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booksjessreads's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
3.25
I didn't quite know how to review this book. I was given it to read by a member of my partner's family, who said it was very readable and an insightful account of poverty in London and Paris in the 1930s. I do feel as though I learned a lot about poverty during this period and I will credit Orwell's exposition of his living conditions for being explicit so that we could understand his experience. I did find it generally quite readable, although through periods of the book, I found it hard to be drawn to and did not always feel motivated to read it.
Of course, this is a product of its time and does have open anti-Semitic, homophobic and xenophobic language, especially towards the French and Irish. Despite Orwell being a democratic socialist, that doesn't always mean that he had liberal views of everyone. Furthermore, he also had an arrogant style of writing, especially making clear that he was never as low as those who were embedded in the lower-class world. He was always careful to evoke sympathy from the reader for himself, but not that of others.
Undoubtedly, this does offer an interesting and insightful perspective of Orwell's life, but not a book I am eager to return to.
Of course, this is a product of its time and does have open anti-Semitic, homophobic and xenophobic language, especially towards the French and Irish. Despite Orwell being a democratic socialist, that doesn't always mean that he had liberal views of everyone. Furthermore, he also had an arrogant style of writing, especially making clear that he was never as low as those who were embedded in the lower-class world. He was always careful to evoke sympathy from the reader for himself, but not that of others.
Undoubtedly, this does offer an interesting and insightful perspective of Orwell's life, but not a book I am eager to return to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Racism
ashsparrow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Classism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Rape, Alcohol, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide
mildlypretentiousreader's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
“You discover the extreme precariousness of your six francs a day. Mean disasters happen and rob you of food.” (Page 18)
“It is a peculiar lowness of overtly that you discover first; the shifts that it puts you to the complicated meanness, the crust-wiping.” (Page 17)
George Orwell’s autobiographical work, Down and Out in Paris and London, follows a British writer struggling to survive in some of the world’s most expensive cities, Paris and later on London. Told through the first person perspective, Down and Out provides readers with a gripping and captivating narration style that allows any and all to be drawn in. It is surprisingly witty and entertaining. In addition, the descriptions of the experiences of the impoverished felt incredibly realistic and raw. It was strikingly vivid. One of my favorite sections of the book was the detailed description of the Parisian hotel staff hierarchy.
While all of this was insightful, Down and Out’s impact was greatly soured by its constant and consistent references of racism or anti-Semeticism. What ruined the book the most was the completely unneeded rape scene found in Chapter Two. It was disturbing to read and was frankly so unexpected.
“It is a peculiar lowness of overtly that you discover first; the shifts that it puts you to the complicated meanness, the crust-wiping.” (Page 17)
George Orwell’s autobiographical work, Down and Out in Paris and London, follows a British writer struggling to survive in some of the world’s most expensive cities, Paris and later on London. Told through the first person perspective, Down and Out provides readers with a gripping and captivating narration style that allows any and all to be drawn in. It is surprisingly witty and entertaining. In addition, the descriptions of the experiences of the impoverished felt incredibly realistic and raw. It was strikingly vivid. One of my favorite sections of the book was the detailed description of the Parisian hotel staff hierarchy.
While all of this was insightful, Down and Out’s impact was greatly soured by its constant and consistent references of racism or anti-Semeticism. What ruined the book the most was the completely unneeded rape scene found in Chapter Two. It was disturbing to read and was frankly so unexpected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Deportation
I cannot emphasize this enough. In regards to the rape scene, I found it to be completely unneeded and unprovoked. There was no real warning that a SA scene would happen. As a warning, the rape scene takes up almost the entirety of Chapter 2 of the book. There were also racism agains black people, along with the usage of the slur “blackie,” and other ethnic groups, such as Romani people.katiebartmess's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
2.5
Not my favorite. Check trigger warnings. Not a terrible to read, but not great either. Points were made about poverty and the like, but that perspective is marred because Orwell comes from money and I think his perspective is marred because he had a safety net should he need it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
Moderate: Antisemitism and Xenophobia
Avoid chapter 2. Very upsetting SA scene.josiiie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, and Sexism
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