Sep 03, 2002 10:23 AM
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(Updated Jul 26, 2002 07:07 PM)
I am a vivacious reader and have always found peace and solace in books, my constant companions through the highs and lows of my life.
My Ten favourite authors which I will list below have made this list because their writing made me learn about life, love & ambition.
The criteria I used in penning this list down was whether or not the book meant something to me, did it have a story which left an impression on me in the long run and the simple beauty of their works, through which they try to give reason to our lives.
J R. R. Tolkein - The Master storyteller and a man with an amazing imagination. The HOBBITT & THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRIOLOGY. Creator of a the whole MIDDLE EARTH. reading him is like a journey through time and space, a realm of fantasy which envelops you and casts a spell on the reader.
DOUGLAS ADMAS - The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy(a Triology in four parts), funny and with amazing insight to mans place in this world. ALSO JUST FOR THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, Life, The Universe and the ultimate truth. thanks for all the fish Mr Adams, you shall sorely be missed.
JOHN IRVING - The World According To Garp - it could be anybody's story and its amazingly funny and full of sometimes gruesome humor and tackling complex issues like Marriage, Love, Lust, Mothers, Transexuals and Nurses, Life in general.
Gabriel Garcia Marquaiz - A Hundred Years of Solitude
Pathos, Tragedy, History and the cycle of life and the realization that the world moves in cycles what is past may yet turn out to be the future and the present is both reflective of a man's past and his eventual destiny! As I was brought up in a joint family this book made a lasting impression on me. It is timeless and simply incredibely well written.
The cats in the cradle with the silver spoon!]
Tackles panaroia in times of war, when a man thinks the world is hell bent on killing him, my hero in the book was'nt Yossarrin but his tentmate ORR who spoke with an apple chestnut in his mouth and practised ditching his plane so that he had got it down to an art to make his escape eventually, in a life boat and thus escaping the horrors of war. Classic characters like MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR, MILO etc.taught me about 'Perseverence', to acheive one's goal.
Again a story about war and the effects it has an a group of strangers who go through the second world war starting as strangers and ending up as brothers and then being separated by the living and dead. Uris has also written other classics such as MILA 18, TOPAZ
He is one of my favourite authors, I dont think a lot of people would have read his works, but for me he is one of the best British Writers of the 90's techno/ punk drug induced clubbing generation.
Acid House, Trainspotting, Filth
Ruskin Bond
He is undoubtably one of Indias best authors in circulation, his books and short stories are simply out of this world and I could relate to them as they were based in India and have a very boyish feel to them.
PG WODEHOUSE
I saved him for the last as he is the king of comedy with his unfogettable 124 books each as funny as the last though the plots are similar the situations he creates and charachters like JEEVES, WOOSTER, P. SMITH are a joy to read also he wrote volumes of works 124 novels.
Turn of century but still as enjoyable as ever.
Best Short Story writer ever.
You may think that I have written more specifically about some books but these books were the reason that I read works by these writers as often as I could lay my hands on one of their books!
THE WRITTEN WORD IS HISTORY AND THESE MEN DESBRIBED OUR TIMES THE BEST WAY THEY COULD. thanks to them for sharing their insights into life!
