Tag: Harry potter

Books which everyone should read

 Books which everyone should read 

Everyone wants to develop a habit of reading. I don’t know whether everyone likes to read books or not but I am sure everyone just wants to develop a habit of reading because they know that the habit of reading is best habit that anyone can adopt.
So here are some books which should be read by everyone.

1. 1984 by George Orwell 

1984 tells the futuristic story of a dystopian, totalitarian world where free will and love are forbidden. Although the year 1984 has long since passed, the prophecy of a society controlled by fear and lies is arguably more relevant now than ever.

2. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien 

Tolkien’s fantasy epic is one of the top must-read books out there. Set in Middle Earth – a world full of hobbits, elves, orcs, goblins, and wizards – The Lord of the Rings will take you on an unbelievable adventure.

3. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is a moving story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant. Set in Afghanistan during a time of tragedy and destruction, this unforgettable novel will have you hooked from start to finish.

4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

This global bestseller took the world by storm. So, if you haven’t read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, now may be the time. Join Harry Potter and his schoolmates as this must-read book transports you deep into a world of magic and monsters.

5. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five is arguably one of the greatest anti-war books ever written. This rich and amusing tale follows the life of Billy Pilgrim as he experiences World War II from a peculiar perspective.

6. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is undoubtedly one of the great books of all time. This renowned fantasy novel is set in Narnia, home to mythical beasts, talking animals, and warring kingdoms. The story follows a group of school children as they become entangled in this incredible world’s fate.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

                      
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the top must-read books of all time. Published in 1960, the story explores life in the Deep South during the early 20th century through the story of a man accused of a terrible crime. It’s poignant, humorous, and gripping.

8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is a story of bravery, hope, and friendship in a time of Nazi tyranny. Narrated by Death itself, this novel will have you holding your breath for chapters at a time.

Top 5 books to read at least once in your life. 

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Reading is an immersive experience that often rewards you with a great story and good vocabulary. There are books across several genres one can choose from to indulge in a wonderful reading experience. But there are some books that fall under the category of ‘classics’ as their themes, characters, and plot lines become relevant for ages to come. These are written by some of the brilliant literary minds that became popular and they went on to influence many modern works of literature. 

Animal Farm- a satirical allegory

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The story begins with a typical farm being run by a human with a variety of animals living in it. The farm animals are often mistreated, overworked and ignored by the human which agitates them. Hoping to overthrow the human race and reaping all the benefits of their work, they drive the human out of the farm. What follows is a satirical allegory to the events that happened during and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. 

Although the story revolves around farm animals, its  themes of corruption, slavery, dicatorship, class distinction, and characters, makes the readers draw parallels with the current political scenario. It is a must-read for a better understanding of the Russian revolution and an engaging experience. 

The Great Gatsby- The Jazz age novel

The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It follows the life of a self-made millionaire named Jay Gatsby who is in pursuit of his long lost lover named Daisy Buchanan. The novel however, has little scope for romance and represents America in the 1920s. It highlights the era of unrivalled wealth and materialistic access. 

The novel upon its release didn’t gain commercial success. Critics believed that it did not amount to Fitzgerald’s earlier novels. However, it began to gain popularity during World War II as free copies were distributed among American soldiers who were serving overseas. The Great Gatsby went on to become an important part of America’s educational curriculum and pop culture. 

The novel continues to attract scholarly attention and is a contender for the title of ‘The Great American Novel’. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone- You Know Who

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This book can be considered as J.K Rowlings’ stepping stone to success. After being rejected by 11 publications and finally being published by Bloomsbury publication, upon the request of the chief executive’s 8 year old daughter. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone went on to be translated into 73 languages and sold 120 million copies. Becoming the second best-selling novel of all time. 

The story follows Harry Potter and the readers’ introduction to the world of magic, following Harry’s discovery of his magical heritage and acceptance into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As the readers alongside Harry manage to grasp the  revelation of a whole new world of possibilities, worthy opponents and dangers show up on whom magic must be used to defeat and protect. 

The Book Thief- Narrated by death.

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Reading is an immersive experience that often rewards you with a great story and good vocabulary. There are books across several genres one can choose from to indulge in a wonderful reading experience. But there are some books that fall under the category of ‘classics’ as their themes, characters, and plot lines become relevant for ages to come. These are written by some of the brilliant literary minds that became popular and they went on to influence many modern works of literature. 

The book thief is a 21st century novel that uses the Nazi regime in Germany as its background. Although it has its fair share of horror and despair. The Book Thief delivers hope to its readers through love and tranquility among family and friends. 

The novel follows the life of Liesel, who moves into her new foster parents’ home following her brother’s death. As she goes on to witness the dangers posed by the Nazi regime, Liesel adopts her newly found passion for reading by stealing books from the rubbles and also the Mayor’s house. One of the pivotal characters in the novel is death itself as it narrates the entire story. 

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe- A world of fantasy

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Open the book to a whole new world of fantasy, mythical creatures and magic. When 4 siblings are relocated to a large house in the countryside due to wartime evacuation. They discover a wardrobe in the house which had more than just clothes hanging inside. The 4 siblings venture into the world of dreams upon entering the wardrobe. They go on to encounter the witch and the lion, and participate in an impending war to end the evil’s oppression over the good. 

This fantasy novel was the first to be published among the 7 volumes known as The Chronicles of Narnia. C.S Lewis wrote this novel as a dedication to his goddaughter named Lucy Barfield. 

Here are some of the classic novels from the 20th century across different genres to enhance your reading pleasure. 

Happy Reading.

Buy books on Amazon

References

Anna Chui, 26th  January 2021, lifehack.org

goodreads.com

wikipedia.org

10 Interesting Facts About Harry Potter

There’s no arguing that “Harry Potter” is a cultural phenomenon, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a Muggle who’s only seen the movies. Here are 10 interesting facts that you did not know about the Harry Potter franchise.

1. Rowling and Harry Potter share a birthday: J.K. Rowling: J.K. Rowling’s birthday comes on July 31st; being the author of Harry Potter, Rowling took the advantage of the writing license, and decided to give her birthday (except the year, of course) to her main character.

2. Rowling gave her characters names that reflect their roles in the series: Rowling’s world-building is legendary among fans, and the unique names she gave her characters are no exception. She disclosed on Pottermore that she came up with names for 40 Hogwarts students in Harry’s year, including every member of the Golden Trio, early in the creative process. Harry’s name, for example, refers to his leadership skills, while Ron’s refers to his function as a sidekick. “Harry” is a Middle English variant of the name “Henry,” which has been popular among English kings for ages. Rowling appears to have based “Ronald” on the Old Norse “Rögnvaldr,” a title for a ruler’s adviser. Hermione’s name, which comes from Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” (as well as Greek mythology in general), has less to do with her personal characteristics and more to do with her Muggle parents’ desire to come up with a witty pseudonym.

3. The “Harry Potter” books have been translated into around 80 languages, from Albanian to Hebrew to Scots: The “Harry Potter” books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 80 different languages, including Scots, which is spoken as a first language by 90,000 people.

4. Rowling jotted down the Hogwarts house names on an airplane vomit bag: Many people, including celebrities, connect strongly with a Hogwarts house. Rowling first scribbled the words Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff on the back of an aircraft puke bag, which may surprise you. In 2017, she divulged this tidbit on Twitter.

5. When she invented Dementors, Rowling drew from her past experiences with depression: Rowling struggled with depression when she was in her twenties. Dementors, she said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, are based on the “hollowed-out feeling” of sadness. “I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling — that really hollowed-out feeling. That’s what Dementors are,” she stated.

6. Rowling planned in advance who would meet a grim fate in the series — but she decided to spare one character’s life at the last minute: One of the plot aspects that Rowling planned ahead of time is character deaths. She had intended for Ron’s father, Arthur Weasley, to die in “Order of the Phoenix,” but she altered her mind. In a 2007 interview with “Today,” she said, “I think part of the reason for that is there were very few good fathers in the book.”

7. Some of the most expensive costumes to make were the Hogwarts uniforms: The Hogwarts uniforms were arguably of the most expensive clothes in the series to produce because they contained silk ties and wool sweaters. She previously told Insider, “I never wanted to use anything but the most beautiful material.” “The ties are silk, the sweaters are wool, and the gowns are made of a very expensive material.”

8. Some of the food on set was real: Despite the fact that part of the food in the “Harry Potter” films was painted resin, there were edible things in the mix for the feast scene in “Goblet of Fire.” Try some of the wonderful options at Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter, from butterbeer to bangers and mash, if you want to eat like a Hogwarts student.

9. Edinburgh, Scotland, where Rowling resides, provided a ton of inspiration for the series: The Gothic architecture, cobblestone streets, and tight alleys abound in Scotland’s capital. From Greyfriars Kirkyard, where the “genuine” Tom Riddle is buried, to George Heriot’s School, a private institution whose turreted architecture inspired Hogwarts, Rowling was fascinated by the city’s locations.

10. Like the multitude of spells in the series, Hogwarts’ official motto is also in Latin: Rowling is well-versed in Latin, having studied Classical languages and mythology at Exeter University. The series’ many spells, as well as Hogwarts’ motto, “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus,” (“Never tickle a sleeping dragon”) are based on that old language. “You know the way that most school slogans are things like persevere and nobility, clarity, and fidelity or something,” Rowling noted in a 2005 BBC interview “it just amused me to give an entirely practical piece of advice for the Hogwarts school motto.”

The Choice Factor

That brisk strut with billowing robes behind. That almost sneering smirk under his hooked nose. That voice lashes out at people in the most subtle way possible. That is Severus Tobias Snape, Potion Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding, the dour ’bat’ of the dungeons. But my hero-worship for this misunderstood man has made me reflect on one of the important lessons for life-The Choice Factor.

Although Snape’s passion for the Dark Arts and the Dark Mark on his arm, along with his air of intimidation and sharp tongue attributes to his ‘villain’ aura, the choices that he made speak differently about his true character. The choices that he made say it all. It is not so surprising how similarly Snape and Voldemort are portrayed throughout the series. Both men had strikingly similar parentage; with muggle fathers and pureblood mothers and a miserable childhood. They also shared a common passion for the Dark Arts and even went on to pursue the same goals as adults, with Snape joining Voldemort’s Death Eaters in their ironic quest to establish a pureblood society.

Snape’s core differs immensely from his exterior. Real character is ultimately determined by one’s core traits, not by surface actions or attitudes. When Snape realized that the woman he loved was in danger, his alliance shifted for good and he became a spy for the Light. This was where he strayed from the path that Voldemort had taken and he had been tentatively travelling on; He chose Love over Power, Light over Dark, and Good over Evil. He thereon became one of the most critical parts of Dumbledore’s master plan to bring down Voldemort. His love for Lily Evans enabled him to see clearly through the dangerous path he was treading on, which gave the entire anti-Voldemort movement an edge over their enemies, even at the cost of his own life.

Thus we can say that Snape’s choices throughout his life redeem his character at the end of the series. The converse can also be true, as it takes a strong character and spirit to take such important decisions in life.

Choices define who we are as a person; it shows our character to the world. To enhance the probability of making better choices and surviving bad ones, personal character and inner spirit play important roles. Essentially, there is a thin line dividing any two paths or choices in life. We need to turn the thin line into a sturdy barrier. We need our consciousness and discriminating sense create these barriers to keep us centered on making better choices. Now, no one is perfect; we all make mistakes or bad choices. But how we handle the adversity, again lies in one’s willpower and character.

Choices define who we are as a person; it shows our character to the world.

Next time when you make a choice try asking these questions to yourselves:

1. What type of person do I want to be?

2. How can I be a better person by making a particular choice?

Below is a quote from a poem that has influenced me a lot. I leave you to ponder upon its meaning, at your own choice, Of course!

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I- I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost