‘Animal Farm’ Book Review

A few months after I finished reading ‘1984’, I had developed an invested interest in dystopian novels generally and George Orwell’s writing particularly. I was highly keen on reading this brilliant writer’s other celebrated novel.

Though the novel is supposed to symbolize the communist system of Soviet Russia, its message and symbolism run far deeper than politics. From social structures and humanitarian issues to preaching the role of education, or lack of, in shaping cultures. I could almost hear Orwell screaming “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength” throughout the whole book.

‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Book Review

There’s a reason ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is a classic. Harper Lee created a truly timeless novel. Though it is set in the old Southern county of Maycomb (1934-1935), it is a representation of almost every modern day society. It weaved together a beautiful canvas of various social issues including gender role definitions, racism and its ramifications on society, social classes and structures, as well as delivers some deep moral lessons that I believe should be firmly planted in every young adult if there is ever hope for a functional and healthy society. It’s one of those books you just have to have on your reading list. It  will make you feel all warm inside and give you hope in humanity.

‘1984’ Book Review

When I started reading this book, I didn’t expect it to end up on my favorites list. I had heard a lot about it, and had several people recommend it to me. But then again, I never end up liking popular books anyway. Still, I thought I’d give it a chance. George Orwell’s ‘1984’ is the most disturbing, depressing book I have ever read. Also, the most brilliant thing you could ever read. This one is truly worthy of being called a classic.

‘Lord of the Flies’ Book Review

So here’s how I came across William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’. I was bored and asked a friend for a book to read. “What type of book do you want?”, “I don’t know, well you know me, you pick.”. And pick he did.

When I first read the description, I thought it would be some adventure book about the cliche ‘plane crashes/stranded on an island’ situation. I really did not expect to like it. And I certainly didn’t expect it to fire up this internal debate in me that I would probably never be able to settle. The debate that has been alive for as long as human life has existed. Is man inherently good or evil? If left to their most primitive ways, are humans instinctively moral? And if both good and evil possess equal shares in each of us, at which point do we choose which dominates us? And more importantly, what controls that choice? Where do we draw the line between civilization and oppression? I believe those are the very same questions that William Golding was attempting to answer through his writing. But like all other existential questions, they are too complex to have just one simple, neat answer.