Category Books

What is the 30 day challenge for writers?

It is often said that good things come to those who wait and this holds particularly true for writers aiming to produce a timeless masterpiece. However, some authors have managed to successfully challenge this and draft literary gems in just one month. But what inspires such speed, and what does it take to complete a book in 30 days or less?

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abbisinia by Samuel Johnson

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abbisinia is not your typical novel. Instead, it resembles a moral fable or an apologue. It was penned by Johnson in just one week in 1759 as a means to fund his recently deceased mother’s funeral. While the characters may lack depth and the plot is straightforward, the book is a significant philosophical exploration into the human capacity for happiness.

The story follows Rasselas, the fourth son of the King of Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia), as he embarks on a journey with his sister Nekayah, her handmaiden Pekuah, and the wise poet Imlac – a character believed to be Johnson's alter ego. Together, they seek to uncover the true meaning of happiness and lead a fulfilled life. The work delves into complex and nuanced themes, and Johnson intentionally avoids offering any clear conclusions. Instead, he leaves readers to ponder the fundamental question: Can true happiness ever be attained by an individual?

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Published in 1959, ‘On the Road’ is American writer Jack Kerouac's second novel, which documents his travels across North America with his friend Neal Cassady. Despite spending years developing the concept, Kerouac managed to type out the complete draft in just three weeks in 1951. Kerouac preferred typing at a rapid pace and detested interruptions such as changing the paper in his typewriter. As a result, he taped together numerous sheets of paper to create a continuous 120 feet long roll. His original manuscript has been exhibited in various locations worldwide, including the Boott Cotton Mills Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, the U.S. as part of the Kerouac@100 festival celebrating the Lowell-born writer's centenary last year. Kerouac employed a unique writing style, known as spontaneous prose while composing this modern classic. The approach involves allowing thoughts to flow freely from the mind, resulting in unfiltered prose. This technique typically involves less punctuation and structure, and incorporates "rhetorical breathing"-natural pauses akin to those in conversation-which lend a distinct tone to the writing.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Written and published in 1887 by the British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet is the first of four full-length novels to feature the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick. Dr. John Watson. It is also the first novel to feature the magnifying glass as an investigated tool

The story begins with Watson returning to London after being injured while serving as an army doctor in Afghanistan. He meets Sherlock Holmes, who is looking for a roommate, and they become friends. The novel follows the investigation of a munter, in which the police are unable to find any dues that could lead to the identification of the murderer. Holmes is called in to assist with the investigation, and he uses his unique approach to solving crimes to gather evidence and piece together the clues. The investigation takes the reader from the streets of London to the deserts of Utah where the plot involving revenge and betrayal is finally uncovered.

Interestingly, Conan Doyle wrote the entire novel in just three weeks while he was struggling to make ends meet. The book was initially rejected by six publishers before being published in a magazine called Beeton's Christmas Annual The author received 25 for the rights to the story. He never received another penny for it, although fortunately, he retained rights to the character. The novel's title was originally A Tangled Skein but the publisher changed it to the current title.

The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is a fictional novel by Irish writer John Boyne, written and published in 2006. The book is set during World War II and tells the story of an eight-year-old German boy named Bruno, who moves with his family to a new home in a countryside area near a concentration camp

Bruno becomes curious about the camp and the people he sees there. including a boy in striped pyjamas who he befriends through the fence. The novel explores themes of innocence, friendship, and the devastating impact of war on families and individuals. The book has been praised for its powerful portrayal of the Holocaust from the perspective of a child

According to Boyne, the inspiration for the book came from his experience visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He was struck by the realisation that the camp was located in a residential area, and he began to wonder what it would have been like for a child living in such close proximity to the horrors of the camp. Speaking with The Irish Times the author admitted that he finished the first draft of the novel in roughly 60 hours. This book was also adapted into a film in 2008, directed by English filmmaker Mark Herman.

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Who wrote the book The Story of Doctor Dolittle?

British-American author Hugh Lofting crafted the fictional account chronicling the peculiar life and astonishing adventures of Dr Dolittle with the intention to entertain his children. Little did he know that these narratives will immortalise him in literary history. Let us revisit ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ and see what makes it a classic.

About the author

Hugh John Lofting was one of six children born to Elizabeth Agnes and John Brien Lofting on January 14, 1886, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. His love for animals and storytelling was evident from a very young age. As a child, he loved concocting stories for his family and is said to have used his mother's linen cupboard to store his miniature zoo and wildlife museum. He attended Jesuit boarding school before he went on to study civil engineering and architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and London Polytechnic. As a civil engineer, he was constantly travelling to new places. His job took him to Canada, Africa, and the West Indies, before he returned to America in 1912, married Flora Small, and settled in New York City to begin a writing career.

A coping mechanism

In 1916, Lofting enlisted to fight for England in World War I. Instead of destressing his family with the gory details of what he witnessed on the battlefields, Lofting chose to write imaginative letters (complete with illustrations) detailing the astonishing adventures of Doctor Dolittle to entertain his children. Researchers speculate that gifting the character of Dolittle a special ability to communicate with animals was Lofting's coping mechanism to deal with the animal cruelty he witnessed in the trenches.

At the 1967 premiere of the story's big screen adaptation, Christopher Lofting (the youngest son of the author) said, "There were thousands of cavalry horses in the war, and also farm animals and pets who got caught in the crossfire. My father invented Dolittle… as a superhero who could do things he could not do."

The first book in the Doctor Dolittle series, titled ‘The Story of Doctor Dolittle’ was published in 1920, three years after Lofting was wounded and invalided out of the war.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The book follows John Dolittle, a reputed English country doctor who lives in a little town called Puddleby-on-the-Marsh He transitions from human medicine to veterinary practice after he is taught how to communicate with animals by his parrot. Polynesia, Risking a stable income and losing most of his patients do not dissuade him from going to Africa to cure a monkey epidemic. This book chronicles the peculiar life of Doctor Dolittle and his misadventures with a crew of animals that he befriends.

What makes it a classic?

The importance of communication

Through the interactions between Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends, the story highlights how important effective communication is in resolving day-to-day problems and conflicts. The unique personalities and perspectives of the diverse cast of animal characters in the story emphasise the importance of keeping an open mind and valuing other individuals' opinions.

 Empathy and compassion

The compelling narrative of this book promotes animal welfare, teaches empathy, and encourages us to think about the importance of treating all living beings with respect and kindness. It also presents an opportunity to address the treatment of animals and the need for their conservation, an idea which is all the more important because of the climate crisis at hand.

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Opening lines that spark curiosity

The opening lines of a book are paramount in setting the tone for the story. Here are a few riveting first lines from some of the most famous books in literature.

Pride and Prejudice

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

These are the sarcastic opening lines from English author Jane Austen's 1813 novel ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ Set in the Regency Era (1811-1820) this novel revolves around five daughters of the Bennet family and their economic anxiety. At the time Austen was writing this masterpiece marrying into a rich and well-off family was a financial necessity for young women. Through this novel, the author explores the complexities between an individual's quest for love and the financial benefits of making a match.

Nineteen Eighty -Four

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."

This ominous opening sentence belongs to George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel titled Nineteen Eighty-Four. Set in a fictional vile and gritty state of Oceania where the citizens are under constant government surveillance, it story acts as a warning against a totalitarian form of government that does not promote individual freedom or the idea of free speech. Through this book, the English novelist also highlights how the written word and language can alter society and its functions.

The Metamorphosis

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect."

The shocking, strange and unnerving beginning of German author Franz Kafka's ‘The Metamorphosis’ (1915) draws the readers in with an uncanny grip. It summarises the premise of the novel which revolves around salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a monstrous vermin and narrates how he deals with the social isolation and emotional distress that he must endure because of his new state. Originally written in German, this story is one of the most successful fictional works produced by Kafka.

A Tale of Two Cities

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

These introductory lines from Charles Dicken's ‘Tale of Two Cities’ are easily some of the most popular lines in literary history. Set in London and Paris in the run-up to and during the French Revolution, this historic novel opens with a contrasting set of clauses to highlight the struggle between good and evil which is a recurring theme in the novel. This classic novel was originally printed in instalments in the English author's weekly periodical All the Year Round and has been estimated to have sold more than 200 million copies since its first publication.

The Hobbit

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit."

This intriguing first line marks the beginning of English author J. R. R. Tolkien's children's fantasy novel The Hobbit. Writing to English poet W.H. Auden in 1955, Tolkien revealed that the idea for this book came to him while correcting papers as a professor at Oxford University in the early 1930s. The book revolves around a hobbit called Bilbo Baggins, who takes up an adventurous quest to fight the dragon called Smaug and win back the stolen treasures and reclaim the home of the dwarves. Published in 1937, this book was the public's first introduction to Tolkien's elaborate imagined world of Middle Earth. The success of this novel motivated the author to pen a sequel, which would eventually lead to the extraordinary ‘Lord of the Rings series.’

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What is the main point of around the world in 80 days?

French author Jules Verne’s sci-fi classic ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ is a riveting story that perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and is impossible to put down. Let us find out why this story resonates with modern readers.

A weekly column that introduces young readers to the world of literary classics. It focusses on one celebrated book each week and finds out what makes it relevant today.

About the author

Jules Verne was born on February 8, 1828, in Nantes, France in a well-to-do family. His father was an attorney andok his mother came from a long line of navigators and ship owners.

He spent his childhood in a small maritime port city. Nantes and would often visit the docks to see the ships arrive and depart. This set-up gave a boost to the future sci-fi writer’s imagination and instiled a love for travel and adventure in him. The author took to writing while he was still at school. His passion, however, was not favoured by his father, who wanted him to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer.

When the young man went to University in Paris to study law, he fell in love with literature and theatre all over again. He decided to stay in Paris instead of joining his father’s law firm after his graduation. Verne took up a low-paying job at a Parisian theatre and started putting up and writing his own plays.

Known for his experimental take on the classic adventure novel, Verne is famed as the father of the science fiction genre. A masterful genius and a storyteller with an awesome imagination, his books are loved across the globe although they were originally written in French. His works are translated into around 150 languages, which makes him the second most translated author to have lived after Agatha Christie. Verne became famous and gained a large readership after the publication of his voyages Extraordinaires, a series of 54 novels that were originally published by the French publisher and author Pierre-Jules Hetzel between 1863 and 1905. Some of his most celebrated novels from the series include Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864). From the Earth to the Moon (1865). Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (late 1869-70), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1872).

Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days is an adventure novel that chronicles the thrilling journey of the meticulous English gentleman Phileas Fogg and his French valet Passepartout as they attempt to traverse the globe in eighty days to win a wager of £20,000 set by his friends at the Reform Club. Along the way, the two are interrogated by a Scotland Yard detective named Fix, who believes Fogg has robbed the Bank of England. During the course of this journey, the travelling duo also rescues an Indian princess named Aouda, from being sacrificed as a sati (Sanskrit for good wife) at her husband’s funeral pyre.

Exploring the scope of globalisation

This novel ushered in the idea that the world was shrinking with the aid of modern means of transportation and communication. It captured the Scope of globalisation and the role technology plays in allowing exploration and inter-mingling of different human societies in ways that was largely absent in literature before.

Inspiring a sub-genre of sci-fi

Verne’s works often highlight the authors fascination with technology and scientific discoveries. Coined in 1987 by American sci-fi author K.W. Jester, the sub-genre of sci-fi called steampunk draws inspiration from the adventurous and futuristic writing of English authors Jules Verne. Mary Shelley, and H.G. Wells and the Industrial revolution that rapidly gained pace during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) championing the power of steam.

Phileas Fogg’s ambition and can-do attitude can be credited with turning a potentially ruinous bet into an adventure of a lifetime. This kind of belief that partnering technology and courage can help one conquer the unknown is fundamental to Verne’s stories and to steampunk’s individualist culture. making it relevant today.

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Who is the best-selling author of all time?

Agatha Christie is famed as the best-selling author of all time, However, she was not the most prolific writer of her family. Agatha grew up with two older siblings, out of them, her older sister Margaret (nicknamed Madge) also pursued writing and was considered to be the more promising writer.

By 1916, Madge had already written and published a few short stories, while Agatha had not published any. So when the latter shared the idea of writing a mystery novel with Madge, her sister was not as enthusiastic. She bet that Agatha would not be able to craft a compelling mystery and it certainly would not be something she could not solve. Taking up the challenge, the 26-year-old Agatha got to work and wrote, what would become her debut mystery novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Today, this novel stands alongside hundreds of mysteries Agatha crafted during her illustrious writing career.

Crafting a perfect mystery

Agatha Christie’s stories are like a puzzle box full of clues, misdirection and drama. But what are the essential elements of crafting a perfect mystery?

Setting

One of the most important decisions while designing any story is choosing the setting. Whether it was a remote island or yacht or a snow-stalled train stall, the author would always favour eerie and isolated locations, a trend that most of her stories follow. By doing so she limited the movement of her characters and build tension by forcing these plausible suspects to stay put, with the killer lurking among them.

In some cases, she would heighten the drama by making the characters strangers, unsure of who they could trust.

Characters

As a keen observer of human behaviour, she would often use peculiar traits or habits of the people around her to create authentic characters. However, one of the most popular criticisms of her novels is her use of two-dimensional characters that would easily reflect the stereotypes of her time. Future writers are advised not to emulate this trait of hers.

Language

It is a mystery writer’s job to concoct stories that are complex and full of riddles and clues. Making it merely a balancing act between being clever and not confusing. The English author used simple, precise and accessible language to accomplish this task. The clarity of her language makes her stories palatable and engaging and can be credited with making her the ‘Queen of mystery’.

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What is The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum about?

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is an American classic that will never grow old. Fans of all ages adore Dorothy’s fantastical adventures down the yellow brick road. Let’s see what makes this story relevant today.

About the author

Lyman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856, in Chittenango, New York, to a wealthy family. Named after one of his uncles, Lyman was the seventh of nine children. However, he never liked his first name and often when by his middle name Frank. He was a rainbow chaser, who went from one profession to another and had almost failed at everything until he started writing children’s books at the age of 40.

With his flair for the theatrical, Braum tapped into his imagination to breathe life into the magical land of Oz. Upon the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (the first in the 14-book series) at the turn of the 19th Century, Baum became the first best-selling children’s book author in America.

Unlike other books for children, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in a pleasingly informal tone; with characters who were defined by their actions, and showcased morality more subtextually. The New York Times review of the book said that children would be “pleased with dashes of colour and something new in the place of the old, familiar, and winged fairies of Grimm and Anderson”.

THE MYSTERY OF THE SHOES

According to historian Henry Littlefield, Dorothy’s silver shoes in Baum’s original story symbolised the American farmers’ efforts to raise silver to gold’s standard to put more money into circulation and make it easier for them to borrow. However, the 1939 screen adaptation of the story changed Dorothy’s shoes to ruby red to take greater advantage of its colour cinematography, which was still rare at the time.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The story follows a Kansas farm girl named Dorothy who ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a tornado. To return home, she must follow the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City and find the wonderful wizard of Oz. On her way, she comes across a straw man, a tin man, and a cowardly lion. And her new acquaintances agree to accompany her, in the hopes that the wizard can give the straw man a brain, the tin man a heart, and the lion, some courage.

What makes it classic?

A story of self-reliance Dorothy and her companions journey to the Emerald City is motivated by the need to fulfil the wishes they pin their happiness on. However, the curious thing is that throughout the story the strawman (who supposedly doesn’t have a brain) comes up with good ideas the tin man who doesn’t have a heart showcases a great wealth of emotions, and the cowardly lion consistently overcomes every challenge that comes along the way.

This means they already have the things they hoped for but just don’t realise it until they meet the wizard. Their journey is one of self-acceptance and self-realisation that inspires us as readers to take a look within and realise our potential.

Holding a mirror to the society

Dorothy is curious, adventurous, and confident. Her character exemplifies how Baum’s perception of gender was different from the people of his time. Her figuring out how to solve a problem while the men around her are dissembling, critics suggest is nothing short of revolutionary. Dorothy sets the stage for little girls to go out of the house, explore the world, and go on adventures as boys do.

Our protagonist’s desire to explore the world is in direct conflict with the social expectation to accept her life as it is back home. Dorothy’s guilt and fear of not fitting into the socially accepted mould of a devoted daughter is the author’s way of highlighting how women have been conditioned to think that craving independence or doing anything outside the domestic domain is selfish and unruly.

More than 100 years after its publication, 70 years after its debut on the big screen, and 13 book sequels later, Oz endures because every generation reinterprets the story and aligns it with their experiences, which has led to American literary critics calling it their national fairy tale.

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