The Circle by Dave Eggers

Three words to describe this book: Relevant, imaginative and unforgettable

Dystopian books that have the same chilling effect as 1984 and a Brave New World are very rare, and I haven’t yet read a modern one that has a patch on them. But after reading the blurb for The Circle by Dave Eggers, I knew that it had the potential to belong in the same league.

The Circle is an organisation that runs all internet activity and has the power to influence society, so when main character Mae Holland gets a job there it is like a dream come true for her. On first impressions the Circle is the perfect place to work. Employees are happy in their jobs, they are friendly and the campus has everything you could possibly need on it including beds and a gym.

But Mae soon discovers that by being an employee of the Circle, she must wholeheartedly follow its beliefs and ambitions. This is where the potentially harmful nature of social media comes into play. The Circle encourages employees to constantly update their social media accounts and spend a considerable amount of time communicating with people through their phones and tablets. It isn't too dissimilar from modern life.

That’s what gives this book the frightening edge that it has. Whilst it is more extreme than how technology is used today, there are some chilling similarities that made me more aware than ever of the impact that social media has on society. Looking around, people are constantly on their smartphones, whether it is whilst they are at a meal with a friend or at a gig, people have become reliant on social media.

That’s not saying social media is negative as it has made communication even easier and it is a way for people to express themselves, but this book demonstrates how it has the potential to go too far in the wrong hands. In a comparable way to how Big Brother operates in Orwell’s 1984, complete transparency in society is the goal and whilst this can prevent crimes from happening, it also takes away privacy.

This is a fantastic read that I enjoyed throughout. Whilst at some points it was predictable, the ideology in the book is captivating and I'm really not surprised that it has won so many awards.

Dreamer by Peter James

Three words to describe this book: Haunting, consistent and expected

Now that I have finished my degree, I am back to spending considerable amounts of time reading and writing about the books that I have read. To guarantee that the first book that I read after the break was going to be a good one, I chose another Peter James novel.

The main character Sam is haunted by Slider, a demon from her past that keeps appearing in her dreams which turn out to be premonitions. The theme of dreams runs throughout, making it easier for readers to relate to the plot and what Sam is experiencing. Peter describes the dreams in a vivid, unsettling way that made me almost frightened to go to sleep.

Despite the premonition aspect of the dreams making the storyline somewhat predictable, who they will involve and why it is happening are questions that remain throughout. With books by Peter James, you know that you will be reading a story that takes an issue and turns it on its head, making you question what you thought you knew. This book does exactly that with me questioning if the supernatural actually exists.

Although I wasn't left with the same feeling that I usually get when I finish his books in which I can’t stop thinking or telling people about it, it was still enjoyable and the writing kept me interested throughout.  

Happy World Book Day!

“A first book has some of the sweetness of a first love.”- Robert Aris Willmott

I loved World Book Day as a child. Going to Primary school dressed as my favourite book character and receiving the free book voucher which I then cashed in at Wh Smith at the weekend for a short story. Even though nowadays there is a day to celebrate near enough everything, I like that children are being encouraged to delve into the world of fiction.

It was Jacqueline Wilson that first brought out the bookworm in me. My bookshelf was dominated with her stories that I’d spend any hours reading and then swapping with my friends. Although her storyline s tackle serious issues such as death and adoption, she writes them in an entertaining and informative way that isn't too depressing.

And then of course, many of her books were turned into TV series and films including the long running Tracy Beaker and Bad Girls. The majority of people I knew enjoyed either reading her books or watching the TV adaptations and her writing was a fundamental part of my childhood and growing up and I'm sure it was the same for many other people.

This is why I'm glad that World Book Day appears to be as celebrated as it was when I was younger. Even though books aren't for everyone, it is a great chance to get children to spend some time with just a book and their imagination. 

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben

Three words to describe this book: Witty, tense and satisfying

It was Harlan Coben that first got me interested in mystery thriller books after reading his first novel Play Dead about 3 or 4 years ago. Since then, I seek out his books when I want to read a good mystery.

I picked up Deal Breaker during one of my trips to Oxfam and as you can probably tell, it was a bargain! The book is about ex sports star, now sports agent Myron Bolitar trying to uncover the truth about Kathy, a young girl who went missing over a year ago and who everyone thinks is dead, until now.

The sarcastic personality of Myron is enough to keep you reading, even when the plot slows down a bit half way through. His seemingly fearless attitude and witty comebacks towards even his biggest threats adds humour to the occasionally grim story.

Alongside the main plot of the search to find out what happened to the missing girl, Myron is fighting his feelings for ex-partner Jessica who is also the sister of Kathy. I liked that the book had a bit of romance, even if it what happened was a bit predictable.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and contained all of the twists and turns that a mystery should. By the end of the book, all of pieces start coming together and questions get answered. It didn't leave me feeling shocked like some mysteries do, but I would still recommend it.  

5 reasons why I like George Orwell

1)      1984

Although this is a predictable way to begin my reasons, this is the book that began my interest in George Orwell and is still my favourite book 3 years on. From the first page I was captivated by his way with words and ability to make a fantasy world scarily realistic.

2)      His dissatisfaction with the world

Not content with society and the middle class, Orwell used writing to communicate his observations as well as making people think about the control and influence that the mass media has. I like that he wrote for a purpose, which in my opinion he does in an entertaining way.

3)      The influence he still has today 

I like that Orwell’s views are still relevant and that his writing is still discussed decades later but it isn't in an over the top and tiresome way. The fact that he invented important terms such as Cold War, Room 101 and Big Brother is just evidence of his original thoughts.

4)      He coined the term ‘Big Brother’

Despite this phrase most commonly being associated with the reality TV show, the expression which was first used in ‘1984’ for the dictator of totalitarian state Oceania which was constantly under surveillance by cameras. This prediction of what life would be like is worryingly accurate when you think of all the cctv cameras about.

5)      His rules of writing

In his 1946 essay ‘Politics and the English Language’, Orwell writes 6 rules of writing which emphasise the importance of keeping writing simple which is sometimes something that is easily forgotten at the sake of sounding clever.

These are the rules from his essay:

i.                     Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

ii.                   Never use a long word where a short one will do.

iii.                  If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

iv.                 Never use the passive where you can use the active.

v.                   Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

vi.                 Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann

Three words to describe this book: Clever, alluring and enjoyable

Walking past a British Heart Foundation shop, I was very happy to see this book displayed in the window. It is a book that I have wanted to read for months, but I considered it to be quite expensive when I had my Kindle. So I was even more overjoyed to see that it was just £1!

This Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller is based on the deceptively perfect lives of Nick, her cousin Helena and all of the people that are closest to them. The story is centred around several important events between the 1944 and 1969 from the different perspectives of the five main characters. As you delve further into the story, pieces start to come together in an unexpected, shocking and slightly disturbing way.

Initially the book fools you into thinking that it is about the glamorous lives of Nick and Helena, and their long hot summers spent at Tiger House filled with enviable parties and cocktails but as the story develops, it takes a serious turn with murder and drugs.

It is rare in a story to get such an in depth insight into the feelings and motives behind so many characters, but it is something that Liza Klaussmann does very effectively with each character playing a crucial role throughout.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a book with the themes of a typical chick lit but with a little edge.

The Unseen by Katherine Webb

Three words to describe this book: Promising but average and forgettable

I don’t usually buy books that are set in the past, but there was something about this book that grabbed me. It could be that it was in the mystery section of Oxfam or that the cover said that it was a ‘haunting tale of love, deception – and murder’. Either way, I thought it would be a nice mix of my favourite genres but that doesn't mean that I enjoyed reading it.

Although the book started well, with a letter written by main character Hester Canning to her sister Amelia with the announcement of new, troubled maid Cat Morley arriving, the rest of the book just didn't leave much of an impression. It had the potential of being great book with time switching from 1911 to 2011 where freelance journalist Leah is trying to solve the mystery of who the dead soldier is that has been found with two letters from Hester that hint at a big secret.

But as the book progressed (very slowly) everything that was going to happen became quite obvious and nothing that occurred shocked me or made me want to continue reading. The only reason that I persevered was that I was living in the hope that the story was going to take a dramatic turn that I would never have expected.  But sadly this didn't happen, and whilst it was interesting to see the different perspectives of the characters, the book just didn't do anything for me. 

Kindle vs. An actual book

Ever since the introduction of e-readers, the sales of physical copies of books has gone down considerably and when I look around now, the majority of people I see are using e-readers to get their fix of the latest read. But does technology prevail over the traditional book?

I first bought my Kindle about three years ago because I saw it as an investment. The books were cheaper, it was less bulky in my bag and I didn't have to wait for a book to arrive in the post or go all the way into town. In other words, I liked the convenience of it. As an avid reader, the thought of being able to read any book anywhere was great. But roll on three years later and I've converted back to the physical copy of books and I don’t see that changing again.

Whilst practically the Kindle triumphs, I feel like it did have an impact on my enjoyment of reading. I appreciate being able to see by the thickness of a book and how much I have read so far. But with the Kindle, watching the percentages go up at the bottom of the screen just isn't the same as physically looking at how much there is left to read.

From a price point of view, the majority of e-books are cheaper but I have a new found love for buying books in charity shops such as Oxfam and The British Heart Foundation for just a couple of pounds. The feeling of walking into one of these shops not knowing what I'm going to come out with is far better than just typing in a book on the Amazon search box. Especially when I leave with a book by one of my favourite authors for the price of a big bar of chocolate!

The only aspect of using a Kindle that I miss is that my bag is now a lot heavier with a book in it. I use public transport a lot and having a Kindle was perfect for this but I suppose you can’t have it all. What I do have though, is a bookshelf which I would choose any day.

Here is my summary table of advantages and disadvantages of both: 

	Kindle	Book
Advantages	Lightweight Easy access to books Readable screen Cheap books	Having a bookshelf Visiting book shops Being able to flick back to  certain pages Being able to appreciate the cover
Disadvantages	Temperamental Percentages at the bottom of the page Not all books available Expensive	Heavy Sometimes annoying to hold open

My verdict: An actual book. Some things are better without the influence of technology!

Twilight by Peter James

Three words to describe this book: Gripping, chilling and memorable

International best-selling crime thriller novelist Peter James has the ability to transport you into an almost unrealistic, fantasy world with his writing, which is exactly what he does in his 1991 novel Twilight.  A book not for the faint hearted, Peter’s way with words has the potential of making you scared to read on whilst making it impossible for you to put it down.

The three books that I have read by Peter James all have an interesting take on somewhat controversial issues in science such as plastic surgery, designer babies, and this one is the question over whether or not there is life after death.

The eerie description of a graveyard in the first chapter perfectly sets the chilling tone that remains throughout the entire book. It opens with the sound of three thuds coming from the grave of newly-wed girl, Sally McKenzie that is heard by the verger. Has this girl been buried alive?

During the story, time shifts from 1967 with the tale of sinister teenager Harvey Swire and to 1990 with young reporter Kate Hemingway who is determined to unearth the truth about the grave.

Despite being very different from each other, both main characters have experienced a somewhat traumatic history that influences their decisions and actions throughout the book. Kate is a likeable character who I wanted to discover the truth, but at the same was slightly worried about what the consequence would be. Harvey on the other hand, I had little compassion for which made him a great villain and I wanted to see how far he would go next.

Whilst the plot started to unravel, there were no major surprises but I always wanted to read on. What did continue to shock me was Peter’s ability to push boundaries with some of the events that happen in the book which are only made more unnerving by his detailed descriptions. 

I won’t give any more of the actual plot away because you have to read it to truly appreciate how captivating and almost unsettling it is. From the unnerving beginning, right up until the powerful ending, I would recommend this book to any fans of mystery thrillers who want to read a book that they just won’t be able to stop talking about.