bettyche's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Incredible book! The last part is filled with unexpected twists. So horrible yet so amazingly well written and put together. This is by far my new favorite book!
cdlindwall's review against another edition
4.0
It's a classic for a reason. It follows Winston Smith, an Outer Party member in Oceania, as he tries to escape from the all-encompassing totalitarian control of Big Brother/The Party.
For me, the best part of this book isn't so much the characters or the plot, although those are done well. It's all about the setting. It's about creating a world that strikes fear and intrigue in the reader. Little by little, Orwell builds this totalitarian nightmare that's just different enough to be fascinating and hellishly foreboding but also similar enough to strike a nerve.
I loved trying to follow the progression of early 20th century socialism into Oceania's Ingsoc. Orwell's 1984 is a fictional world that resulted from real ideologies in our history. It's the possible "result" of our current politics. The references to the industrial revolution, Bolshevik Russia, and Hitler's Germany were interesting to see from the perspective of Oceanic thinkers. Winston's childhood memories of the 1930s felt incredibly nostalgic and sacred, too -- making the degradation of society into Oceania felt all the more miserable.
1984 is one of those books everyone should read for the cultural significance alone. Big Brother and doublethink are practically household terms (usually used to wildly exaggerate and villify but even so...). There are a million different nuances to analyze, different perspectives that could be pulled out and combed through. But for this review I'll just repeat the obvious: The book is good. Read it.
For me, the best part of this book isn't so much the characters or the plot, although those are done well. It's all about the setting. It's about creating a world that strikes fear and intrigue in the reader. Little by little, Orwell builds this totalitarian nightmare that's just different enough to be fascinating and hellishly foreboding but also similar enough to strike a nerve.
I loved trying to follow the progression of early 20th century socialism into Oceania's Ingsoc. Orwell's 1984 is a fictional world that resulted from real ideologies in our history. It's the possible "result" of our current politics. The references to the industrial revolution, Bolshevik Russia, and Hitler's Germany were interesting to see from the perspective of Oceanic thinkers. Winston's childhood memories of the 1930s felt incredibly nostalgic and sacred, too -- making the degradation of society into Oceania felt all the more miserable.
1984 is one of those books everyone should read for the cultural significance alone. Big Brother and doublethink are practically household terms (usually used to wildly exaggerate and villify but even so...). There are a million different nuances to analyze, different perspectives that could be pulled out and combed through. But for this review I'll just repeat the obvious: The book is good. Read it.
zarathusthra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i felt a sense of dread finishing it ngl. very sad
pa3jans_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nedmedcamus's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Seriøst ikke den slutning jeg havde regnet med.
Den del hvor man læser Goldsteins manifest kunne jeg godt have gjort uden.
Den del hvor man læser Goldsteins manifest kunne jeg godt have gjort uden.
zandertate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
aleeeeexbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
4.0
The clocks were striking thirteen …
In George Orwell’s dystopic book, Big Brother is always watching and the Thought police is always listening.
Winstons job is to rewrite history (to corroborate with the history the Party has written), and erase all evidence of any “unperson” (someone disappears when they show signs of rebellion)
Winston questions the Party, making him a thought-criminal, it might already be too late.
What makes this book so unbelievable? Nothing that is what makes it so terrifying.
In George Orwell’s dystopic book, Big Brother is always watching and the Thought police is always listening.
Winstons job is to rewrite history (to corroborate with the history the Party has written), and erase all evidence of any “unperson” (someone disappears when they show signs of rebellion)
Winston questions the Party, making him a thought-criminal, it might already be too late.
What makes this book so unbelievable? Nothing that is what makes it so terrifying.
readtiltheworldisblurry's review against another edition
5.0
My brother told me to read this, which was interesting because he is not a reader AT ALL. But I eventually said I would and really got hooked. This has such an important message and I hope that people can read this and see what happens. There is a reason that this book has a reputation for being important, and it’s 100% worth reading. I get what all the fuss is about and cannot recommend it enough.