Reviews with content warning for Sexism - 1984

To be honest, I kind of feel like George Orwell gaslighted me. The first half of this book was just---bad. I didn't like it. Not in the slightest.

Winston would randomly get this urge to either rape or kill people who did nothing else but exist in his presence. It was tiring, not thought-provoking. I liked him much better in part three of the book, though! Ironically enough, maybe, but his whole character during part one and two was being a pig. That was completely out of focus during part three! Splendid.

Julia should have been removed entirely. I didn't like her in the beginning, and I didn't like her at the end. Her whole character was having sex and saying foul things. If you try too hard to make a character who's supposed to be controversial and rebellious, you end up with a character I only want to die in a pit.

O'Brien.🫶 He saved the book, to be honest. I genuinely believe that this book would have been 5 stars for me if Orwell had removed Julia and spent more time building on Winston and O'Brien's relationship instead.

All in all, I do believe that this book was worth it. I read it for history, and during the first half, I thought of this book as complete and utter bullshit. But at least I came to like it—really like it towards the end.

Content Warnings

neaaen's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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books_because_why_not's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The characters in this book were pretty good. I think it was extremely clear each motivation the characters had and understandable reasoning between the actions in the book. My only problem was with the mc, Winston. He was quite misogynistic in the beginning (luckily this part of his character was not shown as much as the book progressed).

I think if there was a setting that I would never want to be stuck in, it would be this book. The world is described really well. I find it so interesting how the author presents that authoritative rule can only last if everyone is suffering to some degree.

I think the writing in this book was pretty good, but I did find myself bored in some parts. I think this was my fault because I was on a schedule to read this book and I just really wanted to be done with the book as soon as possible. The author describes in great detail the societal structure. While this is good for understanding the world, it is slightly boring especially when it is explained all at once with no jumps back to the story to give the reader a break. Also, the latter half of the book was hard to get through because there were so many oxymorons.

I will say that the general plot of this story is not one I’m used to, but I still liked it. The story follows the character arc of Winston. It explores both sides of the coin of authoritative rule and its effects on people. I will say the ending is certainly not what I had expected.

This book had generally standard pacing with the exception of a long segment dedicated to world-building. I was not on-edge while I was reading, but that does not mean it was a bad book.

In general, I found this book to tell an interesting story and had some fascinating commentary on society and government. I think I ruined my enjoyment by trying to read this book too quickly, but I’m not going to take points for something that was my own doing.

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foxwish's review against another edition

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The book has brilliant ideas but every other aspect of this book resulted in me feeling like I had to force myself to keep going. This book is by no means fun or enjoyable, I thought I'd be able to push through because of the interesting ideas but when Winston spends 31 pages reading a dense book I decided that was enough.

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san_dra's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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friesenag's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

1984 is yet another classic with such misogynistic undertones it ruins the story, which honestly I didn't even find good in the first place. These themes aren't groundbreaking as a modern reader but I could see how big of a thing this could be back in the 50s.
Winston is the kind of person who thinks he's above it all and smarter than everyone, but he is so stupid it hurts. <spolier> There is no way that he discerned that O'Brien was a member of the brotherhood from a look and just went with it, and I know in the book they go over that, but I don't think Winston really fully understands his stupidity.
I think that this book could have been amazing and cool, but there was a lack of world building and creation in my opinion. I think Orwell could have done more to share about the physical infrastructure of the community if that makes sense. It felt that there were some very lackluster and half baked story lines that left me asking more questions, and not in a good way.
My major issues were with the character of Julia who was one of two female characters who outwardly states how much she hates women and is SUCH a pick me. When Orwell had that scene about how the women were fighting over pots and pans, Winston discerns that women are just followers and basically have no real feelings about their society like he does, which irritates me so much. How can you tell someones life from how they are fighting over a scarce item?? These women have people to feed, and that doesn't mean that they don't find something wrong with the government?? I felt that women in this book were painted as stupid followers who don't have thoughts and experiences of their own. Even with Julia, who was against big brother but couldn't be bothered to understand the doctrine. This story frustrated me more than anything because of the lack of character development and that Winston's freedom thinking turns into exactly what big brother wanted. The themes of the danger of conformity were interesting, but I hated that it was shown in such a hateful and dislikable way.
I do think Orwell did a good job in the end to create stress and intrigue in the climax of the book, but fell flat as you kinda began to know exactly what was gonna happen.
The only reason this is getting 2.5 stars is because though I hate the characters and found the plot boring, this book did make me feel strong feelings, of irritation, frustration and helplessness as Winston continued to ruin everything in such a overbearing society. Writing is art and art is supposed to make you feel something, even if it is distain.

(Also what was even the point of Winston saying he wants to kill and rape women?? I think that's just Orwells personal feelings and he needed an outlet for saying it.)

Content Warnings

accidentallyinlovefromshrek2's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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