Books That Made An Impact In My Life

Below are a few of the books I have enjoyed reading, which impacted my life and helped me reconsider perspectives. These books are in no particular order. I have tried to give one book per author to not play favoritism.

English:

To Kill a Mockingbird  -  Harper Lee

Once you finish the book, you will see why it holds dear in many people's hearts. The pure innocence of Scout, the charisma of Atticus Finch, and the simple setting of the neighborhood of Alabama are some things you will cherish for a long time after finishing the book. I wouldn't be lying if I said I shed a tear or two after finishing the book. I could see why it is the librarians' favorite and won a Pulitzer Prize.

1984  -  George Orwell

Probably the best story out of the dystopian genre and George Orwell did it long before technology consumed the world. Orwell narrates the unthinkable(pun intended!) ideas and creates a new world where people abide by the rules of Big Brother, which is eerily similar to many aspects of our current world. I love it for the quality story-telling which can be done only if you have a strong command of the language.

A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String  -  Joanne Harris

It is the second installment of the set of short stories Joanne Harris has written. I like it for the variety that the stories offer. These stories feel like they have a magical touch to them, impacting you in some way. I loved it so much that I mailed Joanne Harris about it and guess what, she responded with a note of thanks!!

Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman  -  Richard Feynman and Ralph Leighton

It narrates some of the anecdotes from Richard Feynman's life. His practical jokes, curiosity to solve problems, and learn new things will surely make the reader impressed and motivated to try and adapt a thing or two from Feynman's approach to life in general. You get to see both the fun-loving and brilliant side of the Nobel Prize-winning physicist in this book.

A Short History of Nearly Everything  -  Bill Bryson

A deeply researched book, Bryson has done a great job of narrating almost everything that happened from the creation of the universe till now. It covers various aspects of science, the advancements, and sacrifices done by people in their respective fields for the overall improvement of humankind. It will leave you feeling amazed at how far humans have come and will make you ponder upon what more the coming centuries have to offer.

Tamil:

Ponniyin Selvan  -  Kalki Krishnamoorthi

It is the most popular historical fiction in Tamil written by one of the finest authors the country has ever seen. It is no wonder that there have been so many stage shows and adaptations attempted based on this story. It revolves around the young Raja Raja Chola of the Chola empire and the people around him. Filled with twists, mysteries, love, revenge, and drama, Kalki delivers his masterpiece like no other. It has been translated into English and various other languages.

Vandhargal Vendrargal  -  Madhan

A well-researched book on the advent of the Mughals in India that tells about the events that led to the establishment of the Mughal empire, the succession of each emperor, and the decline due to the colonialization of the British Empire. Written when Google was not there and libraries were the only sources of information, Madhan has given the history of the Mughals in a way that textbooks failed to do.

Aram  -  Jeyamohan

The latest I've read on this list and holds a special place in my heart. It was recommended to me by one of my colleagues and I couldn't thank her enough. I've re-read this several times, but it leaves me feeling the way I felt the first time. It is a set of short stories revolving around the theme of 'Aram' that means the good deeds, values, and ideals a person can have. The stories base on real people who did exceptional service to the community and environment around them. It is something I will re-read countless more times and will cherish forever.

Srirangathu Devadaigal  -  Sujatha Rengarajan

It is a set of short stories from one of my favorite authors. No one tells childhood stories as Sujatha does. He tends to write in a way that makes you feel you're talking to him in person. In this book, he has reminisced about the characters he grew up with, in his hometown Srirangam, making you feel nostalgic and longing for your childhood.

Udayaar  -  Balakumaran

Many consider this as a sequel to Ponniyin Selvan, but I don't. This explores a different aspect of Raja Raja Chola where he is much older than in Ponniyin Selvan, more mature, and wiser. It talks about him and his countrymen's willpower to build a wonder presently called "The Big Temple" in Thanjavur. It tells about Raja Raja Chola's wish to build a temple that lasts for centuries to come and the toil of the people who built it. The story makes you want to go back in time to the Chola period and be one of the subjects of Raja Raja Chola. And when I recently visited the temple in Thanjavur (which is presently a little more than 1000 years old!!), I couldn't help but stand in awe of the architecture and the effort of all the people who built it.

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Author's Note:

A tip to read more books: Have you ever heard of the Goodreads yearly challenge? I came to know about it in college and have been a part of it ever since. Being a part of the challenge made me read more books than I would have otherwise. Below is the link for the same.

https://www.goodreads.com/

Oh, you want to keep up with the books I'm reading? Hit the below.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13914361-vaishnavi

As always, thanks for reading. Leave a heart and a tip if you liked what you read.