Classic
1984 by George Orwell |
Big Brother, Room 101, Hate Crimes, Newspeak, CCTVs, ....... how many other books have become so much part of the language that I suspect most people are unaware of the origins. This should be standard reading for all - it is such an amazing vision from a fascinating author back in 1948 of how 1984 would be like. I have re-read this after a gap of thirty years and I admit the central characters, Winston and Julia have dated, and yet I can help wondering how much closer we can get to many of the themes of the book. It is certainly not an easy read (Karen has picked it up and put it back on a few occasions), but well worth the read. Sheila/August 2006 |
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo |
I read this when I was 18 and it instantly became my favourite book. Even 30 years on, it still remains in the top 2! I even wanted to learn French to read it in it's original form (that's still on my to-to list). Have also seen several films, the musical and listened to the music, but the book itself is a towering masterpiece of writing. It's certainly not for the faint hearted - the many many pages of description for the Battle of Waterloo go on for an age, when all you really want to read is the main plot - but all that does is heighten your expectation of the story continuing. Today I might have skipped that (and the lengthy description of the nunnery), but at 18 without the distractions of mobile phones, emails, facebook, it was a worth while exercise. Sheila (1978)! |
