I think the line ‘If I loved you less, then I could have talked about you more’ should apply to one’s favourite books too. When it comes to my favourite books, I get so tongue tied. I know I could write an essay on why I loved this book but words fail me. 

In Memoriam was one such book for me. It didn’t make me cry or heartbroken but did left an empty space in my heart. If one isn’t living under the rocks or following ignorance is a bliss’ to their heart, then one would be very well aware of what war brings to a nation, which is a whole lot of nothing. War takes and takes and takes. And this story was just about that. War took away loved ones, innocence, dreams and false beliefs. Through Gaunt, Ellwood and their close knit group of friends, we saw public school boys who had ideals and false romantic notions about patriotism, develop hollow eyes after proving their patriotism. I liked how that story just wasn’t about Gaunt and Ellwood as an entity, but as separate beings with their own set of friends and trauma bonding and experiences. They lived together and grew and then they were separate and grew more. They weren’t perfect. They went through a lot which changed them, distorted them and made them more imperfect. 

I don’t know what else to say except that this book will stay with me. The letters the boys wrote to each other and their friends will stay with me. The constant push and pull between Gaunt and Ellwood will stay with me. The kindness of Devi, Archie, Bertie and Cyril will stay with me. Maud and Gaunt’s relationship will stay with me. David Hayes’ strong presence will stay with me. The boyishness of taking long strolls in countryside and reciting poetry in any given chance will stay with me. The sheer willpower to survive just to see the face of your loved one last time will stay with me.