lucasgillon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
mganallirt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
welllovedspines's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_____
I truly cannot believe it took me as long as it did to finally read this book. I was a huge fan of Animal Farm in high school and enjoyed the allegoric nature of the book. 1984 is also in that vein.
I think what shocked me the most while reading was the fact that the book was written in the 1940s and that there were clear parallels that could be drawn from the dystopian future in the novel and the current society in which we live. I had audibly gasped or said, "wow", numerous times while reading. And that's not something that happens very often for me.
I think my overall enjoyment while reading this book stemmed more from the plot and the world that had been created, as opposed to the writing itself. There is definitely a difference in how literature was written in Orwell's time versus contemporary literature. And that's not something I have an issue with. It was more so that the writing is rather matter of fact. If the plot wasn't as engrossing for me, I'm not sure that my rating would be nearly as high.
Another thing I want to point out is some problematic aspects to Orwell's writings. The main female character in this book leaves a lot to be desired. She's barely even a character at all (i.e., Manic Pixie Dream Girl). There are other works of his where there have been racist depictions of people from various ethnic backgrounds.
Despite my overall enjoyment of this book, and really the ending was just...wow, I fully believe that a reader needs to be aware of these problematic depictions. Glossing over them can lead to internalized biases that we never intended to absorb. Staying aware and being critical of such aspects in any work helps to ensure that we continue to do better in the future. So, I definitely encourage reading the book, but be sure to have your critical reading cap on!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Torture, Sexual content, and Violence
margaret_s_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Gaslighting, War, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic friendship
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Vomit, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, War, Injury/injury detail, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Gore, Violence, Antisemitism, Classism, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
izzydelaya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Chronic illness, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Injury/injury detail, Gore, Eating disorder, Cursing, Classism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Violence, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Colonisation, Antisemitism, Murder, Child death, Genocide, Grief, Death of parent, Stalking, and Slavery
vintage_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Torture
softgirlari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Classism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide and Police brutality
rachael_jo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content
laurenu8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, and Death of parent