Brave New World

One of the best books I have ever read. A vision of the future that is possible, scary and even exciting at times. I admit I was torn between feeling sorry for them and envying them.

At times I was confused by the writer's lack of a central character but I do find what he has done with his characters interesting, even though most of them appear one-dimensional and focussed in their own ways.

Even with its flaws, the story is interesting, the premise is exceptional and the thoughts it provokes are intriguing.

The Catcher in the Rye

A controversial book to say the least, J.D. Salinger's classic read about Holden Caulfield, a cynical teenager who suffers from chronic depression, has inspired famous violent murders like that of John Lennon. I won't go into that, though I should mention that the book does not deserve such bad publicity.

It's an easy read though, and the character is delightful. His thoughts are unique, clever, even if a little naive at times. The story's time frame is relatively small (24 hours of the life of a troubled teenager moving around New York City) and not much happens during that time. If you are interested in thoughts however, this book proves an excellent read.

I wouldn't like to ruin anything for those who haven't read it yet, but I should mention this book features some of the most memorable lines I have ever read.

A must-read and definitely a classic!

Lord of the Flies

I admit I didn't like this book at first. It seemed a bit juvenile and over-simplistic. It did keep my interest though and it kept growing on me. Not in the same way a bad song grows on you, but in a good way. Reading through, I discovered the depth of the characters; the way each one of them unfolded was more than enough to keep me interested. One by one, the pages of this book revealed more and more of what it means to be human. The one-dimensional personalities I thought the author presented at first were mere facades; the same way each of us hides his/hers true personality at first. As for the plot, it was good enough to keep the reader turning the pages. But what's interesting is the way some scenes come close to being surreal as the emotions coming through are more intense than the actual events. The ending is a great way to release all the tension and bring the reader back to reality. A great journey!

Fight Club

Fight Club is a unique book in many respects. What you probably notice first is the writing style. You know you are in for a treat when you start reading this book. Even if you have seen the movie, be sure the book will still manage to impress and thrill you. Although some may find this style tiring and repetitive, in my opinion it serves the purpose of the book and enhances the experience. The story itself is truly original and the way it's presented to the readers is unique in every single way. Overall, I have enjoyed the experience of reading this book and I look forward to watching the movie again. It really makes much more sense now that I have read the book. If you haven't done so already, please do yourself a favour and pick up a copy. You won't regret it.

Nineteen Eighty Four

One could only describe this book as a classic, a must-read, or maybe even a masterpiece. It manages to stay relevant even so many years after it was first published. We must not forget what the world was like when this book was written. We must remember the fear that existed of totalitarian governments/societies. Even if we think we have escaped the possibility of such a government being formed in our free western societies, a deeper look will reveal Big Brother is watching us more than ever. Even if that wasn’t the case, while reading this book we understand how relative our so-called freedom is.

Undoubtedly, this book is very well written and the message delivered comes with a story that is wonderfully set out and interesting to follow. The ending is the only one that would suit such a story and the message in the last few pages is loud and clear.