The Colour Purple is a book in which the horror of domestic violence, towards wives and children alike, is bought to life in the letters which Celie addresses to god (and later to her sister Nettie) as she grows up and is forced to marry an abusive husband who is in love with another woman. 

The two main characters who suffer violent attacks in the novel are Celie and Sofia, who both experience abuse in their childhood and marriages. Sofia tries to combat her domestic violence by being violent herself, however this later lands her in prison where she slowly wastes away.

 

This is, in essence, a powerful feminist novel about a woman finding out who she is and what she can become. Celie hears about Shug Avery (the woman her husband is in love with) and immediately feels a rush of adoration for her so when she falls ill, and her husband brings her to the house- Celie nurses her back to health and the two become good friends.

Celie is affected by Shug's rebellious spirit and leaves the family to travel with Shug which is when  her journey to finding out who she really is begins. 

Life of Pi

(Another book not technically on the reading list)
This fantasy adventure story portrays the life of Piscine Patel (or "Pi") while he leaves his home town of Pondicherry in india, in order to move to Canada with his parents and his brother. Pi is a young teenager, and the son of a zookeper who,  from a young age, battles with spirituality- following three different religions. (He becomes a practicing Muslim, Hindu and Christian)

When his family decide to emigrate to Canada, bringing all the animals with them to sell in America, they board a cargo ship which sinks just a few days into their voyage.
Pi is the only member of his family to survive and spends 227 days floating in the pacific ocean with a hyena, zebra, orangutan and a fully grown Bengal tiger. The first three animals are quickly killed, but Pi battles with the tiger in order to stay alive throughout their ordeal.

Finally, after reaching the shores of Mexico, Pi is interviewed by two maritime officers who ask him questions about how he managed to survive. After Pi recounts the story (and the officers refuse to believe it, finding it too unbelievable) he tells another in which there are no animals on the boat-only other passengers. The officers notice parallels between the too story's. At the end of the conversation Pi asks them which story they like better, and they reply that they prefer the story with the animals. Pi ends the conversation with the statement "and so it goes with god"

This novel is, in short, deeply spiritual. Although the author advocates neither story, you are left to choose which story you believe. If you believe the story with the tiger, then you are a religious person, and if you believe the other, you are an Atheist. (Of course leaving the choice that if you can't decide-you are agnostic.)

American Psycho

American Psycho is a modern criticism of American society set in the 1980's narrated by Pat Bateman. The novel is virtually plotless, and is filled with endless monolouges on topics ranging from Fashion Designers to bands- and essentially forces us to come to terms with issues that are woven into society that many people would rather ignore.

The book starts in a taxi cab,  and is instantly narrated in a dark, satirical humorous way- almost every sentence includes a vast description of specific products or brands. As the novel continues and this doesn't cease, we begin to realize that we're viewing the novel through Pat's eyes. He sees the world in a totally consumerist way, as he is not able to relate to feelings, emotions or other people (this is due to him being a psychopath). In addition to highlighting the out of control consumerism in the 80's, Ellis shows us that Patrick, and all the people he associates with in the novel, have no empathy or compassion for anyone but themselves. All of this is highlighted when Pat and his friends go to many restaurants and spend enormous amounts of money-and barely eat any of their food, but taunt and ignore all the homeless people on the streets of New York.

The first half of the novel is funny, flawless and provides an excellent portrayal of the era, however the writing doesn't stop there- and the second half of the novel contains the most disturbing scenes I have ever read, despite being equally well written. It is not only the scenes of rape, torture and violence that are disturbing, but also Pat's internal monologues which reveal a total lack of empathy towards his victims that contributes to the scenes of horror. Although at many points in the novel it is suggested that Pat is simply hallucinating, or is delusional about the extent of his murders- none of his friends or co-workers ever suspect anything is wrong with him. He often informs them that he is a murderer, or confesses to his crimes, but they are too self centered and wrapped up in their own lives to notice (which again provides a criticism of the way society worked in the 1980's, and perhaps still is today)


The real downfall of the novel is it's lack of plot (which wouldn't be an issue if it was much shorter) and a review of the times stated "At 400 pages, American Psycho is probably unfinishable except by adolescents and sociopaths"  

 In conclusion, American Psycho was filled with racism, sexism, homophobia, materialism and was utterly narcissistic-which all perfectly conveyed the character and the criticism's the writer was trying to put across- but I would never read it twice! If you think i'm exaggerating then you could probably try it but in all honesty-some passages made me feel a little sick (and i've read plenty of violent books and seen plenty of films etc.) All in all, a mixed review but unless you have incredible patience (or only read the first half) I wouldn't reccoment it.

The Collector

(major spoiler alert, don't read if you haven't read the book)

While not a typical "horror" book, The Collector is a haunting, deeply chilling, terrifying account of an abduction, which will stay with you for years to come- and even endevour to change the way you live your life.

The collector is a novel which is told from the point of view of Frederic, a young man who is obsessed with collecting butterflies,photography and stalking Miranda Grey. After winning the lottery he moves to London, persuing her as she studies art at a university there. After some time he buys a house with a basement, and decides he'll abduct and imprison her there.

He prepares by big a big white van, art books he thinks will interest her, clothes that are about her size and decorations for his house. He then follows her on her way home from university, and uses chloroform to subdue her.

Some time passes, Miranda gives him long lists of things she wants in the basement and he complies, desperate that she will one day fall in love with him. Although sex is referred to openly, and is often on the captors mind- nothing of that nature ever occurs in the beginning of the novel. He is not openly perverse, and does not mistreat her in any way (apart from keeping her in the damp basement away from civilization) Above all, he wants to make her happy which is conveyed incredibly well.

She makes several attempts to escape, all of which fail. Around half way through the book, it begins to be told in a series of diary entries from Miranda's perspective. This provides a haunting insight into the realizations she comes to during her captivity, such as the realization that she is in love with G.P., a man who she has been friends with for a very long time (and he said he wanted to marry her at one point)
She comes to terms with all the choices she wants to make with her life, who she wants to be friends with, her religion, her career and her love life. She makes plans for the future, and all the places she wants to visit. These are all shattered when she contracts pneumonia in the basement and dies when Frederic refuses to get a doctor for her.

Overall, this book endevours to make you realize that you should do things that make you happy, and live the life you want to live because you want to-not because it is what is expected of you. One of the best books i've read in a long time.

Great Expectations is a Victorian novel which provides a clear insight into the British class system in the 19th Century and the startling difference between each class. It is narrated from the point of view of "Pip" who is the son to two deceased parents, and is therefore being raised by his sister, and her husband- Joe.

Although Pip is the main character in his own right, he serves more as a vessel to tell the stories of those surrounding him, and through him we learn from the characters mistakes, just as he learns them. The themes are also clearly conveyed through Pip- As when he comes into his fortune, and his property- he abandons his friends and family as he believes he is meant for better things. When he gets into too much debt, is dying and is left by Herbert (who marries and moves to Cairo) Joe pays off Pip's debts and nurses him back to health. Through this we learn lessons of gratitude, appreciation and humility.

In the beginning of the book, Pip encounters a convict named Abel Magwitch on the marshes near his home who threatens to remove his heart and liver if Pip doesn't return with the tools necessary to remove his shackles. Pip hurries home to steal a file, some brandy and a mince pie. The convict, struck by the boys kindness, decides to dedicate his life to raising Pip to be a gentlemen, although we don't find this out until much later in the novel.

Meanwhile, Pip is invited to Miss Havisham's house to play with her daughter Estella. When he does, she scorns him, calling him "common" and claiming his hands were "course"-Despite this he falls in love with her instantly, as he is totally enchanted by her extraordinary beauty. He continues to return to the house to play with Estella, and on one occasion has a fight with "A pale young gentlemen"-which Estella watches in secret. Pip wins the fight, and departs Satis house. When he returns for the final time, he is bound to be Joe's Apprentice, even though he doesn't want this as he feels as this will make Estella inaccessible to him.

One evening, Mrs. Joe (his sister) is attacked, and hit over the head, which leaves her extremely ill, forcing a young woman named "Biddy" to move in with them in order to take care of her. Although she is pretty, intelligent and like Pip an immense amount, Pip rejects any chance of them being together as he is still in love with Estella. Shortly after this, Pip receives news that he has a Patron, who has sponsored him to become a Gentlemen in London. Seeing this as a chance to reunite himself with his Beloved Estella, he leaves his home behind and travels to London.

While in London he boards with Herbert, who turns out to be the pale young Gentlemen whom he had fought in the courtyard at Satis house, and as they lodge together they gradually find dificulties as they get into debt. Herbert informs Pip of Miss Havishams background story, of how she fell in love with someone and was abandoned at the altar, which is why she lives a life of seclusion and remains shut off from the world.  Pip see's that she is teaching Estella to be harsh, and cruel in order to exact her revenge upon all men.

Estella moves to London, and although Pip is faithful, dedicated, and does as Estella says, she decides to marry Bentley Drummle, a bitter man whom Pip dislikes. Pip goes to Satis house to plead with Estella and Miss Havisham, confessing his love for Estella and imploring her to marry someone else, anyone else- as he feels she deserves much better. She rejects his advances, and emphasizes that she feels nothing, and has no heart. Miss Havisham begins to realize the full extent of the damage she has done to Estella, as Estella cannot even begin to comprehend how Pip feels. As a result of this, Miss Havisham later gives pip £900 pounds to invest in Herbert, and he claims nothing for himself-  She then sets herself on fire and falls very ill.

(Although Pip returns to his home town many times, he does not visit his family and friends at the forge as he feels that he deserves better company)

Later in the Novel, Abel Magwitch reveals himself as Pips Patron, and Pip feels incredibly bitter, as he had assumed his Patron was Miss Havisham and therefore thought he was meant to be with Estella. Pip later learns to love Magwitch-and tries to help him escape. However, they are caught by the police. During their escape Magwitch becomes injured, and is taken to Hospital. At this point, Pip confesses that he knows that Estella is Magwitches daughter, and as soon as he has said it, Magwitch dies.

After this, Pip becomes overwhelmed with debt, and falls very ill-to the point of death. Joe goes to London in order to help Pip, and Pip realizes that Joe has paid off all of his debts.

As he has no money left, and no friends- he returns to the forge to tell Biddy that he loves her, and has the intention of marrying her, however when he arrives he finds that Biddy is to be married to Joe. Pip realizes all the mistakes he has made in the name of persuing Estella, and goes to Cairo to join Herbert and his wife.

Finally, Pip returns 11 years later to find Estella at Satis house, she tells him how her husband mistreated her, and ended up being killed by a horse. The novel ends on the agreement that they should never part again, however it is ambiguous as to whether they stay friends, or whether they get married.

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