'I admire Jane Eyre's strong-mindedness'

What book(s) are you reading at the moment?
I usually end up reading more than one book at a time. This month, I am reading Big Data @ Work by Thomas H Davenpor, as it happens to be based on one of my all-time favourite topics - data science. I also make it a point to read one classic on the side. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the The Famous Five and The Hardy Boys series but ended up missing out on classics like Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, etc. The current classic I have my nose buried in is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
A book that changed your life and shaped your outlook?
It is so difficult to pick just one. I think every single book that a person reads leaves an impact on him or her and expands their horizon. One of the books that shaped my outlook was Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. The book is based on the true story of Professor Morrie who shares anecdotes of his life while walking towards death. The book covers several topics like life, death, regret, love, money, marriage etc. My key learning from this book was how to aptly deal with emotions. Another book that has had an impact is Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom. The main question this book asks is: what happens when machines surpass humans in terms of intelligence? Will AI save or destroy us?
Most memorable literary character - and why.
My answer, hands down, is Jane from Jane Eyre. The book was published in the 1800s and, during that phase, there were almost no books that painted a female literary character as a strong-willed person, let alone being portrayed as "equal to a man". Jane is a complicated yet remarkable character. Her strong-mindedness and her determination to do what is right are things that I admire the most!
A book you think is underrated - and why.
Hailing from Kashmir, I appreciate books that tell the story of the valley. A few noteworthy books include Curfewed Night by Basharat Peer and The Collaborator by Mirza Waheed. The most underrated book, however, is The Country without a Post Office by Agha Shahid Ali. It is a collection of poems based on the violent 1990s period in Kashmir and it talks about the haunting experiences of widespread bloodshed that resulted in the total collapse of the state.
Your favourite book quote.
One of my favourite quotes is from the book Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. The quote is, "It is never too late to ask yourself, 'Am I ready to change the life I am living? Am I ready to change within?'"
- Staff reporter