Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell

Front cover

Date read: 14 - 21 August 2017
Length: 311 pages (347 including introductions and appendix)

Winston lives in Oceania and works for the Party in the Ministry of Truth, rewriting the past. But he doesn't like the world he lives in, with telescreens and microphones everywhere, recording his every move. He doesn't believe this world is better than before the revolution and seeks the truth. He has a secret love affair with Julia, and together they search for answers. What happens when they get caught by the Thought Police?


As a novel, I feel it's got great. There's not much character development and they seem a bit bland. You feel for them because of their circumstance, the horrible things they endure. The world they live in is not really set up, you're just sort of thrown in and have to figure things out for yourself, by following Winston about his day to day life.

That being said, it is a very political novel, and even though it was published in 1949, there are some points which are very valid in Britain today. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. There is no privacy in Oceania, your every move, thought, breath, is recorded by a screen or a microphone. We have a reality television series called Big Brother, which is basically the same. There's always some kind of war or conflict between counties here, the same in the novel between Oceania and Eurasia or Eastasia. Technology is advancing very quickly. We all have cameras on our phones, ready to snap and record at a moments notice. Machines are taking over our jobs, we're already being served by them in supermarkets. For a novel written so long ago, it's crazy that this is still very relevant today.

One thing I'm glad doesn't really apply is Newspeak. Yes, we use abbreviations, and some people do 'text speak' but that's shortening words, not eradicating them altogether. Our dictionary is expanding, not diminishing. If something is very good, we can use words like fantastic, great, brilliant, not plusgood. And I hope that will never change!


A novel worth reading in this political climate, but don't be too disappointed by the story. The message behind it is powerful.

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter #7
J. K. Rowling

Front cover

Date read: 29 July - 13 August 2017
Length: 620 pages

It is no longer safe at Hogwarts and Harry, Ron, and Hermione have a mission to accomplish; they must find and destroy all of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. But it's not all plain sailing; Dumbledore hasn't left them much to go on and they begin to lose hope. Can they find them all, and is Harry really prepared to die at the hands of his mortal enemy?


It's been a while since I have been as invested as a series as this one. I just wish I had read it as a teen, as I think it would have made a big impression. Instead I read the first 2 as a child, then rediscovered them in my mid-twenties. Obviously pretty much everyone is aware of The Boy Who Lived, and I've seen the films. But to actually read them yourself is a different experience altogether.

Snape. Snape. Severus Snape. What a character! For Harry not to find out about the real Snape for so long, until pretty much the last moment, and for Snape to keep his intentions from Harry as well, it's quite astonishing. To think their relationship could have been completely different if it wasn't kept a secret. It's good to be able to finally understand Snape.

The deaths! Oh, the deaths! It was inevitable of course; you can't go to war without some fatalities, but it's still hard all the same. Now there's only one twin and a child without any parents. It's heartbreaking, really.


I want to read more! I will read more!

J. K. Rowling

Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Salmon of Doubt (Dirk Gently #3) by Douglas Adams

The Salmon of Doubt
Dirk Gently #3
Douglas Adams

Front cover

Date read: 21 - 28 July 2017
Length: 321 pages

The Salmon of Doubt features eleven chapters of a Dirk Gently novel that Douglas Adams was working on when he died. Here Dirk takes on the case of half a missing cat (rear half, if you want to know), and after discovering someone has been putting money into his account, starts following a random man. And of course there's Desmond, a rather confused rhinoceros.
The Salmon of Doubt also collects writings from his Macintosh; articles he's written for newspapers and magazines, speeches he's given, interviews he's had, as well as some short stories and even some real ones.


There's a lot of very interesting information in this little book. Everything from politics to religion to science is discussed. Although not as deep and meaningful as some of the others, my favourite little piece is the one entitled Cookies. It gave me a good little laugh.

Although I mainly got this book to read the Dirk Gently material, it was nice to read the other stuff as well. It felt like you kind of got to know the author, which isn't something you get to do often. I feel I may have missed out on some of the meanings or jokes though, because I haven't read any of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books yet. They are near the top of one of my to read piles though! I'll maybe have another little look at this book once I've read them.

I feel that this Dirk Gently book would have been a good one had it been finished. I was particularly intrigued by half a missing cat. I would have liked to find out where the other half was! Nevertheless, I guess I'll just have to make up my own ending. Although it will be nowhere near as good.


R.I.P Douglas Adams.

Douglas Adams

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Face of Fear by Dean Koontz

The Face of Fear
Dean Koontz

Front cover

Date read: 13 - 20 July 2017
Length: 314 pages

Graham Harris is a clairvoyant called in to help with the case of the Butcher; a serial killer who rapes and dismembers women, then eats a meal in their kitchen. But then the Butcher tracks Graham down and tries to kill him and his girlfriend Connie. Despite seeing his death, they do everything they can to make it out alive.


I liked the characters, even the detective Preduski who is a bit scatterbrained! The characters were believable and relatable. There weren't too many so it was easy to follow. 

One thing I didn't like was I think it contributed to some bad dreams and restless sleep! These days I'm not a great sleeper anyway, but I don't usually dream about murder! 

I couldn't decide how I felt after reading this. I felt an influx of emotions all at once. I was happy, I was sad, and just about everything in between. That's the reason it didn't get 3 stars. If I had actually cried it would have been an automatic 5 stars!




Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter #6
J. K. Rowling

Front cover

Date read: 24 June - 12 July 2017
Length: 768 pages

Harry returns to Hogwarts for his sixth year where he is given a copy of Advanced Potion Making that once belonged to the Half-Blood Prince. Professor Snape is finally the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, with a new teacher; Professor Slughorn taking over Potions. Harry receives special lessons from Dumbledore this year, and these are illuminating. Harry will soon have to face his most ultimate challenge yet, but can he prepare enough?


During Dumbledore's lessons, we learn some history of Lord Voldemort; who his parents were, the circumstances of his upbringing, his first days at Hogwarts and growing into adulthood. It's quite interesting to get some insight to the Dark Lord.

Malfoy is up to something and Harry is determined to find out what. It's not until the very end of the book that you find out what he's up to. I won't say much here, but I will say this; DUMBLEDORE!! :( :(

Some romance goes on this year, Harry and Ginny finally see eye to eye about each other. It took a while but we knew it happened in the end! Ron gives them his blessing and has a rough ending with his relationship with Lavender.

And finally, after all these years, Professor Snape finally lands his dream job of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. But whose side is he on? Maybe Harry was right all along?


I can't wait to read the next one. Best series I've read in a while.

J. K. Rowling

Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (Dirk Gently #2) by Douglas Adams

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Dirk Gently #2
Douglas Adams

Front cover

Date read: 18 - 23 June 2017
Length: 247 pages

After Kate encounters a man at Heathrow airport trying to pay for a flight with no money or passport, her world becomes rather strange. There was an explosion and she is hospitalised. When she wakes she is determined to find the man, who turns out to be much more than he seems. Meanwhile Dirk has a new client. Or had. He is murdered on the first day because Dirk was late... What's with the hot potato, and how many stones are there in Wales?


I felt this was much better than Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.  There was more of a storyline so it was easier to follow, and less utter randomness.

I liked the addition of the Gods. There is still some randomness, but at least it kind of ties in with the plot. And the vending machine is funny.

Although he's kind of the protagonist, I don't think I like Dirk much. He's a liar, a scammer and lazy. He's selfish and arrogant. Luckily the novels are not all written from his point of view.


I'm looking forward to reading The Salmon of Doubt even if it wasn't quite finished.





Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson

Lola Rose
Jacqueline Wilson

Front cover

Date read: 11 - 17 June 2017
Length: 288 pages

Jayni and her brother Kenny have a violent father who hits their mother Nikki. But one day he hits Jayni, so they run away to London. There they become Lola Rose, Kendall and Victoria Luck. They won £10,000 on a lottery ticket so they buy some new things and go to the aquarium. A lot. But things start to go downhill. The money's running out and mum doesn't seem well... What happens if their father finds them?


Lola Rose is an easy book to read, you get sucked right into the story. Despite the fact I'm not a teenager anymore you get drawn to Jayni's/Lola Rose's storytelling and want to know more. It's hard to put down!

It's quite dark material for a children's book, but I suppose that's what Jacqueline Wilson is best known for. Here we have an abusive father, a runaway family, homelessness, struggling for money, finding new friends, an unwell family member etc. It's a hard time for the family but it's something that needed to be done.

I liked Auntie Barbara. She was the hero the family needed, coming into their lives again to help with care and money. She gives them security and allows Lola Rose to relax a bit.


Reliving my childhood a little and reading some more Jacqueline Wilson was a good break from more adult reading. Recommended every now and then!




Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist