A Room Without Books Is Like A Body Without A Soul
A good book should leave you with many experiences.
You should live several lives while reading it.
William Styron


A Child Called It
David Pelzer
One Childs Courage To Survive

As soon as they left, she brought out
one of Russell's soiled diapers.
She smeared the diaper on my face.
I tried to sit perfectly still. I knew if I moved, it would only be worse.
I didn't look up. I couldn't see Mother standing over me,
but I could hear her heavy breathing.
After what seemed like an hour, Mother knelt down beside me
and in a soft voice, said
"Eat it."

Everybody should read this book.
It was only after I'd finished reading it that
the true enormity of what this boy had been through hit me...
I just couldn't conceive of how someone could mistreat someone so badly.
This book documents the third worst case of child abuse recorded in Californian history,
and I only hope it goes some way towards raising awareness
of the true horrors some children suffer and helping put a stop to it.


The Shawshank Redemption
Stephen King
Hope Springs Eternal

"I think you're lying," Hadley said, but he didn't - you could see he didn't.
There was an emotion dawning on his face, something that was grotesque
overlying that long, ugly countenance and that receding, sunburnt brow.
An almost obscene emotion when seen on the features of Byron Hadley.
It was hope.

I read the first paragraph of this novella
and was absolutely hooked.
It's the most amazing fiction I've ever read...
exactly how a book should be.
You just lose yourself in it.


Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers
Grant Naylor
Alone in a Godless Universe and out of Shake N Vac

"Cow's milk," said Holly. "We ran out of that yonks ago. Fresh and dehydrated."
"What kind of milk are we using now, then?"
"Emergency back-up supply. We're on the dog's milk."
Lister froze, the styrofoam cup resting on his lips,
the tea half-way down his throat.
He swallowed. "Dog's milk?"
"Nothing wrong with dog's milk.
Full of goodness, full of vitamins, full of marrowbone jelly.
Lasts longer than any other kind of milk, dog's milk."
"Why?"
"No bugger'll drink it."

I have read this book at least a hundred times
and it always has me absolutely doubled over
with laughter -s- Such a funny book.
Ya just don't get humour like this around too much anymore.


The Handmaids Tale
Margaret Atwood
Even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire

I'm not in any immediate danger, I'll say to you.
I'll pretend you can hear me.
But it's no good, because I know you can't.

A story born out of loneliness, oppression and hope...
kinda deep, in some ways. Weird in others.
But definitely worth a look... -s-


Wuthering Heights
Emily Bronte
One of the most passionate and heartfelt novels ever written

"Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy?
I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this.
...I have not broken your heart -
you have broken it; and in breaking it
you have broken mine.
So much the worse for me, that I am strong.
Do I want to live?
What kind of living will it be when you
- Oh God! Would you like to live with your soul in the grave?"

I defied all convention when I actually liked a book
I was set for an English Literature Exam -l-
The more I studied this book, the more I liked it
-shrug- -bs-


Sleepers
Lorenzo Carcaterra
An unforgettable true story of friendship, loyalty and revenge

I wanted to stand up and grab him,
reach past the coffee and the smoke
and beat him until he bled.
Instead, I sat there and remembered all that
I had tried so hard to forget, over so many years, to forget.
Painful screams piercing silent nights.
A leather belt against soft skin.
Foul breath on the back of a neck.
Loud laughter mixed with muffled tears.

Such a powerful story, it's even beyond words -s-