Book Review: 1984 by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell

Standalone novel

Publisher: Signet Classics

Published Date: 8 June 1949

Read Date: 8 September 2014

Tagged under: 5, Book Review, 2014 Read, 2014 Favourites, Classics, Dystopian, Adult Fiction

Check it out: @Goodreads, @Amazon, @The Book Depository

Book Summary

While 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is more timely than ever. 1984 presents a "negative utopia", that is at once a startling and haunting vision of the world - so powerful that it's completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of entire generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions - a legacy that continues to grow, not less, with the passage of time. 

Top Ten Books for Readers who like Character Driven Novels

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I like both character driven and plot driven books. So much so, that I don't actually pick which book I reader based on this criteria. I feel a good book must contain a right balance of both. Which is why I actually struggled a bit with this list because I'm not sure if the books I've chosen are "purely" character driven.

1. The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
This is the first book that came into my mind. This novel doesn't contain a lot of action - just plenty of character interaction and development.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
WWII acts as the pivotal setting in this novel but the reader is enchanted by the characters and their lives rather than the actions on the front line.

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I have a feeling this is going to be a fairly popular choice today.

4. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling's post-Harry Potter novel disappointed many die-hard HP fans but really, what did they expect? This is, right from the start, obviously not a HP novel. Instead, it is about a small-town politician who suddenly died. He wasn't someone particularly important or famous to the world outside of the town yet his death sent shock waves through the community. People are affected, one way or another.

5. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
A soldier determined to return back home to his sweetheart. This book offers deep insight into how the American civil war affected the people that were living through it.

6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
What can I say? This book spoke to the inner fangirl within us all.

7. The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Read how hysteria and paranoia can turn a small town upside down in this brilliant play by Arthur Miller.

8. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
A heart breaking story that poses a scenario, which is fairly impossible by current medical standards, still poses a lot of medical ethical questions that makes us think.

9. Atonement by Ian McEwan
A family saga about how a seemingly innocent presumption by a young girl creates devastating effect to the lives of those around her. An absolute favourite of mine.

10. Letters from the Inside by John Marsden
A series of letters from two seemingly ordinary girls. Back and forth. Back and forth. Simple as that. Yet this is one of those stories that truly stayed with me, all the way through high school right up to this day.

So those are the top ten books I would pick for readers who like character driven books. What are yours? Leave a comment and/or link below and I'll be sure to check them out.

Off-Topic Sunday: What constitutes a spoiler?

Source: Unplash

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm going to be using from now on to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, I think they'll still be mostly book-related but you may occasionally see some none book-related posts/rants as well.

What constitutes a spoiler?

This week's post is going to be on the issue of spoilers and the etiquette in the book community regarding them. 

I think it's safe to say most people hate spoilers. When you are deeply engrossed in the middle of a book, the last thing you want is for someone to pop down next to you, peek over your shoulder and reveal the plot twist. I think most of us have had those unfortunate moments. The most memorable one of mine would be back in high school. My friends and I were chatting about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and as we were chatting about not spoiling anything for each other, one thoughtful friend of mine blurted out the ending. 

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Our connection to the online world is growing. With information so readily at hand, it is so easy for us to spoil ourselves. Excited about an upcoming release? There is always someone online who will have blurted out the ending. Want to check if a book would be a good mystery read? A commenter may have let slip the identity of the villain. Nowadays, almost everyone will either advertise their content is "spoiler-free" or spray-paint over their entire content with "warning: spoilers!!!".

And this is what gets to me. In my (and those of many others) effort to keep their reviews spoiler free, I started to wonder: what exactly constitutes a spoiler? Are the book summary on the back cover enough to be classified as a spoiler? In a romance novel, it tells you who the female protagonist is going to end up with. In a crime novel, it tells you how the detective will find the first couple of victims. In a fantasy novel, it tells you the triggering point that will unsettle the balance of things and initiate the cascade of events. 

So does that mean, unless you go into a book completely blind, you have in fact spoiled yourself?

I'm not sure I have a definitive answer for this question. What are your thoughts?

Book Review: The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico

The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico

Standalone novel

Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd

First Published: 1st January 1969

Read Date: 18 September 2014

Tagged under: 0.5-2, 2014 read, why did I read this, book review, adult fiction, book to film adaptation

Check it out: @Goodreads, @Amazon

Book Summary

On its maiden voyage, luxury ocean liner SS Poseidon is capsized by a massive undersea earthquake. A handful of survivors must fight for their lives - struggling to make it from the upper deck of the ship to the hull, the only part above water, before the ship sinks. Faced with rising water and the violence of desperate passengers and crew members, the group must do everything it can to survive - before time runs out. 

Adapted into an award-winning film by Irwin Allen, The Poseidon Adventure is a thrilling tale with timeless suspense and excitement.

Feature Follow Friday: Favourite Book Looks

Feature Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a way for bloggers and readers alike to make some new friends and gain some new followers as well. The point of this hop is to follow other bloggers. I follow you, you follow me.

Also, this week's featured blogger are Liberamans and Beckys Barmy Book Blog, so make sure you check them out too.

While I do prefer GFC and/or Bloglovin follows, if you would like to follow me via email/twitter etc, that's great too! Also, please leave a comment so I can follow you back!

Question of the Week

Book looks - your favourite fashions from the books you've read - suggested by Go Book Yourself.