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knightonfilm's review against another edition
5.0
girls be in a GOOD PLACE reading the room 101 section!! please!! or u will get existential!!!
fatbobflynn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mymiddlename123's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
So this year I've decided to challenge myself to reading at least one classic a month. I tend to have a hard time getting into the classics, but I also feel like every avid reader should read certain books at least once in their life. So, 1984 was my classic for January.
There were a lot of moments, while reading this book, that I absolutely received chills down my spine because of the fact that this book could not only apply to the past, but to the present, and I have no doubt to the future. Although it was written in 1949, the political struggles and views that it portrays are timeless. There are things that are going on in the dystopian view in 1984 that are happening at this very moment, in smaller degrees, in America, and I'm sure other countries right now. This isn't to say that our time is special, because these types of things were happening in 1949, the years between then and 2011, and today as well. Which is why I say it's messages are timeless.
Now, I will say that it's totally fiction. I know that some people take the views in this book and apply them to our real political system and where it's heading. But, frankly, I don't believe our real life in America will ever get to that point. However, it is scary to read how the freedoms were taken gradually so as the "proles" (citizens) didn't even realize they were losing them. That's the kind of thing that gives me chills, because it's happening. I'm not big into politics so I really don't want a political discussion, but I do have an idea of what's going on and I get a mouthful of it on a daily basis from my hubby who is big into his political views.
But, moving on from the politics, I thought this book was pretty good. I gave it 3 stars (or 3.5 in my mind) because large parts of the book are really long-winded. Because a huge portion of the book takes place in Winston's mind and are his thoughts and inner-workings, there isn't much dialog. I think this makes the story itself seem a bit dry and at times hard to get through.
However, if you can get past some of the dryness and the really super-ridiculously long paragraphs, then there is an amazing story there. I found it so interesting that in this world everything is so distorted (hence being dystopia fiction), but the people in this world, for the most part, are content (to an certain extent). They have no clue how wrong everything that's happening is and how brain-washed they are. It was quite eery and disturbing to think that it could be easy to fall into the category of being brain-washed without even knowing it.
On a lighter note, I thought Newspeak was kind of fun. The idea behind it is also rather disturbing, but I still found myself starting to think like that -- placing "un" in front of words and saying things like "gooder". lol
Overall, I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. I thought it was dry and took some concentrating to get through sometimes, but the story, the messages, and the overall feeling of being unable to escape this horrible lifestyle was a thrill to read, and I'm glad I did so.
So this year I've decided to challenge myself to reading at least one classic a month. I tend to have a hard time getting into the classics, but I also feel like every avid reader should read certain books at least once in their life. So, 1984 was my classic for January.
There were a lot of moments, while reading this book, that I absolutely received chills down my spine because of the fact that this book could not only apply to the past, but to the present, and I have no doubt to the future. Although it was written in 1949, the political struggles and views that it portrays are timeless. There are things that are going on in the dystopian view in 1984 that are happening at this very moment, in smaller degrees, in America, and I'm sure other countries right now. This isn't to say that our time is special, because these types of things were happening in 1949, the years between then and 2011, and today as well. Which is why I say it's messages are timeless.
Now, I will say that it's totally fiction. I know that some people take the views in this book and apply them to our real political system and where it's heading. But, frankly, I don't believe our real life in America will ever get to that point. However, it is scary to read how the freedoms were taken gradually so as the "proles" (citizens) didn't even realize they were losing them. That's the kind of thing that gives me chills, because it's happening. I'm not big into politics so I really don't want a political discussion, but I do have an idea of what's going on and I get a mouthful of it on a daily basis from my hubby who is big into his political views.
But, moving on from the politics, I thought this book was pretty good. I gave it 3 stars (or 3.5 in my mind) because large parts of the book are really long-winded. Because a huge portion of the book takes place in Winston's mind and are his thoughts and inner-workings, there isn't much dialog. I think this makes the story itself seem a bit dry and at times hard to get through.
However, if you can get past some of the dryness and the really super-ridiculously long paragraphs, then there is an amazing story there. I found it so interesting that in this world everything is so distorted (hence being dystopia fiction), but the people in this world, for the most part, are content (to an certain extent). They have no clue how wrong everything that's happening is and how brain-washed they are. It was quite eery and disturbing to think that it could be easy to fall into the category of being brain-washed without even knowing it.
On a lighter note, I thought Newspeak was kind of fun. The idea behind it is also rather disturbing, but I still found myself starting to think like that -- placing "un" in front of words and saying things like "gooder". lol
Overall, I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. I thought it was dry and took some concentrating to get through sometimes, but the story, the messages, and the overall feeling of being unable to escape this horrible lifestyle was a thrill to read, and I'm glad I did so.
dodobees's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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
ted_c's review against another edition
4.0
The Andrew Scott and Andrew Garfield audiobook is the whole reason I reread the book and it held up to how I felt about it the first time through. A classic, honestly.
Please check out the audiobook if you get the chance, it’s absolutely fantastic!
Please check out the audiobook if you get the chance, it’s absolutely fantastic!
mintomillk's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars. i have some issues with this book, but Orwell's work captivates you in its universe and enthralls you into a feeling of doomed senselessness so well that the errors seem redundant to bring up. i could easy criticise something and then make an argument for why that thing is the way it is, to add further to the dystopia that 1984 describes so well to warn its readers to be vigilant against. even though Winston and Julia as characters do not have much depth or development towards them throughout the novel, aspects of the book and of their actions stay with me long after i've finished reading (which is many years, now), particularly in how their meeting again haunts me. in that way, Orwell has accomplished with myself, and others, i'd reckon, his purpose in writing a novel where authoritarian control over the individual is so complete that it echoes into your very person.
alexandra_allert's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
miss_jules's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0