Books are magic!

"What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan

Under the spell of Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I'm a woman possessed! From Love in the time of cholera to a collection of his morbid short stories to Of love and other demons, I'm utterly mesmerized by Marquez. If you are a frequent reader of this blog, chances are you're aware of my obsession with the Colombian novelist. To say that his books carry me away to a different world wouldn't be entirely correct. His world is just like ours but slightly more romantic, (and trust me, this is coming from someone who has never been a sucker for romance novels), its a bit more melodramatic and its a lot more...magical! I'm currently reading Of love...and enjoying every second of this epic tale.

“Do not allow me to forget you”
― Gabriel García Márquez, Of Love and Other Demons 

Going back to a 'Witchful' past!

Surfing on the internet I came across an article listing the best children's books. Unsurprisingly, Roald Dahl's titles were a staple feature on the list. I think almost everyone has memories from Dahl's books- and his fascinating world of magic!

I suddenly realized how bored I had become of the thriller, horror and drama genres I had been devouring lately and how desperately I craved to live in a lighter, happier imaginary world. Hence, I began reading Roald Dahl's award winning book 'The Witches'. The first time I had begun reading this book was 7 years ago in my school's library, a grim room in the basement with a poor collection. Well, it had this gem so I shouldn't be complaining.

I remember how  the description of these ghastly witches brightened my eyes with fascination. Their image was still etched in my mind. Bald, huge nostrils, claw-shaped hand and square toes!!

Somewhere while reading, it hit me that I had never finished the book. I had only read the first three chapters and then left it incomplete. And for this tragedy, I blame my school's No-book issuance policy. :)

Anyway, during the course of the book, Dahl's imagination never ceased to amaze me. It takes massive talent to write books for children. Simmering complex ideas and  horrifying stories into amusing, fictionalized anecdotes is no easy feat.

I seldom laugh out loud while reading but this book made me do that with every turn of the page. The never ending Mouse-Witch chase, the disgusting witch rituals and the surprising reality of it all enthralled me to bits. A must-read for those who have been plagued by the intellectual-book-syndrome and those who want to renew their love for simple light reading.

Oh, and the best dialogue in the book comes at the end. ‘It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like as long as somebody loves you.’ 

And just so you know, these words were said by a mouse. 

Happy reading!