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sugar_fox's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars.
The only possible way to describe 1984, is disturbing.
It’s not from extreme gore or violence, though there certainly is some. It’s from the ideas that this book presents, and the way in which it was executed.
1984 was one of the original dystopias, or at least the one that first gained major worldwide attention (as far as I’ve read), and boy can I understand why.
In my opinion, you don’t read this book for the characters alone- though they are extremely intriguing, so much say I could write an essay on the psyche of Julia and Winston- you read it for it’s frankly quite frightening themes.
In the past, 1984 was seen as a possibility. A possible future for the world to take, one ruled under an iron fist, when even thinking your own thoughts become impossible. While this is a far cry from the world that we live in today, it is interesting to compare the two worlds, and see the path that the world could’ve- and could (unlikely) still- take.
The only reason this book misses out on the extra 0.5 stars, is because of the characters. When I read this book, as I stated previously, I didn’t read it for the characters, and perhaps upon a re-read that will change. I will stop becoming fixated on the world that 1984 presents and will focus enough on the characters. And while I still did care for them, I just felt like something was missing, it may even be, that in comparison to the unique masterpiece of world building that 1984 presents there was no way for the characters to compare.
If this rant somehow hasn’t convinced you to go ahead and buy or borrow 1984, this is your reminder:
Read this book.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexual content
jana07's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Antisemitism and Sexual content
adelekittey's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content and War
susie_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body horror and Body shaming
Minor: Child death and Suicidal thoughts
helenaruby's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Police brutality, Torture, Drug abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, War, and Racism
books_because_why_not's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Torture, Classism, and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
wishbea's review against another edition
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
dusk9147's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Sexual content
natalia64's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
La homosexualidad es un tema recurrente en el libro: el Socing lo considera como "poco deseable" y una "desviación". La sexualidad es hetero, pero desligada siempre de todo tipo de deseo - el acto sexual tiene que ser no-placentero y con el único fin de la reproducción. Sin embargo,
Con respecto al ritmo, se relaciona con lo que decía al principio: cuando es más narrativo, cuando se enfoca en contar ese mundo "desde el cuerpo" me resultó rápidísimo y demasiado interesante. En este sentido creo que el principio, la mitad tardía y el mismo final son los más atrapantes.
Con el epílogo me cerró más la postura de Orwell porque me faltaba info de contexto
Graphic: Torture, Police brutality, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Slavery
friesenag's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Winston is the kind of person who thinks he's above it all and smarter than everyone, but he is so stupid it hurts. <spolier> There is no way that he discerned that O'Brien was a member of the brotherhood from a look and just went with it, and I know in the book they go over that, but I don't think Winston really fully understands his stupidity.
I think that this book could have been amazing and cool, but there was a lack of world building and creation in my opinion. I think Orwell could have done more to share about the physical infrastructure of the community if that makes sense. It felt that there were some very lackluster and half baked story lines that left me asking more questions, and not in a good way.
My major issues were with the character of Julia who was one of two female characters who outwardly states how much she hates women and is SUCH a pick me. When Orwell had that scene about how the women were fighting over pots and pans, Winston discerns that women are just followers and basically have no real feelings about their society like he does, which irritates me so much. How can you tell someones life from how they are fighting over a scarce item?? These women have people to feed, and that doesn't mean that they don't find something wrong with the government?? I felt that women in this book were painted as stupid followers who don't have thoughts and experiences of their own. Even with Julia, who was against big brother but couldn't be bothered to understand the doctrine. This story frustrated me more than anything because of the lack of character development and that Winston's freedom thinking turns into exactly what big brother wanted. The themes of the danger of conformity were interesting, but I hated that it was shown in such a hateful and dislikable way.
I do think Orwell did a good job in the end to create stress and intrigue in the climax of the book, but fell flat as you kinda began to know exactly what was gonna happen.
The only reason this is getting 2.5 stars is because though I hate the characters and found the plot boring, this book did make me feel strong feelings, of irritation, frustration and helplessness as Winston continued to ruin everything in such a overbearing society. Writing is art and art is supposed to make you feel something, even if it is distain.
(Also what was even the point of Winston saying he wants to kill and rape women?? I think that's just Orwells personal feelings and he needed an outlet for saying it.)
Graphic: Torture, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Rape, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Gore