A review by emma7377
1984, by George Orwell
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
‘The best books, he percieved, are those that tell you what you know already’
While this is not that impactful of a line, hidden somewhere in a relatively unimportant paragraph, this was the sentence that stood out most to me in the entirety of this dreadfully lovely, little novel. And I’d argue that it perfectly sums up the whole purpose of the book. This is because Orwell tells us exactly what we know already: totalitarianism is bullshit and would ruin all our lives. And sure, it might help us futher our understanding, but it tells us what we know already.
So you might read this and think… okay, so if I know this already, why do I have to read this book?
To that I have little to no answer. Why read any book? Why read romance if you have already experienced and know love? Why read tradegy if you have already experienced and know tradegy? Why reread any book at all, if you already know what will happen.
I realise now this isn’t a very good review (especially because I have done no research into the context of this book) but I just quite like it and would recommend it. One of the best modern classics I have read.
While this is not that impactful of a line, hidden somewhere in a relatively unimportant paragraph, this was the sentence that stood out most to me in the entirety of this dreadfully lovely, little novel. And I’d argue that it perfectly sums up the whole purpose of the book. This is because Orwell tells us exactly what we know already: totalitarianism is bullshit and would ruin all our lives. And sure, it might help us futher our understanding, but it tells us what we know already.
So you might read this and think… okay, so if I know this already, why do I have to read this book?
To that I have little to no answer. Why read any book? Why read romance if you have already experienced and know love? Why read tradegy if you have already experienced and know tradegy? Why reread any book at all, if you already know what will happen.
I realise now this isn’t a very good review (especially because I have done no research into the context of this book) but I just quite like it and would recommend it. One of the best modern classics I have read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/injury detail, Torture, and War