BOOKS FOR SUMMER 'SHELFIE'

Snapshot of your Summer Shelfie 

The summer is shining bright and so are the vacations. While summer vacations are a time to unwind and enjoy on long holidays there are some parents who would pester their children to do something productive. Now half the energy is spent thinking of what hobby to pursue and other half of the free time in locating a class, so it is better to do something at the comfort of your own house. And what better than Reading!

Many get paranoid even at the thought of reading because even if you contemplate to finally read a book; what remains as a question is “What do we read?” Well, walking into a library or bookstore is further baffling and in addition it is a disappointment if you land up with the wrong book.

Therefore the Caffeine Junkie chooses 6 books for all the teens and young adults to stock up your Summer Collection of Book ‘Shelfie’.

1.     The Invention of Wing

Author – Sue Monk Kidd (bestselling author of Secret Life of Bees)

Genre -   Historical Fiction

Review– The Novel showcases an era of American History inspired by the life of Sarah Grimke, an important historical figure in American history who strived hard for women empowerment and liberalization.

Author Sue Monk Kidd has mixed fact and fiction in her power house narrative. The characters are well etched out with excellent storytelling and bought vividly to life. It will surely move anyone who reads it sincerely.

If you want to form your own impression out of the Novel, try getting the original edition of the book that is ‘The Invention of Wings: A Novel’ which is minus the comments by Oprah Winfrey after every page.

2.     The Scorpio Races

Author – Maggie Stiefvater

Genre -    Fantasy/Thriller

Review – The Scorpio Races is a fascinating story of an annual event called the ‘Scorpio Races’ which ends in mysterious death. On the fantasy island of Thisby, every fall brings with them the carnivorous and predatory water horses. The two narrators Kate aka Puck and Sean have lost their parents previously in the horse race. Years after Sean participates in the race to earn some money to buy his new horse while Puck is the first ever female to participate in the deathly race to save her family. Among all the excitement, conflict and difficult situation is the budding romance between the two narrators.

New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater presents a power packed novel with all the elements of Action, Adventure, Romance and fantasy through her spellbinding Narrative.

3.     Em and the Big Hoom

Author – Jerry Pinto

Genre - Literary Fiction/Humour 

Review – The story revolves around a typical Catholic Goan family in Mahim, Mumbai which is highly dysfunctional. The Mother of the house is a free spirited person until the day she loses her mental balance which creates situations and further havoc in the family. The whole story is a first person narrative by the son who is the Author himself. It is loosely based on Author Jerry Pinto’s real life. It is an indulgent mix of comedy, love, family bonding and affection.

Interestingly Author Jerry Pinto has been writing this novel since two decades and this happens to be his debut novel. It is not an easy task to write on somebody’s own family member that too with such light hearted and humorous strokes. Jerry Pinto paints a beautiful picture of his family which he brings to life through his own understanding.

A compulsory read for every teenager to understand the beautiful side of growing up understanding family situations.

4.     Capital in the 21^st Century

Author – Thomas Piketty

Genre -    Economics

Review - Ironically the world today is battling increasing threat of capitalism and this novel blows the very idiosyncratic nature of capitalism by the upper class. He describes the two main economic indicators ‘wealth’ and ‘income’ in a way nobody has thought before.

Further he insulates his belief in the narrative by giving a clear analysis and real life examples of various events like the Marikana Minning massacre, 18th century interest rates and colonization. The Author Thomas Piketty busts the very myth of justifying capitalism in the 20^th-21^st century. He throws light on hypocritical equality through organized bonded labour (corporates), high taxation and low income alongside increasing financial wealth of capitalists.

The Author Thomas Piketty is known as the ‘Karl Marx’ of the modern age because of his views on modern day economics. His views on capitalism have sent the right wing economists in a tizzy. The book is one of the bestseller on Amazon.com 5 bestselling books list.

5.     As I Walked Out One Mid-Summer Morning

Author – Laurie Lee

Genre - Literary Memoir/Travel

Review – It is a personal memoir of the Author Laurie Lee who sets out on a journey to Spain at the age of nineteen to experience life with meager possessions. The story is set in mid 1930 just fresh after the First World War and unleashes Laurie Lee’s personal travel around Spain inspired by his impulsiveness and interest in exploring the world. Playing his violin to earn some money for food and lodging it showcases ‘backpacking culture’ of a youth that too in a long gone time of 1930s. He also gives an insight to the socio-political scenario of Europe.

The Award winning poet and acclaimed Author Laurie Lee is known worldwide for his clean writing through which he transports the reader to a different era and motivates the reader to be carefree and travel. Through the semi-poetic style of writing the reader totally feels at the centre of the whole scene capturing the true beauty of the setting. The book although published in 1969 is still considered as one of the best evocative travel novels till date.

 If you are travelling this summer on a long holiday, do carry this book along for a good read!

6.     The Great Indian Novel

Author – Shashi Tharoor

Genre -   Historical Fiction/Satire

Review - The Book Great Indian Novel brilliantly recasts the greatest Hindu Mythology’s epic poem Mahabharata coupled with India’s freedom struggle. Every character from Mahabharata is compared to Freedom Fighters/National Leaders for example Gandhi is Bhisma Pitamaha , Jinnah as Karna , Indian Media as Arjun, Duryodhan as Indira Gandhi, Democracy as Draupadi etc. Every event from both sides of the field be it Mahabharata or 20^th century freedom struggle and politics is well defined with heavy doses of humour. One actually has to read between the lines to understand the references to the various situations. The book is vast and just like the Mahabharata divided in 18 chapters. Each chapter is packed with jokes on the political scenario and characters with the Mahabharata references. It surely is one of the greatest literary works by any modern day author.

Shashi Tharoor being an acclaimed international author and columnist has delightfully given an imaginative yet intense amalgamation of the whole scenario of the society.

The book requires a good investment in time and is to be read with an open mind to enjoy every chapter to the bits.