Foucault's Pendulum, by Eco, is also worth reading.
While the first word that comes to my mind about this book is "abstruse", as with any book by Eco, the murder mystery, set in an abbey in the Middle Ages, is actually quite interesting.
Foucault's Pendulum, by Eco, is also worth reading.
7. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
I first read this years back and was fascinated by the premise of the book, and its intertwining of post-Independence history with fiction.
The later ones by Rushdie never actually got around to this level (except the one that was banned).
I first read this years back and was fascinated by the premise of the book, and its intertwining of post-Independence history with fiction.
The later ones by Rushdie never actually got around to this level (except the one that was banned).
6. 100 Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
While Rushdie was inspired by "magical realism", Marquez, I feel, used this as high art, subtly weaving fantasy and reality into his stories. It's one of the books that made me imagine the people and the places in the story.
While Rushdie was inspired by "magical realism", Marquez, I feel, used this as high art, subtly weaving fantasy and reality into his stories. It's one of the books that made me imagine the people and the places in the story.
5. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, John le Carré
I discovered le Carré very recently with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The Spy...is a gripping espionage story (obviously) and one of his best. It is a joy to read le Carré as he goes over even the minutest details in his stories.
I discovered le Carré very recently with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The Spy...is a gripping espionage story (obviously) and one of his best. It is a joy to read le Carré as he goes over even the minutest details in his stories.
4. Aavarana: The Veil, S L Bhyrappa
At times while reading this book, one could feel the guts being twisted, the throat being choked, and a reluctance to go further in the story.
If you haven't read this book, two stories in two times, I would very highly recommend that you do.
At times while reading this book, one could feel the guts being twisted, the throat being choked, and a reluctance to go further in the story.
If you haven't read this book, two stories in two times, I would very highly recommend that you do.
3. Dune, Frank Herbert
Dune is less of Science Fiction and more on Religion, Politics, Economics, and Ecology. Herbert, while a master storyteller, could never recreate this magic in any of his other novels, not even in the sequel to Dune.
Oh, and that disaster of a movie!
Dune is less of Science Fiction and more on Religion, Politics, Economics, and Ecology. Herbert, while a master storyteller, could never recreate this magic in any of his other novels, not even in the sequel to Dune.
Oh, and that disaster of a movie!
2. The Lord of the Rings, J R R Tolkien
Curiously, the first time I read the book, I somehow couldn't read beyond the first chapter. Over the years, I have reread the book many times, some chapters more than the others.
Even the prequel, Silmarillion, is good but incomplete.
Curiously, the first time I read the book, I somehow couldn't read beyond the first chapter. Over the years, I have reread the book many times, some chapters more than the others.
Even the prequel, Silmarillion, is good but incomplete.
1. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
The mad war satire by Heller is a masterpiece, and I have not read or heard about anything even close to Catch-22. Even the sequel, Closing Time, was insipid by comparison.
Yossarian Lives!
No wonder the movie could do no justice to the book! //
The mad war satire by Heller is a masterpiece, and I have not read or heard about anything even close to Catch-22. Even the sequel, Closing Time, was insipid by comparison.
Yossarian Lives!
No wonder the movie could do no justice to the book! //
