Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Farm der Tiere

Animal Farm is a political allegory for the Russian Revolution, in which many of the animals (human-like characters) represent the key historical figures of the time. Though it can still be read & enjoyed if you don't get any of the allusions to Lenin, Marx, Trotsky or Stalin. But there's no doubt that the message behind this book is an important one.

In terms of Orwell's writing and the plot, it is basic. An easy read if you are 10-14 y/o. There are many quotes that I liked (slide to read). I loved the words of the proud anthem “Beasts of England". I admired Boxer’s noble sense of dedication & self-sacrifice.
However, there are some problems as well..
•The constant theme throughout the book and especially the ending suggests that Revolution is useless, that things will remain how they've always been, neither getting better nor worse. Reliving tragedy and atrocities of an evil government is just one part of the equation, making our own revolution should be the other. So, the ending could've been better.
Similarly, there's this character in the book, Benjamin who is intelligent but still doesn't "exercise his faculty" and when other animals ask for his help, he refuses to "meddle in such matters".(Real bourgeoisie behaviour)
•The book also critiques the working class more than Stalin. Orwell writes like an aristocrat- calling the animals , illiterate, stupid & forgetful throughout the book.
•Another con is that the book is too political in nature. It's like Orwell has laid down a fable in respect of only his own opinions, not allowing the readers to form their own judgements. A book shouldn't be so heavy handed in its political message and should leave room for readers to make their own opinions.
•Also the allegorical aspect of the book is another issue as it only presents one possible interpretation of reality. This leads to misunderstanding of the complexities of real-world political events.

Overall, Animal Farm serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving too much power to one person or group, and the importance of staying vigilant and questioning authority.

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obfuscatress's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny informative reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A witty, biting allegory. Fast to read, easy to understand, and meant to stay with you. The two appendices in this edition help to open up some of the text to readers unfamiliar with the political climate in which the story was conceived and written, which adds to its ability to be accurately interpreted by a wider readership.

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peggy_racham's review against another edition

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4.25

"Some are just more equal then others."

What a great criticism of systems of power.

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hannah_cogo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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hhwanghyunjin's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I have always found George Orwell's "Animal Farm" to be a compelling allegory for the rise of communism in Russia. I picked up this classic novel and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was able to finish it. In less than a day, I had read through the entire book.

The story of the farm animals who overthrow their human oppressors and establish a new society based on the principles of equality and justice is both engaging and thought-provoking. Orwell masterfully uses anthropomorphism to make the animals seem human-like, which adds to the story's overall impact.

The characters in "Animal Farm" are complex and multi-dimensional, and Orwell's exploration of power dynamics and corruption is both timely and relevant. I appreciated the way he shows how even the most well-intentioned leaders can become corrupt and how easily a revolution can become the very thing it was fighting against.

While I did find the book a bit heavy-handed with its messaging, overall, I would highly recommend "Animal Farm" to anyone interested in political allegory and social commentary. It's a quick read that will stay with you long after you finish it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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annalikescats's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Boring . The cat should’ve overthrown the government

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wanderingdeviant's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

this is a really good critique of hierarchical / totalitarian societies, specifically this one being based on the soviet union, and of the way religion can be used corruptively. i think it was quite interesting and a book everyone should read at least once! i also like the cyclical ending to this, proving that rebellion against a particular system will not work without complete reformation of that system to begin with.

“ twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. no question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. the creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which. “

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