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knuckledown's review against another edition
5.0
How much do I love this book? So much!
Interestingly, I followed up this, the classic tale of a future dystopia, with Ender's Shadow, a more current prediction for the future. Not that they lacked parallels. Oh, but Orwell is such a master of the futuristic cautionary tale that this book defies the title of science fiction. I mean, ever heard of Big Brother? Orwell defined the concept!
Okay, I'll try to be a bit more articulate. The first two parts of the book were pitch perfect. Orwell paints a vivid picture, then lets us watch as Winston and Julia get a taste of the freedom they are being denied. I understand why they had to be caught in part three. It puts the caution in cautionary tale.
The only detail I would change is the very end when Winston is truly brainwashed. The Party conquers his thought, and he loves Big Brother. I would want to leave readers with the idea that their minds are the one thing they can always keep for themselves. Then again, the disturbing ending might be part of the book's power. Orwell, I bow to your genius.
Interestingly, I followed up this, the classic tale of a future dystopia, with Ender's Shadow, a more current prediction for the future. Not that they lacked parallels. Oh, but Orwell is such a master of the futuristic cautionary tale that this book defies the title of science fiction. I mean, ever heard of Big Brother? Orwell defined the concept!
Okay, I'll try to be a bit more articulate. The first two parts of the book were pitch perfect. Orwell paints a vivid picture, then lets us watch as Winston and Julia get a taste of the freedom they are being denied. I understand why they had to be caught in part three. It puts the caution in cautionary tale.
The only detail I would change is the very end when Winston is truly brainwashed. The Party conquers his thought, and he loves Big Brother. I would want to leave readers with the idea that their minds are the one thing they can always keep for themselves. Then again, the disturbing ending might be part of the book's power. Orwell, I bow to your genius.
boredguy's review
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
eva_stars's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
shajeukia's review against another edition
4.0
1984 is a dark and bleak story with impressive world-building. One that’s worth mentioning is the language Newspeak, which was purposefully developed to limit people’s ability to think, to narrow their thoughts—the ones that go against the Party. It blew my mind.
“The best books are those that tell you what you know already.”
Similar to what Winston felt about Goldstein’s book, 1984, to me, is composed of ideas I have thought about—or at least I know about, but never really find a way (or the urge) to articulate.
It was terrifying to read the ‘brainwashing’ part, AND THE ROOM 101… GOOSEBUMPS, but I actually found the third part of this book to be very captivating!
1984 makes you feel certain and absolutely confident in your beliefs, but simultaneously flipping it upside down, leaving you questioning whether you truly believe in anything at all. It was a heavy read; nevertheless, I still enjoyed it.
P.S. I feel like it’ll be better to read the original English version rather than the translated one (I read the Bahasa Indonesia version), and I’m pretty sure I missed NUMEROUS important points because of this. Hence, the 4 stars. I’m planning to buy the English version and re-read it later!
“The best books are those that tell you what you know already.”
Similar to what Winston felt about Goldstein’s book, 1984, to me, is composed of ideas I have thought about—or at least I know about, but never really find a way (or the urge) to articulate.
It was terrifying to read the ‘brainwashing’ part, AND THE ROOM 101… GOOSEBUMPS, but I actually found the third part of this book to be very captivating!
1984 makes you feel certain and absolutely confident in your beliefs, but simultaneously flipping it upside down, leaving you questioning whether you truly believe in anything at all. It was a heavy read; nevertheless, I still enjoyed it.
P.S. I feel like it’ll be better to read the original English version rather than the translated one (I read the Bahasa Indonesia version), and I’m pretty sure I missed NUMEROUS important points because of this. Hence, the 4 stars. I’m planning to buy the English version and re-read it later!
themothermorrigan's review against another edition
3.0
I know it is a good book and the ideas are truly important to think about. I just enjoyed Animal Farm way more - or it had a bigger impact on me. I felt like this was just too much. And it is not like I don't understand the connection to real world - I'm fully aware of how this reflect principles of totalitarian states, that it shows how states like USSR work or could work if we let them. Also i felt like reading [b:We|76171|We|Yevgeny Zamyatin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421883730s/76171.jpg|2144026] in different settings but with same ideas. Maybe I was just too old to read it. Should you read this book? Yes, but don't feel like you have to.
beccaannekent's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I haven’t read 1984 since school and I feel it hits harder now, as an adult in her 30s than it ever did at GCSE level.
This new, Audible exclusive, Audiobook with an all star cast is strongly delivered. George Orwell’s dystopian world launches into your mind as you listen, with the background noises making you feel like your are stood there, with Winston, experiencing his paranoia, fear, elation, hysteria and so on. This has made me realise that to enjoy Orwell thoroughly, you should listen to or watch it be performed.
What really gave this particular version an edge over other audiobooks was the accompanying background music. If I didn’t already know this was from Matt Bellamy of Muse, I think I’d have guessed. It really fits this futuristic (to Orwell at the point of writing, but not to us listening in 2024), world that has been imagined.
One story, where its themes and warnings will never be outdated. This is one to listen too, begin to understand true censorship and government control and understand this is also a modern problem.
Remember, Big Brother is always watching.
This new, Audible exclusive, Audiobook with an all star cast is strongly delivered. George Orwell’s dystopian world launches into your mind as you listen, with the background noises making you feel like your are stood there, with Winston, experiencing his paranoia, fear, elation, hysteria and so on. This has made me realise that to enjoy Orwell thoroughly, you should listen to or watch it be performed.
What really gave this particular version an edge over other audiobooks was the accompanying background music. If I didn’t already know this was from Matt Bellamy of Muse, I think I’d have guessed. It really fits this futuristic (to Orwell at the point of writing, but not to us listening in 2024), world that has been imagined.
One story, where its themes and warnings will never be outdated. This is one to listen too, begin to understand true censorship and government control and understand this is also a modern problem.
Remember, Big Brother is always watching.
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to read the first half of this but then I got to about halfway through and read the rest in a day. I'm not sure whether it really was slow to start off with or if it was just me but I really did enjoy it overall!
danarossa's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
5.0
Розйоб.
Переклад неймовірний.
Я зачитувалася, і навіть поверталася до абзаців щоб перечитати.
Там є дивне рішення, що вони площу перемоги переклали як майдан Вікторії.
Дуже дивне рішення.
Але най буде.
В кінці там є 2 розділи. Про новомову. Дуже цікаво.
І іще після мова від жупанського. І я спочатку не розпарсила, що це від українця, думала перекладена.
І я була шокована коли перевертаю сторінку - а там приклади дводумства конкретно росіян!
Дуже крута після мова .
Переклад неймовірний.
Я зачитувалася, і навіть поверталася до абзаців щоб перечитати.
Там є дивне рішення, що вони площу перемоги переклали як майдан Вікторії.
Дуже дивне рішення.
Але най буде.
В кінці там є 2 розділи. Про новомову. Дуже цікаво.
І іще після мова від жупанського. І я спочатку не розпарсила, що це від українця, думала перекладена.
І я була шокована коли перевертаю сторінку - а там приклади дводумства конкретно росіян!
Дуже крута після мова .
trisarahjtops's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.75