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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, War, Classism
Slayed
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
George Orwell is a hack for pulling so many themes from this. I hate 1984 but this was actually good. The ellipsis was a little annoying after a while. Actual science fiction from 100 years ago really not that bad. It is reminiscent of Metropolis, although it predates that by a few years. To have complete and absolute unfreedom is to be happy in this authoritarian society and D-503 is one of many cogs in this machine. I-330 plays the part of the rebel and if you've read 1984, this novel feels familiar. Pretty good but not perfect. 7/10
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was way ahead of its time! It was finished in 1921 and yet in the first page of the book it talks about taking the poems and music of the nation to the beings in outer space, something NASA actually ended up doing in 1977 with Voyager!
But apart from that, it is clear to see how this book had been an inspiration for 1984 in that they both share the same dark mood, the dynamics between people and the thing that messes up all the equations: love and imagination.
But apart from that, it is clear to see how this book had been an inspiration for 1984 in that they both share the same dark mood, the dynamics between people and the thing that messes up all the equations: love and imagination.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dystopian society based on equality and the gutting of the imagination--everything is scheduled and organized, and the collective of people is more important than the individual. The protagonist narrates his journey in a somewhat frenetic and obsessive haze. I had a challenging time following along; while the prose is poetic and abstract it also made it vague and hard for me to understand.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An absolutely incredible piece of writing – terrifying, yet also profoundly beautiful.
I'm not the most political person, but I really enjoyed reading 1984 and Brave New World, so it made sense that I had to read this. I rarely (if ever) choose foreign language books because I thought the translations might make it clunky.
I could not be more wrong. The prose and language choice was astounding in this, so incredibly beautiful, vivid and surreal. Zamyatin manages to communicate such violent and powerful emotion in this in a way that I just cannot put into words. I felt every ounce of passion, conflict and confusion that D-503 felt, and it was incredibly moving to follow his character progression. The flawed protagonist made I-330 such a complex and intriguing character, and I was pleased to see some well-rounded supporting characters too. I was completely enveloped in the revolution, and was surprised how much I enjoyed how morally complex the narrative was.
I have the utmost respect for 1984 as an important and prescient piece of literature, but I loved We even more. I look forward to reading it again.
I'm not the most political person, but I really enjoyed reading 1984 and Brave New World, so it made sense that I had to read this. I rarely (if ever) choose foreign language books because I thought the translations might make it clunky.
I could not be more wrong. The prose and language choice was astounding in this, so incredibly beautiful, vivid and surreal. Zamyatin manages to communicate such violent and powerful emotion in this in a way that I just cannot put into words. I felt every ounce of passion, conflict and confusion that D-503 felt, and it was incredibly moving to follow his character progression. The flawed protagonist made I-330 such a complex and intriguing character, and I was pleased to see some well-rounded supporting characters too. I was completely enveloped in the revolution, and was surprised how much I enjoyed how morally complex the narrative was.
I have the utmost respect for 1984 as an important and prescient piece of literature, but I loved We even more. I look forward to reading it again.