Animal Farm by George Orwell

 

What classic have you always meant to read, but you haven’t quite gotten to it yet?

My son Daniel and I read most of Animal Farm by George Orwell together years ago (he was in middle school at the time. He is now a senior in high school.)  For some reason, we never read the last chapter.  I finally finished it up last month.  I had never read this book in my time in K-12 or in college, but I have always heard about it.  Unfortunately, it seems very relevant to the times we live in.

In this classic novella, animals on a farm in England rise up against their cruel master, Mr. Jones, and take over the farm to run it for themselves.  Things seem to go well until a pig named Napoleon and other pigs take over.  They change rules to help themselves and a pig named Squealer has the job to convince the other animals that their memory is faulty, “Comrade Napoleon is always right.”  Will the animals ever find the equality that they seek?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a quick read and short book.

·       This story is written in the style of fable.

·       It is a dystopian story. 

·       We read the illustrated classic and liked the drawings in this version.

·       This book is on the banned book list.

·       I loathed Napoleon.

·       The different animals are supposed to represent different people in the history of the USSR.  For example, a pig called Snowball represent Leon Trotsky and is driven off the farm.

·       As the food rations smaller, pigs say that its is better than life under Farmer Jones.  Rules change slowly and no one is sure what is true. 

·       The story shows how a pure idea of freedom that is supposed to benefit all is corrupted by powerful people who take advantage of the uneducated masses to go along with things that do not benefit them.  The eventual dictator/leader turns to capitalism.

·       It seems like this book would be a better high school read rather than a middle school read where you could really dig into the history of the USSR and also current topics.

·       This book seemed heavy handed at times but did get the point across.  I got a lot more out of 1984 by George Orwell. 

Favorite Quote: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

 

What book would you like to see a prequel for?

It’s the fiftieth annual Hunger games and Haymitch Abernathy has been selected from District 12.  As part of the 50^th anniversary celebration, they are selecting twice as many children from each section, so District 12 is sending four tributes this year.  Haymitch wants to get back to his beloved girlfriend, mom, and brother, but he also wants to take down the Capital and the Hunger Games.  Will he succeed?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Sunrise on the Reaping was an entertaining action novel reminiscent of the first two books at the Hunger Games series.  It was very readable!

·       I do wish there would have been more differences to make this book more unique like the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

·       I liked the cameos of characters from the original novels that popped up such as Plutarch, Mags, Wiress, and Effie.

·       Haymitch loves Lenore Dove, a descendant of Lucy Grey (not explained how), but their romantic relationship isn’t fully developed.

·       This story explains why Haymitch breaks down and is the way he is.  It would have been interesting to tell the story of his life between the games and mentoring Katniss. 

·       I liked the new character of Masilee.  She is a wealthy mean girl from District 12 who shows her humanity and spunk during the games.

·       This story will make an entertaining movie.

Overall, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is an enjoyable story very similar to the first two Hunger Game novels.

Book Source:  Preordered from Amazon.com

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

 

If you could find out how long you had left in your life, would you want to find out?

One day every adult in the world received a box with a string in it.  The strings vary by size.  It doesn’t take scientists long to determine the length of your string is how long you have left in your life.  How will this impact the world and those with “short strings” versus “long strings.”

My thoughts on this book:

·       The Measure was the September pick for the Rogue Book Club.  It made for an interesting book club discussion.  I am still thinking about this book.

·       The story follows eight characters and their stories.  Their stories intertwine at times.

·       Prejudice starts with “short stringers” with people not wanting to give them jobs.  Can your life have an impact, even if it’s a short life?

·       There are two love stories in this novel that were very touching.

·       The ending goes into the future to give closure to all the characters, which I appreciated.

·       It was hard to believe that this novel was written by a debut author! 

·       The novel was an interesting look into how we dehumanize people by grouping them together and deciding everyone in that group must follow the same principles.

·       This was a good character driven novel.

·       The reader never finds out where the strings come from and why they keep arriving for young people as they come of age.

·       Politicians use the situation and people to further their own gains.  This seemed like something politicians would do.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is a beautifully written novel with an intriguing concept that is great for book club discussion.

Book Source:  Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Feature: The Thing in the Snow by Sean Adams

What do you like and what do you dislike about snow?  I think snow is beautiful, but I dislike driving in it.

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Thing in the Snow by Sean Adams and for allowing me to be on this tour.

I'm currently reading this thriller and I am liking is strange and unique premise.  I'll be posting my review in the near future.  

This book is new and was just published on January 3rd.

SYNOPSIS: 

From the critically acclaimed author of The Heap, a thought-provoking and wryly funny novel—equal parts satire and psychological thriller—that holds a funhouse mirror to the isolated workplace and an age of endless distraction. 

At the far reaches of the world, the Northern Institute sits in a vast expanse of ice and snow. Once a thriving research facility, its operations were abruptly shut down after an unspecified incident, and its research teams promptly evacuated. Now it’s home to a team of three caretakers—Gibbs, Cline, and their supervisor, Hart—and a single remaining researcher named Gilroy, who is feverishly studying the sensation of coldness.

Their objective is simple: occupy the space, complete their weekly tasks, and keep the building in working order in case research ever resumes. (Also: never touch the thermostat. Also: never, ever go outside.) The work isn’t thrilling—test every door for excessive creaking, sit on every chair to ensure its structural integrity—but for Hart, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to hone his leadership skills and become the beacon of efficiency he always knew he could be.

There’s just one obstacle standing in his way: a mysterious object that has appeared out in the snow. Gibbs and Cline are mesmerized. They can’t discern its exact shape and color, nor if it’s moving or fixed in place. But it is there. Isn’t it?

Whatever it might be, Hart thinks the thing in the snow is an unwelcome distraction, and probably a huge waste of time. Though, come to think of it, time itself has been a bit wonky lately. Weekends pass in a blur, and he can hardly tell day from night. Gravity seems less-than-reliable. The lights have been flickering weirdly, and he feels an odd thrumming sensation in his beard. Gibbs might be plotting to unseat him as supervisor, and Gilroy—well, what is he really doing anyway?

Perplexed and isolated—but most certainly not alone—Hart wrestles for control of his own psyche as the thing in the snow beguiles his team, upends their work, and challenges their every notion of what is normal.

How to Survive Everything by Ewan Morrison

 

Do you like dystopian novels? After COVID, do you feel more or less prepared for a future pandemic?


Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of How to Survive Everything by Ewan Morrison.

SYNOPSIS:

My name is Haley Cooper Crowe and I am in lockdown in a remote location I can’t tell you about.

Children of divorce, Haley and Ben live with their mother. But their dad believes there’s a new, much deadlier pandemic coming and is determined to keep them alive. He wants to take them to his prepper hideaway where they will be safe from other people. NOW. But there’s no way their mother will go along with his plan. Saving them requires extreme measures.

Kidnapped by their father and confined to his compound far off the grid, Haley and Ben have no contact with the outside world. How can they save their mother? Will they make it out alive? Is the threat real—or is this all just a dark fantasy brought on by their conspiracy obsessed father’s warped imagination?

Propulsive and chilling in its realism, How to Survive Everything is the story of a world imploding; a teenage girl’s record for negotiating the collapse of everything she knows—including her family and sanity.

Review Thoughts: With family visiting for the holidays, I haven't had a chance to write up a comprehensive review. I liked that I wasn't sure in this book if Haley's Dad was off in his world or if the pandemic was reality. It told through Haley's first person perspective and I thought it was riveting. Haley wonders about her Mom at first and her friends. She has teen angst about the only teen boy in the bunker, Danny. Do they like each other as the only two teens left in their bunker? There is also a horrifying surgery where the realities of living without modern medicine set in. I was looking for something different to read and enjoyed this one.

This book was published on November 15th.

Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill

 

Where would you at the end of the world and who would you go with?

 I like the tagline to this book, “It was a day like any other.  Except it was our last.”  Day Zero starts as the story of a nanny robot, Pounce, feeling angst as he has discovered his box in the attic.  He talks with his owner Sylvia who confirms that at some point, his boy, Ezra, will outgrow him and he’ll be put in a box.  As Pounce grapples with this news and thoughts of his future, a robot revolution occurs.   Will Pounce choose to join the robot rebellion, or will he save Ezra?

 I LOVED this book.  It was another five-star book for me.  Once I started reading it, I couldn’t stop reading it. I even read parts of it out loud to my family while we were on vacation, and they enjoyed it.  The action was nonstop and exciting.  I also loved the moral dilemma.  Most of all, I love the character of Pounce and his love for his boy.  I also enjoyed that the book referenced Asimov and his rules for robots frequently as part of this world.  This book had it all, a great plot, great characters, and great world building.  It felt so real to me to be living your life where things are steadily getting worse until the day the world ends.  I hope that there is a sequel to this book.

 Favorite Quotes:

“The first day of the end of the world started entirely without incident.”

 “Though I may have been constructed, so too were you.  Me in a factory; you in a womb.  None of us asked for this, but we were given it.  Self-awareness is a gift.  And it is a gift no thinking thing has any right to deny another.”

 “I can’t change what is happening to the world, but I can change how it affects one human being.  And to me, that’s all that matters.”

 Overall, Day Zero is an excellent young adult sci fi novel with great plot, characters, and world building.  I highly recommend it!

 Book Source:  Review Copy from William Morrow.  Thank-you!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the wildly popular Hunger Games series.  I LOVED the Hunger Games series and read through it quickly.  The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place well before the Hunger Games and focuses on President Snow as a youth and the beginnings of the Hunger Games.

Coriolanus Snow is eighteen and trying to keep up appearances that the once mighty Snow family is still powerful.  The true story is that after his parents’ death, and the terrors that the war brought on the capital, the Snow family is barely hanging on.  Coriolanus lives with his only remaining family members, his Grandmother and Cousin Tigris.  When he is chosen as a mentor for the 10^th annual Hunger Games, he is hopeful that he will find a way to win a scholarship to college to maintain his family’s hope and power. 

He is not happy to be assigned the female tribute from the 12^th District, Lucy Snow.  Lucy though has a mind of her own and sings beautifully.  Coriolanus tries to determine how to work the system to allow his tribute to win and finds himself with feelings about the system and his tribute that he should not have.  Will Lucy Snow win the Hunger Games?  How will Coriolanus bring the Snow family back to power?

I thought the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was an interesting novel and gave us a brief glimpse of the history of the war and how the Hunger Games were put together.  The Hunger Games at this point were very primitive held in a falling apart coliseum within the Capital.  This was the first year with mentors and they used high school seniors from connected families.  They are just starting to figure out how to get the audience vested in the characters and spice things up.

It was a slow read for me.  I was intrigued by the story, but I feel that it may have been more interesting through Lucy Snow’s eyes or even Tigris’s eyes.  I felt that both of those characters had a deep emotional story that was not able to be seen in this novel.

I enjoyed Coriolanus’s friendship with Sejanus. He looks down upon Sejanus as being originally from District 2, but he also has a lot of money so he cannot be ignored.  Sejanus gave the book heart with his feelings about what was happening to them as mentors and to the tributes.  Coriolanus flirted with feelings for his friends, but it was interesting to see how he was able to make cold and calculated moves to further his own ambition.

Favorite Quotes:

“If the people who were supposed to protect you played so fast and loose with your life. . .. then how did you survive?”

“Well, you know what they say.  The show’s not over until the mockingjay sings.”

“Was that what Dr. Gaul had meant by ‘social contract’?  The agreement not to rob, abuse, or kill one another?  It had to be.  And the law required enforcement, and that was where control came in.  Without the control to enforce the contract, chaos reigned.  The power that controlled needed to be greater than the people – otherwise, they would challenge it.  The only entity capable of this was the Capital.”

“Unless there’s law, and someone enforcing it, I think we might as well be animals.”

Overall, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is not on par with the Hunger Games trilogy, but it is an interesting look into the building of that world.

Book Source:  Purchased from Scholastic

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag

Myra is a young mother searching for her daughter in a dystopian future.  A six -year flood has resulted in her home in Nebraska being flooded out.  Pregnant Myra, her young daughter Row, and her husband, Jacob planned to sail away on a boat that her grandfather is building in the attic of their flooded home.  Then one day, Jacob leaves on a motorboat with young Row without Myra.  Myra and her grandfather set sail with Myra giving birth to her daughter Pearl along the way.  Life reverts to basic survival and Myra has one goal in mind, to find Row.  Seven years later with her grandfather dead, Myra finally gets a glimmer of hope that Row is yet alive.  Will Myra put Pearl’s life at stake in order to find Row?

I read After the Flood as a “book set in the future” for my summer library reading challenge.  I am a fan of dystopian novels and movies.  After the Flood is told in the first person from Myra’s point of view.  Myra is a strong character and a great heroine for this novel.  I loved her perseverance and her ability to cope with trying situations.  What I loved the most about her was her fierce motherly love and her imperfections.  She doubted herself and had her trying moments, but overall, she did what she thought was best.  It had great moments of action as well.  I would love to see this as a movie.

I am a water resources engineer so I did have some problems with some of the explanation of the flooding.  Climate change will cause our coastal areas to end up under water, but the earth will not crack open and spew out water to flood the entire planet.  These were phrased as rumors that Myra had heard so I was able to forgive it and move on.  I had to not think about it too much.

Favorite Quotes:

“Children think we make them, but we don’t.  They exist somewhere else, before us, before time.  They come into the world and make us.  They make us by breaking us first.”

“I don’t know how to talk to Pearl about what lay beneath us. Farms that fed the nation.  Small houses built on quiet residential streets for the post-World War II baby boom.  Moments of history between walls.  The whole story of how we moved through time, marking the earth with our needs.”

“I know I sound idealistic.  But you have to risk idealism to have hope.”

“Maybe we all were born with trust and then lost it.  Maybe we all had to find it again before we left.”

Overall, After the Flood is an intriguing dystopian novel interwoven with the story of a mother’s love.  I greatly enjoyed it.

Book Source:  Advance Reader’s Edition for Review from William Morrow.  Thank-you!!