BEHEMOTH By Scott Westerfeld

Well, here we are. The sequel to Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan which I reviewed two books ago. At the time I said I wouldn't mind reading the next one and so, guess what?! I ordered it from the library and gave it a read.

This time round, we join Alek and Deryn on the run in Istanbul. Deryn is given a top secret mission which doesn't exactly go to plan and Alek and his men attempt to escape the Leviathan now they are technically prisoners of war. This too doesn't go to plan and the team gets slip up rather spectacularly.

Alek finds himself alone and fully in charge of his men for the first time in his life, how will he cope, and how many seemingly bad choices will he make along the way?

I liked the way that this book was so completely different to it predecessor. You knew that it had a book before it and you knew it was part of a bigger picture. It followed the story very well and it wasn't just the same characters in an entirely different book. The linking between the two books is incredibly well done and I say 'Well done Mr Westerfeld!'

There were a couple of odd occasions where I felt a little bit disappointed. Not with the author for the way he'd written the book. But because I felt almost like I had entrusted my friends to him and when something bad happened to them, it was the authors fault. Something inside me really rang out if the author hadn't kept one of his characters safe. This is the first book to ever really make me have that reaction. It was bizarre and took me a while to work out how I felt, but I guess it just goes to show how well Westerfeld linked his characters with his audience.

I really enjoyed reading Behemoth and will no doubt carry on to read the third and final book Goliath in the not too distant future. I found the pace a little slow in places and sometimes it was a little hard to keep reading, yet at other parts of the book, I could hardly bring my self to put it down and go to sleep. I've not been left with too much of a Book Hangover, yet I feel satisfied that I've read a good book. Not as good as the first but never-the-less still a good  read :) What will Goliath bring I wonder?

THE BEHAVIOUR OF MOTHS By Poppy Adams

This is an interesting story about an elderly woman named Virginia who has lived alone in her family mansion for nearly fifty years, when suddenly her sister Vivien decides that  she is suddenly moving back in to the house to be with her older sister. This triggers memories and feelings to surface for the first time in decades and suddenly, the truth comes to light and the prices are finally paid... but is it to many decades to late?

I gotta say that I really enjoyed reading this book and it had me hooked quite definitely. The story line was simple and relatively easy to follow. Although I normally read something a little more complex in structure, it was nice to be able to read something that didn't take too much thinking about.

I really liked the back story of the protagonist, it was something different and something that is very memorable. Its a story that stands out among the thousands of other characters in the thousands of other books in the thousands of book stores across the globe.

I thought that the use of the child surrogacy plot line was an interesting addition to the story and really added another dimension to the intercharacter relationships. Although I can help but wonder what things would have been like if the child hadn't died so young... hmmm....

The ending of the book was very very sudden and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. I kinda liked it and I also kinda didn't. It left me feeling a little bit helpless and I knew that I felt uncomfortable with the direction that the book was heading in. Ultimately I was saddened my the ending, but that doesn't make it any less of a really good book.

The only quarm I have is that the questions that Virginia asks all the way through the book don't get answered at the end of the book leaving you a little bit lost and disappointed with the lack of closure you are left with.

A good book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good book that doesn't take too much concentration to read. A good book, a good good book.

LEVIATHAN By Scott Westerfeld

A good friend of mine recommended this book, but in my awful judgemental ways, I assumed that because my friend is slightly older, that this book would also be a more adult book. So you can imagine my pleasant surprise when I opened the cover to start reading a teen/young adult book.

The world is at war, however this world war is nothing like we would remember it. The Germans and their allies, have developed their Clanker machinery. Tanks, and walkers and mobile military units! Meanwhile, the Brits and their allies have created a vast army of Darwinist fabricated beings. Living warships and ferocious warriors. What would ever happen if these two sides were ever to meet? Well when Austrian Prince Alek has to go on the run after his royal parents are killed, and Deryn disguises herself as a boy to join the British air force, the two meet and things get interesting.

I really enjoyed reading both sides of this story, but the storyline that stood out to me the most was Deryn's. Who doesn't love a young girl disguising herself to achieve her dreams? Yeah the ideas a little corny but sometimes, its the things we know and love that make the best story. I found her character easier to connect to and more relateable. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to empathise with a young prince who has just lost both his parents and is heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, but a young girl whose dreams of flying are squished my society? That's a little more real.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Alek and his story. Sometimes you need something completely separate to your one circumstances to get you through the day. However, this time round, I needed something a little closer to home and for me, that just happened to be Deryn.

I really, really, really enjoyed the whole Science Vs Nature argument throughout this book and over all it made me think, is there such a big difference between the two? The Natural world is made up of chemical reactions and scientific equations, and surly it is only natural that we should want to invent and build things to make us more powerful and efficient at humans? Yes this is a YA (young adult) book, but maybe its more than that... Maybe its a simple commentary on the similarities of nature and science and the two put together. After all is it not the two sides coming together in the end that makes them more powerful than the enemy and enables them to escape?

I think the only thing I have left to say is that I've ordered the next two books in the series from the library and I can't wait till they arrive. This is definitely a book I would recommend to any reader of any age. And adults, please don't dismiss a book just because its in the Young Adult section! Read everything!!

THE CRYING TREE By Naseem Rakha

Firstly, please let me tell you what a beautiful book this is. It is a stunning work of literary fiction.

When Nate Stanley came home from work one day to announce the family was moving to Oregon, no one in the family really knew why. When he explained he had a job promotion, they assumed that was all there was to it. They never imagined the secrets that he was hiding from his family. However moving doesn't solve their problems and Irene and Nate's son is shot dead in their own home.

We join the family nineteen years on, just a month before the scheduled execution of their son's killer. However, secrets come to light that no one dared speak of till now, and they could change everything.

I am so glad that I decided to read this book. Ever since it arrived in the post as part of a winter reading selection I found on line, it seemed to be calling me. It caught my eye first out of all those other books and it did not disappoint in any way shape or for. In fact, it exceeded ALL expectations I had for it.

When I started reading this book, I never for one moment thought that its main message would be forgiveness. I imagined it to focus on pain and loss, depression and separation, and a number of other miserable emotions we expect from a novel where a parent loses a child. This was not the case!

A while back I wrote an article about the difference between literature and 'good reads', and the conclusion I came to was that good literature was something that would leave a lasting impression and would, above all, teach you something about yourself and/or the world around you. This book certainly does that and I would definitely class it as literature.

Normally I try to write about my favourite character(s) in the book but on this one I'm stumped. there never seemed to be one character that stood out more than the other all of the time. At one point Shep was my favourite, at another point Bliss, and even Robbin at some parts of the book. Everyone took their turn in the emotional lime light and everyone had a story to tell. I was really impressed and mesmerized by the way that Rakha wove so many stories into one narrative plot stream. I really is genius.

This is a hard hitting book in places and one to make you think, but I would certainly recommend this to everyone. It is a brilliant read and delivers an important message in a friendly and non-intrusive way. A five star rating really doesn't seem quite good enough for this one. Not nearly good enough at all.

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy (PHASE THE SEVENTH)

Alas! It is finished. To be honest it all seemed to end rather quickly and I can't decided whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. All the way through, despite enjoying the book, and I've been longing for it to finally finish, and now that it is finished, it's sort of left me with a bit of a book-hangover. I genuinely never expected Tess of the d'Urbervilles to give me book-hangover. For those of you who are unaware of the term book-hangover here it is:

Even twenty four hours after finishing the book, I still don't really know how I feel about the ending. Its really difficult to explain without giving too much away, although with it being a classic, everyone probably knows how it finishes anyway.

I knew what was coming and I knew it was going to be awful,but I never envisaged it to be like this. In fact, this has been the only section of the book when I haven't been furiously angry with the author, the characters and everyone else involved in the book. Hardy wrapped everything up and tied all the loose ends incredibly quickly, leaving you with a sense of almost lostness and almost defencelessness because for so long you have had these characters and their personalities to keep you going and now it all ends so quickly that you don't really have time to say goodbye properly. In addition to this, I find that Tess becomes very harsh and impulsive in the final chapter of this book, which is understandable once she meets Angle again but, before hand it seems a little odd that she has gone so long living in the hope that her husband would return that you never expect her to suddenly up and leave to go somewhere else.

I found that once Angle returned to the country from Brazil, I didn't hate him nearly as much as I did before he left and what was more was that I wasn't upset with myself for not hating him either. In fact the tables turned a little and I felt really sorry for him and I was so please that he had finally come to his sense, but even Angle seems to follow the same metaphor as everyone else in this book: Too little too late.

Over all I have very much enjoyed reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles and I would not at all mind reading some other works of Thomas Hardy. Hardy is a very successful author who definitely knew how to get a response out of his audience and how to make them feel exactly what he wants them to feel. I admire him and his work and would recommend that most people should read his work if they get the chance.

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES - By Thomas Hardy (PHASE THE SIXTH)

I think the author here, is just plainly on a mission to make his readers angry, an I must say that if this was indeed his main goal for this book, then Hardy has most definitely succeeded! I never want to see Alec d'Urberville again.

This phase of the book, really does give a clear account of the social views of the time period. We know they are given throughout the entire book, but they are especially clear in this phases. Particularly towards the end when we discover that the Durbeyfield family may have had a home for the near future, on a weekly tenancy had it not been for Tess and the way that she is viewed due to her misfortune. This also makes me really angry... but lets be honest here... the entire book makes me so angry it's unbelievable! Angry in a good way though, angry in a good way.

THE CONVERT. That is the title of this phase and develops numerous possible plot lines prior to reading this; Does Clare finally change his mind about Tess? Do Tess's parents stop believing the stories about their heritage? What of Alec, does he finally stop stalking Tess?
The thought of Alec finding religion is the last thing that you would ever imagine being the base of this huge part of the story. Initially I felt like I was being forced to like him and forced to forgive him as if someone makes a commitment of faith then there is nothing that can be said against it, it is what it is and you can't do anything about it. However, when Alec says 'I have done nothing', you know that his 'conversion' is nothing but a facade which he cannot keep up once he meets Tess for a second time. The basis of converting to faith and Christianity is realising you have done something wrong and repenting of it, turning from ever doing it again, however, Alec does not recognise that he has something to repent of and therefore cannot repent of something he doesn't believe was ever wrong. Is it bad that I was pleased when I found out that I didn't have to like him?

I got so excited on both occasions when Tess deliberately hurt Alec, particularly in the first instance where she slaps him with her leather glove and makes his lip bleed. I almost jumped for joy when I read that bit and I was overwhelmed by the fact that Tess had finally decided to physically and properly stand up for herself instead of making a half-hearted, womanly effort. However, my immediate after thought was 'is this too little, too late?' If only she had done something like that back with those blasted strawberries, things may never have turned out so negatively... or they could have been worse, you never know.

Discussing Tess's return home brought to light more interpretations of this section than we originally thought possible. My fellow, student seemed to think that the branch waving in front of the window, making it blink (Chapter 50) was there to add a momentary relief for the reader as we see Tess finally returning home to where she belongs. They thought that it was a good thing. However, I was of the opinion that this wasn't as positive as everyone else thought. The 'winking' light at the window of their cottage reminded be of a candle flame flicking just before it goes out. I took this to be a foreshadowing of the family having to leave home, as if Tess is returning home just as the last flame of life is flickering from the place that they call home. Multiple interpretations, you gotta love 'em!

So, we've only got one phases left to go, and from the spoilers my classmates have left me with, this isn't going to be pretty, but I'm sure we can get though this together. See you there :)

THE END OF MR Y By Scarlett Thomas

Well, that started the 2014/15 Six Book Challenge of with a bang didn't it?

This is the story of a young PhD student / part time teacher at the university who happens to come across one of the rarest and possibly most cursed books in the history of literature. Did I mention that the author of said book, was also Ariel's favourite author and subject of her PhD? Now all things considered, what would you do? Read the cursed book of course! She spends every penny to her name on this book, her supervisor and tutor has been missing for over a year and she figures she has nothing to lose. As it turns out, love, time-travel and having the ability to read other people's minds isn't as great as you would initially think so.

This has been a phenomenal book, and if there was a Fandom for this book, I would consider myself par of it. It was amazing and being an English language student myself, I was amazed and overwhelmed (in a good way) by this world that had been created entirely out of language, science and the science of language.

Initially I was a little confused when it first switched from narrator to the first extract of the book because there was very little to differentiate between the two. No font change or subheading, not even a chapter change in some case, and I was very confused by this, but Thomas has done a very neat job of tying this up quickly as Ariel continues to explain about how reading this particular book doesn't allow her to switch between herself and the character, she feels as if she is or should be the character in the book and therefore the mix of narratives are totally in the right place and let the reader experience as much as they can of Ariel's confusion while maintaining clarity in the bulk of the novel.

I thought that the presentation of the girls school was very interesting, and I'm even sure why if I'm honest. I only remember being particularly interested in the way that part was written and it stood out to me possibly more than any of the rest of the book did. What do you think?

I love Adam's character, he's just so lovable and stoic. Initially, I just overlooked him a little, but towards the end I genuinely felt that I wanted him back as much as Ariel did. Although; without giving anything away too much, I feel that the last few pages spoiled Adam a little for me. I feel that he strayed too far from his roots, but ultimately I think that was what Adam wanted, to stray as far away from his own life as possible, until he found something that made him happy, or at least content with his life.

I am genuinely struggling to find the words to rave about this book to the extent that it deserves!

I just love this book for its complexity, yet despite it being complex, it really isn't that hard to follow. I think the hardest part it trying to remember how to pronounce some of the scientific jargon. (just reading about quarks made me feel intelligent :P). The End of Mr Y. is a fantasticly academic book which I would recommend to most people, however:

I would just like to add a note onto the end of this here review to recommend that this book is not read by children or even 'young' adults. This is definitely one for the more mature readers due to its graphic sexual content.

Find out more about the Six Book Challenge here >>>>>  http://sixbookchallenge.org.uk/

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy - PHASE THE FIFTH

Well I must say that I think I was definitely correct in my prediction of this phase. In my last Tess post I suggested that this would be an action packed out-working of the previous phase and boy was I right!

Can I just say that if I didn't hate Angel Clare before, I most certainly do now. I'm sorry Mr Hardy... but how can you write a book where you hate all the characters, but love the book? It just doesn't seem possible. The whole incident with Brazil made me furious to the point of wanting to put the book down.

One thing that I did find very interesting was the way that Hardy reintroduces a number of different characters from earlier on in the book. These include Alec, Izz, Marian, Farmer Groby and a few other minor characters. All of these have an expected, individual effect on Tess, but what I'm most interested in is the collective result they have on Tess and the future that she was trying to write for herself. All these people are from Tess's past and we know that, in going to Talbothoy's and marrying Clare, she decided to move on and make an effort to change the future society had set for her. The re appearance of these characters makes it seem as though fate is purposely forceing Tess to relive her past and not move on into the future. I think this is Hardy showing us just how important the judgements of society can be.

I think I've made my main points about this section of the book, but as it getting closer to the end of the book; only two phases left, its getting increasingly difficult to talk about the book without giving spoilers.

Sorry it's a short one. x

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy - PHASE THE FOURTH

In phase the fourth of Tess, a lot happens. We get to meet Angel Clare's family in some depth, Tess finally agrees to marry Angel, the wedding takes place and Tess takes that one important step we've all been waiting for and equally dreading. She reveals the truth about her history to Angel... after he marries her!

I must say I was shocked we Angel revealed his own secret which can as its own surprise if I'm honest, although I did feel that I shouldn't have been surprised by Angel's affair. Maybe I'm to hard on the lad, maybe I'm just extremely cynical about him. I'm finding that the more I read the book, the more I am being forced to like Angel. I say forced, because nothing about me wants to like, him. right from the start he's seemed too good to be true and I have been determined to hate him through and through and so far, Hardy is doing a fantastic job of making sure that doesn't happen. Drat those amazing authors!

In this phase we really do seem to get a better understanding of how far Angel has strayed from his roots in the vicarage. When he returns home, he is treated differently to his brothers and his parents will not talk to him about the future wedding other than to talk him out of it. Their difference of opinions and morals have really begun to properly separate this family. I guess the final decision to go ahead with the wedding was the straw that broke the camels back for Clare's parents. I had a feeling that Tess's parents would not attend the wedding but I was expecting someone from the Clare family to attend. When this didn't happen, it really made me realise just how much damage Tess is doing without actually doing anything herself. Just by being her, she has managed to separate Angel from his family, despite her best efforts to convince him otherwise.

Towards the end of the phase, after the wedding, Hardy does use incredibly obvious foreshadowing, maybe too much, with the crowing of the afternoon cockerel. This in itself is a perfectly good device to foreshadow a rather nasty, up and coming event, however the reaction of everyone else in the scene, really shouts out to us that something will definitely happen. Hardy infers a lot throughout this phase but this moment has to be the absolute clearest, especially as it is followed up with the notification of the death and near-death of two of Angel and Tess's prior colleagues.

I think the best way to sum up Phase the Fourth, it to call it the Phase of Revelation. Hardy reveals a lot of important facts and information in this part of the book, and equally not just to the reader. Hardy makes the characters reveal things to each other. Strengthening some relationships and stretching others. Judging by the number of secrets and promises that have been made and broken in this phase, I think we can safely say that we are in for a bumpy ride with Phase the Fifth.

THE WHISPERING SKULL By Jonathan Stroud

GOOD PEOPLE OF EARTH! ITS FINALLY HERE!

I've finally managed to get my hands on a copy of The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud, the waiting list at the library was not far off enormous.

Now, if you've been following my blog, you will remember that a while back a read the predecessor to this wonderful novel, The Screaming Staircase. I remember ranting and raving about how amazing that book was and as I brought this one home just three days ago, I felt that Stroud had indeed, set himself an incredibly high standard.

But never fear because, the genius author of The Lockwood and Co. series has done himself proud and gone over and beyond the standard he set himself last time.

I think the best thing about this novel is that as well as being a separate novel that can be read independently of the first, it takes one element of the previous novel and expands in, explains it and takes it to a whole new level. That tiny little side mystery that you never really get to see much about? well this time Stroud's written an entire novel on it. The other thing I think is brilliant things is that it isn't just a copy of the first book with different side characters and storyline. He has taken the supernatural and dystopian element from his work, and very cleverly woven into it a clear crime/detective style sequence of events making this book open to an even wider audience than it was before!

All the way through, I was on the edge of my seat, I was shocked and horrified as I was the darker side of characters whom I thought were just kids bent double with bad-luck, and all in all I don't have a bad word to say about it.

But one thing I will say is this: Mr Stroud, you better get writing, because that cliff hanger you left and the end almost killed me!

ANIMAL FARM By George Orwell

Well, this is the second of Orwell's novels that I've read and I must say that I enjoyed it just as much, if not more so than the first one (1984). I had previously picked up a brief idea of what happened from hearing people talk about the book in my literature class, so I had a faint idea of what to expect.

Animal farm is the story of a group of farm animals who decide they no longer feel that they should live under the control of the human farmers. So what do they do? Start a revolution of course!

In the first few chapters, it felt like I was reading a children's book. It's not everyday you get talking animals and angry pigs in regular adult literature, but I guess that was what made it so easy to read and understand. Orwell, took the message he wanted to put forward and simplified it so much it became almost childlike in its presentation. It is also only 100 pages long so it really doesn't take long to read at all.

Clearly though this is not a children's book, holding a lot of strong themes and ideologies, it is definitely a book for the more mature readers/ older teens and up I thinks. It really makes you think about dreams and ideals and how well they will actually turn out and above all, are our dreams any different from our reality? Is there a difference in what we have now and what we want to have or, is it just a different mindset, allowing us to see the same situation from a different perspective.

A very deep book and personally, one that has made me think rather than talk. This is a great, simply complex book which I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick but thought provoking read.

MESSENGER OF FEAR By Michael Grant

Erm... wow! Where to begin?

Before I get started, I would just like to say that this book took me very much by surprise. Having read the GONE series by the same author just over a year or so ago, I thought I knew what to expect from this author. I'm telling you now that I wont make that same mistake again! This book was so totally different from my expectations it was unreal. It also happens to be one of the weirdest book I think I have ever read. Great, but weird. Also did I mention that I read this one in around six hours?

I think the thing that I found most bizarre was the fact that you don't learn anything about the main character until right at the end of the novel. It worked surprisingly well, having a narrator whom you know nothing about.

I would have like to known more about Messenger, and I felt a little put out that all the way through, Mara talked about how she would eventually come to know Messengers real name and why he became the messenger of fear, but then she never actually tells you what they are. I really liked the characters Daniel and Oriax and I would have liked to have known more about them and had a bit more of a back story as to who they were, especially Daniel whom I never really understood. I really liked and connected with the messenger and although I want to know more about him and what was it he did that was so evil, but part of me wonders that if I did know that then my feelings towards Messenger would be different, and not necessarily a good different.

Also, as well as being a tremendously good book, it is also a valuable lesson about the effects of bullying and how  we should stop and assess ourselves occasionally, because sometimes we bully other people without even realising it.

I must admit, there were times when I was reading this book that I wanted to put it down, I didn't want to read any more, yet I just couldn't allow myself to put the book down. But I guess that was done so that I could feel what Mara felt. wanting to stop watching the suffering and pain and yet not having the ability to do so.

This is a very interestingly written book and definitely not for the faint hearted. Not you're traditional horror/fantasy novel but hey, why should we always stick to the tradition.

This is a great, if a little weird, read.

This book does contain graphic violence and some very mild sexual references.

EENY MEENY by M J Arlidge

OH MY DAYS!!!!! Read it! Read it! Read it! Read it!

And to think that I very, very nearly returned this book to the library without even starting it!!! I would be kicking myself now if I had done.

This is the story of DI Helen Grace as she tries to capture the serial killer who is taking pairs of people and locking them away with only one instruction. One person must shoot the other. One dies, the other goes free...

This book is so, incredibly gripping and twisting in so many brilliant ways. It keeps you hanging on right until the very last page, the very last word even. You think your just getting the hang of the story when it takes another brilliant turn in a completely unthinkable direction! I've read crime novels with a similar final target to this before, but never have I read one so unique and different!

Each and every single one of these characters is so deep and well written that they become almost real to the reader. My personal favourite (Other than Helen) being Charlie. But even the other, more minor characters such as Bridges and Sanderson, had enough material written into them that they had real emotion and story, that you can't help but remember them in the way that you remember an old friend from school. Not always at the front of your memory and mind, but still always, definitely there somewhere.

Mark was an incredible piece of work in my opinion. So very often, the cops are always the people who have over come everything and become what they are today, but I think Arlidge's take was very interesting. It's really rare to read about a cop who is still going through his life changing events while at what appears to be the top of his game.

Wow this is an easy book to write about!

This does does contain adult, mature and graphic content and is very likely to leave you thinking what you would do in that situation, who you would be with etc... This is a very gripping book, that moves at such a pace it is unbelievable.

I would definitely recommend this book at all maturer readers, but make sure you keep arms and legs inside the car at all times as you're in for a bumpy ride!

THE SUICIDE CLUB By Rhys Thomas

When I picked this book up at the library, I had really high hopes for it. The blurb and front cover pulled me in like a child to a sweet shop and I couldn't wait to get started. However, I'm sad to say that I have been quite disappointed. This book just didn't deliver what it had promised to me on the shelf.

I found that while I had the book in my hands, it was easy enough to read. But it was far to easy to put down for my liking, and once I had put it down, I found very little in the way of anything pulling me back to read any more. I'd happily read this if there was a lack of other texts, but with so many other great books out there waiting to be read, I feel bad concentrating on a book I'm not totally enjoying.

Of course, try it for yourself. As I've said many a time, what I write here is purely my opinion and it should never be a list of things you should or shouldn't read. For all I know, this may be the best book you have ever read and in that case, I am glad you enjoyed it. We all have the odd book that we struggle to love now and then, and unfortunately this was one for me.

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO By Patrick Ness

For a good couple of years now, people have been telling me that I have to read some Patrick Ness novels and everyone seemed completely put out that I hadn't come across this brilliant author sooner.

If you haven't already twigged, this is the first Patrick Ness novel I have read, recommended specifically by a colleague at work who is slightly in love with said books. I must say that reading this book certainly has been a bit of a journey, I've laughed like a hyena and cried like a baby and consequently felt everything in between. One thing did shock me though, and that was the horrific violence and graphic-ness of the book. Now don't get me wrong, it's not all blood, guts and gore to the extent of putting you off a meal and making you never want to fall asleep again, far from it. However, you just don't really expect the awful secrets that Todd finally reveals in the end. You just never imagine its going to be something that horrific. Its one of those, where if you do imagine what it might be, you pray that it wont be the case even though you know it's probably true.

My favourite character by far is Manchee the dog, I mean how can you not instantly fall in love with him? In fact, I fell in love with him so much  that I considered stopping reading the books altogether if anything should happen to him, he's just that lovable and charismatic.

Living in a world without silence isn't as unusual as you would think it is and many people do live with it everyday, myself being one of them. As a result I found this book even more interesting than normal. 

Despite this being an excellent teen AND adult book, it is still quite hard in places because of the great relationships you build up with the characters. 

I have really, really enjoyed reading this, though I'm not sure when I'll get round to reading the following books due to my ever growing reading list, but I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a action packed yet unusual read.

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy - PHASE THE THIRD

Well, that's another phase of this interesting book read. in someways I found this phases to be much simpler and also much easier to read and to concentrate on. Not sure what made this so much easier going, but I think it might be down to the addition of a larger; not large, but larger amount of dialogue than the previous phase which I found got quite monotonous in places.

In this phases I felt that Tess began to blend in with the other characters a little more than she has done in previous phases and chapters. She becomes closer to people than we have seen her done before and yet Tess is trying to distance herself from the other people in the story even more than we saw her don previously. Where as before she generally just avoided spending time with people, in this phase, Tess actively tells people that she is no good woman and that there a far better woman to love and befriend than herself.

This really shows the effect that society has had on Tess's mental health as they down just have a downward opinion of her, but now they have finally managed to convince Tess to have a bad opinion of herself. If she can't even love herself how can she ever expect other people to love, appreciate and want her. Her actions and speaking patterns with other people become almost child-like and yet her thoughts and reactions are more adult and complex than you would expect a young woman like Tess to have to feel. The three women also have quite childish emotions concerning Mr Clare, this could represent how women were expected to be seen in society. No real intellectual thought and opinion, only basic, black and white feelings, with little depth and exploration.

Anaphora and cataphora are used quite a lot in this section of the book, in particular referring back to what has happened. As if Hardy is forcing us to remember what has happened to Tess, just as society is forcing her to remember her horrific past. Throughout there are hints and reminders of what has been, and equally clues as to what this will lead to.

I must say that Phase the Third has been a definite surprise to me and I wasn't expecting this from the book at all. I feel now that this book is a little less predictable than I originally thought it was and I am excited to see what else Hardy has hidden in his work for you.

SKY RUN By Alex Shearer

After reading The Cloud Hunters by the same author, I assumed that this was the sequel. However I was wrong. Sky Run is a completely separate novel which is merely based in the same world as the other. When I found this out, I was a little dubious about reading it and I was afraid that I wasn't going to enjoy it was much as the first book I had read, set in this wonderful world. I was worried that I was going to miss the characters I had come to know and love in The Cloud Hunters and still have to battle through the same world without them.

However I have really enjoyed this book. I cannot say that I enjoyed it more or less than the last one as they were totally different story lines and ideas. However I did really like the homage to the other book, when Alain talks about meeting the other Cloud Hunter boat which was carrying the boy without the scars and he talks briefly about his feelings concerning the event.

Although the two books can be read totally independent of each other, I would recommend reading the two together as they really do enlighten you about the world and the situations that the characters are living in. Each book gives you extra background information about the other book which, although you wouldn't miss it as such, you certainly would benefit from reading.

I must say that for some reason I found this story less repetitive than Shearer's other sky themed novel. I found it easier to read without becoming confused or lost in the same words over and over again.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read The Cloud Hunters and equally I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't. I have reviewed The Cloud Hunters  previously. Click here to see what I had to say about it.

THE CLOUD HUNTERS By Alex Shearer

I picked this book up for no other reason than I was browsing through the library looking for something to read, and this particular caught my eye and looked interesting. Once again, I have not been disappointed.

I think that the ideas and the storyline behind this book is really original and new. I, myself , haven't come across anything like this before. I like the idea of taking something really well known, Like sailing on a ship to find out who you are and what your destiny is, and putting it into a completely different scenario. Personally I find the idea of living on a small island as part of a bigger community quite appealing. Being able to have independence and isolation when you need it while at the same time, not being too far away from the life and business of everyday life.

There is only one criticism I have for the book and this is I found some of the names a little repetitive. I feel that there may have been possible alternatives to 'sky-fish', 'sky-whale', 'sky-seal', 'sky-walrus' etc... It just felt a little too repetitive for my liking and I sometimes lost my train of thought and definition between the items talked about.

Other than that though, I though that The Cloud Hunters was a thoroughly enjoyable book.

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy - PHASE THE SECOND

Despite Phase the Second being the shortest of the seven sections of this book an awful lot happens to our protagonist. She returns home, we find out she's pregnant, she has the child, the child dies, she tries to find work, and she makes an attempt to try and fit back into society.

I think the reason that Hardy squishes all of this into four, relatively short chapters, is because he wants us to understand the way Tess is feeling. Tess doesn't want to dwell on this section of her life, and Hardy doesn't want us to either. He wants us to move on with Tess and realise that such a small section of her life, should not have such a massive impact on her future. This would have been particularly important to the audience Hardy was writing for, as he would have been writing for people who would have hated and loathed Tess for the situation she had supposedly gotten herself into. He wants them to move on as well and follow his and Tess's lead. I feel that Hardy is trying to convince us that purity (he describes Tess as: a pure woman) goes beyond the physical and is more importantly about the heart and the mind.

I found this section of the text rather difficult to plough through if I'm honest, but I feel this is because of the lack of speech and the greatness of all the details Hardy writes into the text. Both of these things, although making it a little hardy for the reader, play an important role in helping us to understand the character.

The lack of verbal communications with other characters helps us to begin to understand how lonely and isolated Tess is feeling. There is no one she feels she can talk to and no one seemingly willing to comfort her and treat her normally. This leads onto the effect of the masses of description. Because Tess is so lonely and isolated, she has more time to ponder on things and to pick at the fine detail in her life that she may not have noticed otherwise. We get to see deeper into Tess's perspective, while at the same time, getting a clear sense of setting and context.

I've found this phase and interesting one to read, if slightly slow. Nevertheless, I shall be looking forward to seeing what Phase the Third has to offer.

THE 100 By Kass Morgan

I first came across this book after watching the first few episodes of the new series on TV. While browsing in the local book shop, I noticed that the original book was on offer and decided to give it ago and I am more than pleased to say that I have not been disappointed in any way at all. In fact I've read the entire thing in less than 24 hours. I think I've only ever managed that with one other book before (The Fault In our Stars by John Green). The 100 is totally gripping and makes it impossible for the reader to put it down. The only regret I have is that the book finished. I just want to pick it up and start reading it again.

Now I don't want to make this a comparison between the TV series and the book, however if you have seen the TV version and are debating whether or not to read the book, go for it! Do it! The TV adaptation is so far different to the book. So many characters have been added and taken out to make it more appealing to a television audience. In fact the only characters which are consistent between the two are Clarke, Bellamy and his sister, and Wells and his father.

I like the book more because it gives insight into the everyday live of the people on the ship, parallel to the people who have been sent to earth. You also get to see the same event from two different perspectives, such as the passing of the comet.

This isn't the first time that I've been drawn to a book about younger people being left to fend for themselves in an effort to survive. Similar themes can be seen in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and also in Gone by Michael Grant. We seem to be living in a world at the moment, where we are obsessed with the possibilities of what would happen if there were suddenly a lock of law and order, who would take charge, who would survive. It seems to be quite a grim obsession we have currently, but definitely one that seems to be selling books. (which is always a good thing)

There doesn't seem to be anything mega special that jumps out at me when I think about this book. No important message forced at me by the author, no life changing epiphany which means I'll never look at life the same again. But maybe that's what make this book so awesome. It's just a darn good book without all the paraphernalia that makes reading books nowadays such hard work. Sometimes less is more.

Read it! You know you want to.

THE HIT By Melvin Burgess

I must say, this has been a really enjoyable and interesting book to read. There are so many different themes and ideas packed into this book and yet it doesn't seem complicated or over crowded in anyway shape or form. I love it! Then again, I'm all for any book that has some sort of moral, especially one that makes you think about, and appreciate it more than you do already. There were a number of times while reading this book when I genuinely found myself thinking about what would be on my bucket list if I found myself under the influence of Death, or equally I might have found myself wondering whether or not I would have chosen to take it.

I think it was quite brave of the author to take on a topic like drugs and gang violence, because these are covered a lot in novels now-a-days and it can be difficult to write about it in a way that makes your story stand out from the others. But I'm am pleased to say that I think Burgess has done an incredible job and has definitely written a novel which tackles common but important themes while making it stand apart from everything else at the same time.

A brilliant book and one that I would definitely recommend, I'm looking forward to reading some of Burgess's other work.

THE RAW SHARK TEXTS By Steven Hall

First things first, I think that the idea and the potential behind this book is amazing. I am all for people writing about mental health and the extreme effects it can have on people. Although when I  initially read the blurb I didn't get that it was about someone suffering extreme memory loss, I was expecting it to have more of a Left-4-Dead kind of feel to it. I was really excited to read it and out of the three I borrowed from the library, this one was at the top of the list to read, however I am a little sad to say that I sincerely doubt I will finish it.

Although the story, ideas and characters are all really, really good, I found it a little difficult and heavy to read, slightly tough to push through, and the when I put the book down, I didn't quite feel drawn back to read it again and I have found myself going more than a week without even thinking about picking it back up again.

Though the biggest sign for me is the fact I have gotten to chapter five and I'm still not entirely sure why I'm continuing to read it.

Now as I always say, just because I didn't finish the book this time, doesn't mean I wont come back to it and try reading it again. Circumstances in life change and what is easy to read at one point in our life may be difficult to read three, four years down the line. Never write a book off first time, try it at least twice before you decide you don't like it. Times and opinions change and there are a lot of really fantastic ideas going on in this book.

I know plenty of people that would enjoy this book, however, at the moment, I just don't think this is the book for me.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST By Ken Kesey

I've been wanting to read Cuckoo's Nest ever since I saw the stage production at our local theatre. I must say that if I was blown away by the incredibleness of the stage adaptation then I simple cannot put into words how much I have been effected but the novel itself. As someone who is greatly affected by mental health myself, I was interested to see what society had allowed to be broadcast.

I was a little worried when I started out reading the book and it doesn't have chapters as such, only breaks in the text and it's split into four lengthy segments, however in my excitement to read the book I push forward and I am so glad that I did! I badly notice the fact that there were no chapters and i found that once I picked it up, I could hardly bring myself to put it back down again. The pages seemed to turn themselves.

One of the biggest themes I picked up on throughout the novel was social standing and hierarchy. Although it s not a society in the way that we would normally talk about it, there is still a sense of community on the hospital ward and you can see the ranks which have been put in place. The vegetables and the bottom, followed by the chronics, then the acutes, after that its the aides and the the doctor and finally the Big Nurse. This is define clearly throughout and as in Tess of the d'Urbervilles and a lot of Percy Shelley's work (I choose these two as they are the other two texts i am working with for my course), The top tier of the society holds complete control and no matter how hard the lower levels of society try to change things, it never happens.

Although he isn't mentioned too often throughout the book, I think that Pete is my favourite character.  His quietness and the way he is put aside by everyone else really reached out to me. He clearly has a need that needs to be addressed and yet he is just swept under the carpet in a hope that eventually the issue will go away. I like Chief Bromden as well, and I think the way that his narration shows his growth as a person is very clever. His thoughts and opinions become longer and braver as the novel progresses whereas he started very quiet and scared and only narrating the bare minimum.

I am really glad to have read this book and I have really enjoyed reading it. But that isn't to say that there weren't parts of the book that made me stop and think twice about the way I think and the way society thinks as a whole. I think this is a brilliant commentary on Mental health and society, as well a social politics.

This is definitely one for a slightly older / young adult audience but one that I would most definitely recommend to every one. Its such a great book, with a brilliant message and to top it all, it's so easy to read!

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES By Thomas Hardy - PHASE THE FIRST

Before I begin, I would like to explain why I have chosen to review this book in the different, individual phases that Hardy set the book out in. After all, I have reviewed other books with parts and  phases but I've usually done these as a single review. The reason I have made this decision is because that is how the book was initially intended to be read. During the time period that the book was first published, the common people would not have been able to afford to buy a copy of the whole book, so to make sure that people could still read it, and to make the book more accessible to the poorer people, the book was serialised. This meant that each 'Phase' of the book would be published in a magazine which people could buy at an affordable price. As a result, I want to look at the book in the same way as the audience at the time would have done.

Anyway, now that I've clear that up. I'll begin.

I find it really interesting how we are not introduced to the title character until the second chapter of the book. We are only introduced to on of her relations. This could be to help us create a false first impression of Tess, which is challenged and contrasted when we do actually meet her. To be really honest with you, I found the first chapter rather funny and I couldn't help myself chuckling at Sir John/ Mr Durbeyfeild, take your pick. Though I feel obliged to humour him by calling him Sir John.

As I'm sure many people will agree, although Hardy is fine and fantastic author, I feel that in occasion,  he has gone a little over the top with his description making it easy to lose track of the narrative occasionally. However the narrative that you can follow is very well written and very easy to read. Throughout this phase, I've found my self planning to read a single chapter and then accidentally reading three or four without realising it.

In terms of my initial impressions of characters, Angel Clare seems too good to be true, although we haven't seen much of him yet and so far he seems quite the charmer, his impulsion to follow his head rather than his heart makes me dislike and have very little trust for him at all, and don't get me started on Alec D'Urberville, because in my books he's nothing more than self indulgent, egotist whom I have very little time for. Tess I feel very sorry for. She is stuck living with this evil man and his blind mother who has a love of chickens, yet she feels as if she has no choice in the matter. Despite the fact that her father has already said that he would be happier if she stayed home, she feels like it his her duty and she is bound by her own sense of morals and responsibility.

Tess is a really believable character and unfortunately, so is D'Urberville. I am really interested in the relationships I am beginning to form with these characters and I am looking forward to reading the next chapter.

RED DRAGON By Thomas Harris

I've been dying to read the Hannibal Lecter books for a while and I am more than pleased to say that I was not disappointed! Not exactly what I was expecting, but nevertheless... if we always got what we expected then the world would be a very disappointing and boring place indeed.

If I'm truly honest with you, I was expecting it to be a lot more graphic than it was, unless I've just read too many crime/thriller books and I've become used to the grime and the gore?? Maybe.... it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

I like the idea of the main protagonist being a retired agent rather than a working one. This want you get a sense that Graeme really wanted to catch the killer, he didn't have to come out of retirement, but he felt a need and an urge to do something that big and important. I thought that this helped you understand Will's character more because he wasn't bound by FBI rules and regulations and he wasn't having to follow professional police conduct, you could see a lot deeper into his character and begin to really understand him. A lot of other crime writers fail to do this because their protagonist is forced to behave and speak in a professional manner, so yes we know that they wanted the killer dead and/or arrested, and that they hate them to pieces, but beyond that, you don't really ever get to understand the relationship between captor and criminal.

I think my favourite character in the book was Dolarhyde, even though he's the killer and the murderer, his back story was so well written and so well put together that I felt closest to him out of all the other characters. I usually get a bit wary of authors who decide to develop a characters back story by deviating completely from the story and spending a whole chunk of chapters telling a completely different story to the main narrative, however when Harris did this, it flowed so well that you didn't mind and personally, I barley notice as he moved between the two.

Despite his infrequent appearances, Lecter's character intrigues me and is defiantly one of the driving forces, pushing me towards the next book in the series; The Silence of the Lambs. This I have also heard little negative comment about and I can't wait to get my hands on it and start it.

Harris's writing is so fluid that the hardest part about reading this is putting it down at the end.

This is most defiantly a book for more mature readers but that really goes without saying. What with the graphic violence, murder and nudity and all. However if you're alright with all that then I would defiantly recommend picking Red Dragon up and starting reading!

Red Dragon is a must read for all crime and thriller fans.

A PASSAGE TO INDIA By E M Forster

I know it has been a while since I last posted anything, however A Passage To India has been a tough book to read, and even now I still haven't finished it. However, just because I say it is difficult to read, don't jump to the conclusion that it is a bad book and one that shouldn't be read. I really have enjoyed reading this novel as far as I have done.

The reason that I think I found it so difficult to read, is that is is written in a speech pattern that we are not used to, so naturally we have to think a little bit more about what I was reading. I LOVED the first chapter even though it was indeed very short. The detail and the description was incredible and is possibly the best opening of a book I have ever read! I cannot tell you amazing it was, it was like the author was painting a picture right there in front of my very eyes.

The beginning of chapter two I found a little difficult to understand, but then again I think that worked really well, as trying to decipher a conversation between a group of Indian men made me feel a stranger to that environment and made me feel like I was intruding on their conversation.

Forster has indeed been a very successful author because I have had definite emotions towards each of the different characters: Ronny I hate, Aziz is adorable and I love him, and Mr Fielding is the one who saved the day for me. I felt like he was the only one who was standing up successfully for what was right and he was by far my favourite character of the lot.

I have really really enjoyed the part of the book I have read, however between exams and family affairs, I just haven't had the time or the energy to sit down and think about what I'm reading.

I would recommend this book a lot of people, mainly a slightly older audience because of the themes and the politics that has been written about. It may take a while to read but it's a great book never the less.

THE RIDDLES OF EPSILON By Christine Morton-Shaw

I must say that this has been a most intriguing book, I know its another ghost story but hey I think it's a phase I'm going through. Despite it being another ghost story though, it couldn't have been more different to the one I read previously (The screaming staircase by Jonathon Stroud). Where as that focused on Humans vs Ghost and supernatural beings this is more about the supernatural battling itself and helping the humans to survive the fight. I say it's a ghost story but maybe ghost isn't quite the right word, the bright and dark beings aren't ghosts as such, they're more... well.... beings, supernatural beings!

One this I must say about this novel is that it is very complicated, probably the reason it has taken me so long to finish it, but maybe that's a good thing. It's good sometime to get into a book that tales a while, makes you think and the leaves you for hours... days even, afterwards going... 'So that's why!' or in my case 'I get it now!'

A couple of times I found myself a little confused by what was going on but I never lost interest in the book or the story in fact I only got more and more interested because I had complete faith in the author that she would deliver the answers sooner or later and she did.

I though the ending to the book was really interesting. Morton-Shaw could quite happily have ended to the novel a few chapter early had she not included one single statement from a character that leads into a whole new section of the story. It just goes to show how important small things can be. One sentence, which has the potential to change the entire story, or at least a decent chunk of it.

I really like the choice of words that the author uses for the more fantastical elements of the story such as Coscobora and Ouroboros. Although these do have real meanings linking in with the plot of the story, they are quite specialist words that the reader is unlikely to know at first glance. I thought this was brilliant because it left me in just about the same level of bewilderment and confusion as Jess was at the same point. I loved it!

Over all I think that this is a very clever book and very well put together. Although I felt that the black swans were maybe a little unoriginal in their colouring, the idea of swans in themselves representing the evil, I thought was very interesting indeed. Manifesting evil as something pure and beautiful isn't something you see every day and I am pleased that the writer made that choice. As I mentioned before, I am left with some questions that are unanswered however the more I sit and think, the more it fits together and falls into place. Its good to have found a modern book that makes you think and work so much. A brilliant read and one I would definitely recommend.

THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE By Jonathan Stroud

Wowser! I can't remember the last time I got so engrossed in a book! Five days it has taken me to read this and had it not been for college, it probably would have taken a lot less. Stroud is a genius and has left me clinging onto the edge of my seat for September to come around when the sequel comes out.

I am no stranger to ghost stories and tales of things that go bump in the night. In fact one of my many favourite series, is The Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, set in Lancashire (My home county, in fact it was set in the town next door!). I was familiar with the iron and salt and other remedies for ghosts and such like, but The Screaming Staircase seemed different. Whether that was because it was a different setting, or because of the differences in the ghost themselves, I'm not sure but I tell you now, September cannot come quick enough!

From the moment I 'laid eyes on him', I was in love with Lockwood. I'm pretty sure that this is what Stroud would have wanted and certainly, you can do nothing but love Lockwood. His humour, his smile, even his rebellion, everything about him is perfect, yet still you can see the underlying dark secrets that we never get to know about. I think this is what makes him so appealing. Despite this, there was no love interest between the main characters which to be honest, I liked. It was nice to read something that wasn't about the protagonists and they're relationships, you can probably tell, I'm not one for the romantic side of things. The small element of romance (if you can call it that) was confused and ambiguous which made you appreciate it more in the end when it was finally confirmed and revealed fully.

There is such a uniqueness to the Stroud's supernatural characters, he has taken something so well known and so stereotyped and turned it into something new and something brilliant. My favourite being a group of ghosts that work together as one and manifest differently in three different places. They are working as one yet they are separated.

I could write about this forever but I really don't want to give any of this away! I would recommend this book to everyone (Unless you're a little faint hearted, but even then you should be fine ;) ). It is a work of pure genius and as soon as I get the chance, the second in the Lockwood & Co. books will be in my hands and the pages will be turning! Read it! Read it! Read it!

Oh, and you might want to leave the light on...

THE HOLLOW CHOCOLATE BUNNIES OF THE APOCALYPSE By Robert Rankin

With a name like The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies Of The Apocalypse, how can you not be intrigued into reading this fantastic looking book?

Before I started reading this novel, I Googled it to see what other people had said about it and the general consensus was that this book had what I like to call, 'the marmite effect'. People were either giving it five stars or one, they either loved it or hated it, and with no clearer view on whether I should read it or not, I just dived straight in.

Unfortunately, six chapters in and I am no closer to knowing whether or not I like the book and why I was continuing to read a book that did nothing to entertain me what so ever. I'm not saying I hated the book I just found it a little pointless and O.T.T on the violence front. Personally, I get no enjoyment from reading about a thirteen year old boy, threatening to shoot a barman with a homemade pistol, because his cooker had broken down and he couldn't give him any food. That just doesn't do it for me!

I can see why this would appeal to some people but it just isn't for me. I can't make a recommendation for this book because it really is a read-it-and-see kinda novel.

RED BALLOON By Dannie Abse

I believe that in this poem the balloon is a metaphor for, Abse's/The Persona's resolve, what he believes in, the thing that keep him going every day. Towards the end of the poem Abse talks about how 'still it would not burst' when the balloon is attacked and clawed at with knifes. This confirms to the reader that this is not a real balloon, but rather something within the narrator that is represented by this image.

The whole tone of the poem, I think, is quite childlike and simple which reflects the childish notion of becoming attached to something as simple and as delicate as a balloon. This also reminds me of how children seem so much more resilient to the world around them, if they fall over, they get back up again, if they fall out with their friends, ninety nine percent of the time a few hours later they will have forgotten the dispute and will be playing together again. Compared to adults, children have a much better way of coping with stressful and traumatic situations in the short term, while it is actually happening .

 I feel what Abse is saying here, is that we need to learn from this and be more like children in our resilience to attack.

NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR By George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four has been on my 'Must Read' list ever since I started my English Literature course back in September of last year, and as much as I enjoyed the book (and I did!!!) it wasn't quite what I was expecting from the novel. If you have already read the book, then you will know that it is incredibly political and in some ways, I wish I had read the book before taking Politics As Level as this only enhanced my understandings of the events that were taking place and made them all the more frightening. 

When I first came across The Party's main three-part slogan at the start of the book, I found it difficult  to see how there could be any sense in the idea that war and peace are the same thing and that there is little and no difference between freedom and slavery. The idea that one is never truly free because real freedom means to be on your own and not having anyone to be accountable to or for, however paradoxically, being on your own does not mean being free at all because you are responsible for maintaining your freedom and therefore are a slave to yourself and your right to freedom. As the books progresses and these things are put into context, it makes you realise just how real and accurate these slogans actually are.

Although the plots and ideologies in the book are incredibly exaggerated, if you look close enough you can see elements of things in the book, reflected in our own society, - countries becoming and battling to become superstates, society coving up information that makes them look bad, not quite physically changing history, but in my mind they're not far off.

Initially I loved Winston's character, I thought he was brilliant and should be supported in his efforts to over throw the party, but I found myself definitely growing hard towards him and his attitudes as it became apparent of his 'fight-fire-with-fire' attitude. He complained and was repulsed by The Party's lack of morality and human nature, however he was willing to throw acid into a child's face, to lie and  murder just to get back at the party. Wasn't it the lies and the murdering of innocent lives that he was angry about? So why would acting the same way show that he was any better than them which is the conclusion that Winston comes to near the end of the novel. That his is better than them and more moral and more human. Personally, I think he is just as bad as the party, the only difference is that he is fighting for something different. I have to admit that in the final part, I felt little in the way of pain and pity towards Winston, and even found myself asking him to be sent to a forced labour camp.

One thing that Orwell has done very well indeed, is to help you empathise with the characters. As a reader, one of the first things I do in a book is develop my relationships with the characters, however right from the word go I was reluctant to connect with anyone and was wary of anything. I wanted to believe that I liked O'Brien's character until the end but something about the way Orwell wrote made me hold back and think 'yes but...'. I found myself detaching myself from Julia and getting as far away as I could because I didn't know if I could trust her. Even Winston who is the protagonist, the person we are supposed to love and support in any other novel, here you just want to keep an eye on him. I was very worried through most of the novel that he was going to do something that even the reader couldn't forgive him for it. 

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a brilliant book and one I am so glad to have read. I was genuinely surprised at how easy it was to read. The pages kept turning and I kept on reading. The hardest part of the book to read was the segment from THE BOOK and even then, it never became unenjoyable. The whole thing has been a fascinating and incredibly thoughtful journey. I know this was Orwell's final novel, but it has left me wanting to back-track and pickup Animal Farm as soon as I get the chance.

FOR SYDNEY BECHET (Poem) By Philip Larkin

For Sydney Bechet is a poem written by Larkin in tribute to one of his favourite jazz musicians; Sydney Bechet. Not only was Larkin a poet and a librarian, but he was also a jazz critic, writing numerous reviews for The Telegraph. Many of Larkin's poems suggest that his love of music was far greater than his love for women, in essence this is one of the most emotive love poems Larkin ever wrote, only this one wasn't for the ladies.

This love and adoration for music is played out beautifully at the end of stanza three/beginning of stanza four where he describes mainly the performing women and the atmosphere of the jazz clubs as 'priced far above rubies'. Here Larkin shows a hint at some biblical knowledge, as this is a quote from the Bible: Proverbs 31:10 says this - 'Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies' (KJV). Only here, in the context of Larkin's poem, he has personified the music and believes that the music is the one with the value greater than rubies. Also by using the scripture reference, the poet suggests that the relationship he has with music may not just be earthly. It could suggest that the love goes beyond that into dedication to and worshipping music. Music is the thing that keeps him going and keeps him alive.

'On me your voice falls as they say love should'. It is clear that here, the persona/Larkin is getting from music, the same thing that everyone else is getting from love. His security, his energy, his reason to live does not come from the love of a woman, or a wife or partner like everyone else. Music is the lover who keeps making sure he gets out of bed in the morning, keeps him working and enjoying the life that he has been given. In fact, not only does the music give him these things, but it also scatters 'long-haired grief and scored pity'. It takes away the pain and fills the hole with something good and whole. Throughout the entire poem, Larkin's lexicon is that of love and adoration, with the use of words such as 'natural', 'legendary', 'reflected'. Not only do most of these words suggest the complete and utter all embracing passion he has for music, but many of them are words which have strong connotations of the natural world, which would suggest that the Persona's relationship with music is not forced like some child who was strapped to the piano stool and forced to play from as soon as he has enough strength to hit the keys. This love is natural and organic, it grows and changes with the music. Just as jazz musicians are encouraged to improvise, so is there nothing rigid or definite about the relationship. There are no right or wrongs. It flows in a way that only real love can do.

It amuses me slightly that Jazz music allows him to be himself, but at the same time allows him to be whoever he wants to be. He talks about people who 'pretend their fads' and 'scholars manques'. People who are not in fact scholars but in the presence of the music, they can be whoever they dream of being. The example used in the poem is of regular workers being able to imagine and believe they are rich, intelligent scholar for just a sweet, short while.

This is the first poem I have studied where Larkin is not clearly set on being alone and in solitude. It is the exact opposite of silence and loneliness which is what you will usually find Larkin's other works flooded with. In this poem, Larkin writes multiple times in the second person, directly addressing the music as if it were a person 'that note you hold', 'you're voice'. He speaks kindly to the music and welcomes it into his personal space. A complete and utter reversal of Larkin's attitude in his other work.