WinterMoon

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” This one was long due! I had read it almost 6 years ago, and it’s still one of my all-time favourites. Mariam’s story touched me deeply — it’s impossible not to feel her pain and connect with her. Reading this book felt like going through a journey of emotions. I haven’t picked it up again since, but I know that if I read it now, even after all these years, it will take me through the same powerful experience once more. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a strong and emotional story set in Afghanistan. It tells the story of two women — Mariam and Laila — who come from very different lives but end up sharing the same house, the same struggles, and later, the same love. Mariam is born outside of marriage and grows up feeling unwanted. After a sad turn of events, she is forced to marry Rasheed, an older man who treats her badly. Years later, Laila — a smart and kind girl from Kabu...

This was my first book by George Orwell, and it truly felt like a reality check — making me reflect on life, our thoughts, and our ability (or inability) to question what’s happening around us! The first chapter instantly takes you back to childhood — animals talking, sharing their thoughts, just like the cartoons we once loved. It makes you wonder, “Why did we stop imagining like that?” Now coming back to the book — it’s definitely an interesting read. One powerful moment is when the animals say: “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He doesn’t give milk, doesn’t lay eggs, can’t pull the plough, and can’t even run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is the master of all animals. He makes them work, gives them just enough to survive, and keeps the rest for himself.” That really hits hard. “Four legs good, two legs bad.” The book starts off like a simple tale, but as you go deeper, you realise it’s anything but that. The animals overthrow their human master, set th...

“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” The book begins with a moment that felt very personal to me—Anne getting a diary from her father on her birthday. It reminded me of when I got my first diary at the age of 11. That’s how I started writing too. Today we call it journaling, but the feelings are still the same. Anne’s writing is simple and full of innocence. She writes the date, shares small details about her day, and talks like any young girl would. While reading, I felt like I was right there with her. Her honesty and the way she sees the world made me feel calm and connected. What stood out to me was how openly she spoke about her thoughts—especially about her parents, her relationship with her mother, and her feelings as she went through puberty. She didn’t hold back. It made me think about how, no matter where we live or what time we’re in, our emotions as humans are very similar. That really touched me. At times, I did fin...