Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Animal Farm by George Orwell

7 reviews

stripy_gloves's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

quotablehedgehog's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Ableism, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

riverofhorton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was an incredibly thought-provoking book from start to finish and something that I can see myself revisiting in the future.

I went into this knowing it was an allegory for Stalin's Russia, but knowing little about the USSR, I didn't know how that would present. I found it most interesting that we see a lot of Napoleon's early tactics in the politics of today, especially right-wing groups, I also find this parallel to be deeply unsettling in nature, and and wonder how long it will be before we are like the other farm animals of this book, if our real-world politics continue down the path they are on.

On a more personal note, I saw a lot of my past self within the character of Boxer, as well as a lot of people no longer in my life in Napoleon's character. It was slightly disconcerting as such an animal lover myself to draw these comparisons, but it did remind me of how far I've come in the past few years.

To end on a lighter note, I enjoyed reading about the dynamic between Boxer and Benjamin, and find myself wondering if the intention was to portray a queer love between the two male characters, or if that was just my brain. I did also find the characterisation of the cat to be perfect throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jemmaisntcool's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and War

whatapunderpullworld's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

George Orwell gaslights the animals hard in this book. It's pretty fast-paced and entertaining albeit a tad dark for children.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Gore, Slavery, and Xenophobia

terrywho's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is one of the best books on authoritarianism ever written and one of my favorite novels for a reason

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

this is a book about WWII, so... all that...

tomtomonomtom's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Jfc, Orwell delivers. Everything hits the fan, no object misses, not even one. I read this novel because I am a fan of Orwell's essays and his writing style, I want to see in turn how he writes a novel. 

Took me a surprise that's for sure, but the novel did carry along with it the typical Orwell political topics (as it did with 1984). Least to say, this novel is depressing as hell and I was already in such a crisis before reading this. 

The characters, because of their way of portrayal as animals, works wonders when it comes to symbolizing their role in the mad house. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Deadnaming