The Zahir

The Zahir is novel by Paulo Coelho .Its all about obsession,love,marriage and Zahir ,Arabic meaning incapable of going unnoticed .In book Zahir is Esther ,narrator's wife. Coelho compares marriage with a set of railway tracks which stay together forever but fail to come any closer and question by railway tracks are 4 feet 8 ½ inches apart. The novel is all about journey of a dormant marriage and increasing true love between two souls.


The story starts unnamed narrator get suspect as his wife got missing so the police and the press ,thought he would be behind in disappearance of  his wife, Esther. The narrator was unable to figure out where she had gone.Thinking is she abducted or demolished their marriage.The unnamed narrator of this story is a wildly successful novelist and celebrity who lives in Paris with his wife Esther.The police and the press suspect him as his wife got missing.When Esther disappears,narrator is getting tormented by the mystery of what has happened to her .Is she abducted or demolished or their marriage in search for another love?. Their marriage has hit a dry spot and she is restless, wanting to move on in search of her own happiness.The last person Esther come in contact with Mikhail, so narrator start searching for him. From Mikhail he found Mikhail that Esther, who had been a war correspondent against the wishes of her husband (the protagonist), had left in a search for peace, as she had trouble living with her husband.So author realizes that first his self then Esther and for him Zahir is Esther. So Mikhail helps him to explore his mission of spreading love by holding sessions in hotels and homeless people living on the streets.Spreading love is not only by saying your love story but the worst truth of their love and marriages. MiIkhail also tells him about the voices he hear from his childhood (Kazakhstan ) but people used to think its a epileptic .As narrator was so frequent in falling in love with any women and his current love Marie,who warns about Mikhail. She always wants narrator to search his Zahir. So Mikhail told him story that Esther had helped him to travel from Kazakhstan to France as a journalist she needs his help to cross the border on foot as her visa was turned down.So Narrator suspects that she may be in Kazakhstan.So he decides to travel Kazakhstan with Mikhail ,and he goes to places where his wife worked, meets the people she met and discovers that she used to hand out pieces of blood-stained cloth from a soldier’s uniform only to certain people. Why she never gave him a piece of that cloth bothers him no end.At last he discover her,who was interested in getting to know herself by making carpets.He meets him and she give him a piece of blooded cloth .So at last Narrator meets his Zahir.

The Zahir ,knows ourself than others  and revive lost love. This is all about love of oneself, of nature, of humanity, and of the beloved.

Alchemist

Alchemist is one of the beautiful novel by author Paulo Coelho .The book is all about the essential wisdom of following to your heart and read the omens strewn along life's to reach your dream or destiny.The story is all about a shepherd boy from Andalusia who saw dreams of travelling the Egypt in search of a treasure.The author eloquently narrates whole story by saying "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it" .Novel is blend of spirituality,inspirational,realism and magical.Last but not the least relationships should never hinder the passionate pursuance of a dream.

A shepherd boy name Santiago who lives in Andalusia .One day, as part of his life as a shepherd, he went to a village to sell some wool from his sheep. In that village he knew of a gypsy woman who could interpret dreams so he went to her as he had experienced a weird dream that he will find  a hidden treasure if he travel to Pyramids of Egypt. The gypsy woman told him to go and he will find a great treasure that is destined for him.Santiago uncertain aboutit .Next he meets a mysterious man , Melchizedek, or the King of Salem ,surprising thing is that he offers to help Santiago find the hidden treasure in exchange for one-tenth of his sheep.The one great truth on this planet is that  when you really want something, the desire originated in the soul of the universe." Fulfilling that desire, which means fulfilling your Personal Legend, is everyone's purpose, Melchizedek explains. He tells Santiago about good and bad omens and says that it is the shepherd boy's duty to pursue his Personal Legend. Melchizedek then gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, with which to interpret omens.

Santiago hesitate  before selling his flock . Shortly after he arrives  Tangier, a city in northern Morocco, a thief steals all of Santiago's money, so the shepherd boy decides to look for a way to make enough money to return home. He finds work in the shop of a crystal merchant, where Santiago helps him financial and give great idea to improve his business . After 11 months he was ready to travel.
Santiago meets an Englishman who wants to learn the secret of alchemy, or turning any metal into gold, from a famous alchemist who lives at an oasis on the way to the pyramids. While traveling, Santiago begins listening to the desert and discovering the Soul of the World. The caravan eventually reaches the oasis, and  caravan leader gathers the travelers together as due to war they can't continue their journey there Santiago meets an Arab girl named Fatima and falls in love with her instantly.Santiago asks Fatima to marry him, but she insists that he seek out his Personal Legend before they marry.

Santiago seeing two hawks fighting in the sky, has a vision of an army entering the oasis as attacking an oasis is a violation of the rules of the desert, Santiago talks about  his vision with the oasis's tribal chieftain. Soon afterward, Santiago is confronted by a black-garbed, veiled stranger with a sword, who sits atop a white horse. It is the alchemist. The tribal chieftain arms his men, and they are well-prepared when the oasis is indeed invaded. The alchemist offers to cross the desert with Santiago.As Santiago learns more about himself and the Soul of the World, he comes closer and closer to realizing his destiny and how to get there and it becomes more difficult.

Soon the two men enter into an area of tribal warfare. Warriors hold the two men captive, So tribal Commander asked to transform him into wind and  Santiago is indeed able to transform himself into the wind as he connected with soul of god, becoming the mightiest windstorm in anyone's memory. The alchemist is pleased, the tribal commander is impressed, and Santiago is relieved; his life is spared and he can continue to pursue his Personal Legend and find the hidden treasure. The alchemist tells Santiago that he needs to return to the oasis, and that the rest of the trip is Santiago's to make alone so that he can claim his Personal Legend.

Santiago arrives at the Egyptian pyramids and begins to dig. He finds nothing buried in the ground. Thieves beat Santiago and rob him of his money given by Alchemist. After he tells them of his dream, though, one of the thieves recounts his own dream about a buried treasure  of an abandoned church.
After the thieves depart, Santiago sits up and starts laughing. After returning to Andalusia He digs where he slept, beneath a sycamore tree, and finally find the treasure



At the End the most impressing For me, The Alchemist has taught us  "Your dreams are always close to your heart, but life will make you face obstacles and push you to travel through deserts aimlessly before you can realize that."

To kill a mocking bird

To kill a Mocking bird is the novel by author Harper Lee. Its is the book which deals with racism, injustice, courage ,tolerance and as well as standing for what is right .In novel Atticus Finch,pantagonist, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of lawyers.There was news that it is a Harper Lee autobiography but she refused .She shows there is some people who fight for justice even irrespective racism.


The story covers 3 years (1933-1935), A 6years old girl Jean Louise Finch(Scout), who lives with her brother,Jem and widowed father, Atticus,who is lawyer in the fictitious  town of Maycomb,Alabama (small city) .Atticus upbring his children by himself and housekeeper Calpurnia. Children were always busy in solving the mysterious neighbor Arthur Radley(Boo). Jem and Scout having a friend Dill who use to visit Maycomb to stay with his aunt in each summer vacations. So all the three children become obsessive and more fascinated by Boo ,who never comes outside the road.They became so anxious to know about Boo Radley so they try to ask it about so many people but they hesitate to talk about him.  Therefore they used to imagine different different views about him even about his appearance and also the reason behind hidden in his house and so many times they try to get him out of his house. but Boo is mysterious for them. In Second Summer ,Dill,Scout and Jem find small gifts under the tree for them outside the Radley house .Actually Boo wants to show his affection to children but he never .
Once Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man who was been  accused of raping and beating a young white girl,Mayella Ewell .So many people were against of Atticus for defending nigger. even Scout and Jem have to face so many taunt from other children by calling them nigger-lover and Scout have fight with children also. Scout stand up for her father respect even Atticus told not to even Jem also loses his temper. At the time of Atticus dont want to see his child in trial but Jem Dill and Scout manage to watch from balcony. Atticus proves that the accusers Mayella and her father, Bob Ewell, the drunkard are lying.  and he told that  the  Mayella made sexual advances toward Tom, and that her father caught her and beat her. Despite significant evidence of Tom's innocence, the jury convicts him. Inspite of Conviction,Ewell  vows to take revenge from Atticus. SO finally he attacks Scout and Jem while they are returning from School Halloween pageant. Jem's one arm broken in the fight.As Scout was in Halloween dressed so she saw someone saved them and carrying back to their house.
Sheriff Tate arrives and discovers that Bob Ewell has died under the tree where children were attacked. Then Scout realizes that stranger is none other than Boo Radley, and that Boo is actually responsible for killing Ewell, thus saving her and Jem's lives.Atticus accepts the sheriff's story that Ewell simply fell on his own knife. Boo asks Scout to walk him home, and after she says goodbye to him at his front door he disappears again.

The moral of the story is whenever it comes to justice or what is right you should have enough courage to fight against it irrespective of racism or any other social inequality.Events and situation makes children innocence to maturity .Mocking bird is all about true goodness and innocence that should be protected .

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini wrote after when he heard a news about Talban had banned kite flying in Afghanistan in 1999.The book is all about guilt,redemption,betrayal , class issue,jealousyand love between father and son.It is an historical novel about the pre-Russian invasion and pre-Taliban rule of Afghanistan, as well life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule and life in a post-Taliban Afghanistan.Actually  The Kite Runner is a bildungsroman that also shows how the two country are similar and dissimilar and even differences in culture.


So the story starts with two boys Amir (rich Pastun boy) and Hassan (a hazara).Amir is the son of a rich merchant believes that his father blames him for his mother death who died at the time of giving birth to  Amir wheras Hassan along with his father ,Ali,were servants to Amir and his father,Baba,who love both the boys but Amir feels jealous of this..Though unequal in status but both are close and inseparable. Once Babba  talked to his closest friend Rahim Khan abouhis concerns with his son's lack of courage and strength. At the time of kite flying tournament in  ,Amir won the match and finally earns Baba's praise.Hassan runs for the last cut kite , a bigger trophy ,and says to Amir "For you, a thousand times over". However, after finding the kite, Hassan encounters Assef(old boy) on the way and Hassan refuses to give up the kite, and Assef beats him severely and rapes him. Amir witnesses the act but is too scared to save him.As he was busy in thinking to win the kite and Baba will be proud of him. He feels incredibly guilty but knows his cowardice behavior will destroy his Baba's love and affection, so he keeps quiet about the incident. Afterwards, Amir keeps distant from Hassan; his feelings of guilt prevent him from interacting with him.So he played a trick to exile Hassan from home by putting watch and some money inside his mattress. But Hassan falsely confesses to Baba and Baba forgives him . But anyway Hassan and Ali leave.
In Second Part
After few years passed ,Amir and Baba escape to Peshawar,Pakistan and then to Fremont ,California as the Soviet Union militarily intervenes in Afghanistan. Baba begins work at a gas station and after graduation Amir took classes. Amir fall in love with Soraya Taheri. As Baba was suffering from cancer therefore he convinced Soraya'father for their marriage. Shortly After some days of  marriage baba die. Amir and Soraya settle happily but came to know that thwy will never have child.
One day ,Amir received a call Rahim khan and asked Amir to come Peshawar.So from Rahim Khan ,Amir came to know that Ali was died and Hassan and his wife were killed in saving Baba's house and he also came to know that Hassan was his half-brother ,he was son of Baba.Rahim asked Amir to save Hassan' son Sohrab. Therefore Amir decides to make thing right . Amir learns  from Farid(taxi driver)that Sohrab is kept at Assef ' house ,where Amir saw Sohrab dressed as a girl and even Assef had raped him also.Assef fights with Amir and Sohrab defends Amir with his father's slingshot that Amir gave to Hassan for his birthday. Amir eventually manages to take him back to the United States. When Amir's father-in-law, General Taheri, questions Amir what he is to tell people why he has taken in a Hazara into his home. Amir stood up to General Taheri, and told him that he was the Sohrab's real uncle and that the General will not refer to Sohrab as that Hazara boy in his presence.Amir's courage and loyalty was tested several times but at last he showed courage

According to me moral of the novel is that you can't run away from your mistakes, and no matter what you will one day face the consequences and will have to accept them. Redemption and forgiving yourself for the thing you have done in past.Fight for your own and others also ,don't be coward.It's better to forgive yourself than doing something that can make you feel so sorry. 

Animal Farm

Animal farm is a satire novella by George Orwell ,Actually the book was written before World War II, Orwell uses the turmoil faced on the farm by the animals as a metaphor for the Russian Revolution of 1917 and and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.Not Stalin in particular but totalitarianism is the main point of Orwell. In overthrowing one oppressor (the farmer in Manor Farm,the czar in Russia), the animals/Russians have gained another, but this time more harsher oppressor. According to Orwell revolution can only lead to a change of masters or leader but basically revolution always ended badly for the underdog.

So Story starts ,One night all the animal of Mr Jones' (owner of farm) get together in a barn  to hear Old Major ,a pig  who is about to dies soon and want to tell about his dream that one day all animal live free from the cruel human being. After some days Old Major dies and animals inspired by his philosophy of Animalism and rebel start against Jones and one day Jones and his men chased off from the farm where two pig Snowball and Napoleon play important role.Now Manor farm became Animal farm and there were 7 Commandments of Animalism which are printed on barn wall.

In the starting everything was fine ,As pig were the intelligent among all the other animal so they become supervisors of the farm. Napoleon who was self-centred and want to be higher leader steals so many things and he also enlist Squealer,a pig who used to convince other animal that pigs were always right. One day Jones and his men attack on farm but Snowball through his intelligence retake it. Snowball decided to build windmill for electricity and for animal safety but Napoleon was against of Snowball decision.So one day Snowball decide to vote for windmill but Napoleon leave dogs to Snowball, thereforw Snowball left the farm forever and Napoleon announce no further discussion but he lies that idea of windmill was stolen by Snowball. Much of the year spent on building windmill but contrary to the principle of Animalism ,Napoleon hires a solicitor and begins trading with neighboring farms . Once storm topples half the windmill so Napoleon blamed Snowball for all this.
Napoleon and the pigs move into Jones' house and begin sleeping in beds breaking all the commandments. The animals receive less and less food, while the pigs grow fatter. After the windmill is completed in August, Napoleon sells a pile of timber to Frederick, a neighboring farmer who pays for it with duplicate banknotes. Frederick and his men attack the farm and explode the windmill but are eventually defeated. As more of the Seven Commandments of Animalism are broken by the pigs, the language of the Commandments were changed.
But Boxer strong horse,again offers his strength to help build a new windmill, but in between he was not well so, Napoleon sells the devoted horse to a knacker (a glue-boiler). Squealer tells the other animals that Boxer was actually taken to a veterinarian and died a peaceful death in a hospital.Years pass and Animal Farm expands its boundaries after Napoleon purchases two fields from another neighboring farmer, Pilkington. Life for all the animals except the pigs is harsh. Eventually, the pigs were the higher priority and give so many advantages. The Seven Commandments are reduced to a single law: "All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others." Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and local farmers, with whom he celebrates a new coalition. He restores the name "The Manor Farm". As the animals look from pigs to humans, they realise they can no longer distinguish between the two..


A moral of the story is that revolution can lead new leader or government and effect a radical improvement but basically they will do what the previous leader or government had done. If people know how to chuck out their leader then there will be no such problem.As we see in the story when pigs elevate themselves to positions of leadership and set aside special food items If the other animals had had the sense to assert strongly then, it would have been better for all.Actually people are feared of defending the existing social or political issue as they think , this may make their condition more worst.You can’t have a revolution unless you make it for yourself as there is no such thing as a good dictatorship