419 by Will Ferguson

Summer has been great so far for me, I’ve been super busy which I like. I just got back from Victoria, my softball team was participating in the provincials there. We didn’t do so well but I still had a great time, softball will always be one of my favourite things alongside reading.

A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine. A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in sub-Saharan Africa. And in the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the Internet, looking for victims. Lives intersect. Worlds collide. And it all begins with a single email: "Dear Sir, I am the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help." When Laura Curtis, a lonely editor in a cold northern city, discovers that her father has died because of one such swindle, she sets out to track down-and corner-her father's killer. It is a dangerous game she's playing, however, and the stakes are higher than she can ever imagine. Woven into Laura's journey is a mysterious woman from the African Sahel with scars etched into her skin and a young man who finds himself caught up in a web of violence and deceit. And running through it, a dying father's final words: "You, I love."

419 is a captivating suspense novel that is unique because of the several viewpoints and characters. The author introduces these characters slowly and descriptively, some not developing until later in the story but all important to the plot. Some readers may find jumping back and forth between settings and characters confusing. My advice is to just keep reading (sung in Dory voice) everything comes together.

Something I admire most about this story is the descriptions of the cities in Africa. It takes a talented writer to completely transport a reader into another world and have them understand it, Ferguson managed this with ease. After reading this novel I feel like I know exactly what Nigeria is all about. The setting was just as important as the characters, being immersed in the different culture made the story.

The foreshadowing spread throughout the chapters really helps the build of anticipation, as well as the phrase ‘something is coming’ repeated by several characters. 419 isn’t the type of fiction to read if you want to get lost in la la land, it shows a harsh reality. I’ll give it a 4.5 OUT OF 5 because although I thought it was brilliant, it still didn’t make the favourite list.

Until next time,

- MRR

1984 by George Orwell

Summer has started and I’ve really thrown myself into the world of reading and books on the internet. I have two other review sites one on chapters online: http://community.indigo.ca/profile/%D0%BC%D1%94gg%CF%83/445991.html Another on tumblr if you use that: http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard Been reviewing like crazy! My goal is to get a job at Chapters and Indigo in the next two weeks so we’ll see where I’m at. There is a writing contest going on for teenagers from Canada, mostly BC if you’re interested. You could win an iPad, and if you post reviews on this site you could win a Kobo book reader. Check that out as well: teenrc.ca

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101...

Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime.

Most people have to read this novel as a study in high school, and I’ve heard several great things about 1984 although I really had no idea what it was about. From the first page the writing style hooked me in, the descriptions of a drab sort of lifeless world emerged right away. The fact that the protagonist was so anxious about writing in his diary set the reader into the reality of Winston’s world.

The fact that Orwell has created such a society and government that is not similar to anything we have in modern day makes the story captivating and completely unique. Not only does he go into detail about the governmental issues and the inner workings of Oceanic politics, the novel has its own language and a completely different mind set.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story which I thought showed as much originality and creativity. Not only that, but the story makes the reader think, I was trying to grasp all the ideas the party was trying to force into Winston’s head as the story rounded the ending.  The words used to actually tell the story matched the world in which Orwell was describing. Drab, dirty, dark and full of hatred.

AMAZING. A 5 OUT OF 5. I would recommend this book to any young reader, especially somebody interested in political theories and even psychology. Just brilliant. I’ll be back next with some awesome fiction,

Chow for now

- MRR

out.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

As you are all not aware of, I have been pretty ill for the past 2 weeks. I thought I would make you aware now! I haven’t really read anything even though Animal Farm isn’t really the most difficult read around. Being sick right after I graduated isn’t anybody’s dream start to the summer, and it’s definitely not mine.

Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Wellington leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organized to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges...

Animal Farm - the history of a revolution that went wrong - is George Orwell's brilliant satire on the corrupting influence of power.

 

And what a satire it is. I could tell right off the bat from the style of writing what kind of novel Animal Farm was going to be. The story starts hopeful, but that reality slowly rots the farther you get in.

It is well known that Animal Farm reflects on the Russian Revolution in relation to it’s characters and events. I can say for myself that I was constantly readying myself for something GOOD to happen in the plotline instead of the complete and utter corruption that takes place on the farm.

While reading my mother looked at me and sarcastically said “A nice light summer read for you eh?” Light in terms of an easy read? Yes. But in all seriousness if you want a book that will bring up your spirits and take you away on a hearty adventure… then don’t read Animal Farm.

I quite liked this novel it was different from a lot of other books I’ve read. I didn’t have to study if through school so that made it more enjoyable. It was a nice change from the usual fiction. I’ll give Orwell a 4 OUT OF 5 on this one. Only because I’m not in love with it. I have more Orwell coming up next.

Later gaters,

- MRR