Norwegian Wood #ATOZCHALLENGE

I am trying to catch up to the A to Z challenge. I missed a couple of days because I was travelling to home. Last weekend, I spent an entire day reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. 

Now, I have heard a lot of people talk about Murakami, but somehow missed reading it until now. I have seen numerous lines/quotes beautifully written and expressed on love, loss and life by Murakami. So, my expectations were riding high when I started the book. 

The story is about a boy who loses his best friend to suicide, falls in love with his best friend's girl, struggles to overcome the depression and meets another lively girl who breezes life into his mundane existence. The book is absolutely beautiful, filled with very memorable lines. But if you ask me if I will recommend it to anyone, my answer would be 'No'. The book is so brilliantly written that depression flows from the pages of the book into the person reading it. You can feel the intense pain, confusion and feelings that the characters of the book experience through the words. It would probably leave you sapped of your energy.

These are my most favorite lines from the book, mainly because of the optimism. It shone like a lone star on a dark, dark night. 

You know, they've got these chocolate assortments, and you like some but you don't like others? And you eat all the ones you like, and the only ones left are the ones you don't like as much? I always think about that when something painful comes up. Now I just have to push these off and everything will be okay. Life is a box of chocolates.

Indeed, life is a box of chocolates ! 

The Year I Met You - Book Review

Before I begin, I must say this; despite how it sounds, it is really not a romance novel. For a while now, I have been searching for good books that do not involve romance and this book was just that. Not that I am against love or something, it is just that I do not want to read something and sulk with the lack of it. I am not a big fan of crime fiction as well, too much suspense to handle. So I have turned to non fiction reading.

But then, this book was refreshing change. I devoured the book in a single day. It had drama, comedy and philosophy, all in right doses. This book is about two people who meet and what happens to them over the course of one year. The central character in the book, Jasmine can be you, me or any working woman. I am pretty sure all of us have had thoughts and feelings that Jasmine goes through the course of the book. If I were to get fired from my job tomorrow and forced to sit idle at home, I am pretty sure the book perfectly describes my emotions.

I love stories with imperfections and all the characters we meet in this have their own imperfections, most of them relatable. Jasmine has her fixation to be busy always while her sister Heather has her fixation with routines. Jasmine's neighbor Matt (the 'You' in the title) has a slight drinking problem while her other neighbor Dr. J suffers from loneliness. This book is all about how they manage their imperfections and still continue on with their lives.

If you are looking for something refreshing that would make you think about your own life and struggles but with an end that will leave you feeling good, then this is the book you want to go for.

Books and me

I just couldn't stop myself from writing this blog. So here it is......
I visited a library today. I did not realise how much i missed the books until i was there. Seeing so many books, surrounded by books of many of my favorite authors, a sense of euphoria took me over. I just couldn't stop myself from grinning. I was so happy. I am sure people in the library would have thought me a bit eccentric. But i didn't mind a bit. Nothing could banish the smile from my face. Thats the place books hold in my life. I'm the happiest when with books. It takes me to different places, away, far away from this monotonous world.
"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers."
You can turn to a book whenever you want. Depressed??? read a happy book and cheer up. Happy??? read a great book and enjoy it. Angry and frustrated??? read a thriller and just let it out. Whichever mood you are, you can find a book to suit you. Such is the pleasure of reading. You can always forget whatever you have in your mind and get carried away to far off lands with the characters in it. So next time you have something going on in your mind, take up a book and chill out. Happy reading :)
Finally, some lines from a bibliomaniac:
"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them."




PS: This might look boring. It actually is... But as i mentioned already, i just couldn't stop myself... So bear with it... :P