Tags
Books that help through break up, caitlin moran, Cheryl Strayed, Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl, Gone with the Wind, Hai Andheri Raat, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, heartburn, Him Her Him Again The End Of Him, How to be a woman, Ilene Beckerman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Love loss and what i wore, Margaret Mitchell, nora ephron, Patricia Marx, Reese Witherspoon, Sherry Argot, Why men love bitches, Wild
When ice-cream, chocolate, wine & whine can’t cure you
When we open our heart to love, we make it liable to heart break too. I am saying this because two of my friends got dumped yesterday. One in the afternoon, one at night. As I type this, the number of ‘Dumped Friends’ has reached FOUR!
What’s it about this Christmas that’s inspiring men to act like assholes instead of elves?.
It’s redundant to say that the girls are devastated. Drowned in betrayal, humiliation & rejection; they’re soaked in self pity. Nothing that I say seems to help. So, I thought maybe I should leave them & let them discover their own solace.
Although, I seriously think that right books can take the pain of the process away & make this discovery an entertaining ride.
So, here are the TOP 10 BOOKS that always help me get out of depression when a boy crushes my heart.
10. HIM HER HIM AGAIN. THE END OF HIM.
The author Patricia Marx says that the book is inspired from her experience with a pretentious & vacuous man. Perhaps that’s why by the time we are at the finishing line, the jerk who made us cry feels like a waste of time & in a way, we are glad that it’s over.
I recommend reading this while listening to Corrs, “I never really loved you anyway.”
9. GONE GIRL
By now, you must have seen the movie. The book is more delicious. From the first diary entry itself I fell in love with Amy. It was so easy to relate with her. So, by the time she becomes a bitch, she becomes a heroine for me. I cheer for her every move & take sadist delights in the torture she puts Nick through. Oh! It’s so gratifying!!!
8. HAI ANDHERI RAAT
Though this is a poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, it’s on my list. In fact, it’s in my phone too, as a screengrab. Each time I have fallen, I have taken a look at it. It helps me in dusting off & getting up. Whenever someone gets dumped, I text these lines to her:
“Hai, woh saathi,
Ki chumbak loh se jo paas,
Pass kya aaye hriday ke beech hi go ya samaye.
Woh gaye toh le gaye jeene ka adhaar mana.
Khoj mann ka meet koi lau lagana kab mana hai?
Hai andheri raat par diya jalana kab mana hai?”
(That lovely dear! We drawn to each other, like a magnet to iron. It wasn’t just closeness, he nestled at the core of my heart. Yes, now he has left & taken the basis of my life with him. But where is it forbidden to find someone else & ignite a new spark? Yes, it’s a dark night, but who’s stopping you from lighting a lamp?)
7. WHY MEN LOVE BITCHES?
There are just six words that I’ll say about this book- I gifted it to my best-friend.
6. THE DAY I SHOT THE CUPID
It’s the perfect doze of lighthearted & witty remarks on dating game that one needs in the overwhelming post break-up period. Yes, it’s insightful & illustrated but for me the most comforting factor is- if a girl like Jennifer Love Hewitt can be mistreated then I don’t have myself to blame. I am fine. He’s the villain of this love-story.
5. HOW TO BE A WOMAN
I always believe that break ups are times for a reality check. It’s important to accept the truth before moving on. This memoir blended with feminism 101, is the best ally in the process. I say ‘the best’ because it’s a laughter riot & laughs are most welcomed by a face blotched with smudged mascara.
4. HEARTBURN
I picked this book because it was written by Nora Ephron, the queen of rom-com movies. I recommend this book because it’s funny when it could have been easily been bitter. This for me is the one thing to watch out for after a heart break- we shouldn’t come out of it as a bitter, grumpy & cynical person. We should instead grow wiser & polish our ability to laugh at ourselves.
3. LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE
This memoir of how Ilene Beckerman rediscovers & reinvents herself after a series of heartbreaks is illustrated by clothes! A book of self discovery with pictures of pretty dresses!!! This is a comfort food for the soul post break up. (The after effects might not be so comforting for the credit card though).
2. WILD
I absolutely love this book. This is so me. Whenever life pins me to ground, I pack my bags to get lost in lands far & new. That’s the advice I always give to everyone after a break- go travel, get a perspective. So, here I am recommending this book hoping it’ll inspire more to travel.
PS: How amazing is Reese Witherspoon in its movie adaptation. Hope she wins an Oscar for this. Amen!
1. GONE WITH THE WIND
Because Scarlett O’ Hara taught me the greatest lesson of survival:
“I can’t think about it right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think off it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day.”
That’s my list. What’s yours?