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.

The Droughtlanders by Carrie Mac

I am SO VERY busy so sorry about the slow reading, usually I can get these suckers done in a day or two if I feel like it. Graduating and softball are taking up my time recently, its quite exhilarating. Speaking of exhilarating, lets talk about this lovely book.

Twin brothers Seth and Eli Maddox are Keylanders brought up within the privileged and protected Eastern Key. Keylanders, the boys are told, must keep within their walls to avoid the filth and disease spread by the Droughtlanders-those who struggle to survive on the parched land between the Keys. But when Eli sees their mother helping one of the wretched Droughtlanders, a chain of terrible events begins to unravel the life they've all known and will pit brother against brother in a life-or-death struggle between two worlds. The first book in the Triskelia trilogy, The Droughtlanders is a brilliant blend of futuristic fantasy and gritty social realism, with unforgettable characters and a compulsively readable story.

The first thing that I noticed and appreciated about this novel is that right on the first page, you are thrown into the story and left to figure out what’s going on. I thought that the protagonist was younger than 16 in the first couple chapters because of how he was acting, but there was good character development throughout the plotline for both Eli and his twin Seth.

There are many parallels between the world of the Droughtlands and of our current society, Mac reflects on these in her futuristic fiction. The rebels of Triskelia are trying to fight for their people, the Droughtlanders – who are stuck in poverty and sickness because of the Keys.

Overall this was a very compelling story to read, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the vocabulary and slang the characters had, and I could keep up with it without being confused. I think the best part about this novel is the contrast between the two brothers, and how different they turn out in the end.

Mac leaves you on a cliff-hanger so be prepared for me to reviewing the second one! Visit the website for the trilogy here http://www.triskelia.ca/books.html . I’m giving this one  5 OUT OF 5. I really couldn’t put it down.

Until next time, Chow!

MRR