Brave New World

Written By Jess Pancholi
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Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Reviewed by Jess
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People always talk about George Orwell's 1984 as the ultimate dystopian world novel - I'm here to challenge that notion with Brave New World. I picked up this copy from a village hall jumble sale for 50p a few years ago, with this beautiful cover illustration, and dove straight in. At times this is quite a difficult read, in both prose and content, and I understand why it was banned way back when in some conservative countries. Society is dictated by castes and controlled with government ordered antidepressants, and the book goes way above and beyond the "science fiction" label to really look at human qualities, such as nature versus nurture, and a person's raison d'être. To quote one character: "Words can be like x-rays if you use them properly. They'll go through anything. You read and you're pierced." A challenging book but worth it - it definitely stays with you.

Jess Pancholi

I’ve got to start this off by thanking Linda for putting together this amazing group of ladies who I love dearly! Linda was my uni/PhD wife for 8 solid years and books were one of the many things that bound us together - pun intended! I really think our book family is amazing, diverse and we really influence each other to push our reading boundaries (and crack each other up with our banter and jokes haha!) The family extends to you followers too - and we are just getting started!

According to everyone in my family and numerous home movies I was forever reading books.  Spot the Dog and anything Beatrix Potter were my jam. They say your love of reading never dies and I can absolutely say that is true! The books might be more grown up but I’m still there, book in hand (and snacks to boot!) ready to lose myself in a story.I can’t say for sure what my preferred genre of book is - I’ve read everything from biographies to epic modern novels and classic tales too - and of course as a scientist I dabble in a little popular sci lit on the side. I’m always willing to try something wacky and weird, even if I don’t like it in the end but I guess that’s why I’m part of The Candid Book Club, eh?

If you asked me to recommend some books to you, I would say that Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is my absolute favourite ever; its worth it, I promise!I also love: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (shout out if you read this in high school - it’s YA that really sticks with you) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla (this is ESSENTIAL reading) Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami A Little Life by Hanyayan Agihara, Yes Please by Amy Poehler. And of course- The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck by Beatrix Potter

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