Dear Readers,
If you have been following our blog for some time now, you know how much we admire books. Time and again, we fall in love with beautifully written lines, with deep, meaningful characters and stories that take us around the world. This year I picked out books from my favourite genre – Feel-good realistic fiction. (Click on the headings to buy the books).
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
If you like simple stories built around deep, complex characters, you will enjoy reading this story of an old man who not only collected but treasured ordinary things lost by people in a hope that someday someone would do the same to him and reunite him with his most treasured possession. There is love, there is pain, there is faith and hope. There are some loosely tied ends that make this story so different and special. The best part is the reader here is omniscient. We know the story behind many lost things – a button, a piece from a jigsaw puzzle, an umbrella – while the characters never learn of it even in the end. That leaves behind an unusual good feeling.
If you have read and loved books like “A Man Called Ove” and “Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine”, I am sure you will love this one as well.
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Khaleed Hosenni is an amazing storyteller. His books never disappoint. Every character strikes a chord with you, leaving you with emotions you did not know you were capable of. Stories from places far away, from another time, characters the likes of whom you may not have met, yet their tales become so relatable as you turn the pages.
After Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I knew I had to read this one.
The separation of two siblings Pari and Abdullah forms the heart of the story that takes you to different parts of the world, through different times and shows you the ups and downs of familial love, pain and relationships. I would call it the most ambitious work of the author where the focus is not on the primary characters alone.
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
This has been a year of Kristin Hannah for me. After The Nightingale and Comfort and Joy, this book crawled up my TBR very quickly. The story is unique and fresh.
In Rain Valley, nothing much ever happens—until a girl emerges from the deep woods and walks into town. She is a victim, unlike any Dr Julia Cates – the other protagonist, has ever seen: a child locked in a world of unimaginable fear and isolation.
An incandescent story that reflects hope, struggle and triumph. Although not her best work, it is a feel-good story that you will not regret picking up.
Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Four Winds is one of the best works of the author. A rich story of the Great Depression and the people who lived through it. The story like many of her other popular books portrays the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The story revolves around Elsa – an indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice comes to define a generation. It speaks of relationships, faith, family and hope.
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali
Love in the time of coup d’états.
Set in 1950s Tehran, this tender yet enduring love story explores romance. loss, reconciliation and quirks of fate. The story of Roya and Bahman whose love story begins at a tender, young age stemmed from curiosity and longing. The author describes this beautifully making it relatable to us.
The stationary shop where the two lovers first meet is my favourite part. Tuesday after Tuesday the two meet here, drinking in love poetry by Rumi while falling deeply in love with each other. Eventually, love letters are smuggled by enclosing in the poetry books as though hugging the letter in its warmth. With an intricately weaved narrative of beautiful lines, sweet, fancy Persian verses this powerful story throws light on politics, power and everything in between.
That is all I had for this week. To see all the books that I have read in 2021 and the previous years, visit my Instagram account and click on highlights.
Not a reader but want to start? Read this – 3 Short Reads to Kick Start your Reading Habit.
Love,
Ashwini
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