Orwell was interested in the mechanics of totalitarianism, imagining a society that took the paranoid surveillance of the Soviets to chilling conclusions. But forget TV’s Big Brother or the trite travesty of Room 101: the original has lost none of its furious force. The ultimate piece of dystopian fiction, 1984 was so prescient that it’s become a cliché. From the overwhelming poverty experienced by Charlie Bucket and his family, to the spoilt, greedy, brattish children who join Charlie on his trip to Willy Wonka’s phantasmagorical sweet factory there is nothing artificially sweetened in Roald Dahl’s startling work of fantasy. Harry Potter may be more popular, but Willy Wonka is altogether weirder. Ĭharlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl Start your 30-day Audible trial and get this audiobook for free here. Beyond the majestic poetry and the pimples, there’s also a sharp satire of Thatcherist Britain. No one has lampooned the self-absorption, delusions of grandeur and sexual frustration of adolescence as brilliantly as Sue Townsend, and no one ever will. Read this one when you’re decrepit enough, and chances are you’ll die laughing. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾, Sue Townsend The 42 best films to watch while you’re self-isolating.The 40 best albums to listen to while you’re self-isolating.15 best podcasts to listen to while you’re self-isolating.
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