For ages, literature has played an important role in shattering the various taboos and stereotypes of our society. Not just they have made us aware of a progressive thought-process but also helped us to have a clear mindset. And the same could be said for the literature itself. As time progressed, we have witnessed radical changes and have changed the perception attached with literature. At this juncture, we bring you such ten books that have changed the perception of modern literature.
- The Red Diary by Neelam Saxena Chandra
“The Red Diary” is the story of a young lad Rihaan, who stays in an orphanage Ashiyana, desperately longing to find his parents, who, he is sure, exist in some part of the world. His best friend, Ina, is adopted by a family, and she leaves Ashiyana despite her wishes since Rihaan expects her to. Later, Rihaan, does find his blood-relatives, but not his parents. His mausi, Arpita adopts him and he shifts to her place. He tries to find out more about his parents, but Arpita tells him that she will be telling him about them only after he is twenty-one. What’s the mystery behind his missing parents which Arpita has kept secretly hidden in “The Red Diary”? Also, will his quest to find the ever-elusive Ina end? What will happen to Shivi, who gives him company after Ina leaves Ashiyana? What will happen to the personal life of Arpita amidst these harsh realities of life?
- Twelve Sweet & Sour Years in China: True Stories of an Indian by Alok Joshi
The exciting masterpiece by Alok Joshi is a memoir about the experiential journey of an Indian in China over a period spanning over 12 years. The story is unique because readers would like to know an insider’s honest account and first-hand impressions about China and Chinese culture. There are nine Chapters. Their titles are named using dining terminology like Soup (early surprises), Appetizers (taste of Chinese companies), Wine and dine fiasco, something sour (not-so-good experiences), Something sweet (good experiences), Something spicy (strange experiences), Recipe: Decoding the Dragon (related to Chinese culture), Hotpot: Indian curry+ Chinese noodles (India- China relationship) and finally Last course: Goodbye China. It is the story of survival and adaptability in an unfamiliar environment where everything is a challenge.
- Diary of Angel & Ginie by Saanvi Shrivastava and Riddhima Shrivastava
The book, Diary of Angel and Ginie is their debut at the tender age of 10 and 8 years & now called the youngest co-authors. Diary of Angel and Ginie is a compilation of stories that these girls have written. The best part about the stories is that each story has a value-added in it. In a generation where kids are obsessed with mobile games and YouTube, Saanvi and Riddhima have taken time out to observe people around them and feel their feelings. In their stories, you will find respect for elders, you will feel love for society and you will experience their thought process towards their friends, their teachers, and their family. We feel that such stories seek to bring about moral values and store them in a child’s subconscious. Realization of these values brings about harmony, happiness, and peace, which are miserably lacking in modern times.
- Slap Your Fake Shadow by Mrinal KJ
Slap Your Fake Shadow is not just a book, it’s a mirror that will reflect your reality. This book is on self-reality that brings the hidden picture of us that we usually bury down under societal norms or personal ethics or let’s say to keep someone else happy. But we are actually fake-ing the emotion s or feelings. In long run, these feelings and fake-ness become our reality that we don’t want to accept and so, we struggle. So, the book covers both parts: The first part deals with those emotions and how they trap us eventually & the second part deals with the remedies for such scenarios.
- Pieces of Birchbark Parchments by Vividha Bindu
Pieces of Birchbark Parchments by Vividha Bindu is a magical, philosophical adventure that takes you through a journey on a lesser traveled road. It is about overall success. We all love to succeed; Sagar did too. However, success in the corporate world comes at a price. Achieving progress and promotions in work life is not easy and when one somehow manages it, it affects personal life. This novel revolves around the adventurous journey of Sagar, who has undergone similar issues and who is unknowingly pushed into a magical world. Sagar must overcome a few unimaginable dangers in order to survive. This philosophical adventure unfolds newer dimensions that renew the whole definition of success and give a fresh outlook towards life.
- Rafflesia- The Banished Princess
A contemporary social drama exploring the inner world and relationships by Gautam Choudhury deserves its position in this elite list. Set against the backdrop of a fairy tale, the events in the novel present a sharp contrast to its beautiful setting. The storytelling is both poetic and poignant, alternating between the present and the past, establishing a narrative that throws in many surprises and keeps the readers engaged as the story progresses. Offering retrospection; it celebrates life, love, and friendship, along with their many hues and colors. It shows the vulnerable side of humans and tells us how our thinking and experiences shape our exterior motives.
- The Third Eye and Other Tales by Sumana D Choudhury
The third eye and other tales is a collection of ten short stories that will take you to a separate world, exploring a range of genres. Each story carves out a unique path that depicts the journey of individual unique characters. Crafted in simple narrative, this collection brings out thrill, emotion, and victory. Each story has a twist that speaks about the blatant truth of human life and breaks stereotypes.
- Flights of Fantasy by Dr. Sujata Chatterjee
Life always faces challenges, nevertheless; it offers many solutions. These ups and downs constitute the various moods of the human mind. Sometimes we get relief by smiling at hilarious circumstances, at other times we have to take tough decisions in crucial times, some mysteries and queries of life remain unsolved and unanswered. Many a time our decisions are guided by our morals, ego, or honor. At times kids play pranks, truants on their elders, however, they turn into the most mature individuals, when the need arises. Yet every mind seeks in its inner self for a tiny emotion ‘Hope’, which gives an individual strength and courage never to give up. ‘Flights of Fantasy’ is a journey through all moods, imaginations, and emotions in a human mind. It is a broad spectrum of light of a rainbow that breaks into shades of colors in the sky, after a shower of rain.
- Twisted Souls by Archana Pingley
What would you do if your past traps you in a never-ending loop of horror……? When coming from a party Mayra Verma finds herself trapped in a situation, she never thought she would experience in her life. The game of manipulation and torture begins which makes her realize the mistakes she committed in the past. Somehow, she finds herself out of the situation but thereafter her life takes a drastic change –for good and for bad. She finds helpless in the transformed circumstances but with the help of Siddhartha an orphan, she discovers her new life path, which was distracting from the luring dangers patiently waiting for her. When she least expected, the horror returns in her life, and this time snatches everything from her.
- Rainbow Housing Society by Meha Sharma
A Housing Society and a narrator who has the power to peep into the keyholed doors and peer through embellished nameplates. What does he discover? This book is a collection of short stories revolving around the lives of people living in the ‘Rainbow Housing Society’. Just like the name of the society, the lives of the inhabitants are full of different colors. The narrator silently witnesses human beings in their sheer human glory and goes about pondering on the complexities of human nature. Each story is not connected to the other, yet in the end, it forms a wholesome story.
