Are you a bibliophile? Love reading novels? Yes? Even if it’s a ‘No’, not much of a problem. This article is for everyone: readers and non-readers both.
Well, I think I am going to use this distinction (readers/ non-readers) more in this article. So, let’s switch these with some interesting words, say, readers with Wizards and non-readers with Muggles!
Okay! Now, I’m sure you all must have come across a certain thing that you wanted to share with the whole world. For example, the Wizards must have read at least one book that they want the entire world to read (and this is the exact reason I’m writing this article). Another example can be for Muggles. They might have seen a movie or a web-series that they loved, and they wish that they can convince everyone to watch that. The same thing happened to me. I read the two fantastic books and now I wish that everyone reads those.
Before I give you a review of each book without any spoilers, I would like to tell you some common things about the two. Firstly, the two novels are:
- The Authenticity Project: The Feel-good Novel of 2020 by Clare Pooley &
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Both these novels are fictional and have been released recently. I loved both of them. These are adult fiction novels, adult as in that the characters are more than 30 years old, the protagonist(s) as well as the side characters. These two are not just some fantasy novels that you read and reach some magical world. No. These books come with the greatest moral; the meaning of life! I LOVED BOTH OF THEM! I know I already said that, but it is worth saying that again and again. I am 99.99% sure that you all are going to love these as well. Don’t judge my confidence from the remaining 0.01%. Even Dettol lacks that much trust in itself, so who am I to be 100% sure. Jokes apart, (if you laughed only then consider it as a joke, else ignore it as some rubbish statement), let’s move to the part where I review each book separately and why you should, sorry, MUST read them.
The Authenticity Project
For starters, the tagline ‘The Feel-good Novel of 2020’ really justifies this novel. I would say that a green notebook is the protagonist of this novel. If not that, let’s say a non-living protagonist. It is the story of six strangers who are brought together by this non-living protagonist, the green notebook named ‘The Authenticity Project’.
An 84 years old artist writes his life journey in this notebook where he covers the part from being famous at his young age to being neglected and ignored now. He leaves this notebook in a café where the café owner gets her hands on it. From there, the green notebook begins its journey and eventually connect six strangers from the deepest of their souls. The characters, from their actions, teach us a lot of things. The meaning of true friendship, how good it feels to help others selflessly, and how to be brave enough to live with our real-self and not with some fake, pretentious, showoff life. Let me share the opening excerpt of the novel so that you understand what I’m trying to tell you.
“How well do you know the people who live near you? How well do they know you? Do you even know the names of your neighbours? Would you realize if they were in trouble, or hadn’t left their house for days?
Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead? The one thing that defines you, that makes everything else about you fall into place? Not on the internet, but with those real people around you?”
The Wizards are going to love it and Muggles might too, still not sure by the Dettol-trust-lacking percentage.
The Midnight Library
It is a science fiction novel but trusts me, it can substitute any self-help book! The story starts when a 35 years old lady decides to end her life. She has a messed-up life with no one around to support her. And she goes with what she planned, to commit suicide. And then:
‘Between life and death there is a library,’ she said. ‘And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?’
If the last line has been asked to you as a question, your answer would be yes. I WAS the one with the YES too. Not anymore. See, I don’t know for sure that what I feel like regret right now, is worth regretting. This novel is an example of my above statement. You don’t know how you might have ended up if you had done the thing which you want to undo, differently. You might have been happy for the instance, but you can’t be sure of that happiness down the road.
This book has the perfect solution to all your problems. If you feel lonely or depressed and having negative thoughts or you feel like undoing your regrets or if you have overburdened yourself with so-called regrets, this book is for you. Even if you are optimistic and happy, still give it a go. You will see everything differently after you finish reading it. You will live your life rather than wasting your time understanding it. So, even if you are a Muggle and not a Wizard, please read these two! And I would love to discuss it if you want.
