Skip to main content

A place called Freedom


Sunday,may25,2008,3.12 a.m

After staring around this computer for past one hour, doing nothing, i decided to do something which should have been done with more spare time in hand.I opened up that huge box, where the better part of books collection is kept.I fished out a very great book to write about. Its titled "A place called freedom" and written by best selling author ken Follett. When i had bought this book, i had just bought it, it didn't cost me much, and after reading so many books, now it doesn't matter much which book or author i read.It was 13th January, lohri.this year .i bought this book, a 1996 imprint i guess.

Genre- Fiction

Age Factor- 16 and above [If you wait till 18 its better, but if you are mature enough to read a bit emotionally disturbing sequences go for it]

The book
I haven't read such stirring and a unique story ever before.So for me the experience was wonderful.This was the first book, i read written by ken, so i had no perceived expectations from the author.But he wrote such a though provoking story of a boy,mach, enslaved in coal mines.He wishes to escape to lands unknown, and the female protagonist, Lizzie who is herself in a fixed situation, finds a common chord between mach and herself.This book has,romance,thrill,adventure,politics,slavery and even the living conditions of people years ago has been highlighted well. After reading this book, i was moved, both intellectually as well as emotionally.I write here an example, a very small little one.There is this girl mach likes.She wears an underwear only on sundays.[i write it here because in the story this fact is highlighted]
Now when i read it, the girl is so poor that she has the luxury of an underwear only on sundays,
I was like OMG!!!then again it was mentioned, again it was like OMG!! but later i reflected its just an underwear, there will be lakhs of girls around the world, who don't afford a small undergarment.We talk about so many advancements that human race has made.These little things, provokes you to think back.
Like i wrote before, i have read uncountable number of books in my short life, but only few could hit so hard as this one did.
What is freedom?Now i reflect.What's the price one pays for his/her freedom?I think.
If you can lay your hands on this masterpiece by Ken Follett,do read it,although its a bit thick for not so voracious readers.[450 pages]. A book,every living soul should read in his/her lifetime.

Gifting Ideas
I got no idea,how much it will cost, around 300 rupees is my guess.Since i recommend that everyone once should read it,once,so its a good gift.Especially for those of your friends or family who are fond of collecting books.Those fond of history of America or The united Kingdom
should also like this gift.

A thought to share
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. Charles W. Eliot

Jai Sri ram !!!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Also read

Spill the Tea: Ira and the quiet exhaustion of being watched

Ira comes for tea and slowly reveals a life shaped by emotional surveillance. Loved, watched, and quietly evaluated by her parents, she lives under constant explanation. Through food, posture, and confession, she names the exhaustion of being known too well and finds nourishment not just in eating, but in finally being heard. Ira arrived  five minutes early and apologized for it. The way people do when they are used to taking responsibility for time itself. She said it lightly, as if time itself had offended her. She wore a white A-line shirtdress, clean and careful, the kind that looks chosen for comfort but ends up signaling restraint. When she sat down, she folded herself into the chair unconsciously. One leg rested on the floor, the other tucked underneath her, knees visible. It was not a pose meant to be seen. It slipped out before her body remembered how to protect itself. I noticed the brief softness of it, the quiet vulnerability, before she settled and forgot. I was still...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...
1 comment
Read more

Not Quite Dead Yet- Holly Jackson- A review

Is Not Quite Dead Yet all hype and no heart? A review of Holly Jackson’s thriller You pick up Not Quite Dead Yet expecting a clever, grown up thriller, but you are handed melodrama dressed as urgency. This long form review questions the hype, critiques its shallow characterisation, and asks whether a ticking clock can replace emotional depth, moral consequence, and believable storytelling. Why do you pick up a book that promises a woman will die in seven days? You know this feeling. You walk into a bookshop or scroll online, tired after a long day, and you want certainty. You want a hook that grabs you by the collar and says, “This will matter.” A countdown does exactly that. Seven days to live. A woman solving her own murder. The premise feels urgent, cinematic, and engineered to keep you turning pages even when your better judgement whispers otherwise. Publishing statistics support this instinct. According to data shared by The New York Times and NPR , thrillers with ...
Post a Comment
Read more