The Dark Arena

Who doesn’t know Mario Puzo? Surely, all of us.

The splendid creator of the character The Godfather was incredible that no one has ever beaten that story.

 Possessed with the distinctive writing and storytelling style, the Mario Puzo is an author with the wit. Personally, I have always felt that he has an influence over his reader. We get to learn something new and get social awareness too that how can we understand the people around us.

Mario Puzo has always focused on the stories of Italian Mafia and events occurred during Second World War. That was mainly because during his times, these two events were on hike.

The Dark Arena is another bestselling novel of Puzo, which was published in 1952 (that is a longest time back), in which he has described the story of an American soldier named Walter Mosca. Mosca came to fight in Germany where he meets a German girl named Hella who lost her family in the war.

The story revolves around these two when they fall in love and start living together at Mosca’s apartment. After 3 years, Mosca gets a chance to return to the States where he already had a girlfriend, but he sets her free because he was in love with Hella.  His family gets shocked, but he returns back shortly to Germany with his firm decision of being with Hella.

Although, the relationship story sounds too affectionate one, but it was very matured and simple with less interaction. Mosca is portrayed as a kind of man who thinks a lot while speak little and this is what, his girlfriend understands. His tough job and ruthless incidents during war turns  him into a cold man.

The story shows that how difficult the time was when there is war around and how painful experience it is for the soldiers and for the civilians, both. Mosca gets into selling cigarettes in black with his friend to earn some extra money as it was one of the most demanding items in the times of war.

There are many interesting scenes happening in the story telling you about the coarse outcomes of the war. Puzo is an expert in defining these scenarios better becsue he himself has served in the Army during the world war, thus, he knows the suffering well and the way people are being treated.

There is a lot to read and understand in The Dark Arena that will make you believe that Mario Puzo is a genius!

I gave 9 out of 10 to this novel.

  

Th1rteen R3asons Why!!!

You Cant Stop the Future. You Cant Rewind the Past.The Only Way to Learn the Secret.. is to Press PLAY"!!

This certainly sounds really horrible, but it is the truth. Not everyone lets go of your words or acts like everyone else and brush it off. Psychological damages haunt the lives of many so deeply. Just like it did with Hannah Baker. 
The International Best Selling Debut novel by Jay Asher explains the very extensive side of feelings that someone could go through. 
I was entirely hooked to it till I get to know all the 13 people & what they have to do with Hannah's suicide. I was angry, heart wrenched, sad & lost as I was getting to know that really how these people becomes so mean that they do not care about other person's feelings. 

The story takes a lead when the other main character Clay Jensen comes home and find this package for him, which contained recorded tapes with a map from his fellow student, Hannah in high school. 
Clay's life jumps upside down when it reveals to him that these tapes are from Hannah, who has committed suicide a few days back. She recorded those tapes before her death so that she could tell everyone that what were the reasons behind taking such extreme step. 

As the name of this novel suggests, there are thirteen reasons involved related to the thirteen people who closely perturb the life of Hannah and are responsible for her death. Most of them are from her school. 
Hannah is mainly talking about the bully, betrayals, liars, and selfish friend's of hers who ran after social statuses, show offs and faux relationships instead of valuing the caring, loving, true and honest people. Many of her male and female friends used her too for their own benefits when she was considering them her very good friends. 

Just like that, she has also talked about those who had been nice to her (like Clay). 
Another character named Tony is the one who is not present in the tapes, but somehow linked to the Hannah. 
Asher has beautifully joined the whole story together with some very valuable lessons that every youngster must keep in mind. 
The scenarios are mostly related to the stories told in the tapes revolving mostly around young age relationship, such as one is when Hannah gets to do her first kiss with her long time crush Justin Foley, but he came out as a player. 
Then there is a guy named Tyler, whom she had called Peeping Tom because he used to peep her in her room with his camera, which sort of harassed her and made her feel unsafe in her own house. 
A girl named Courtney, who used Hannah for saving her image by being good to everyone. 
The story continues with all these characters who broke Hannah's heart and lift her trust from every sort of friendship, love and good deeds. 

Jay Asher has written this novel with simplicity and has put every sentiment very well in its place that nowhere leaves you with the thought that this is his first fiction novel ever. 

Not only for the elders, but this is a novel worth reading for the grownups as well.