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Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

I began reading this book purely on the recommendation of a friend and not really aware of what it was about. Having now finished this book I can say that I was not expecting that...

I found this book so interesting and I was fully immersed from cover to cover in this world Huxley has fabricated. I love utopian/dystopian future fiction, especially when the author plants the gnawing belief that the world they have created has the possibility to become reality in the future. 

Huxley creates a world which seems at least on the surface utopian- with its ‘no side-effects drugs’, complete sexual freedom for both men and women, lack of attachment and the absence of suffering. But as the novel progresses, we begin to notice the flaws in this ‘all too perfect’ society when we realise the major implications it has had on its inhabitants. 

I was shocked to discover that this new world lacked art and that the idea of nostalgia was in fact disliked and discouraged by the World Controllers. Once the novelty of all of the wondrous new inventions of Huxley’s ‘utopia’ wore off, I began to feel quite uncomfortable and even, at times, disgusted by the conditioned attitudes that the inhabitants of this ‘utopia’ had. This novel clearly expresses the dangers of consumerism and it amazed me at how these people were conditioned to treat other human beings with a consumer attitude.

This book is so interesting and it has had a profound impact on the way I view the world. If I have learnt anything from this book, it is that one can never have complete freedom; when control is loosened on one aspect of our lives it is only tightened on another. 

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Monday 13th March 2017

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

CAUTION: SPOILERS

Having both read the book and seen the play (twice), I find both formats of this story equally as fascinating, especially from the point of view of an A Level English and Drama student. However, as this is a reading blog, I shall be solely discussing my experience as a reader.

To read this book is not only to learn Christopher Boone’s story, but to think Christopher’s highly logical, honest thoughts and to feel Christopher’s strained emotions. I don’t believe that I have since read a novel that better captures the inner thoughts of such a believable, relatable character in the way Mark Haddon does. This novel has helped me to understand how people live with Asperger’s in such a way that could only be bettered with living with the condition myself. 

At the end of the novel I felt so proud of Christopher and his achievements; proud that, despite the stigma placed upon (even by himself), he managed to do so much by his own determination to solve a mystery like Sherlock Holmes (who he is a big fan of). 

The thing I love most about this book is how honest (even if at times it is a little too honest) because I believe that the tone captures Christopher’s personality perfectly. Consequently, this makes certain areas of the book unintentionally hilarious and founds a deep affection for Christopher, which is maintained throughout the book.

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Aaaand yet another book I bought: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle 🕵🏻 I mainly bought this so I wouldn’t have to pay any shipping costs. Yep, I fall for it every time 🤷🏻‍♂️ But then again, an extra book is never bad, right? And especially not a book that looks this good! 🙌🏼 . What was your latest addition to your shelves? . The headphones in the photo have absolutely nothing to do with the book, but I’m still in love with them. And they were only €15 🙈

IG: romireads romireads.wordpress.com

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Got home from the library thinking I finally have some spare time to read for pleasure, but I might just nap instead.

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Welcome to my Reading List!

As a first year A Level student aspiring to read English Literature and Language at Oxford, I thought that creating an online reading blog would be helpful to me in the following months. I hope you find my blog inspiring and helpful- whether it be for study or for personal enjoyment. 

Bridget

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Sunday 12th March 2016

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

CAUTION: SPOILERS

I have wanted to read this for a long time but it was only when it appeared on my reading list for my A Level Literature course that I decided to finally read it. This book is a great read as long as you are comfortable with both graphic descriptions of multiple suicide methods and mental health problems. 

This novel has had a profound impact on me- probably because I saw so much of myself in Esther at the beginning of the novel. Like Esther, I cannot see a clear direction for my life after University and the events following this realisation have really prompted me to do further research into life after an English degree to prevent myself (as much as I can) from entering into the same mental demise as Esther. 

What I found most shocking (if you’ll excuse the pun) were the attitudes presented in the novel towards mental health problems, as I know that these were the widespread attitudes of the majority of Americans in the 1960′s. It makes me appreciate the way attitudes have evolved since and extremely thankful that electrotherapy treatments are no longer common practice or considered acceptable. 

I would totally recommend to anyone who is feeling lost in the world or trapped by society and its standards; it helped me to gain a new perspective on my life and I’m sure it would have similar effects on others too.