Book Reviews
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The Memoirs
Memoirs from George Orwell. A book about what it is like being destitute first in Paris and then in London. I don’t think that memoirs are really my thing, however it was well written and interesting.
I think it provides a very interesting reference point to what poverty was like 100 years ago, I wonder if there is a modern equivalent which people will be able to look back on in 100 years time.
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Lessons In Chemistry
Thoroughly enjoyed. Poignant and funny. Felt that the realism of the book was let down a little by a few too many coincidences.
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Predator's Gold
Much like the first in the series Mortal Engines, I probably read it a bit too soon after the first so it felt a bit to similar. I did not feel that it had the same level of peril as the original book contained.
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Animal Farm
A really quick easy read. Whilst, when people say that society is becoming Orwellian I think they are invariably talking about 1984, I think this could be referenced as well. Particularly as the animals seem to have very short term memories. I think this is very applicable to Trump and Boris; it’s incredible to me the levels of cognitive dissonance required for people to continue to believe Boris for so long.
I think the most impressive take away from the end of the book is the prophetic line about pigs and farmers both playing the ace of spades predicting the... continue
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Persuasion
Really enjoyed this one. It was fast paced, I always wanted to know how things would turn out. It did have a bit of a ‘will they, won’t they’ thing going on, maybe this was less unorginal in the 19th century!
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Mansfield Park
This book follows the character Fanny who is taken on by her rich cousins and bought up as a proper lady.
The book spends far too much time moralising (all from Fanny’s point of view). I spent the entire book hoping that Fanny was going to be wrong (about almost Anthony).
I thought that Penelope Fetherington’s character in Bridgerton was likely based at least in part on Fanny who seemed to be a wallflower into the world of the rich.
I read the play talked about a lot in the book ‘Lover’s Vows’ and was left even more perplexed by... continue
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1984
Thought this was a brilliant book although a little grueling to read. I previously read it many years ago; reading it for the second time was harder. Deserves its place as a cultural reference. Due to it being referenced so much it is a book I would recommend anyone to read.
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Heretics of Dune
This is one of my favourite of the Dune series. The focus of the book stops being the Atreides family and pivots to the Bene Gesserit. We also lose the theme of being trapped by fate that dominate the previous books. Instead the Bene Gesserit have to deal with a bastardised version of themselves from the scattering. The book also explores the interesting notion that by copying something so precisely there may eventually be no difference.
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God Emperor of Dune
Continued to enjoy this series of books. Although I feel that the themes are getting a bit repetitive We jump several thousand years into the future and discover how the seemingly immortal Leto II has been subjugating the universe whilst following his golden path. The punchline of the book is that he has been breaking the prescience that has allowed a ruler like him to emerge. Freeing mankind from this form of tyranny.
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Mortal Engines
Fast paced and exciting. A book set in a far off dystopian future where entire cities have have been mounted onto vehicles. Whilst it was enjoyable I felt that the development of the more incidental characters suffered due to the pace of the book, reducing my concern for the outcome of these characters.
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Ocean at the End of the Lane
Thoroughly enjoyable and full of imagination. The book is not aimed at young children, but probably fine after an infant school age. Contains aspects of both peril and loss, which adds an additional level of depth and enjoyment to the book.
The book has been adapted into a play which I would thoroughly recommend.
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Brave New World
An interesting read looking at eugenics and how a society may be organised to maximise contentness. This was described as ‘happiness’ in the book but that didn’t quite seem the right word to me.
The book introduces a character with more contemporary views into the future society and we find out what he thinks of it.
Was unimpressed with the women in the book. This may have been an intentional point, it is entirely feasible that a future society like this would be incredibly sexist. If it was the point it wasn’t made forcefully enough, so I was left assuming... continue
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Sense and Sensibility
Enjoyable but no Pride and Prejudice. The story of the two (older) sisters in the family mirrors each other. I suspect the outcome of the book is determined by the author’s judgement of the behaviour of the characters. To some extent we are being given a lesson in morality. Unfortunately, opinions have changed greatly since the book was written.
It has been a while since I read this (sometime last year) so maybe my opinion of the book is being slightly skewed by my more recent reading of Mansfield Park.
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Burmese Days
I’ve read several of Orwell’s earlier works (reviews of these will follow) and in these works he writes about things he knows, in which he has had some experience. The result of this is that both events and locations in his books seem realistic.
Burmese Days is set at the end of the British Raj. It is a social commentary on the interactions between the British and the indigenous people. Highlighting the racism and contempt the British had for the local population. The protagonist acts to some degree as the conscience, but is still very flawed.
For me the hardest... continue
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Children of Dune
Continues in a similar vein to Dune Messiah. This time it follows the family of Paul Atriedes (his sister and his two children). The most interesting aspect I found in the book is Paul’s sister… In the first novel she is immediately labeled an abomination by the Bene Gesserit. In this novel we find the reasons for this, as she is gradually overwhelmed by the lives of her ancestors.
Again, Frank Herbert’s style of writing helps to keep me engaged in the novel.
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Dune Messiah
I enjoy Frank Herbert’s writing and this is true for this book too. The themes are interesting; Paul Atreides becomes trapped inside the future he’s chosen. The idea of genetic memory is expanded past the Bene Gesserit and, I suppose, there is a question about how much of a person is contained within the initial form of a person.
Fortunately, considerably shorter and faster moving than the original Dune novel!
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Interminable… (did not finish). The mystery of the book is not enough to keep me interested through the never ending lists of creatures and wonders the protagonist (Professor Pierre Aronnax) can see through the view ports.
Conseil, Pierre’s companion, does not seem like a real person.
Do not recommend.
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Pride and Prejudice
A very easy read, witty and enjoyable. Absolutely deserves its place as a classic.
Unfortunately, the 90s BBC television adaptation was so complete that it leaves few surprises in terms of story or witticisms for the reader.
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