Reviews tagging 'Torture'

1984 (Unabridged) by George Orwell

596 reviews

meglic's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Body horror

Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Classism, Colonisation, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Deportation, Infertility, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and War

chitti's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

3.75

I could feel how Winston felt at the end - that dread, but also the relief.

Around halfway through the book I was like, this is just a cute little romance about two rebels. But,  the third part is just astonishing, I’m lost for words. Reading through Goldstein's treatise pained my soul, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Torture

Moderate: Rape and Alcohol

saturn_rage's review against another edition

informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I hate Winston so muuuuuuuch…

But I think I actually really have issues with Orwell. Winston’s flaw are by design, he’s the epitome of someone who is content to uphold and even benefit from a system while also telling himself he is resisting it in a way that will make a difference. Looking at you white liberals. My issues with Orwell are more in line with how he’s an incel here. Julia just loving Winston is a plot hole. Julia not running away screaming when Winston tells her all the horrible things he wanted to do to her is fucking detached from reality. The characterization of the washwoman also reinforces this view of women as less-than-human in a different way, and it’s an unfortunate downer in a book that is otherwise a very interesting time. 

But yeah, this book does a great job at highlighting the trap of fascism, rather than presenting us a fantasy of a company man changing anything. Honestly expected him to be a member of the Thought Police the way he was going, but this ending suits him, and those he represents, much better. I should watch the film adaptation sometime. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Torture

Minor: Murder and Rape

grayvie's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

lilybarna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Such a powerful read, and a classic that is still highly readable and applicable to the world today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, War, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape

nadinesnutsandbeans's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

3.5

Interesting to read and compare to present life, but a slow read, particularly section 2 and not really a gripping read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

Moderate: War, Violence, and Slavery

Minor: Suicide and Self harm

jennyrlaws's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Torture, Alcoholism, War, and Forced institutionalization

ggcd1981's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Abandonment, Violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Confinement, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Torture, and Classism

Moderate: Police brutality, Chronic illness, Murder, Slavery, Death, Grief, Body horror, Sexual content, and War

Minor: Gun violence and Rape

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Alcohol, War, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Rape

nenah_elizabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, War, Death, Violence, Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence