Saturday, February 28, 2015

Book Blog #155: 1984 by George Orwell

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
# of Pages: 326 (paperback)
Genre: Classics, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother, symbolic head of the Party. In his longing for truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair with a fellow-worker Julia, but soon discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal.
Review: This book was totally different from what I expected.

I would definitely recommend reading Animal Farm before reading 1984 because together they show the progression of a totalitarian society...

The beginning was very interesting but the content slowly became stranger and stranger. Sexual intercourse is overused in this novel, and the ending contains gruesome details.

I didn't really enjoy reading 1984 and would probably have been fine never reading it in the first place. If you like Orwell's books, then I recommend reading it. If you are indifferent, look elsewhere.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Book Blog #154: Lucky by Alice Sebold

Title: Lucky
Author: Alice Sebold
# of Pages: 256 (hardback)
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir, Autobiography
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: Alice Sebold reveals how her life was utterly transformed when, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a park near campus. What propels this chronicle of her recovery is Sebold's indomitable spirit-as she struggles for understanding ("After telling the hard facts to anyone, from lover to friend, I have changed in their eyes"); as her dazed family and friends sometimes bungle their efforts to provide comfort and support; and as, ultimately, she triumphs, managing through grit and coincidence to help secure her attacker's arrest and conviction. In a narrative by turns disturbing, thrilling, and inspiring, Alice Sebold illuminates the experience of trauma victims even as she imparts wisdom profoundly hard-won: "You save yourself or you remain unsaved."
Review: This exceeded my expectations.

I was shocked. Sebold included graphic images of her rape in her book, (so if that is going to bother you, don't read this book) which I thought was amazing - she could describe such a difficult situation in such detail.

It is well written, though she mentions a lot of different people, which was confusing for me (and the reason why the rating I am giving it isn't extremely high).

If you are interested in this book at all, even if you haven't read/watched Lovely Bones (like me), definitely read it!