Book Review

Through the dawn of the ages we have been exposed to all sorts of literature, each managing to evoke a different emotion within us. But there were some that not only struck a chord but left a permanent imprint on us. These were not just merely good books but literary masterpieces. While the definition of a truly remarkable book may differ from one individual to another, here are some books which have universally been proclaimed as pièces de résistance.

1. Animal Farm

The year 1945 say the death of innocence through many Jews like Anne Frank, the death of malevolence through Adolf Hitler and the death of dark days through the conclusion of the Second World War. However, these significant deaths bestowed upon us the birth of literary genius through George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. Set in a straight out of the books English farm called ‘Manor Farm’, it describes the monotony struck and wretched lives of the animals residing there. And just when degradation sets in, revolution and elevation enter their lives like a sudden gush of wind. With a human free life the animals expect a life that would now and forever continue to be astounding. But future events lead to show that it is not the good but the cunning who lead the life everyone yearns for. ‘Animal Farm’ is that very satirical story of the strong suppressing the weak and through the mask of animals tells us how even we humans are no less than those suppressed beasts of burden.

2. The Old Man and the Sea

After exhibiting the world the complexities of war through classics like ‘A Farewell to Arms’ and ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’, acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway introduced simplicity into his writing through ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. Published in 1952, ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ became an instant rage and classic. The story revolves around the life of Santiago, an old fisherman slowly degrading both in form of life and luck. Gone 84 days without catching any fish, it seems that lady luck has simply refused to help out Santiago. However, where luck fails him, willpower moves Santiago forward with hope that he indeed will catch a marvellous fish. What follows is an epic battle between Santiago’s determination and a giant marlin. It is a story not of miraculous luck or victory through desire, but one that speaks of triumph of the ‘self’.

3. Life of Pi:

Is it possible to conclude that a world of delusional fantasies and absolute paranoia can make a book, one with a happy ending? This is one integral question the reader has to answer in Yann Martel’s 2001 novel ‘Life of Pi’. Through the eyes, ears and inner thoughts of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, Yann Martel takes us through the gruesome journey and mental metamorphosis of a shipwrecked boy. However, what makes ‘Life of Pi’ distinguish itself from any other novel of the same essence is the introduction of wild animals as Pi’s shipmates. It’s a battle field in the desolated life of a shipwrecked boy specially when it comes to survival, and in ‘Life of Pi’ it is not just a battle field but a ‘jungle’ out there.

4. The Road

Death, disease, starvation, emaciation, suffering, struggle and more than anything immense love and innocence is what awaits the reader in Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 novel ‘The Road’. It follows the lives of a father-son pair trying to make ends meet in a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce and humanity... rare. While the reader gets immersed into the depression and void filled world of cannibalism, decomposing bodies and decomposing souls; the only ray of flickering hope comes from the love between the father and son who till the end of the novel remain unnamed. It is the immense love and dying hope of the father and the immense love and strong compassion and hope of the son that makes ‘The Road’, the classic must read book that it is today.

5. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Shakespeare was not a writer; he was a magician because only a true magician could compose plays and poems which were each legendary in their own right. But what would you call a writer who manages to recreate the same, if not greater, magic that Shakespeare did? David Wroblewski can be called that one person. His debut novel ‘The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’, published in the year 2008, proved this fact in phenomenal ways. Based on the classic play Hamlet, ‘The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’ brings back to life love, tragedy, murder, deceit and most of all sweet old revenge.

Belief

A very long time ago in a little town called Cockadoodledooville, lived a young chick named Sam. Sam’s life was straight out of the stereotypical ‘chicken’s life’ book. His mother, like the other mother hens in Cockadoodledooville, worked in the hatchery and his father, like the other father roosters in Cockadoodledooville, worked in the local pillow making factory. It was a set norm in Cockadoodledooville that every hen would work in the hatchery and every rooster in the factory.

Sam’s father (Rex) loved his job. What a manly job it was to stuff those fragile, cottony feathers into the grainy pillow covers. It made Rex feel more of a man every day and he couldn’t wait for the day when Sam would be on his way to do the same. Sam on the other hand had no interest in becoming a pillow maker. His true passion lied in Cocka-doodle-doo-ing. The thought of waking everyone up the moment the first ray of light hit the sky gave him an adrenalin rush like no other grain of corn could give. He believed that he would excel at it and make a name for not only himself but also for his family and town.

But no one in Cockadoodledooville understood his passion and no one stood by his belief. Everyone abused him whenever he cocka-doodle-d, calling him ‘chicken’. His parents would yell at him, tried to put some sense into him but he wouldn’t budge. He didn’t need the consent of anyone to strengthen his belief system.

One day, Sam decided that it was best to leave this dead end town, where nothing was left for him. He would leave the next day at the break of dawn to the farm a few kilometres away from Cockadoodledooville. So as the sun opened its eyes to the new day, the citizens of Cockadoodledooville opened their ears to the cocka-doodle-ing of Sam; and what a sound that was. It removed any trace of laziness that remained in the bodies of the people of Cockadoodledooville and they felt excited about this new day. Everyone understood it was Sam who was the source of this exquisite sound and realised the folly they had committed. They rushed out of their nests to stop Sam from leaving. But it was too late, they could already see him crossing over to the other side.

Today Sam’s success is still in the history books of Cockadoodledooville. Every chick in Cockadoodledooville now dreams big. Even today they ask ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ to which everyone unanimously answers ‘Because he believed that he could get to the other side’.