Okay, guys!
I’m back after a short hiatus from WordPress. Don’t ask me why.
And to make up for my short absence: I’m back with a book tag LIKE NO OTHER.
This is an idea that has been exciting me so much, and one that I have been working on with a few friends to make it the best that it could possibly be. Let me jump right into it.
The Baahubali Book Tag.
The idea is to tag a book that you’ve read to the characters in S.S.Rajamouli’s historical fiction: Baahubali.
- Amarendra Baahubali: Book that you are currently obsessed with.
Everyone simply can’t shut up about Amarendra Bahubali, including myself. He’s the perfect husband, the perfect best friend, the perfect leader and also the perfect son. That’s probably why he died so young. So much perfection than a mortal being can possibly handle.
He’s become more than just a character. He’s now a national obsession.
And for me, this book would be Sita, Warrior of Mithila by, Amish Tripathi.
- Devasena: Book with the most empowering female Protagonist.
All books in the Song of Ice and Fire series by G.R.R.Martin.
Not because of the platinum blonde Khaleesi, not because of Cersei Lannister, not because of Lady Stoneheart, but because of Arya The Slaying Queen Stark.
I don’t think I am going to have to justify this anymore.
- Sivagami: The Book with the most inspiring parenting.
When it comes to parentinh, Sivagami shares a striking similarity with Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
I am in love with Atticus Finch. I’ve never felt this way before, about a man in paper and ink – but I just fell so hopelessly in love with him. Sivagami raising two Prince Royals, under so much political pressure, but with grace and morals – is exactly how Atticus raises Jem and Scout in the orthodox southern county, teaching them values of humanity and love, and standing up against racism.
That’s just two inspiring parenting role models, right there.
- Pallvalathevan: The Book with the most kick-ass villain you can’t help but love.
Ramayana, by Kamban.
I have never been so smitten by a villain, as I have been by Raavanan – the emperor of Lanka. Same goes with Rana Dagubbati in Bahubali. I mean, it makes me question some deep rooted issues. Why do they have to make violence and evil so attractive, JUST WHY!
I haven’t read Valmiki’s version of the epic.
(Yet.)
I’ve only read R.K. Narayan’s English translation of Kamba Ramayana – and I was simply mind-blown at how villainy could be romanticized in such an endearing way. There’s this scene where Ravanan first listens to his sister describe Sita’s beauty and personality. He doesn’t even see her, mind you. He just hears about her.
And that just about does it.
He is tormented by love. He is struck ill with passion. He is ridden sick with lust.
And then the narrator beautifully compares and contrasts that to the first time Sita saw Rama – and that just takes it to a whole new level, that makes us rethink our boundaries of right and wrong, and how matters of the heart quite easily trespass that line.
When I saw Rana Daggubatti on screen – right from his attitude, to the way he carries himself, how he is respectful of his mother, and how smitten he is by Devasena – a girl he cannot have…..I strongly suspect that he’s been inspired by the Emperor of Lanka, as written by R.K.Narayan / Poet Kamban.
- Kumara Verma: A popular book that disappointed you with its dumbness.
Vampire Diaries.
*Takes in a deep breath*
Gaaaawwwdddd, Where do I even begin with Vampire Diaries.
THE HYPE WAS JUST TOO MUCH!!
EVERYONE IN SCHOOL WOULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, OBSESSING OVER IT, THERE WAS THIS GANG OF PEOPLE WHO READ VAMPIRE DIARIES, AND THIS GANG THAT READS TWILIGHT AND IT WAS LIKE WAR. PROBLEM IS BY THEN, I WAS SO OVER THE TWILIGHT FEVER TOO, AND I JUST COULDN’T FIT INTO BOTH. ALL THE COOL KIDS READ IT, AND I WANTED TO TOO, BUT DANG IT I COULDN’T GET PAST A FEW PAGES WITHOUT GETTING SO SO SO IRRITATED AND FURIOUS BECAUSE THE WHOLE BOOK WAS SUCH TEENAGE DRAMA AND DUMBNESS AND NOW I CAN’T TURN OFF ALL THE CAPS BECAUSE I AM RELIVING THE TRAUMA OF BEING LEFT OUT OF A POPULAR OPINION LIKE JUST AAAAAARRRGGGHHHH
- Mahendra Bhubali: The sequel that made you fall deeper in love with a series.
The secret of the Nagas – The Shiva Trilogy, by Amish Tripathi.
I’ve always found that second books can be most tricky to write because no matter how hard you try, you’ll be constantly attacked by the thought that you can never live up to the hype of the first book. I’ve also noticed that this is why the second book of most series are always a little disappointing.
But this book – it was even better than the first! There was so much happening, so much thickening of the plot, so many new characters – you guys, it’s just impossible to look away from the book.
I would love to read and re-read The Secret of the Nagas, any day any time, with any mood – and it would just mellow me out.
- The Rebel Group Leader Whose Name No One Remembers: A book you love, but isn’t popular enough.
Foundation Trilogy, Issac Asimov.
I understand that this book has gotten a huge fan base in other countries, but I feel like India is yet to embrace the awesomeness of this book, that’s oozing with genius. The book is so witty! I’ve laughed and cried with it. It’s not a complicated read either.
I wish this book was more popular with the Indian audience – the way it deserves to be.
I’ve seen hardcore LOTR fans, potterheads, twilight fanatics, and even Jane Austen and Bronte lovers. But I feel like the ratio of people obsessed with Asimov could do with a tiny hike.
- Pingalathevan: A book that didn’t get the credit it deserved.
That book for me would be: Love in the Time of Cholera.
The entire summer, I’ve been reading and re-reading the same book over and over again. I can’t seem to get enough of it. I know that some people are skeptical about this book. I know it’s a very intense, disturbing read. (For those of you that don’t know, the book involves some extremely disturbing parts where a seventy-year-old man, who was supposed to be the legal guardian of a fourteen-year-old girl sleeps with her, while he looks at it as a casual fling, the girl gets kind of deeply attached, and things kinda get awkward and uncomfortable from there….so…)
I have been obsessed with this book for the other realistic, heartbreaking and astounding narration that it holds. I’ve been recommending it to literally every single one of my friends. And when I say recommending, I mean forcing them to read it. While some enjoyed it and melted into it just the way I wanted them to, most of them just began focussing only on the creepy pedophile that the 70-year-oldld is, and began arguing with me how much they disliked the book – which begins to upset me, so I just stopped recommending it.
I just….I just wish this book got the attention that it deserves.
- Avantika: The sequel that made you dislike a series.
New Moon, Twilight series.
I have never felt so much physical hurt of disappointment as I did with the New Moon book of the Twilight series. It was all the detox that I needed to flush the twilight obsession out of my system.
You see, I was once upon a time, a very long time ago, obsessed with Twilight. Probably when I was 14 years old or so – I loved Twilight before it was cool. Before it was a movie. Not just me, my entire squad of friends, couldn’t shut up about Edward and Bella. (Yes, judge me all you want, I probably deserve the shame.)
But in my defense, I was in my adolescence, and Stephenie Meyer just threw to my face a Shakespearean, Jane Austen-ish dreamy guy.
WHAT CHOICE DID I HAVE.
- Kattappa: The book that has remained your most loyal friend.
Matilda, Roald Dahl.
I cannot put into words how much I love this book! It’s about a little girl, who loves to read, and has a special superpower: she can move things without touching them. And Matilda uses that power to make the life of people she cares about, better.
This is basically a children’s book, told with a beautiful blend of good witted humor and magical realism.
Every time I go through a rough patch in life, feel challenged or just need to ward off negativity in general – Matilda is my healing magic. It restores love, hope and faith in my heart, in a way that only one other series has managed to do my entire life.
One that deserves to be here more than any other book, but I had to consciously avoid it because I was afraid it would be too predictable.
The Harry Potter Series.
XOXO.
Bala.
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P.S. I tag Priya Darshini, Deepika, Srichandra and Kavya Janani in this tag.
Backlinkyour post to this one, guys – so that I can keep track of the people you tag.
If you’re reading this, and we don’t know each other – consider yourself tagged by me, and let me know about your list too!
Can’t wait to see all the books that would come up.
Bala karthiga M 
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