Showing posts with label Thoughts about famous books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts about famous books. Show all posts

Friday, 6 November 2015

Eat, Pray, Love~ one woman's search for everything!


My best friend gifted me this book on my birthday this year and when I started reading it, I realized that I have earned a new friend, Elizabeth Gilbert. So, I read the book at a slow pace because I was not willing to bid adieu to my friend so early. And when I was not reading it, I used to think about Elizabeth's journey.

Eat, Pray, Love is an autobiography or a travelogue of a woman in her mid thirties, who suffers a horrible divorce which is followed by a heart shattering breakup. Lost and devastated, Elizabeth embarks on a journey to find herself and to seek God. She travels to Italy, India and Indonesia after her publisher makes a deal with her that she has to write a blockbuster book on her journey.

As you leaf through the pages, you get to discover yourself along with Gilbert. You get to understand God along with Gilbert. You get to value your life in a more passionate way, along with Gilbert. The book is not only about the author's self-discovery. It is also your chance to rediscover yourself.

I would suggest especially every woman to read this book. It truly holds the secret of life.

Here's sharing 10 beautiful quotes from this book, that has resonated deeply with me:

1. "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” 


2. “You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control.” 


3. “People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life."


4. “To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced
life.” 


5. “There’s a crack (or cracks) in everyone…that’s how the light of God gets in.” 


6. "Destiny, I feel, is also a relationship - a play between divine grace and willful self-effort.” 


7. “Smile with face, smile with mind, and good energy will come to you and clean away dirty energy.” 


8. “We don't realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” 


9. “You’re wishing’ too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” 


10. “Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope” 


I cannot rate this book, probably because it is so very special to me. When I have started considering the author of the book my dear friend, I hope you can understand how special it is to me. 

Planning to watch the movie "Eat, pray, love" in the weekend! 

You can buy the book here

Saturday, 12 July 2014

Book Review: The Fault in our Stars

Book: The Fault in our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Penguin
Price: 399 INR
ISBN: 9780141345659

Blurb: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Rating: 5/5 

My Review: Firstly, I really curse myself for having read this book so late. What a gem I was missing! But then, better late than never. Before watching the movie, I resolved to read the book first. And after finishing it about 30 minutes back, I am lost in a whirlpool of emotions. There is this striking pain in my heart which is accompanied with sheer wonderment. "So dawn goes down to the day...Nothing gold can stay." ~This is a quote that talks volumes about the beautiful, delicious and divine love between Hazel and Augustus.
The story begins with Hazel, a terminal cancer patient who is clinically depressed and is clueless about the direction her life is heading. Her life takes a surprising turn when she meets Augustus Waters in a cancer support group. Hazel learns that Augustus is also a fellow cancer survivor. Augustus changes Hazel’s life in a beautiful way and falls madly in love with her. However in the beginning, Hazel tries hard to not fall in love with Augustus as she fears that death may come any moment. She does not want to be grenade and cause more sadness to Augustus. Hazel's recommends her favorite book “ An Imperial Affliction” to Augustus which talks about cancer. Augustus gets fond of the book too and both Hazel and Augustus wishes to know what happened after the book ends as it ends abruptly, mid sentence. Augustus wants to satiate Hazel's curiosity and arranges a trip to Amsterdam so that they can meet the author of “An Imperial Affliction” and talk directly to him about the fate of the characters after the book ends. That trip to Amsterdam changes their life forever.Readers will be bound to fall in love with this couple. Readers would desperately wish that if only the monster called cancer was not constantly against the couple, they could have a perfect, beautiful love story. This book has that magical power to touch the most intrinsic chords of the human heart. John Green has handled such a sensitive subject like cancer survivors falling in love with magical deftness.The book not only narrates the pain of a cancer survivor but celebrates life from every aspect. Green inspires the readers to grab the maximum from their life and celebrate the value of life every single day. 
The book is embellished with beautiful quotes and magical moments.
This is a book that will be liked even by people who has a reading phobia. Recommended to every living soul on the planet.

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Thoughts about the classic book: Rebecca


Blurb of the book: The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives--presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave

My thoughts: Very seldom you come across a book which you want to keep on reading. You wish the book never ends. Such was my feeling while reading Rebecca. 
"Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley yet again"~~The book starts with this sentence and right from the 1st sentence, it keeps you hooked till the end. I had spend about 2 weeks with this book and I could not restrain myself from thinking about it when I was not reading the book. 
Truly, it is the unsurpassed masterpiece of romantic suspense. It's the type of book which is embellished with mystery, suspense and thrill at frequent intervals. The author has narrated the story in the voice of a young innocent girl who gets married to an older and rich man whose wife has died few months back. The narration gives the readers a crystal clear glimpse of the protagonist's mind and heart. 
The best character created by the author was Rebecca who is not in the story physically but her spirit is very much there in every page of the book. The character of the sinister Mrs. Danvers is beautifully sketched too.
The way the mystery unfolds in the story is a beautiful treat for all the suspense-loving readers. It is a perfect book to curl up inside your blanket with a cup of coffee and watching the rain outside at intervals to get drenched in the suspense. I will always cherish these 2 weeks that I had spend with this book. My soul was totally lost in Manderley for the last few days. 
All you suspense loving readers, go grab this classic book. You can get it online at http://www.flipkart.com/rebecca/p/itmdxy35uttdh8sd?q=Rebecca&as=on&as-show=on&otracker=start&as-pos=p_1&pid=9781844080380