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fenvizh's review against another edition
3.5
first i've ever read and finished of george orwell.
these essays were very nice i think; they can be read comfortably—anecdotes aid in this—but do not feel juvenile. a couple of them could just about qualify as short stories.
despite having read recounts of his childhood and further the insights he had gained with age, i still feel i don't know much of orwell's character. there are comments in this book addressing racial and sexual minorities that have not aged well (i suppose it is to be expected), and so i think, considering how much i enjoyed everything else about this book, 3.5⭐️ is reasonable.
these essays were very nice i think; they can be read comfortably—anecdotes aid in this—but do not feel juvenile. a couple of them could just about qualify as short stories.
despite having read recounts of his childhood and further the insights he had gained with age, i still feel i don't know much of orwell's character. there are comments in this book addressing racial and sexual minorities that have not aged well (i suppose it is to be expected), and so i think, considering how much i enjoyed everything else about this book, 3.5⭐️ is reasonable.
mrbloodyminded's review against another edition
4.0
Totally bought this because of the multiple essays on books, bookselling and book reviewing - some of my main pleasures in life.
The title essay is still as apt now as it ever was, comparing the price of a book with another common leisure purchase which today we usually use a coffee as a comparison rather than cigarettes. Well written and structured and putting forward arguments I've used.
The other book related essays are great examples of Orwell's writing and thought processes, and still seem as relevant today as when he wrote them in the early 20th century.
The other essays are about seemingly unrelated subjects, but are all linked with a view on society in his time that of class and the growing thoughts on socialism and how unjust uk society was if you had no money. The essays on boarding school, poverty, and patriotism are all well reasoned and explained.
A great little read, especially if you've read any other Orwell non-fiction and appreciate his thoughts and writing style.
The title essay is still as apt now as it ever was, comparing the price of a book with another common leisure purchase which today we usually use a coffee as a comparison rather than cigarettes. Well written and structured and putting forward arguments I've used.
The other book related essays are great examples of Orwell's writing and thought processes, and still seem as relevant today as when he wrote them in the early 20th century.
The other essays are about seemingly unrelated subjects, but are all linked with a view on society in his time that of class and the growing thoughts on socialism and how unjust uk society was if you had no money. The essays on boarding school, poverty, and patriotism are all well reasoned and explained.
A great little read, especially if you've read any other Orwell non-fiction and appreciate his thoughts and writing style.
lindalindilindum's review against another edition
3.0
Ja passt. Bücher werden weniger gekauft als Zigaretten und man sollte sich seiner Freizeitgestaltung bewusst werden
rosekk's review against another edition
4.0
The title essay in this collection was probably the least interesting. While I wasn't persuaded by everything contained in the book, a lot of the observations made are interesting and, in a depressing number of cases, relevant today.
butterbb109's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I loved the book, all the way up until about the last 3 or so chapters. He just got a bit repetitive talking about his high school life. Despite the repetition, it was very interesting. Thoroughly enjoyed getting inside the head of Mr Orwell. I love hearing perspectives on how life used to be in the 1910s and even 1930s/1940s. Especially Orwell's ideas on how society would further progress from the World Wars, and what the future held. Great narrative and biography of Orwell's life and the triumphs of being a writer.