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.