It's the first Thursday of the month which means it's time to share what we've read the month prior. Hop over to the host blogs (The Other Side Of The Road, Slices of Life, My Joyful Life, and Memphis Bridges) if you'd like to see more titles and reviews. Here's my October stack-
1984 by George Orwell
This was our book club selection in October. I read this in high school and let me just say it 100% hits different in 2025. Whoa. It's pretty amazing how spot on this book is with all that is happening currently in terms of data collection, suppression of speech, cancel culture, redefining common terms, and artificial intelligence. If you've never read this one you should. fyi-it's not a happy go lucky story by any means
The book was written in 1948 (published in 1949) and Orwell (did you know his real name was Eric Blair?) chose the title by reversing the date (1948/1984). When this book was written television was barely a thing, yet his picture of the future is scarily accurate.
1984 is what we call dystopian, and it follows the main character (Winston Smith) as he rebels against a totalitarian governmetn led by Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites history to fit the Party's agenda. His rebellion grows with a forbidden love affair and in thinking his superior (O'Brien) is an ally.
Our book club happened to meet on Charlie Kirk's birthday and I wore my freedom sweatshirt which some people appreciated, and some likely did not. It certainly felt right to me. I gave this one 5 stars.
Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall
This is one of those novels getting all the hype, and in fact has been optioned for a feature film. Eh. Its also a Reese Witherspoon book club choice. The plot centers around a love triangle and it's impact on a small English farming community. I found two of the three parties in this trio unlikable which heavily influenced my three star rating. I think I'm in the minority here but I'm okay with that.
Broken Country is the story of a married woman whose first love drops back into her life and upends the quiet farm life she's made for herself. There's significant tragedy in the novel and I found that hard to read. While I felt compassion for Beth because of the tragedy she experienced her subsequent actions made me squirm. Overall the book was a downer, which I can be on board with (just ask my book club-I love sad stories) but in this case I was not.
Go As A River by Shelley Read
I loved it. And it's sad in parts but there's a lot to love too. Go As A River is a work of historical fiction set in 1940's Colorado. 17-year old Victoria's life is changed by a chance encounter with a mysterious drifter named Wilson Moon. The subsequent relationship leads to heartbreak, tragedy, hard choices, and ultimately a rebuilt life. The story follows Victoria's journey of survival and resilience all set against the backdrop of her family's peach farm and the threat of the Gunnison River being flooded for a dam.
The writing is excellent and the story compelling. Five stars for me.
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis was a brilliant man and sometimes reading his writing has me questioning my own intellect. I absolutely love everything I've read by him, but often have to read his works slowly, and really allow them to marinate in my brain before I truly get it.
While that might not sound like an appealing invitation to read this book I encourage everyone to read it. It's very readable and the chapters are short. Lewis has a real gift for explaining complex theological ideas in a way everyman can understand.
This wasn't originally planned as a book, and instead began as a brief series of broadcasts on the BBC during the early part of WW2. Lewis was asked to present these talks as a way as a way of comforting and reassuring British citizens during one of the darkest periods of time the world has ever known.
Can you imagine us trying that now?
Lewis lived much of his life an avowed atheist before coming to Christianity in his 30's. He manages to explain Christianity and why it makes sense in very un-churchy language.
I've read Mere Christianity before but it was a long time ago. Our church is doing an evening study of the book so I'm reading again, and enjoying the discussion too. This is an easy 5 stars for me.
Overall that sounds like a pretty good month of reading! I've never read Orwell's book but it does sound intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI read 1984 during Covid. WHAT a time to read it!! I wish everyone would read it. Agree with everything you said about Lewis. I'll look into the Read book! Thanks for the reviews!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Broken Country, but agree with you that it wasn't as great as the hype led me to believe! I feel that way about a lot of Reese's books, tho. Go As A River keeps appearing on my feed--i'm adding it to my TBR. And I need to revist 1984. Scary times!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about 1984! I remember reading it in high school and I quoted to my students all the time that the three languages they needed for the future were English, Spanish, and Computers. I attributed that to 1984 but I could be very wrong. I'm almost scared to read it today!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same about Broken Country. I didn't like the characters. It irked me for some reason.
I am intrigued about Mere Christianity. I have never read a C.S. Lewis book. Hmmmm. I will talk to Mason about it. The stuff he reads is so crazy hard.
1984 is scary in its accuracy of cultures today. Everyone should read it and take it to heart. We are living it now. As for C.S. Lewis, I am not a fan of the Screwtape Letters. Our small group did a study on it. The men loved it - the women, not so much. Mere Christianity is a much better read, for sure!! Thanks for your reviews!!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your book reviews. I feel as though we enjoy similar genres and evaluate books along the same lines. I’m going to have to do a fresh read of 1984 after seeing your reflections.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you read 4 books last month! I've just written a blog post (not posted yet) where I talk about being able to read again. :)
ReplyDeleteI also read 1984 in high school, and I imagine things would ring so true in the current world. I've always wanted to read Mere Christianity and have it on my shelf. Time to put my midlife brain to work and get started with reading it. I'm so glad you enjoyed Go As A River. I also found the two characters in Broken Country to be unlikable, but felt like the story redeemed at least one of them in the end. It's definitely not a happy story though.
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews. I listened to animal farm last year, I think, and was like "wow, this has sounded very similar to life in the US the last several years."
ReplyDeleteI read 1984 a long time ago but yes it is chilling how things have come to pass. I've also just googled C S Lewis - I knew very little about him apart from being the author of Narnia! Thanks for widening my knowledge Joyce.
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought of "1984" in so many years but I remember reading it in high school and the discussions that followed. We never imagined that our world might reflect so much of what took place in the book. I've never read "Mere Christianity" but it's always been on my radar! I just added it to my kindle!
ReplyDeleteI read 1984 in high school (it was the assigned novel for the Class of 1984 at my school!) and it really stuck with me. I've read it a couple times since and it's sad to me that so much of the dystopian future it depicted seems to have come to pass. I need to revisit Mere Christianity - I have the same feeling reading Lewis' non-fiction, and have to read it slower and in smaller chunks, but he does have a brilliant way of explaining theology. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the book reviews you post from time to time. I've never read 1984 and probably never will since it's a downer. I've tried to read C.S. Lewis and just can't seem to get through. I think you have a higher I.Q. than me.
ReplyDeleteMy tenth graders will start 1984 in the spring and I am super pumped to teach it!
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