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Reviews
1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four), Animal Farm, and over 40 Other Works by George Orwell by George Orwell
finis's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tashafee's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
elak's review
reflective
tense
fast-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
2.5
When I bought this book, I expected to like it. It is seen as a major influence on the dystopian genre and constantly being sighted during fights against authoritarianism. My opinions align a lot with libertarian socialism, so I assumed that message wise I wouldn't have a lot to complain about. In this one case, I was correct: One of the few things I adequately enjoyed about 1984 was the way Orwell understood totalitarian states and the cycle of power. I am not entirely sure whether I would call any part of the content revolutionary and say it brought something new to the table, but they had me somewhat hooked and if the book had spent more time with the actual exploration of Oceania, which was what I had expected when I started it, I would probably have given it a low three stars instead of the two.
Instead, I had to find out that while the first and third part of the book talked somewhat about the country and the party, the first was an absolute bore, the second focused on one of the worst relationships I have read thus far, with no chemistry and weirdly pedophilic descriptions about Julia's body (she is in her twenties, yes, but having her being described these ways felt very wrong), and only the third managed to at least kind of wake my interest, though, obviously, that was way too late into the book, and it still couldn't manage to make me like it enough to give it more stars.
The worst offense, in my opinion, though, were the characters. A white sheet of paper would have been more interesting than 90% of them could ever be, and the minority of somewhat interesting characters were side characters and barely appeared.
The character traits that Winston had, were very much not nice, which is fine, characters should by no means be perfect, but he never actually changes his ways and is never called out for it. Whether that is because of the time period or lack of skill, I don't know, and frankly I don't care either. Different times don't justify bad characters.
Instead, I had to find out that while the first and third part of the book talked somewhat about the country and the party, the first was an absolute bore, the second focused on one of the worst relationships I have read thus far, with no chemistry and weirdly pedophilic descriptions about Julia's body (she is in her twenties, yes, but having her being described these ways felt very wrong), and only the third managed to at least kind of wake my interest, though, obviously, that was way too late into the book, and it still couldn't manage to make me like it enough to give it more stars.
The worst offense, in my opinion, though, were the characters. A white sheet of paper would have been more interesting than 90% of them could ever be, and the minority of somewhat interesting characters were side characters and barely appeared.
The character traits that Winston had, were very much not nice, which is fine, characters should by no means be perfect, but he never actually changes his ways and is never called out for it. Whether that is because of the time period or lack of skill, I don't know, and frankly I don't care either. Different times don't justify bad characters.
gteal's review
5.0
I hadn't read this book since I was high school, I liked it then; I loved it now. I can see quite clearly the influence of Yevgeny Zamyatin's, "We".
chiligoat's review
4.0
Very little remains to say about Animal Farm that is worth saying. The first time I read it was some twenty years back, during which I consumed it as it's secondary title labels it: a fairy story. A bloody fable as I had come to expect fables to be, taking from it yet more reason to dislike the smell of bacon.
Carrying a rucksack of history slightly heavier now than that of my prepubescent self - especially after almost back to back consumption of the masterful render of Soviet history, through the culinary lense, [b:Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking|18104696|Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking|Anya von Bremzen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394423204s/18104696.jpg|23909913] - it's still valid satire. Finally, apart from being a political spoof, Animal Farm's stout old Major actually outlines some great points right in the very first chapter on the ethical cons of a non-vegan diet.
Carrying a rucksack of history slightly heavier now than that of my prepubescent self - especially after almost back to back consumption of the masterful render of Soviet history, through the culinary lense, [b:Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking|18104696|Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking|Anya von Bremzen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394423204s/18104696.jpg|23909913] - it's still valid satire. Finally, apart from being a political spoof, Animal Farm's stout old Major actually outlines some great points right in the very first chapter on the ethical cons of a non-vegan diet.
jameseckman's review
2.0
What can I say about one of the most horrific dystopian novels ever written? First off I grant it classic status and that it's a powerful book, it still gives me nightmares. What genre would I put it in? Golden(now molding!) SF, stories about the Big Idea, characters are not the main point of this story, it's the horrors of an eternal totalitarian government hellbent on power and the destruction of human spirit and thought. In the service of showing off the real main character, Winston has long internal monologues and even reads a political tract to us by the Enemy of the State Goldstein. Other authors have done these sort of political works, but Orwell avoids most of the worst excesses of this approach and creates a very readable novel.
The plot can be looked at as a train wreck, Winston and Julia are doomed, they know it, you probably already knew it, and the crash is horrific. Their predestined fall drives Winston's inner spirit to over the edge into insanity and self destruction. And yes they are crushed, their bodies still live but they are really dead, possibly the worst fate one can imagine.
If it's so great why don't I give it a five star rating? I cannot find it in myself to love novels that end in such a depth of pessimism and darkness and it's possible that's why I dislike most great literature since the depressing novel seems to be one of the few acceptable forms.
Now off to binge watch comedies and read comfort books.
The plot can be looked at as a train wreck, Winston and Julia are doomed, they know it, you probably already knew it, and the crash is horrific. Their predestined fall drives Winston's inner spirit to over the edge into insanity and self destruction. And yes they are crushed, their bodies still live but they are really dead, possibly the worst fate one can imagine.
If it's so great why don't I give it a five star rating? I cannot find it in myself to love novels that end in such a depth of pessimism and darkness and it's possible that's why I dislike most great literature since the depressing novel seems to be one of the few acceptable forms.
Now off to binge watch comedies and read comfort books.