It’s snowing again? Can’t find your way outside, because snow is blocking the way? Your fingers are white already, your nose red and your toes…? Mine are either petrified or gone, not exactly sure at the moment. Same with you? No problem, because we’ve got books for you! For whenever it’s so cold that we don’t even want to get dressed and leave the house, we have some stories that will make you unable to put away that book, so be get a blanket, some milk and honey and one of the novels we took a look at for this issue!
Title
Never Let Me Go
Author
Kazuo Ishiguro
Genre
Calm science-fiction asking deep questions
Subject
Genetic engineering
Similar to
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Plot
As she decides it’s time to quit her job, Kathy looks back at her childhood. She reflects on the boarding school Hailsham and her friends, but soon the reader notices that something is wrong about this idyllic scene: Why don’t the kids ever mention their families? And why do they know nothing about the world beyond Hailsham?
Awesome
There are many questions the author leaves unanswered and that’s great, because this is not non-fiction but a colorful novel that allows the reader to get a special insight to Kathy’s feelings and thoughts. Ishiguro’s style is so calm the number of questions in the reader’s head is big and the subject is quite fresh and controversial.
Critical
Even though details about the society Ishiguro criticizes aren’t explained, lots of details about Kathy and her feelings are mentioned. For someone who doesn’t care about genetic engineering, who needs lots of suspense and wants a novel’s problem to be eventually solved, this is not the right one.
Title
Meat Market
Author
Laurie Penny
Genre
Critical and angry non-fiction
Subject
Feminism
Similar to
Living Dolls by Natasha Walter
Plot
Being a feminist in a society she describes as obsessed with control over female bodies, Laurie Penny criticizes what the media, stereotypes and more say about women. She’s young, became popular with her popular feministic blog “Penny Red”, seems full of rage and is not afraid to mention examples like criticizing Playboy.
Awesome
You will find truth in what she’s got to say, but you will not find many young women who find the guts to express to the public their thoughts about such controversial things. Even if you don’t agree with her, she can still teach you that it’s alright to speak your mind.
Critical
When we hear “non-fiction”, we thing of books that explain things to us, but Penny has an angry writing style and you should not forget to find your very own opinion on feminism. Plus, the first section that features lots of issues Penny sees teen girls confronted with is way too short.
