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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Although I didn’t enjoy reading this book a ton, it was absolutely eye opening for me. I had no idea just how terrible much of the world’s population had it in the early 20th century. Orwell wrote a fantastic journalist piece. I also think reading this book is a great addition if you’re reading other books in this time period it’s great at setting the scene and grasping an understanding for the struggles of that world.
I have conflicting thoughts about this book. In the first part, Orwell does a good job describing the abhorrent conditions encountered by working-class miners. His observational and journalistic writing style works well here—though I do prefer his fiction pieces that I have read. In the second part, Orwell invites us to a political theory discussion which was somewhat interesting, but very dry to read. Another reviewer stated that it felt like reading a “prolonged newspaper article” and I definitely agree. I don’t regret picking up this book, but I doubt that I will re-read it in the future.
Just finished this book for a course on literature and 1930s politics. For me this was much more of a frustrating read than some of his fictional works. The change from narrative style to documentary form to rambling ranting essay is somewhat jarring and incohesive, it made very little sense to me and made it harder to digest the underlying message of the book. Moreover, Orwell's tone is subtly hypocritical (something that reveals itself in his discussion of the class divide), as well as extracts from the diary he wrote in Wigan which demonstrate how some of his observations have been dramatised and even changed in a way that allows him to remove himself from really confronting and giving a voice to the subjects. Orwell largely projects his own ideas about the working class onto the people he meets and I feel that we don't get an accurate portrayal of how the labourers in mining towns really feel about their way of life. It almost reads as "this is how these poor people live, isn't it pitiful?" I feel that Orwell's tone, whilst trying to contextualise Britain's need for socialism, was inherently infantilising and condescending. Of course, he does make some interesting points in his discussion of socialism, for instance the idea that people inherently agree with the ideology but are turned away by the people who practice it. I feel this is something which resonates with modern politics with the use of social media as a new space for political discussion. However, I think that perhaps some people are too quick to take Orwell's opinions as gospel based on how revered and lauded his works such as 1984 and Animal Farm are.
Just like Down and Out in Paris and London, an important and insightful observation on poverty.
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Disturbing and insightful that chapters 12 and 13 are as relevant today as they were in 1937. yikes.
dark
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
This book pushes my review capabilities. It has a very good writing style, also the brought up examples and illustrations of why people don’t like “socialism” translate very well to today’s geopolitics - in my opinion at least.
While I don’t agree with all the conclusions of George Orwell in this book, I respect the open minded writing and clear statements.
Overall “only” 3.75 rating as the book is not really entertaining and I found myself too often disagreeing with the point being made. Nevertheless a good recommendation to challenge one’s own views.
While I don’t agree with all the conclusions of George Orwell in this book, I respect the open minded writing and clear statements.
Overall “only” 3.75 rating as the book is not really entertaining and I found myself too often disagreeing with the point being made. Nevertheless a good recommendation to challenge one’s own views.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced