Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Animal Farm by George Orwell

21 reviews

chiaradg's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Describes how corruption begins and power is misused. 

Starts off with a rebellion based on that humans are the enemy, but at the end the new "leader(s)" cannot really be distinguished from humans, showing that in the end they are as cruel as Mr. Jones himself.

Lots of manipulation by those in power, which shows how it is used to stay in power.

Good read. Had to get used to it though.
The writing is quite simple but the underlying message is conveyed in a clever way.
It was very obvious where the story was going from the beginning, but this was not a bad thing for this book, it is actually a good thing for this book.

"Man is the only enemy we have."

"All men are enemies. All animals are comrades".

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Torture, Blood, and Death

gemstonejasper's review against another edition

dark informative 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

3.0

I picked this up for a read along. It was an impulse start at 2am. Read about half then went to bed and finished it just now (3pm). I liked it, but I probably won't read it again. I probably won't think about it much outside of if friends bring it up. I enjoyed 1984 by the same author, but didn't like this one as much. It really was just USSR history told satirical through farm animals. The animals had no real personalities, but were just caricatures of different mindsets and groups in the USSR. I think that was the point, but it wasn't my style.

I will say that though it's based on USSR history, I think parts of it could be relatable to modern places. I live in the US and I saw many similarities around patriotism, nationalism, "farm pride," and history turning to myth. Lots of gaslighting between the Pigs and other animals

Read it if it sounds good to you, but it's definitely not a must read for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Gore, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Classism, Death, and Grief

riverofhorton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was an incredibly thought-provoking book from start to finish and something that I can see myself revisiting in the future.

I went into this knowing it was an allegory for Stalin's Russia, but knowing little about the USSR, I didn't know how that would present. I found it most interesting that we see a lot of Napoleon's early tactics in the politics of today, especially right-wing groups, I also find this parallel to be deeply unsettling in nature, and and wonder how long it will be before we are like the other farm animals of this book, if our real-world politics continue down the path they are on.

On a more personal note, I saw a lot of my past self within the character of Boxer, as well as a lot of people no longer in my life in Napoleon's character. It was slightly disconcerting as such an animal lover myself to draw these comparisons, but it did remind me of how far I've come in the past few years.

To end on a lighter note, I enjoyed reading about the dynamic between Boxer and Benjamin, and find myself wondering if the intention was to portray a queer love between the two male characters, or if that was just my brain. I did also find the characterisation of the cat to be perfect throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Murder, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Classism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Death, Gore, Racism, Alcohol, and Chronic illness

ixececarez's review

challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, War, and Emotional abuse

citybookspgh's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is another book I had never gotten around to. It was a quick, afternoon read that left me more emotional than I expected. Glad I experienced it as an adult rather than as a teen. I have much more life/political experience now so I was able to pick up on all of the nuances. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Gaslighting, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death, and Emotional abuse

unranked's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, and Classism

lorraine19's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Like all of Orwell's books, it's dark and tense. Definitely not the book to read if you're looking for a feels good. It's definitely a classic for a reason and an easier read than 1984. Short and face paced but gets right to the point and is easy to understand. It will definitely leave you frustrated and feeling sad/angry as is the point. Might have to make sure you are in the right mindset when reading it but it is definitely one everyone should read at least once. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Classism, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Slavery, Bullying, Gore, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

Although it is in allegory, the violence and death in this book can be graphic - especially if you're sensitive to animal death

hannah_cogo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Slavery, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Kidnapping

Minor: Violence, War, Suicide, and Torture

perth_is's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4 legs good, 2 legs bad!

4 legs good, 2 legs better!


Sigh.. this book infuriates me but in such a good way. The social commentary on hypocrisy and corruption of the government. damn. Orwell perfectly shows how easily overtime the population (in this case the animals can be manipulated by a higher power (in this case, by the pigs)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, War, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Pregnancy and Blood

coldbutterk's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Classism, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol and Blood