1984 - George Orwell

1984 is a must-read classic that I'd been putting off reading for too long! I must admit, this book sat on my shelf many years before I decided to give it a go and I'm not really sure why.I think sometimes I find 'classics' a bit of a struggle to read and think I may have been intimidated by it!

1984 tells the story of Winston Smith. An ordinary member of the community, born in a post nuclear world where all freedoms have been removed by the privileged elite of the Inner Party and individuality is a thing of the past. Unfortunately for Winston, he seeks more from his life and begins to think for himself. A behaviour that is not well received in Oceania. Winston must keep this a secret, else risk the Party having to take action to prevent it.

So it seems that my initial intimidation was unfounded and this was an easy-to-read and enjoyable novel. I also realised how many of the phrases from the book are used in day-to-day life now.

The subject matter is alarmingly relevant, even in this day an age when one might think we have all the freedom in the world. I recently watched a documentary on North Korea and the similarities were staggering. Orwell really makes you think. How would I react if I lived in this dystopian world? 

Would I accept it and conform? 

Or would I feel the need for more? 

For books? 

For love? 

For art? 

For freedom?
And my own thoughts!

House of Silk - Anthony Horowitz

It seems that Anthony Horowitz is the Flavour of the Month, after taking on not only Sherlock Holmes, but now James Bond too. Two much-loved British characters have been entrusted to him and while I have not read his Bond novel (Trigger Mortis) yet, his two Sherlock novels have met very much with my approval!

When Holmes and John Watson hunt out an Irish gangster for a case, they find themselves in ultimately more danger, stumbling upon another criminal organisation. Treading on the toes of the House of Silk proves to be much more perilous, with the members of this group willing to do anything to keep it a secret. Predictably Holmes rubs them the wrong way and finds himself in a whole world of trouble. Luckily, as always, Watson is there to assist  Holmes, when his own intellect and wit can't help him

While the Sherlock that we meet in House of Silk doesn't have the arrogant air that Conan Doyle gave him, the character we are presented with does carry many of the traits we expect from out favourite sleuth! The story itself is a fast-paced mystery, full of plot twists (as one would expect!), typical Holmes wit, and written with an easy to read narrative, in a suitably Conan Doyle tone.

Overall another great job by Horowitz at revisiting one of the greatest detectives in literary history!

Feeling this right now....

(Source)