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alessiareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved how this book perfectly described a whole history lesson with some pigs and horses. It’s really freakin’ genius.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Alcohol
1ouvre's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Suicide
kashby's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, and Cannibalism
amsswim's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Glad I reread this. Was good in high school, and has remained very good. George Orwell hits the spot
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Grief, and Classism
theslowreadernumber5's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and War
samdalefox's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It will come as no surprise to people that I'm a fan of Orwell's work. He uses clear and simple language and imagery to paint an accessible political picture Totalitarianism. Despite being written at the end of WWII and is clearly a scathing mockery of Stalin's USSR, I believe the 'Animal Farm' fable is increasingly relevant today.
The story describes why Totalitarianism/Authoritarism occurs (those selfishly seeking power and those unable or unwilling to stop this power) and how it occurs (violence, gaslighting, exploitation, scapegoating). The story highlights that Totalitarianism power is morally the same irespective of original economic ideology (Communist vs Capitalist), and in my opinion gently endorses Socialism and Community through The Major, the first year of the farm, and the 'Beasts of England' song. Different Totalitarian states have different justifications for their rule, but Animal Farm suggests that all totalitarian regimes are fundamentally the same: those in power care only about maintaining their power by any means necessary, and they do so by oppressing the individual and the lower classes. Orwell therefore very clearly highlights the importance of an educated and critically thinking lower classes. Another StoryGraph user 'humlejenta' has a longer review that covers these points in greater depth.
The famous ending"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” neatly summarises the horror and is still relevant to this day. All of us are under some sort of economic oppressing class. Britian in particular is currently sleepwaking towards Authoritarianism and has deeply embedded capitalist class divisions. I am reminded of two quotes which summarises the spirit of Animal Farm: "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" - Nelson Mandela. And, "The oppressed, instead of striving for liberation, tend themselves to become oppressors.” - Paulo Freire. Becoming the new oppressing class is not freedom. Being oppressed by a different ideological regime is not freedom.
I recommend this book to everyone. Recognise the danger signs and act quickly. Embrace socialism and your community. Ask questions, educate yourself, and think critically of those in power.
The story describes why Totalitarianism/Authoritarism occurs (those selfishly seeking power and those unable or unwilling to stop this power) and how it occurs (violence, gaslighting, exploitation, scapegoating). The story highlights that Totalitarianism power is morally the same irespective of original economic ideology (Communist vs Capitalist), and in my opinion gently endorses Socialism and Community through The Major, the first year of the farm, and the 'Beasts of England' song. Different Totalitarian states have different justifications for their rule, but Animal Farm suggests that all totalitarian regimes are fundamentally the same: those in power care only about maintaining their power by any means necessary, and they do so by oppressing the individual and the lower classes. Orwell therefore very clearly highlights the importance of an educated and critically thinking lower classes. Another StoryGraph user 'humlejenta' has a longer review that covers these points in greater depth.
The famous ending
I recommend this book to everyone. Recognise the danger signs and act quickly. Embrace socialism and your community. Ask questions, educate yourself, and think critically of those in power.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Death
haylethal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Classism
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever.”
yeah, right
boxer deserved better!
yeah, right
boxer deserved better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Slavery, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Alcohol
emmathebookworm's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
tomtomonomtom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Jfc, Orwell delivers. Everything hits the fan, no object misses, not even one. I read this novel because I am a fan of Orwell's essays and his writing style, I want to see in turn how he writes a novel.
Took me a surprise that's for sure, but the novel did carry along with it the typical Orwell political topics (as it did with 1984). Least to say, this novel is depressing as hell and I was already in such a crisis before reading this.
The characters, because of their way of portrayal as animals, works wonders when it comes to symbolizing their role in the mad house.
Took me a surprise that's for sure, but the novel did carry along with it the typical Orwell political topics (as it did with 1984). Least to say, this novel is depressing as hell and I was already in such a crisis before reading this.
The characters, because of their way of portrayal as animals, works wonders when it comes to symbolizing their role in the mad house.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Deadnaming