Books To Help You Solve Life Problems

I wouldn't call myself a voracious reader as it takes me a long time to complete a book and I can only continue reading if I absolutely fall in love with the story and the character. However, I have been reading since I first read Little Princess back in 2010 A.D. Even though I didn't adore the book, it was successful in developing my curiosity towards fiction. In my 14 years journey as a fiction reader, I have read around 200 books of different genres from science fiction, fantasy, historical to romance. Among all, here is the list of 5 fictions whose characters are imprinted in my heart and I often find myself solving my life problems through their lenses. These books have helped me widen my horizon to better understand the world.

Invisible Man by H.G Wells

What if you look at the mirror and there is no image of you, but you can touch your face, eyes, nose and everything else? Would that be horror or the blessing to take advantage of? The book made me critically question my all desires of having supernatural powers as a 15 years old teenager. Later, in life it helped me separate desires from the genuine wish as it reminds me to be "careful of what I am wishing for".

Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

As we are always in search of purpose in life, we might be losing sight of every little blessing and treasures that we have around us. From my experience, the objective of an alchemist is to help you find whatever you might be desperately looking for in life. After reading the book, I had started focusing on the process instead of being hasty for the outcome, which changed my life in a profound way.

Kite Runner by Khalid Husseini

It is obvious for you to imagine crippling images of a country if you have watched and heard news of war and death multiple times in Radio and Television. However, amidst war, there are innocent people with dreams, family and friendship. Apart from the heartwarming story of sorrow and bliss, the book showed me Afghanistan in its purity, full of nature, love and life. Even though I had read Thousand Splendid Suns by the same writer set in the same country (and I adore the book), Kite Runner presents the war that every ordinary person goes through at least once in a life, i.e. forgiving oneself. I turn the pages of this book, every time I have to deal with the conflicting emotions within myself.

Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Of every type of novel or stories that I have read, magical realism always stands out to me. As random things happen in the book, it makes you aware of the randomness of life itself. However, every character and events are connected by an invisible thread just like the pattern of life. This book has played a significant role in my healing as there are lines that are hard to follow if you have never dug deeper into yourself. Thanks to Murakami, I could peel off some of my layers easily. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

There are lots of quotes in this book that I am in love with. “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for” - this line has helped me decode many complex situations in my life by considering multiple perspectives. While reading the book, you’re interacting with kids, so the situation and conversation are full of humor. However, the response to the curiosity of children by their father is eye-opening for every reader. 

Five additional book, that return during challenging situation and would recommend everyone to read:

1. God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

2. Chronicles of Death Forte by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

3. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

4. 1984 by George Orwell

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte