Books that will make you happy
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
A little part of Becky Bloomwood lives in every girl today. The novel journeys through times where Becky grows stronger every time she weakens. Sophie Kinsella has hooked her readers with humour and a perfect dash of romance. Every time you flip a page your smile will widen.
Surabhi Mathur, class X, Apeejay School, Mumbai
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Written in a lucid style, the author has made a sincere effort to describe scenes vividly. The book stresses that hope is the most powerful magic in the world, and that it can make anyone succeed. Reading this book, makes one happy and hopeful for the good things in life.
Ramya Ramalingam, class X, NPS HSR. Bangalore
Eragon By Christopher Paolini
The entire series makes me feel really happy as it is a fictional book about a boy and how his fortune changes when he finds a polished blue stone which turns out to be a dragon’s egg. The story is well written, and the emotions are conveyed beautifully throughout.
Ritvik Upadhyay, class IX, NPS HSR, Bangalore
Books with a cathartic effect
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In this story of four sisters, the books weaves domesticity and love. Each area is interdependent and yet necessary to the growth of the heroine's individual identity. With her lucid style of writing, the author touches our hearts and makes us want to weep as we relate to the characters. Death of Beth makes me weep every time I read it.
Ayushee Arora, class XII, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
This book, about a woman's emotional journey can wreak havoc on the reader's feelings. It flows through the dreams and struggles of three generations in the Australian sheep farms. It is a heart-rending journey of Meggie Cleary's love for a man who rises from being a parish priest and moves to the inner circles of the Vatican. Even though he loves her, their story ends in pain.
Maahi Dixit, class XI, Study Hall, Lucknow
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
'Black Beauty' is the story of a horse. From being a well-cared-for colt in a meadow, it became an elegant carriage horse and finally an overworked cab horse. It is sad to read about Black Beauty's later years, but the story is touching nonetheless. The book is a must-read as it gives the message that animals will serve humans faithfully as long as they are treated with love.
Prerita Chawla, class X, Wisdom World, Pune
Books for daredevil in you
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Deception Point is an explosive high-tech thriller which revolves around many interesting aspects from US presidential elections to the chilling depths of the Arctic Ocean, as well as Nasa, one of the world's most famous space research organizations. The book has large doses of treachery, romance, mystery and lots of adventure. It grips the reader completely and is one of the most amazing books I have read.
Pragya Jain, class X, Rachana School, Ahmedabad
Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins
It is the most adventurous trilogy revolving around a competition for survival. The hunger games among 24 candidates eventually turns out to be game of survival of the fittest and one that is heart-stopping for readers! The competition tells us how an individual can stay alive in hostile conditions. The book is an eye opener about tactics used by participants to stay alive. All this inspires one to experience such thrills of life, but also motivates me to live with minimal luxuries!
Shloka Naudiyal, class XII, KV, Ahmedabad
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
The book chronicles captain Gulliver's voyages across Liliput, home to a race of tiny people; Brobdingnag, which is inhabited by very tall people; the flying island of Laputa where everyone loves music and maths and the country of the Houyhnhnms where horses lord over humans. The book has such detailed description of the places that while reading it one can almost visualize accompanying Gulliver on those trips and experiencing the thrills.
Dipayan Pal, class X, Don Bosco, Kolkata