The Day of the Jackal - by Frederick Forsyth

The Day of the Jackal (written in 1971) is a very remarkable and exceptionally stunning political thriller novel by English writer Frederick Forsyth about a professional assassin nicknamed as 'The Jackal'.

The job of this hitman is to assassinate Charles de Gaulle-President of France and he has been contracted by a group opposed to president's policies on Algeria.

Not only does the reasonably well-informed reader know that, historically, Charles de Gaulle was not assassinated, but Forsyth actually makes a point of telling us this early in the book. So, in a most important sense, we know from the outset how the book ends. And yet, it is one of the best examples I've read of page-turning, heart-stopping, breath-holding suspense writing.

With a meticulous personality and obsession with planning to the last-minute detail, 'The Jackal' is one of the most intriguing and enigmatic characters ever created in the thriller genre.

His precision, work ethic, fastidious planning—it almost forces you into admiration and at some level you may even want him to succeed even though he is a cold-blooded killer who eliminates anyone hindering his progress without hesitation or remorse.

The other lead character is - ofcourse a police detective - Claude Lebel. Its extremely thrilling to read Lebel narrow-in on Jackal through tireless and methodical police work.

If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you riveted from start to finish, The Day of the Jackal is the book for you.

A TV adaptation was released in 2024, in which 'Eddie Redmayne' plays the role of the Jackal. The director has taken some cinematic liberties to alter the plot a bit, but it still stays quite close to the original plot of the book.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Another English classic I picked up this year  - 'Jane Eyre' is a novel by English writer 'Charlotte Brontë', published in 1847 under the pseudonym 'Currer Bell' to disguise the fact that the author was a woman.

An enduring love story and undisputed classic, 'Jane Eyre' is full of passion, mystery, tragedy, and most importantly a strong-willed beloved heroine.

it is ironic that at a time when the Charlotte felt compelled to hide her true identity, Jane Eyre provided a story of individualism for women.

This masterpiece introduces one of fiction's most memorable protagonists ie Jane. As a child, orphan Jane Eyre suffers under cruel guardians and harsh schooling, but her indomitable spirit shines through against the greatest odds. When she takes up a position as governess at Thornfield Hall, she meets and begins to fall in love with mysterious and brooding master of the house, Mr Rochester. The secrets of the house and from Mr Rochester's past are soon revealed causing a heartbreak for Jane. Her life takes few turns in the course and as they say takes a full circle at the end.

Though it falls under genre of romantic classic, the romance is very very suttle and deep without any explicitly. A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled me with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.

The classic has been adapted in many other forms like opera, film, theatre plays. The most recent film adaptation was released in 2011, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, and starred Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre and Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester.