The Diary Of A Young Girl : Anne Frank

In this time of pandemic , confined to our homes for about a span of six months all of us have become anxious and bored.We are eagerly waiting for the vaccine to release us from this depressing saga, with internet , Netflix and uncountable source of entertainment and leisure , we inadvertently find ourselves in this situation . Well, this story is nowhere close to our despair. 

The Diary Of A Young Girl is written by Anne Frank , a 13 year old Jewish girl forced into hiding from the Nazis. Anne and her family hides in an apartment above an office, to avoid any kind of suspicion they have to maintain absolute pin-drop silence . For two years Anne and her family were confined to this apartment. 

Anne's diary recounts vivid description of her days in hiding , there's a constant fear to be caught yet Anne lives her life to the fullest, her petty disagreements with family members , romance with one of the family friend , her hope for a better life.Anne's remarkable journey is  a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent  testament to the human spirit.

Tales Of Fosterganj : Ruskin Bond

The Tales Of Fosterganj is written by Ruskin Bond , one of the iconic writers. In this book the author enthralls the readers with enchanting stories based on the fiction rustic town of Fosterganj on the  outskirts of Mussorie.  

 

This book is about stories happened during the year long stay of the author in Fosterganj and the lives of the people in this dusty town. There are stories about Hassan , Sunil ,Vishal , Old Foster and long tailed magpies fitting among the oak trees , these exciting characters and their frivolous lives. 

There are elements of laughter, mystery , frolic , pinch  of satire to hard hitting reality ,author's peculiar  observation will transit you to this town in the Himalayas . At times you are laughing hard to the character's naiveness and other times you are on your toes guessing the epilogue.  It's simple and just nice . A must read. 

Lets Pretend This Never Happened : Jenny Lawson

Lousing on my couch , I thought of reading a funny book so I googled up "most funny book" the first name that popped up was "Lets Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson ". After reading the book I can guarantee you guys that this book is unlike the quintessential comedy its unconventionally funny.  The writer Jenny Lawson is an American (does it matter) journalist , blogger and writer. 

 

In this book the author talks about her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas. The author gives a funny outlook on all her struggles , the author doesn't shy away using slang words notoriously famous with the millennials . Each chapter is bag full of laughter. The way the author talks about some of the serious teenage issues with a lot of humor is calming . 

The author makes sure readers buy her story by posting a lot of pictures . The author describes her lows  with a lot of humor which is best . This book is refreshing in its own way the writing style , the jokes . Definitely , worth the shot. 

Mossad:The Greatest Missions of the Isreali Secret Service :Michael Bar-Zohar & Nissim Mishal

“To protect civilians, the state needs sometimes to do things that are contrary to democratic behavior. It is true that in units like ours the outer limits can become blurred. That's why you must be sure that your people are of the best quality. The dirtiest actions should be carried out by the most honest men.” 
― Michael Bar-Zohar, Mossad

Mossad is based on the expeditions of Isreali Intelligence "Mossad " which is recognized as the world's best secret service intelligence . It is written by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal who have engineered this book through intensive research and interviews with Isreali leaders and Mossad agents recreating the heroic missions, vividly bringing in life  those operatives who risked everything to pull up the operation .

The book complies the most enchanting heart throbbing and enigmatic stories shrouded in secrecy. The stories bring out some of the most dangerous , bold and  intrepid operations for the security of the country. The capture of some of the most notorious dreadful Nazis, the eradication of Black September, the destruction of the Syrian nuclear facility, the elimination of key Iranian nuclear scientists and many others. 

It throws limelight on the hidden world of espionage. 

 Each risky operation has its own share of success and failures .The sabotage of diplomatic ties each failed operations brings. The enormous pressure the chief of the agency has to deal with ,to bring out coward bold operations careful managing the political ties .60 years of Mossad has definitely defined Isreal and the world politics. 

This book is nerve wrecking , the breathtaking stories will keep you on hook. The suspense of the operations will keep you on toes. Once you start reading this book, you just can't keep it away. 

Our Moon Has Blood Clots : Rahul Pandita

Our Moon Has Blood Clots is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in late 1989 and early 1990. 

    Initially the author talks about the history of Kashmir through decades. The origin  of Kashmiri Pandits and their lives in the valley the detailed description of the festivals and culture. 

Then the backdrop changes to the tense environment when the agitation for the cries of 'Azaadi ' from India increases. The fear of being massacred in your own home. Rahul Pandita's family flees its home in Srinagar along with many families to Jammu who were lucky enough to survive while hundreds of thousands of thousands of other Kashmiri Pandits were tortured and killed by Islamist militants. 

The author describes the helplessness and emotional trauma his family and he went through when they were forced to live in exile in one's own country . The struggle to adjust with a permanent emotional scar through rest of his life. The last part where the author visits  his ancestral home where he has to knock to enter his own house to find new occupants where each corner of the house built by his ancestors with blood and sweat only to be occupied with someone else leaves me heartbroken .

As an Indian its gripping and detail description of brutality that our own countrymen had to go through brings goosebumps . The untold story of Kashmiri pandit ethnic cleansing couldn't be written better. Its a must read for not only an Indian but a human against human atrocities.

I've Never Been Unhappier: Shaheen Bhatt

I've Never Been Unhappier by Shaheen Bhatt. The author here doesn't need an introduction she is the daughter of the famous filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and sister of Alia Bhatt. In this book the author talks about her depression . Now I know most of you reading this would be thinking that how does a person endowed with fame and money be diagnosed with depression.

 Thats where this book breaks all stigma regarding depression . Depression is just not attached to one particular strata of society and its not just a phase or feeling that will just pass. Its a clinical disorder which has to be treated. In this book the writer writes her personal notes during her days of depression like how getting out of the bed is a struggle , the mood-swings , the emptiness and the sleepless nights. 

The author talks about her struggle with fitting in with the peer groups, weight issues , which I think most of the millennials today face. Then the worst of  battling suicidal thoughts , fighting the irreparable

lose of losing someone close ,addiction to alcohol and how you shun away yourself from your dear and loved ones. 

After battling all these issues coming face to your condition and gathering the courage to seek help. Now, here the author is bluntly honest about counseling and medical help that how one needs to keep faith in counseling and keep trying till you find the right counsellor to talk your heart out. Reading this book will broaden one's opinion about depression , the author's detailed description will make you realize the seriousness of mental health. Yes ! Its a must read.

The Land of Permanent Goodbyes : Atia Abawi

                                                

The Land of Permanent Goodbyes is a powerful novel based on refugee crisis of Syria. It throws limelight on the turmoil of the lives of the people who had to experience the most unfortunate event in the history giving them scars for life. 

The main protagonist of the novel is Tareq whose world turns upside down when a bomb strikes his  home killing most of his family. His city in ruins and its humanity shattered with his dad and little sister survived. They have to make a conflicting choice to leave everything behind to survive. 

As they travel from Syria to Turkey to and then to Germany in search of better life , facing danger , hostility , and subtle racism , Tareq's resilience to bow down to the odds and hope to give his younger sister a  protected and better life.

Tareq's harrowing, haunting  journey will surely bring shiver down your spine and change your perspective about a refugee and  the evil aftermaths of a war .You will realize how much comfort you are endowed with ,where one has to fight for his own existence.