In this dystopian world where wars have become an everyday news headline, these novels will break you out of the trance and open your eyes towards extreme violence. Literature becomes an important field to voice out traumatic experiences of the common people who pay the hefty price for getting stuck between the crossfires. These novels expose the emotional journey of experiencing a war. If you are looking for novels to read with these themes, The Bombay Circle Press is here with another list of handpicked recommendations.
Written from the point of view of Death, this novel mainly revolves around the story of Leisel, who finds a book named The Gravediggers’ Handbook beside her brother’s grave. This becomes the turning point of her life, and a lifelong love with stories. With the help of her dad, she begins learning how to read and write and explore life in the Nazi Germany. Her family harbors a jew in their basement and Leisel forms an unbreakable bond with him. The thieving chronicle continues through Nazi book burnings, the mayor’s wife’s personal library, and basically anywhere she can find books.
This novel is deeply rooted in the themes of constant displacement and uprooting of the characters’ lives as they know it, from city to another, trying to establish a meaning of home, knowing very well they can’t return to their original city. Following the journey of Alia and her family, they explore lives in different cities, across different continents, surviving through invasions and political wars. Heartbreaking in its prose, this novel will leave you to confront the possibilities of losing one’s home–permanently.
Sonia Nasir, an actress in London, from Palestine is reeling from a failed marriage, a disastrous love affair, and an emotional trip back home to visit her sister, Haneen, who works in the Tel Aviv university. It is Sonia’s first trip to Palestine after the death of her grandparents, and her relationship is still quite fragile. Sonia finds herself entangled with the production of Hamlet in the West Bank with the charismatic local director, Mariam. There are many violent obstacles as the opening night is coming closer, and these Palestine groups of actors.
A story of violence written from the point of view of a twelve year old child, Karim. He along with his family are forced to be inside their houses, caused by a suicide bombing in Plaestine, and the Isreali forces take control over the West Bank. For Karim, the longing of playing football with his friends is eating him away. They discover an unused patch of land which can be the perfect football field. The ache of loss of freedom causes Karim and his friends to make questionable decisions, to the point where their lives are on the line.
These stories will touch your heart in the most humanly possible way. If you liked these novel recommendations, we are sure you will love our regular update on The Bombay Circle Press bulletin.