What Are You Reading Today?

Do you think that if you believe in magic then a little magic resides inside you? It certainly holds true for Isabel Allende, the author and a resident of the House of Spirits. This book is about a family saga, intertwined with the troubled past of a country. Three generations of a family jostled by the misfortunes and delusions of a nation that is in the pursuit of its own identity. Each character is stark and tells a tale filled with warmth and war. Through the character’s flaws we peek into a world of the real and the surreal, all at once. The most cruel has mercy while the most merciful is riddled by violence, and the balancing act tied together with the strings of time is the house in the corner or as the cover says – the House of Spirits.

Do the philosophers, the scriptures, the intellectuals leave you perplexed and wondering? Do their teachings apply to our lives today? Do Rumi’s poems still hold any meaning in the times of Tinder and #InstaLike? Elif Shafak has answered many such questions through Ella Rubenstein, a suburban mother. Ella has one dog, three kids and a compromise – which is better known as marriage. But all of this changes when Ella finds love and faces a dilemma. Rumi and Tabrez come to her rescue, their age-old lessons steer her through these troubled seas till she finds her way and discovers who she is. The forty rules are not an adage to live by, it is a journey you live through and that remains in your heart.

How do you take a mesh of human emotions that is often mercurial and mostly complicated, and tell a story? You make it simple. Wonder is a delightful read, not just for its beam of sunshine and positive vibes, but also for its marvellously simple narrative. The movie adaptation of the book is out and available. But I urge you to read the book. Not because I am what they call a bibliophile, but because I am a cynic who felt optimism beaming at her through this tale of a little boy with a distorted face. August’s tale is not his alone, it is the story of his friends and family and how they are affected by his appearance. It makes us wonder are we all who we claim to be, or are we just hypocrites in hiding. A short read, that will leave you wondering long after.

You have heard this one before. You have probably even lived through it. The Suitable Boy is about the Indian mother’s greatest predicament: finding the perfect groom for her daughter. It’s set against the backdrop of a newborn nation in its formative years. A nation with a quivering voice and a pencil moustache. While a young woman searches for her suitable boy, a young nation finds its footing. Somewhere, it becomes the story of all our beginnings. Therefore a must-read. The Suitable Boy is an old friend of mine, and I hope even you find some solace in this friendship.

The Palace of Illusions is an unforgettable retelling of the Mahabharat from Draupadi’s perspective, one that is perhaps more relevant than ever today. Violence, sexual assault, discrimination, she faces it all. What makes this a rare read are her constant dilemmas, and how she vanquishes her inner demons to wreak havoc upon the world. She explores polygamy and its possibilities. Draupadi even confesses to emotionally cheating on her five husbands for the elusive Karna. No, Draupadi is not your run-of-the-mill hero, but maybe that’s what makes her the hero of her destiny.