Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy


Blurb:

Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell's chilling prophecy about the future. And while the year 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is timelier than ever. 1984 presents a startling and haunting vision of the world, so powerful that it is completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of multiple generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions. A legacy that seems only to grow with the passage of time.

Review:

The book 1984 was written by George Orwell and it depicts the future where the government is in complete control of all persons.

Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.

Considered perhaps the twentieth century's best chronicler of English culture, Orwell wrote fiction, polemical journalism, literary criticism and poetry. He is best known for the dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (published in 1949) and the satirical novella "Animal Farm" (1945)—they have together sold more copies than any two books by any other twentieth-century author. His 1938 book "Homage to Catalonia", an account of his experiences as a volunteer on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War, together with numerous essays on politics, literature, language, and culture, are widely acclaimed.

Orwell's influence on contemporary culture, popular and political, continues decades after his death. Several of his neologisms, along with the term "Orwellian" — now a byword for any oppressive or manipulative social phenomenon opposed to a free society — have entered the vernacular.

This book promises that your mind may be influenced by the prophecy that Orwell predicts. His take on the future is not unlike what we experience today, yet not to that degree.

There are a few debates that this book raises:

Does this book prophesize the war on terror? We know that this war did not start over terrorism but over oil; an idea in the book that all wars are started over oil.

Is science and technology growing every year? This is a true statement yet it is contradictory to what the book says:

                “This failed to happen, partly because of the impoverishment caused by a long series of wars and revolutions, partly because scientific and technical progress depended on the empirical habit of thought, which could not survive in a strictly regimented society.”

Look at Africa. Their science and technology doesn’t grow every year and they live in a strictly regimented society. Most of the country is impoverished because of this. So, this isn’t too far from the truth.

Do we live in a hierarchy society?

                “In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance.”

Is the government making us ignorant? Think about it. Every year we lose money in the Department of Education and teachers are being laid off. Coincidental? I think not.

                “The economy of many countries were allowed to stagnate, land went without cultivation, capital equipment was not added to, great blocks of the population were prevented from working and kept half alive by State charity.”

This couldn’t be any closer to the truth. In 1929, the stock market crashed leading to the Great Depression. During this time, land went uncultivated, the economy went stagnant, and people were prevented from working; relying on welfare. The problem is, yes, we did come back from this, but welfare is still here. I have always believed that if you keep a country poor and uneducated, you can control them.

                “And even technological progress today only happens when its products can in some way be used for the diminution of human liberty.”

This is a really scary thought when it comes to all the technological advances that come out every year; TV’s and cell phones. They have GPS on them not and webcams to see your face. If your friends can see you, who else can see you?

                “But none of these projects ever comes anywhere near realization, and none of these super-states ever gains significant lead on the others.”

Has it ever occurred to you that none of the larger countries ever get ahead of each other? We all seem to have the same technology no matter what comes out.

This book is very important. Maybe some people thought in 1948 that these things that happen in this book are just not possible. Unfortunately, Orwell saw different. And even more importantly he was right.

I believe everyone should read this book. Some people don’t pay attention to the things around them or they believe that the government is only doing what is best for everyone. This may not be the truth and you should be armed with the knowledge beforehand.

I got a lot of good ideas from this book. I was with the general population that the government is going to do what is best for us and we should stand behind them in their decisions. But I realize now that this isn’t the case. We should stand up for ourselves against all enemies both foreign and domestic.

Conclusion:

I couldn’t tie this book up if I tried without giving too much away. But I have included these quotes to give you an idea of where I stand:

                “The invention of print, however, made it easier to manipulate the public opinion, and the film and the radio carried the progress further.”

                “If human equality is to be forever averted-if the high, as we called them, are to keep their places permanently-then the prevailing mental condition must be controlled insanity.”

                “There was a truth and there was an untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.”

                “Reality exists in the human mind and nowhere else.”

 

Bitter Fruits by Sarah Daltry

Cover Reveal

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Blurb:

Attending a vampire-themed masquerade party seems like a strange way to spend a night, but Nora is sick of frat parties and bars. Meeting Alec was just a bonus. Despite their immediate attraction, however, Alec is wary of involving himself with Nora, and when she pushes it, she discovers that Alec has secrets that could destroy them both. Is she willing to risk everything for a man she hardly knows? How far into darkness will he take her?

When Nora attempts to follow, however, things grow more complicated. Someone is hunting her - someone tied to a secret that goes back to the beginning of man. Soon, Nora finds herself drawn to two men, each with his own agenda. Can she save them both when one is destined to die?

Author Bio:

Sarah Daltry writes erotica and romance that ranges from sweet to steamy. She moves around a lot and has trouble committing to things. Bitter Fruits is her first full-length novel, although she’s written two novellas and several short stories. She is currently writing another novel, a contemporary NA romance called Forget Me Not. When she isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

 

Social Links:

o   Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Daltry-Erotica/467129926691852

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o     Website: http://sarahdaltry.com

o   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry

o   Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7012679.Sarah_Daltry

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o   http://pinterest.com/sarahdaltry/

 
Kitchen Scandal by Brooke Cumberland Cover Reveal

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Book Enthusiast Promotions

Kitchen Scandal
Release date: July 1, 2013
Author: Brooke Cumberland
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions


Synopsis:

She finally found the one… but he has a hidden secret. Could this be the breaking point for Molly? Has she endeared too much?

Drake and Molly had instant chemistry in Kitchen Affairs, but when his secret goes all wrong, their relationship will be tested, feelings get hurt, and limits will be reached.

Someone tries interfering with their relationship keeping them distant; longing for answers in all the wrong places.

Can they recover their once intense, sensual chemistry? Will love be enough? Secrets, betrayals, and scandals…

Chicago’s hottest couple, Molly & Drake, go through big changes, hidden secrets, and tragedies.

 Author Bio:

Brooke is a midwestern gal, from the cheese state of Wisconsin! Go Packers! She's a stay-at-home mom of three beautiful children (one daughter & two stepsons) and a black fury dog. She's studied psychology in college, and counseling and education in graduate school where she found her love for writing. Most days you can find her reading or writing, or just hanging out with her family! She loves movies, cooking, and shopping! She's addicted to Starbucks, Coach purses, and wearing yoga pants.





 
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Well today was fun. I signed my oldest boy up for a reading program at his school so today we went to the library in our neighborhood and got him his first book for his reading challenge. 

I walk in and stop by the front desk as I always do. I look through all the books they have for sale. See, I suppose that when a book gets permanently shelved, the library instead puts them out on display hoping someone will adopt them and take them home. In this selection, I find three books that are on my TBR list. All three are part of the Vampire Academy series (not in order). Luckily, the first book in the series was one of them. Want to know how much? $3....yes, three whole dollars. Hmmm...yes you can bag those for me.

Then, we decided to go bargain shopping. The main road that runs through our little town is US 40. Apparently, once a year, the families that live on US 40 get together and have garage sales. This stretches from Greenfield to Richmond. Which if you don't know is a very long way. We didn't quite go that far but we did have fun looking (and buying) all the little treasures along the way. Well, we get into Knightstown and there is this little second hand book store. And what do you think I did? Of course I stopped in, you know, just to see what they had. I look and look but can't quite seem to set my interest on anything. This is a very strange feeling for me. Then, when I think all hope is lost, I look and there is this interesting little bookshelf and on it some "New Arrivals". So, I look through them and find three books that have three novels each in them. I have not heard of these books but I have heard of the author, L.J Smith (author of the Vampire Diaries). So, in all, I got 9 novels in three books. How much? Drum roll please....$7. I know you think you are having a heart attack but I promise it is just palpitations.

But it doesn't stop there. We then resume our garage sales and find more and more stuff we don't have the room for. Just when I had given up on finding good books on deep sale, I come across this little box in a front yard. I see a bunch of kids books and such, but at the bottom, there is this little book set. I had already owned "The Lovely Bones" but it also came with another book I have not heard of in a cute little collectible box. Well, lets see how much because it isn't marked. Wait...how much? $1!! Are you serious?!?! Sold.

So, all in all I got 8 books (14 total stories) for $11. I have to say that is one of the best hauls I have done so far. So, I added these to my book jar and can't wait to read them. I think if the stories are even somewhat enjoyable, they were still worth the price I paid for them.