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miainthemargins's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into it this first time, will attempt a reread when I’m in the mood for literary fiction again
milica_milosavljevic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
‘Yes,’ he said simply. ‘That’s the horrid thing. One has no choice, and yet one must live through it exactly as if one had.’
While Julia by Sandra Newman attempts to reimagine Orwell's 1984, it falls a bit short of capturing the original's chilling impact and its potent warning against totalitarianism. Orwell's world leaves you feeling hopeless and desolate, it kills every idea of a better future, it makes it clear that you absolutely have no agency in this totalitarian state and Julia fails to convey the same feelings.
Despite these flaws, I found parts of the book compelling, particularly in its exploration of the female experience in a totalitarian state. Newman's portrayal of Julia offers a unique perspective on how women navigate and resist oppressive structures. The personal struggles and resilience shown by Julia add an interesting layer to the story that was definitely missing in the original.
While Julia by Sandra Newman attempts to reimagine Orwell's 1984, it falls a bit short of capturing the original's chilling impact and its potent warning against totalitarianism. Orwell's world leaves you feeling hopeless and desolate, it kills every idea of a better future, it makes it clear that you absolutely have no agency in this totalitarian state and Julia fails to convey the same feelings.
Despite these flaws, I found parts of the book compelling, particularly in its exploration of the female experience in a totalitarian state. Newman's portrayal of Julia offers a unique perspective on how women navigate and resist oppressive structures. The personal struggles and resilience shown by Julia add an interesting layer to the story that was definitely missing in the original.
bibispizzas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
elevy2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
booksjessreads's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I listened to the audiobook for this book and honestly I think having the audio made this so much more enjoyable. I am convinced had I read the print that I would have given up.
I have never read 1984, but knowing that Newman had access to 'behind-the-scenes' documents to help create a retelling that accurately mirrored 1984 is very obvious. It felt authentic and completely immersed within the original story. I also liked the matter of fact storytelling, which undoubtedly matched the original storytelling.
I really enjoyed the in-depth look into Julia's life and her relationship with other women in this dystopia. I thought it was a really interesting perspective and made an excellent story. Perhaps the only thing that let it down for me was the ending. It felt a little flat to me and could have been better.
I have never read 1984, but knowing that Newman had access to 'behind-the-scenes' documents to help create a retelling that accurately mirrored 1984 is very obvious. It felt authentic and completely immersed within the original story. I also liked the matter of fact storytelling, which undoubtedly matched the original storytelling.
I really enjoyed the in-depth look into Julia's life and her relationship with other women in this dystopia. I thought it was a really interesting perspective and made an excellent story. Perhaps the only thing that let it down for me was the ending. It felt a little flat to me and could have been better.
lacewing's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? Yes
3.5