Recent reads

Nineteen Eigthy-Four – George Orwell
This was written in 1948 (there or thereabouts) and is Orwells view of what the world would(could) be like in 1984 and features the original 'Big Brother' concept. All I can say is, thank the Pope he got it wrong because he didn't paint a very happy and smiley picture of life thirty-odd years down the line. Nevertheless, this is an epic, dark story of an individual (Winston) who cautiously rebels against the trappings of an horrific, totalitarian government on steroids. If it were a movie, it would be directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter.

The Alchemist – Paulo Coehlo
I probably don't even need to write anything here as it seems I'm one of the last people on earth to have read this book! Nevertheless, the way in which this book is written makes it a pleasure to read, and at 180 or so pages, a very approachable read at that. It is a very simple story of a journey to enlightenment. At the same time it is also a lesson to us to be aware of what's going on, in and around our lives because there-in lie the answers to many of our most important questions.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Without doubt, the best of the Harry Potter books. Personally, Ms Rowling has saved the best for last. It's chunky, but when the content is this good, at no time does it ever feel laboured. I'm not going to say anything more for fear of giving anything away and spoiling it for you.