jesstilt's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tonimarie_p's review against another edition
4.0
While the plot was actually quite enjoyable for a required classroom read, the language and writing style of the author was not my personal favorite.
kristyylma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
overthefence's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
joe9417's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
marginaliant's review against another edition
3.0
1984 has a lot of things going for it. It is an iconic dystopian novel for a reason. It is emotionally effective, even frightening at times. I found the discussions of history and memory interesting.
I knocked off two stars for the two things I felt were wrong with it:
1. George Orwell's worldbuilding is clunky and nonsensical: We receive most of our information about the reason that the world is the way that it is in 1984 from two sources: First, Winston sits down and reads a book which explains everything that has happened. Second, in the climactic conclusion when the agents of the Big Party abduct Winston and delete his Twitter account to silence him forever, an agent of the party monologues about the Party's reasons and motivations for why things happened. In both instances this is basically unfiltered word-vomiting of Orwell's political philosophy into the reader's face for pages at a time. I have my own historical reservations that I do not think this reading of totalitarianism is correct, but as a novel I found this delivery messy and amateurish delivery.
2. When Orwell is not spewing his political philosophy at you directly, he is being utterly, unimaginably, and inconsolably horny. All female characters (with the exception of Winston's mother and sister) are judged primarily on their fuckability, leaving men to have all of the big ideas. I'd love to read more about Orwell's treatment of sexuality if anyone has any critical reading to point me to, just because I think the way he equates male sexual desire and female sexual permissiveness with political freedom (and vice versa: totalitarian-subjugated men are unable to pursue, totalitarian women frigid and impenetrable) needs to be explored.
I knocked off two stars for the two things I felt were wrong with it:
1. George Orwell's worldbuilding is clunky and nonsensical: We receive most of our information about the reason that the world is the way that it is in 1984 from two sources: First, Winston sits down and reads a book which explains everything that has happened. Second, in the climactic conclusion when the agents of the Big Party abduct Winston and delete his Twitter account to silence him forever, an agent of the party monologues about the Party's reasons and motivations for why things happened. In both instances this is basically unfiltered word-vomiting of Orwell's political philosophy into the reader's face for pages at a time. I have my own historical reservations that I do not think this reading of totalitarianism is correct, but as a novel I found this delivery messy and amateurish delivery.
2. When Orwell is not spewing his political philosophy at you directly, he is being utterly, unimaginably, and inconsolably horny. All female characters (with the exception of Winston's mother and sister) are judged primarily on their fuckability, leaving men to have all of the big ideas. I'd love to read more about Orwell's treatment of sexuality if anyone has any critical reading to point me to, just because I think the way he equates male sexual desire and female sexual permissiveness with political freedom (and vice versa: totalitarian-subjugated men are unable to pursue, totalitarian women frigid and impenetrable) needs to be explored.
lzfr's review against another edition
5.0
Guter Einblick in die damalige Sowjetunion. Alles, was man sich wünschen könnte, Romanze und psychologische und physische Folter