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bookishevy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength."
This is a reread. I decided on an audiobook this time around because it was free on Audible, and I've been too busy to sit with a physical book.
But OMG! If this read ain't as relevant as ever.
Orwell imagines an authoritarian socialist Britain that is based on Nazi Germany and Stalinism. A world in which even one's thoughts are controlled by Big Brother. There is no past. Only the present. The powers that be keep re-writing history and known facts to the extent that 2+2 now equals 5.
I love that Orwell uses math to show how ridiculous the Party is. The answers to equations are the one thing we should count on to never change, but they have brainwashed people into believing Math is wrong 🤣
But Winston is different. He refuses to forget and is keeping a diary of his thoughts. He's even taken a lover, a big no-no since sex is no longer for fun. Winston and Julia find freedom in defying laws. Laws the people in charge break because these laws aren't in place to better society. It's all about power. A power they have no plans of relinquishing.
They've tricked the majority into thinking war is necessary. That they're no longer slaves to society since they're all stripped of their identity and free will and are only of one thought: to love Big Brother and only Big Brother. That there is strength in not reading and simply parroting what Big Brother tells them is true.
The end result is people losing their humanity.
Simon Prebble is an excellent narrator. I felt the desperation in his portrayal of Winston. His will to remember and his defeat when he realizes the Party is just too powerful.
This banned book is required reading.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength."
This is a reread. I decided on an audiobook this time around because it was free on Audible, and I've been too busy to sit with a physical book.
But OMG! If this read ain't as relevant as ever.
Orwell imagines an authoritarian socialist Britain that is based on Nazi Germany and Stalinism. A world in which even one's thoughts are controlled by Big Brother. There is no past. Only the present. The powers that be keep re-writing history and known facts to the extent that 2+2 now equals 5.
I love that Orwell uses math to show how ridiculous the Party is. The answers to equations are the one thing we should count on to never change, but they have brainwashed people into believing Math is wrong 🤣
But Winston is different. He refuses to forget and is keeping a diary of his thoughts. He's even taken a lover, a big no-no since sex is no longer for fun. Winston and Julia find freedom in defying laws. Laws the people in charge break because these laws aren't in place to better society. It's all about power. A power they have no plans of relinquishing.
They've tricked the majority into thinking war is necessary. That they're no longer slaves to society since they're all stripped of their identity and free will and are only of one thought: to love Big Brother and only Big Brother. That there is strength in not reading and simply parroting what Big Brother tells them is true.
The end result is people losing their humanity.
Simon Prebble is an excellent narrator. I felt the desperation in his portrayal of Winston. His will to remember and his defeat when he realizes the Party is just too powerful.
This banned book is required reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and War
3467785's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Torture
itsaas_r's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and War
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
kieralyn_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
my GOD this book is scary. i reflected so much on it in my reading journal i could go on. this was my first time reading it and wowzers! definitely terrifying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Rape
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.lizzyspooks's review against another edition
dark
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Rape
justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
3.0
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
Well... This book had some very interesting and intriguing concepts. And the ending was super creepy and just reading that was really disturbing. But this book gets 3 stars because of the total Edward Cullen vibes that Winston gave off in the first two thirds of the book. It was giving
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
charliecarey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
3.75
idk if anyones ever said this but this was very orwellian
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting