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lizzie74's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
brethetech's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I know it’s a classic for a reason and that it laid the foundation for so much more but please don’t go into this book thinking you’re going to gain much from it like I did.
At several points it felt like I just had to get through it to keep my promise to myself that I would read at least one classic this year.
The pacing was nice it skipped large swaths of time and lingered in moments but it always felt right.
But I was never attached to the main character, or any character at all, I didn’t learn anything, and I wasn’t entertained for more then a brief 50 or so pages where I wanted to know what would happen next.
If you want to read this for antiauthoritarianism, or because it’s a dystopia there are better picks nowadays that are both going to be more interesting and dive deeper into the topic. And in fact that is my main gripe with this that the facts that it presents are not novel to me, and it just keeps hammering them in instead of going deeper. I know they were novel at the time and even perhaps for a while after, or to a specific audience where this is a new topic but not to me, or probably anybody interested in reading books on this topic today.
Or maybe I’m just stupid and am missing something idk.
At several points it felt like I just had to get through it to keep my promise to myself that I would read at least one classic this year.
The pacing was nice it skipped large swaths of time and lingered in moments but it always felt right.
But I was never attached to the main character, or any character at all, I didn’t learn anything, and I wasn’t entertained for more then a brief 50 or so pages where I wanted to know what would happen next.
If you want to read this for antiauthoritarianism, or because it’s a dystopia there are better picks nowadays that are both going to be more interesting and dive deeper into the topic. And in fact that is my main gripe with this that the facts that it presents are not novel to me, and it just keeps hammering them in instead of going deeper. I know they were novel at the time and even perhaps for a while after, or to a specific audience where this is a new topic but not to me, or probably anybody interested in reading books on this topic today.
Or maybe I’m just stupid and am missing something idk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit
lotta_8's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The book and its plot are heavy. It definitely took me a few chapters to get into the story. The plot itself is not very pleasant, however, it is impressive in what detail an author in 1948 was able to predict what was to happen e.g. in Germany just a couple of years later. Not a light read but definitely worth the effort.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Gaslighting
beamvega's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexual content and Murder
back2lovingbooksmore's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Good book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual violence
I think it’s hopeful in its own way, the mentions of love and ambition for a better future in this book keep our characters going, and it shows that if we can hold on to what is true to us and catch on to history being erased before it’s too late, we heed the warnings of 1984 before it’s too late for our world and our peoplemayaspasta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
meant2breading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First time read. Brutal. Thought provoking for sure. I didn’t love this book, but I understand why this is a required read and banned book in some areas. The concepts like loss of individualism, dehumanization, and the meaning of ‘rats’ were very interesting. It’s not often that I dislike ALL of the characters, especially Winston’s perspective on women, but assuming this was purposeful. 😳
While I think everyone should read 1984, I don’t think this book is FOR everyone. For example, I recently saw someone on social media say that a clear parallel in Oceanian society to today’s society is the rise of feminism…🥴 Not for everyone in that it may require some logic to make some of the more prominent connections that Orwell likely intended. 🤭
Also, may not be for everyone as it’s quite dark. Strongly recommend to check trigger warnings. That ending sure had an impact.
While I think everyone should read 1984, I don’t think this book is FOR everyone. For example, I recently saw someone on social media say that a clear parallel in Oceanian society to today’s society is the rise of feminism…🥴 Not for everyone in that it may require some logic to make some of the more prominent connections that Orwell likely intended. 🤭
Also, may not be for everyone as it’s quite dark. Strongly recommend to check trigger warnings. That ending sure had an impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Suicide, and War
kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Death, Sexual violence, and War
op3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I love the message of the book and would definitely consider this a classic, and I appreciate the impact it’s had culturally on humanity with ‘Big Brother’ being something you could reference and understand almost immediately today.
I felt this was a bit of a slow read at first but I don’t mind that, and I guess the style of writing just isn’t for me. But aside from that I enjoyed it and the questions & thoughts it posed.
I felt this was a bit of a slow read at first but I don’t mind that, and I guess the style of writing just isn’t for me. But aside from that I enjoyed it and the questions & thoughts it posed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Police brutality, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Rape
If stuff like brainwashing scares you, this might not be the read for you.els4lp's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery, Suicide, and Vomit