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THE BOOK THIEF: A TALE OF PAIN, LOVE AND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF HUMAN CRUELTY - Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, is a staggering tale of the truth of human life, the complexity of its existence and the simplicity of its death.

Published in 2005, the book is set in Nazi Germany, covering a period of 1939-1945, prime years of the turmoil of World War II and Adolf Hitlers tormenting reign in Germany and associated states. The book recounts the horrors of the war and the difficult life of its citizens of the time, both Christian and Jew in the simplest of manners, drawing from real life scenarios.

The book is unique right from the first page. It is narrated in third person, by none other than the concept of Death itself. Death (aka the author himself as the narrator), carries a deep, dark and seemingly sarcastic tone throughout the book, its viewpoint of each human simply as no more than a soul trapped in a meat body that is one day meant to fall in his arms anyway. Death sees no remorse in taking people away from their loved ones, and observes the scene recounting to the reader how each person felt moments before their end.

The protagonist of the story is a 9 year old Liesel Meminger, a German Christian girl who is left by her birth mother at a foster home following the death of her younger brother in the journey from their home to her new residence, and the arrest of her communist father. Liesel is horrified having seen her brother die right in front of her eyes, in cold bone-breaking winter with no resources to help them along the way. His bloodless eyes at the time of death haunt her and those nightmares become a repeating motif in the book, an indicator of childhood trauma or PTSD.

However, this same incident gives rise to a hidden curiosity in her heart; her wonder for books. Shed always heard about them but never had the ability to access one, and as her brother was being buried in the snow, Liesel finds the first book of her life; “A Grave Diggers Handbook.” This seemingly insignificant and horrid book manages to change her life in ways unimaginable.

Liesel arrives at her foster home, The Hubermann’s with her book as her only companion. There, the two most complex yet humane characters are introduced, her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans was a survivor of WW1, living with guilt and love, his only passion in life being playing the acoordion, a feat he learnt from his now dead fellow soldier. Rosa Hubermann embodies the spine of the house, working as a house help to the mayor and washer to support her family.

The story follows Liesels warm relationship with her new father, as she does not even remember her own. He cares for her like his own, and makes it a habit to read her a few pages of her new found book each night, whilst soothing her through her nightmares. Rosa, on the other hand is cold. Her love is never in words and only in the smallest of actions, and thinks of Liesel to be a mode to vent out her frustrations, throwing cusses at her more than encouragements. Yet she too looks out for Liesel at all hours, and ensures she has the most of the situation under any circumstance.

The other protagonist of the story is Rudy Steiner, a blonde, athletic boy living opposite the Hubermanns. Although Liesel and Rudy get off on a wrong foot, the story gradually sees them developing a strong friendship and later a mutual feeling of love.

Books, and Liesels wonder for the same is the token that drives the story forward. From a Nazi book burning event, she manages to retrieve a banned half burnt story book, and brings it home telling only her father. This incident marks the beginning of death giving her the name of “The Book Thief”. In a desperate attempt to see more of the richer world and make some fun, Rudy and she join a thievery gang, where-in she learns the skills of stealing and manages to steal books from the Mayors Library, even though his wife openly knows of the same and goes on to encourage her to steal more.

The book recounts an atmosphere of worry, poverty and fascism through its varied range of characters. Be it the meagre Mrs. Holfpetzel, a rampant Nazi waiting for her sons to come home from the war, Arthur the boy, who believes even thieves have morals, or the Jew the Hubermanns hide under their basement, Max Vandenburg.

Max is the son of the dead armyman who taught Hans the accordion, and as a return of favours, Hans decides to hide the Jew in a basement in a time of deadly searching and ostracising of Jews and punishment for sympathetic Germans. The family manages to arrange for a little portion of food for him everyday, and slowly he becomes on of their own. He lives in the darkness with his thoughts and his art, reading books with Liesel and making art books for her as her birthday gift.

The book is especially interesting in terms of how each chapter is named. The author follows an interesting path of naming each chapter with exactly the content the chapter contains as a quote, and makes an interesting use of graphics when needed. Death recounts each scene from its own perspective and reflects the neutrality, blaming someones loss on neither them nor their opponent, but merely on the circumstance.

Each chapter is lined with memorable, heart touching quotes and manages to reflect the layers of each character with nuance. The entire emotion of the book is summarised in the last quote by Death, wherein he reflects and shared that he is “haunted by humans” himself.

It is a tear jerkier, a book that leaves you wanting a more definite conclusion and forces you to imagine yourself in the time, waiting for a ray of sunlight in the darkest times. It is a testament to human strength, its ability to love and yearn for hope even in the toughest of times. It is a book that brings you hope, and enlightens you with a heart filled with a will for peace.

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Unfinished- Priyanka Chopra (Book Review)

Book Title: Unfinished

Genre: Memoir

Book Author: Priyanka Chopra

The Book in 5 Sentences:

•           Be like water- Be flexible: Learn adjusting and acclimatizing to the new environments. Reinvent yourself and overcome the fear of new places/change by opening up to unlimited possibilities.

•           Work Hard and Take risks: When given an opportunity, you must try your hardest to know that you gave your best shot. Take as many calculated risks as you can because when you are out of your comfort zone, you see opportunities knocking on your door.

•           Be independent: Be your own person. Have an identity of yourself. Own your choices, and above all, have the courage of conviction.

•           Being Different is your strength: Think out of the box and do things that are unlike the norm because that is your superpower.

•           Be grateful

Impression:

Unfinished is an extremely authentic memoir I have come across. When you read the book, you can visualize the story manifesting in front of your eyes. Her use of a simpler language and then slowly transitioning into a mature way of writing helps us understand how different she was as a child and how far she has come. A few constant themes are seen across the book that I loved the most were that she took the opportunity to thank everyone as often as possible. She took risks and was extremely aware of her thoughts from such a young age. Her parents were constantly encouraging her to take risks not only when she was a kid but also when she was at the peak of her career. She took responsibility for her failed relationships and also analyzed her career failures instead of giving excuses and blaming others. Through her story we can see the importance of an open culture in our traditional society. The book was very inspiring, informative, and humorous, engaging the reader and making reading a fun experience.

Who should read it:

Instead of saying who must read this book, I am going to list few points on who must not read this book:

People who are PC fans and they know most of her life by watching movies, YouTube, and TV interviews because while reading the book, I felt like whatever was in the book was something I already knew.

People who want Juicy Gossip: Everyone can agree that we want to know more about Priyanka Chopra’s alleged scandals, but we must also respect her privacy to keep her personal life to her. When I read the book, I felt like this book was a way for her to revisit her History on her own terms and focus only on the parts that made her who she is.

My top three quotes from the book:

a.   I have always felt that life is a solitary journey, that we are each on a train, riding through our hours, our days, our years. We get on alone, we leave alone, and the decisions we make as we travel on the train are our responsibility alone. Along the way, different people – the family we are born to and the family we choose, the friends we meet, those we come to love and who come to love us-get on and off the cars of our train. We are travelers, always moving, always in flux, and so are our fellow passengers. Our time riding together is fleeting, but it’s everything – because the time together is what brings us love, joy, connection.

b. One of the most astounding things about my parents’ marriage is that it was equal in all regards-from the way they made their home as newlyweds, picking everything out together, to the way they had mutual respect for each other’s careers, to the way they worked together to do what they determined was best for our family, to the goals they shared in providing medical care and supplies to those who couldn’t afford them. Both of them were also ambitious and they respected that in each other, which taught me that it was fine to have large goals and to work hard to achieve them, and that marriage or even parenthood doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming big for yourself.

c.         The idea that confidence is not a permanent state was crystallizing in me, and I was beginning to sense that the harder I worked at being able to access it when I needed it, the better it would serve me.

My favorite sentences from the book:

“Be like water,” he said. “Find the best situation wherever you are and make it work.”

Own your choices. Or, as my mother must have told me hundreds of times growing up, “have courage of conviction.”

When I saw how people were looking at me as if I were a fantastical, brightly colored unicorn-I realized that I wanted to see myself that way, too. I wanted to feel interesting and unusual and amazing, to feel that I was deserving of people’s gaze.

Not by far. I’d known the whole time that the one thing I wore best was my confidence- as long as I wasn’t comparing myself with the other girls, which I sometimes struggled not to do. I could speak in front of people, I could strike up conversation with strangers, whenever I did, I did it with conviction even when I was bad at it.

Once I’d garnered the Miss India World crown, I’d had to learn fast and under pressure. My toolbox was as full as it was ever going to get, and that knowledge gave me a sense of self-assurance. I knew what was required of me, and I knew, theoretically at least, that I should be able to do well.

“You should be someone whose word is your bond. When you’re finished with the commitments you’ve made and fulfilled the contracts you’ve signed, if you still don’t like the way things are done, then don’t sign any more contracts.”

I loved taking lines of dialogue and transforming them into a multidimensional person with a past and a future and a unique take on the world. I developed a hunger for seeing how many personalities I could create, and how different they could be. Wondering what kind of person I’ll be breathing life into next is one of the many things that keep me excited about this job of mine.

Knowledge is a key to confidence.

“I’m not going to ask you to stay,” he told me. “Not because I don’t want you to, but because if you could cancel, you’d have done it already.” Then he took my hands. “I’ll never be that guy, Pri. You’ve worked so hard for so many years to be where you are, and you know what’s best for your career. And I will never stand in your way.”

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Read the entire blog at: https://ascenteen.tumblr.com/post/655152040242233344/stepping-from-stereotypes-to-self-acceptance

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IMPOSTER SYNDROME

“I don’t know how I did it, or if I even deserved it.”

No matter how smooth your journey has been, no matter how hard you work to achieve your goals, the final taste of success may be left incomplete because of that small voice ringing in your head; the voice that has repeated these words to you at some time or the other.

This voice arises from a condition, or an experience nearly every 1 in 10 people go through, popularly known as the “impostor syndrome”. It is a psychological phenomenon that mirrors you as inadequate and incompetent despite having clear evidence of you being skilled and successful in whatever you do.

In short, it’s a confusing mess of harmfulness. It can also take various forms, depending on a person’s background, personality, and circumstances. If you’re familiar with the feeling of waiting for those around you to “find you out,” it might be helpful to consider what type of imposter you are so you can problem-solve accordingly.

The syndrome has some clear, although not necessary default intentions.

Self-doubt

Sense of incompetence

Frequently comparing yourself to others

Self-criticism

Difficulty in accepting rewards or accomplishments

Such feelings may result in one feeling incapable of their own selves and may dent their confidence. However, there are multiple strategies and practices one can adopt to overcome such a feeling.

The first step comes with recognizing the fact that you are suffering from this syndrome, and that it is perfectly normal. Every human comes across questions of doubt in their mind and once in a while, such a self-check is necessary too. However, one must also take care to not encourage these checks and make them a habit. The strive for perfection must never amount to a point of obsession.

A few practices to get beyond the Impostor Syndrome:

Make a list of your strengths. Look back at examples of your own successful work or positive reviews, and remind yourself of your own accomplishments.

Learn something new or take a module in a topic/area where you think your abilities are weaker. You’ll learn what you need — or realize how much you already know.

Make Positive affirmations a daily practice, either verbally or by writing them down, and continue the same with a unique thought each day.

Remember, there is no barrier that the human mind cant surpass, and just a strong ounce of belief and support can take you a long way to ascend in your life.

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6 MINDFUL HABITS TO START TODAY!

Hello Ascendants! Mindfulness in simple words means, to pay purposeful attention. It is a state of observation of your feelings and thoughts. It is about being aware of the things happening around you, or by you. But let me make this clear, there are absolutely zero judgements! There are only observations and positive changes. Being mindful helps us in many ways. It gives is clarity about the events happening around us and within us. We are all living in such mobile life that we hardly get any second for looking within. But what if I tell you, these 6 mindful habits will help you see within and without, even in the busiest days? Let’s not waste time and dive straight into these amazing 6 habits which will make you 100% more mindful right away! Overview 1. Setting a daily intention. 2. Meditate. 3. Batching tasks. 4. One task at a time. 5. Mindful eating. 6. Connect with nature. 1. Setting a daily intention. Setting a daily intention first thing in the morning is equal to preparing for a test which you are very confident about. It sets up the mood and positive mindset for the day. A good start leads to a good day! 2. Meditate. I can never shut up about how much meditation has changed my life! If you are a beginner, start with a 5-10 minutes guided meditation. Here’s my recommendation. Meditating helps calm your mind and heart and gives you some wonderful insight. Meditating before work and before bed will help in getting a calmer, peaceful day and a good night sleep. I can say that with personal experience. 3. Batching tasks. This makes your life easier and you, mindful! Batching similar tasks together and doing them in the same time slot will make you less overwhelmed and more productive. For instance, if you are washing the dishes, also prepare the next meal while you’re in the kitchen. Put all the ingredients needed on the table and boom you saved time! 4. One task at a time. I’m going to be honest when I say I was a multitasker and achieved nothing out of it. I worked the whole day but nothing on my to-do list was checked off and i felt tired to complete any tasks anymore. When we multitask, out brain’s concentration power is distributed and hence it is less effective. Do one thing at a time with all your focus and this will get the task done quicker. Boom! You checked off your to-do list. 5. Mindful eating. This emphasizes on the fact that we need to pay attention to every detail of our food and be grateful for every detail of it. Mindful eaters eat their food with no distractions. Nope, not even the television. They pay attention to every detail of their meal, like its aroma, texture, taste and feelings. Mindful eating promotes better digestion and helps you break your habits surrounding unhealthy and junk food. 6. Connect with nature. It has been proved time and again that nature is the best healer. Spending time near the earth’s beauty grounds us and makes us feel refreshing and calm. Studies reveal that children are healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter and more creative when they have a connection to nature. It calms the mind and body, it is considered as a kind of meditation. (Meditating in the nature? Count me in! ) So these were the 6 mindful habits which you can start today and make your life little or more better. I hope you have a great week and I’ll see you soon xx

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Stepping from stereotypes to Self acceptance

Hello Ascendants, From when we are kids, we have heard phrases like “be yourself,” ” don’t imitate to be someone else,” “be authentic,” and so much more. But as a kid, I never really understood what that meant. Who was I? and How could I be myself when I did not know who I was. Being one of the youngest in my family, I always tried to be like my sister, in school like my best friends, and in this mess, I never really understood what it was like to be myself. Last year, I felt like I found myself. Not wholly but in bits and pieces. I still have a long way to go, but this is my story. As a kid, I was, like most kids, a girl who loved playing with dolls and who loved wearing makeup and nail paints and all the other cool stuff. But, when I entered middle school, I saw a transition which very few girls my age saw; the segregation of a tomboy, nerdy girl, and a girly girl. (I know these words are cringe, but I am just honest about how messed up my head was). No one could see this, just me. This separation was in my head, and I fit into none of it. And to gain external validation of boys in my class and be a “cool person,” I decided that I will be a Tomboy. Being a tomboy was easy for me; I loved sports, which was the only criteria required to be a Tom Boy. But, there were many other things Tomboys didn’t do, which included watching Rom Coms, wearing makeup, wearing dresses, gossiping, and so many more. I am not sure who made these rules, but in my head, these were the rules, and to be a “cool person,” I had to follow them and thus began my journey of feeling unauthentic and fear of judgment. I used to think that I looked ugly and my only strength was my sport. In school, I was the only girl on the entire swim team. But, the more I tried to be a tomboy, the more hideous and unauthentic I felt about myself, and the more I hated “wearing makeup or wearing pretty dresses” because I thought that it was the thing that made other people pretty. Last year, as the pandemic started, I began journaling my thoughts. The more I wrote, the more I realized that what a great gift for fashion and makeup was to express yourself. I started watching fashion and makeup blogs, I started watching makeup reels, and I read beauty articles. I know it sounds crazier if you know me, but this is the truth. And I still couldn’t picture myself wearing any makeup, and weirdly I was okay with it. The best thing that I found myself doing was appreciating people around me who wore makeup. In the past, I constantly criticized my sisters for wearing makeup; I thought they weren’t authentic to themselves by putting on a mask/facade. Still, as I started introspecting, I realized that makeup is a form of expression like art. You want to look cute and pretty; apply loads of red and pink, you want to look badass and confident, do an excellent smoky eye. It changed my perspective towards myself and my personality. As I began wondering more and more about why I couldn’t wear any makeup, I realized that a part of me still felt like I am not pretty enough. I do love myself and accept myself the way I am, but I believe that if I ever wear makeup, I will use it as a shield to hide behind, and I don’t want to hide anymore. Not behind a tomboy façade, neither behind any makeup. I choose to express myself as raw without makeup because facing my fears will make me stronger. This is the most authentic self that I know, a girl who loves sports, Rom Coms, Indian attire, dresses, watching her sisters and best friends apply makeup, hates shopping, loves adventure, and calculated risks. I love this truth. I love this me. The other day I met an old friend who said to me, “Bro, you have changed a lot, and I am so happy that you now believe that you can be a girl who loves flowers and pastel colors and still be the most badass/confident b*tch alive.” And I felt that. I now understand that I don’t need to be manly or boyish to be taken seriously. It has been quite a journey, and now I am glad that I found myself. Even today, there are some days when I worry about what people might say about me, and I know it’s a slow process, but I am proud of myself in regards to how far I have come. I feel authentic, and I am kind to myself, and that is a beautiful feeling. Cheers, I found myself.