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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve always had beef with Julia in 1984. Every reread, it was on sight with her. 🥊 She was such a pivotal character in Winston’s downfall in the OG 1984, but she was mostly a mystery, a frivolous woman living her life through her vagina.
Newman changes that in this book. She gives Julia a backstory, a voice, and a perspective that makes sense in Orwell’s world. What I loved most is how Julia is reframed not as a flat, sexualized character, but as a survivalist. Her promiscuity was her way of owning herself, of reminding herself that her body is hers even in a society where her thoughts and words aren’t. She’s clever, street-smart, and deeply focused on living, even while tangled up with Winston, who is more like a liability than a true partner.
This retelling doesn’t erase the Julia I thought I knew. Some of my original perceptions still stood, but now I understand them better. I ate this book up, and it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked Julia an okay amount but never felt gripped or excited to pick it back up.
I think this is mostly due to the characterisation of Julia herself. It was disappointing that this feminist retelling fleshed out Julia's character by making her sex-obsessed and lacking much depth despite an interesting backstory.
I also felt that more could have been done to draw parallels with the political climate we're now in, but I understand that this must be challenging whilst staying true to Orwell's work.
However, it was entertaining and did make me think about the world we're in today, which I'd call a success.
I think this is mostly due to the characterisation of Julia herself. It was disappointing that this feminist retelling fleshed out Julia's character by making her sex-obsessed and lacking much depth despite an interesting backstory.
I also felt that more could have been done to draw parallels with the political climate we're now in, but I understand that this must be challenging whilst staying true to Orwell's work.
However, it was entertaining and did make me think about the world we're in today, which I'd call a success.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I first learned of this book, I knew I needed to read it and that I would reread 1984 immediately before reading this one. I remembered that most of the times I had read the original I had come away thinking that Winston was kind of a piece of shit - he was misogynistic, hateful, and basically just wanted to think of himself as better than the others.
And this book tackles all that and more.
But also, what the fuck is this ending?! AAHHHH!
And this book tackles all that and more.
But also, what the fuck is this ending?! AAHHHH!