Amruta's Top 15 Novels

What makes me like a novel? When a friend asked me this question, I thought it had a very easy answer. After all, I had read hundreds of novels and knew very well which my favorite ones were. But as I opened my mouth to answer, I realized that there was no particular genre, style, or author that could make a like a novel. Every novel that I liked, I liked on its own merit.

So here is a list of my most favorite novels (in no particular order):

Kane and Abel is a story of two individuals from totally different backgrounds but complexly intertwined destinies. While I found the story to be very interesting, the narrative was even more captivating. Jeffrey Archer actually makes the story come alive in front of your eyes, which makes the book impossible to put down, until you finish reading it. And this happened to me every time I read it!

The Partner was the first book of John Grisham that I read, on recommendation by a friend. It is a typical Grisham courtroom drama, fast-paced and gripping; but the climax was what bowled me  over - stunning and completely unexpected! For a second reading, although the surprise element is no longer there, the tale and the style of writing definitely keep you engrossed.

The Fountainhead is a very curious type of a book. I could not read it in one go; it was too slow, too heavy and too hard to understand. It took a considerable amount of patience and chewing to absorb it. However, once I did finish reading it, I was amazed at its sheer brilliance. This story of Howard Roark, a splendid architect with no degree, is inspiring, and awe-inspiring, to say the least. And yes, the character of Dominique Francon is one of the strongest female characters I have encountered in all the books I have read.

To Kill a Mockingbird is an all-time favorite book for me. Every time I read it, I choke. First of all, the idea of telling a story about an adult racial conflict through the eyes of children is brilliant, because children are the ones that are most affected by anything that happens, because their minds can still  be molded. The book shows us exactly how, when in Alabama, in the decade before World War 2, the children of a white lawyer undergo lots of trials and tribulations when their father defends a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman.

Harry Potter, well, some readers will scoff at my choice; but believe me, the kind of imagination and the amount of detailing that J K Rowling has used in this saga of 'The Boy Who Lived', can match up to the standard of any classic adult best-seller. These are huge books, but each one of them is entirely "un-put-down-able", if that were a word.

A Love Story of how two totally different people quarrel, fall in love, lead a life of hardship, and battle the death of one of them - some of you may ask what's so different about it? Haven't we heard such stories several times? Except that this story was written in 1970, and may well have been the inspiration of all the stories we have heard 'several times'. This short novel is extremely well written, and also explores the fragile relationship between a father and a son, while it takes you on a journey of funny quarrels and heart-stirring tragedy.

Kite Runner is another hard-hitting book, which portrays the life of two boys in Afghanistan - one being a kite flyer and the other, the kite runner. Using the analogy of the relationship between these two, the author Khaled Hosseini tries to explore the class difference in Afghanistan, the social conditions, and above all, the innocence of impressionable young minds.

Gone With the Wind is considered as one of the best love stories ever written, and rightly so. Especially because it has everything that a love story should not have - Strong egos, arrogance, jealousy, struggle for power, bribery, lust, wicked ways... In fact, the two protagonists never even really feel or declare their love for one another, and yet, we realize that they are so much in love - even when they are mostly trying their best to harm each other.

Papillon is THE most inspiring book I have ever read, and I have no qualms about not using 'one of the' instead of 'the'. It is about a man convicted for a crime he did not commit, how he refuses to rot in jail, and how he tries everything imaginable to get out. This notion of believing in something and trying everything possible and impossible to get what you want is so inspiring - not to mention the way the possible and impossible methods are described in this book!

The Devil and Miss Prym is a classic Paulo Coelho charade of good versus evil. It explores the emotions of a young village woman as evil looms on the borders of her village, alluring them all to give in - and in return get a handsome reward, the possibility of impossible dreams coming true, and eternal happiness in lieu of a tiny gruesome act. The best part about this book is that it almost never preaches or contains any philosophical passages, and yet effectively explores the philosophy and practicality of the notion of good versus evil.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven tells the story of a man who dies, and then in heaven meets five people whose lives he changed, or who changed his life. Every encounter taught him something about his own life. I loved this book because of its sheer idea of how things may never be what they seem to be, and that all of us make an impact on several things without our knowledge.

Veronica Decides to Die is a story about a young, beautiful girl, who begins to think that her life is so normal that it is hardly worth living at all. Engulfed by these thoughts she attempts suicide, only to wake up a long time later and find out that the medication she took has left her with only a few days to live. During those few days, she meets new people, discovers new thing about herself, and ironically, begins to want to live. Although the ending of this book was quite predictable, the way it is written makes it a joy to read. It is quite insightful too.

Acts of Faith is a very serious book - very engrossing, very interesting, and very hard-hitting - not to mention slightly blasphemous. So, people with strong religious sensibilities should not bother reading it. For those like me who don't believe in religion but are fascinated by the working of different religions and related history, will find this book a treat. The book is basically about the children of two leaders of different religions, and how their rigid upbringing affects their lives.

Pride and Prejudice truly lives up to its 'classic' status. It explores a timelessly classic topic, a mother's quest towards getting her daughters married to eligible suitors. Although the book was written in the early nineteenth century, it correctly addresses the dilemma faced by most young women even of the twenty-first century. Jane Austen's eye towards detail, witty sarcasm, and social awareness is what I really like about this novel.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is again a very curious book. Its central theme is a mentally challenged boy trying to solve the mystery of who killed his dog, and while at it, how the boy learns several truths about life. I loved the way this boy's thinking process is used and illustrated in the book. And yes, I can read it again and again, and enjoy it nevertheless.

So that was about my favorite 15 novels! Yes I do like several others, but this is just a list of 15 that I think one should not miss reading.

Have you read any of these books? Have you liked any of them? Do let me know.

I would also love to see your list of favorite novels. Care to share?