Simple words- Memorable sentences.

A couple of months back I started a list. A list where I'd jot down the the opening and closing sentence or paragraph of a good book. Here are a few that gripped my attention and compelled me to note them down.

1. The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger: 

First paragraph: "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

(This first paragraph was enough to capture my attention. There is a seriousness in the casually written lines which set the tone for the entire novel. Refreshing, to say the least).

Last sentence: "Don't ever tell anybody anything, if you do, you start missing everybody."

(By the time I finished the novel, I had fallen in love with the narrator. This last sentence was a perfect ending to a brilliant novel).

2. The metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

First sentence: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from unsettling dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin."


(This powerful first sentence draws in the reader and lets his/her imagination wonder for a while as to how the character transformed and what has he changed into overnight?)


I saved the best for last! 
3. Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

First sentence: "It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love."

(Lyrical. Nostalgic. Magical! The first sentence is exactly what you'd expect from a literary genius.)

Last paragraph:  "And how long do you think we can keep up this goddamn coming and going?’ he asked.  Florentino Ariza had kept his answer ready for fifty-three years, seven months, and eleven day and nights.  ‘Forever,’ he said.”

(Okay so I really can not contain my love for this book. The romance genre has never really caught my fancy, this was my first love story and oh boy! did it make me go bonkers!? lol. I would just not stop talking about it. The eloquent narrative and its beautiful prose completely immersed me into the world of Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza. The last sentence is a memorable line summing up the triumph of irrevocable love.)

 

Review: Tender Hooks by Moni Mohsin

Two years back, I got hooked onto books about the Middle East. Most books I read such as Khaled Hosseini's, Mohsin Hameed's and Daniyal Mueenuddin's dealt with intense issues. Soon I began to wonder if heavy and depressing stories were all that the South Asian Writers had to offer. That perception changed when I read a review of Moni Mohsin's much talked about book, Tender hooks.


Clutching a copy of the book when I walked out of the book store, I knew I was in for something funny, bone-tickling and most importantly, lighthearted. After classic reads such as The Beautiful and the Damned and The picture of Dorian Gray, I was in need of some major comic relief. And that I got!


The story has been set in present day Lahore, with the ever-increasing problems of the country mentioned in random headline on top of each chapter. The narrator, a social butterfly from a 'khata peeta bagground' not a 'bhooka nanga' one with a rich husband who is more like a 'zinda lash' and a fifteen year old son Kulchoo, comes across as a shallow woman, obsessed with her status. Her group of affluent friends, 'kittys', GTs (Get togethers), dinners and parties are all a staple feature of her lifestyle.


The language of the book is very different as it doesn't conform to traditional English which is justified as it is better able to portray the life of an elitist society. The book is a hilarious take on the rich and the famous of Pakistan who live in their own bubble, very much aware of their surrounding but unfazed nevertheless.


It was sheer joy to read the book, made me laugh out loud a couple of times and satisfied me with a happy ending. 

Each person has a story to tell

One of the favorite things about going to a college that was 45 minutes away from my home was the ride. Each morning, I'd see different faces on the sidewalks, bus stops, at signals and in rushing automobiles. People standing impatiently at a bus stop raising their wrists to view the watch that seems to tick just a little faster in the morning and looking out for their ride, dads grabbing the hand of their children all clad in neatly pressed uniforms rushing across the street to put them safely in their vans, beggars- the same ones, everyday asking for money in the same way at the same signals, all week long.

I look at these people and think what's there story? I ache to know sometimes. If each person I see on the street every morning decided to pen down their story, imagine what an exciting world would it become! For I know for a fact that everybody has a story...it's just waiting to be written. 

Worst books I've read!

Don't call me hater! Because I'm not. I love books, hence this book blog! But to be honest there have been a few books Ive read that were awful! So to save who ever is reading this, from the mental trauma I went through after reading these true masterpieces of nonsense, here is my list of the 5 worst books. 

5. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It
by  Al Gore. 
Movie- Brilliant! Book- Mind numbingly boring. 
  
4. How to Marry the Man of your Choice by Margaret Kent
 My mum has been giving me better advices than Ms (I highly doubt its Mrs.) Kent did in her 187 page long book.

3. Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous!
by Rory Freedman, Kim Barnouin
 Dear drill sergeants, if I wanted to commit suicide, I'd go to Seaview, NOT become a Vegan! 
 Thanks for calling me a fat whore though. Cheers!  

2. House rules by Jodi picolt
 I am all for intensely dramatic books but this book was just painful. I have been a loyal fan of the author since I was recommended My sister's keeper by a friend (thanks beebs) but House rules was far from reality. And frankly Jodi, Ive had enough of the courtroom drama in every book!

1. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
 Okay so I haven't read the entire book but two chapters in and my brain cells were dead. My fingernails were too short to pull my eyes out so I stopped, pulled out a pencil and scribbled on the front page 'A life changing book' and put it back on the library shelf. I wanted everyone to go through the agony I had gone through! WRONG move. 
Weeks later, twilight was EVERYWHERE. I believe I played a major part in the success in of the book. Afterall, had I not written that remark, people my age would never have read it. Strange part- they actually loved it. 
Well if dumb characters, awful dialogues and grammatically weak sentences are your thing then go ahead. Give it a try, you'll love it.  
P.S. Twilight fans, don't kill me!

Ill-fated enough to have read a bad book?







  

Interesting statistics

I am not particularly fond of numbers but I do like reading statistics. They usually reveal surprising facts... if you can call them facts, that is. For example Pakistan's government claims it's rural population's literacy rate to be 48%!

Well...we know better.

Did you know that between 2002-2010 there was a: 99% increase in books in the genre of Poetry and Drama? 89% increase in Fiction, while only 2% and 4% increase in Language and Travel books, respectively. I am happy with the statistics. While Drama and Fiction are my favorite genres, I couldn't care less about books on Travel and Language (some things are best left for real life experiences).

Which are your favorite genres? I'd love to know. :)