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meg_masters's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
shanniecakes's review against another edition
2.0
An interesting examination of poverty in early twentieth century Europe. Orwell seems to have gotten off easy however - he avoids reaching any definitive conclusions about the effects of destitution on humankind, and fails to provide enough material for the reader to do so himself.
zuzubaloo's review against another edition
2.0
George Orwell takes readers through his experiences in his early 20s when he struggled with poverty in Paris and London.
I found the book to be boring and drawn out. The repetitive nature of the narrative and lack of significant events may have been intentional to convey the monotony of poverty, but I believe Orwell could have made it more engaging.
I found it puzzling that Orwell, despite having an aunt in Paris and family in England, chose to live in extreme poverty. His privileged background, having been educated at Eton, led me to question why he willingly subjected himself to such conditions. Many individuals genuinely endure extreme poverty, and Orwell did not necessarily have to put himself in that position. Nevertheless, his firsthand account sheds light on the prejudices toward poverty and homelessness, which unfortunately persist almost a century later.
I found his accounts of his time in Paris to be more tedious than his experiences in London. The book lacked a deeper exploration of the people Orwell encountered in Paris. I was more grateful that the overuse of French was limited when he started telling of his time in London.
Overall, the book did not resonate with me. The ending felt abrupt as if Orwell had run out of material to share.
I found the book to be boring and drawn out. The repetitive nature of the narrative and lack of significant events may have been intentional to convey the monotony of poverty, but I believe Orwell could have made it more engaging.
I found it puzzling that Orwell, despite having an aunt in Paris and family in England, chose to live in extreme poverty. His privileged background, having been educated at Eton, led me to question why he willingly subjected himself to such conditions. Many individuals genuinely endure extreme poverty, and Orwell did not necessarily have to put himself in that position. Nevertheless, his firsthand account sheds light on the prejudices toward poverty and homelessness, which unfortunately persist almost a century later.
I found his accounts of his time in Paris to be more tedious than his experiences in London. The book lacked a deeper exploration of the people Orwell encountered in Paris. I was more grateful that the overuse of French was limited when he started telling of his time in London.
Overall, the book did not resonate with me. The ending felt abrupt as if Orwell had run out of material to share.
romysh's review against another edition
4.0
It is quite remarkable how relevant some of those topics still are. The way Orwell describes hospitality industry is absolutely crazy how similar it still is even today.
I know the hardship of not having a job, fighting to find some work, having no money, trying to find the accommodation and worrying about what's gonna happen tomorrow. It is a brutal story, but a sad truth.
I know the hardship of not having a job, fighting to find some work, having no money, trying to find the accommodation and worrying about what's gonna happen tomorrow. It is a brutal story, but a sad truth.
anastasia_okodure's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Orwell is truly a master with words, capturing surroundings, people, and situations in a profound way, making it easy to become fully immersed in the narrative. This story is an important reminder not to take the comforts and luxuries of life for granted, for when they are taken away, what remains is a harsh reality that most of us scorn and look upon with disdain – yet it is one from which we are merely one bad decision or one misfortune away.
xiaoban's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I didn’t know what to expect but I really enjoyed this book. I thought Paris was a bit more interesting than London but both were fun to read. The way Orwell describes gradually coming to terms with being homeless and learning to enjoy the listlessness and monotony of life is honestly such good writing.
Overall, my favorite thing about this book is that Orwell does not write about people living in poverty with the typical societal lens of disgust. Orwell’s dry humor and people watching stories are a refreshing and engaging way to give human qualities to marginalized people who are often seen as less than human. I enjoy his truthful and hilarious depictions of the people he encounters, highlighting their circumstances, resilience, and resourcefulness.
Also unrelated but this is unintentionally one of the best books I have ever read about working in a fine dining restaurant. The way he describes the different characteristics that make up the different roles in a kitchen remind me of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. Perhaps this is the OG Kitchen Confidential. This is a good read for interested in an anti-corporate life or wanting to branch into Orwell’s less intense work
Overall, my favorite thing about this book is that Orwell does not write about people living in poverty with the typical societal lens of disgust. Orwell’s dry humor and people watching stories are a refreshing and engaging way to give human qualities to marginalized people who are often seen as less than human. I enjoy his truthful and hilarious depictions of the people he encounters, highlighting their circumstances, resilience, and resourcefulness.
Also unrelated but this is unintentionally one of the best books I have ever read about working in a fine dining restaurant. The way he describes the different characteristics that make up the different roles in a kitchen remind me of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. Perhaps this is the OG Kitchen Confidential. This is a good read for interested in an anti-corporate life or wanting to branch into Orwell’s less intense work