Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

The Book

A wealthy sheikh, who has a passion for game fishing, wants to create a salmon river in the highlands of the Yemen. His unwavering belief and faith in the project gradually transforms the life of the English fisheries expert, Dr Alfred Jones, who is employed to help him.

The story appears to be a relatively gentle one, with the two main characters in relationships that are not working, finding themselves coming closer as the project carries on. It all seemed rather predictable and the only interest for me was the way in which the author lampooned the Western view of the Middle East and its policies. The crass idea for the TV quiz show whereby muslim villagers could win prizes like a dishwasher despite the fact their house has been levelled by military intervention was satirical and scarily possible.
The ending, however, pulls the finely woven rug from under your feet and was a quite unpredictable and down beat finale.

The Hunger Games

The Book

The Hunger Games is an exciting read that keeps you interested in the story and wanting to know what happens next. It is set in a dystopian future where 12 Districts of Panem (USA) are kept under the control of the Capitol through reducing food supplies and supressing any insurrection. The games take a boy and a girl from each District and pit them against each other in a fight to the death.

Katniss Everdeen volunteers as one of the tributes for District 12, when her little sister, Prim, is picked out. What makes the 74th Hunger Games different, and marks the story out as more than just an arena fight for survival, is when Peeta, the boy chosen from District 12, announces in his pre-games interview that he is in love with Katniss. This revelation is news to Katniss and the plot keeps you guessing as to whether this is Peeta's true feelings or a ruse in the game.