31. Yummy: The Last Days of South Side Shorty

Haunting story of a boy led astray by a gang. It's sad depressing to know that this was inspired by true events. The odds were stacked against Robert "Yummy" Standifer. Daddy in jail and mother strung out on drugs. Raised by his grandmother who had her hands full looking after other grandkids I was okay with how the story was handled even though I'm not a big fan of sticking fictional characters in real situations but it worked out fine.

30. 1984 by George Orwell

1.  Describe the role that O'Brien plays in Winston's life. Why do you think that initially, Winston is drawn to O'Brien? Why does he implicitly trust him, despite the enormous dangers involved?  Winston is drawn to O'Brien because O'brien represents an escape for him.  Here is someone who feels the same way I do.  Winston is projecting his feeling onto O'Brien in an attempt to gain a companion against big brother.  

2.  The Party wages continual war on sexual desires. Why? According to official dogma, why are normal sexual urges opposed to the Party’s goals, and to what use can sex be put to accomplish the Party’s purpose?   The Party suppresses sexual desires in order to be the only source of allegiance its members have.  It wants all energy directed toward Party activities.

3. The name Winston very likely comes from Winston Churchill. Why would Orwell have given his main character such a name?  A warning to the people of London and other democracy to watch their leaders and beware of how governments try to control their citizens.

1984 was a long read but some parts were very interesting.  The warnings against oppressive governments rings true over 60 years later since the books first publication.    

29. The Double Life by Shea Word

Shea Word's The Double Life starts out great but then falls flat toward the end.  I couldn't stop reading this book in the beginning but by the end I just hoped it would end.  In the beginning Word makes the characters' need for each other so palpable it jumps off the page. I wish it stayed on Dayna and Sydney's perspective. Adding their husbands' side of the story added another dimension to the story.  But it made the story lose some its fire.  Plus in the end she makes Sydney do something so stupid its unbelievable.  If you are cheating on your husband and want to be with the other person why go on a vacation trip with your husband.  You don't need to go anywhere secluded with him.  I could see if she made the character dumb throughout the book but Sydney is presented as a intelligent women.  This is a great book in the beginning, it jumps the shark in the middle, and falls completely flat at the end.