7 Books Recommended By The Madhatters That You Must Read

It's the World Book Day!

As lovers of books who love the musty yet comforting smell of old books and who dread the thought of being awakened from their fantasy land, we scream with joy at the sight of a library of books. We're bibliophiles who love to sit under the Sun, sipping our coffee and reading away till the Sun finally merges with the horizon for the day.

What next? Well, we have another bright morning and few more pages to cherish. There is no end for a book lover. 

So, this time we asked the Madhatters to join in and recommend their favorites to all the book lovers. See if you share the same tastes.

1. Although I'm supposed to recommend a book, I prefer recommending a writer - Haruki Murakami to be precise. The first book of his that I read was 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle'. People often talk about how they never really understand the ending of his books or its meaning. To be honest, I quite like that. I find that he is the only writer I can resonate with. To share a quote of his - "It is not that the meaning cannot be explained. But there are certain meanings that are lost forever the moment they are explained in words." *mic drop* Read him. It's worth your while. - Maria

2. I would like to recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It is a very poignant tale which captures the intricacies of the lives of people in the city of Kabul led by Taliban. The novel is intertwined with several short narratives which discuss the beautiful relationships such as love and friendship blossoming in a state of chaos and perpetual fear. It forces the reader to delve into the significance of fragile bonds and emotions such as jealousy, happiness, anxiety, love, attachment etc. Although a fiction, the novel seems to be a reflection of reality which bound the people of Kabul and Afghanistan. Despite being a heart shattering tale, the beauty of Hosseini's language forces the readers to keep coming back to it time and again. - Richa

3. I would recommend Eunice De Souza's A Necklace of Skulls. Intensely autobiographical, Eunice De Souza's collection of poetry is a window to her personal life. Intimate, hard-hitting, and honest, the poetry in this collection reveals the hypocrisy of the Roman Catholic community that she grew up in. At the same time, they examine the fraughted relationship between a parent and a child as well as the disconnect between lovers. Additionally, they reflects on the ideas of death and absence. A Necklace of Skulls is a must-read book, in my opinion. - Ipshita 

4. One of my favorite books is The Palace of Illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It revolves around one of the most famous characters in the Mahabharata - Draupadi, famous for being wife of five brothers. This book shows the epic story from a woman's perspective - how she managed each situation, how she felt about it, etc. It will also tell you that Mahabharata is more than men and their egos :P - Manisha

5. Diary of a Social Butterfly should definitely be on your must-read list. This one is extremely witty and hilarious. I am sure you will tau (say toh in Hindi) loveeee this book. And if you didn't understand why I said "toh", then all the more reason you grab a copy and find out ;) - Archna

6. I would suggest that everyone should read, To Kill a Mockingbird. The story not only confronts you to the evil existing in the society but also help you grow and mature, as it proceeds. It tells you that life is not a cake-walk. And the abhorrence around you shouldn't let you be hopeless in life, for life is much bigger (and better) than you think it is. - Oshita

7. Although, works of fiction are interesting to read, self-help books have their own charm. A very popular book, that you might have surely heard of, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, would be my recommendation for the readers. The book’s focus on the ‘law of attraction’ to bring in positivity and good things in one’s life, is a must these days when we feel disheartened, and when pessimism clings to us and negativity keeps us unhappy. So, go ahead, read this book, look at the world with a new perspective and give your life a restart. - Shweta