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dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is proof that short books can tell great stories. It was interesting to read a classic dystopian satire. It is amazing how closely the events and story of Animal farm mirrored that of the rise of Stalin and communist Russia. I would have enjoyed the book more if we got more of the thoughts from the other animal (not Neapolitan). I also would have enjoyed finding out what ended up happening to Snowball. Its a book that you can read easily in one day.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is one of the books I consider a must-read. It is slow, but slow for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Murder
Minor: Death, Torture, Blood
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
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Slavery, Violence, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, War
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Gun violence
dark
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Classism