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enf87's review against another edition
I was excited to read this book - it's a classic, plus I'm always interested in a book that's ever been "banned." However, the narrator, toward the beginning of the book (page 15) describes his hatred of an unnamed woman ("the dark-haired girl") he's had no contact with, and goes on to describe in great detail how he'd like to rape, torture and murder her, simply because she's an attractive young woman. Note: this scene is NOT why the book was banned!
As a survivor, I'm admittedly picky about scenes of sexual assault in my reading materials, but it's certainly not a deal breaker. (Toni Morrison is one of my favorite authors and she wrote some truly upsetting rape scenes.)
In this case, the fact that the narrator simply continues the story as though these types of fantasies are standard to the male psyche, while I'm supposed to look to him as my reliable narrator, made me uneasy.
No shade to anyone who enjoyed this book, but I felt ok just taking the cliff notes route here after that scene.
As a survivor, I'm admittedly picky about scenes of sexual assault in my reading materials, but it's certainly not a deal breaker. (Toni Morrison is one of my favorite authors and she wrote some truly upsetting rape scenes.)
In this case, the fact that the narrator simply continues the story as though these types of fantasies are standard to the male psyche, while I'm supposed to look to him as my reliable narrator, made me uneasy.
No shade to anyone who enjoyed this book, but I felt ok just taking the cliff notes route here after that scene.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder
madamechampignon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol, and War
bellasandrarose's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
alexinwxnderland's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Torture
Minor: Body horror, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
lindsaysofia_25's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought the way anti-authoritarianism is conveyed in this novel was really interesting and I enjoyed the ending. I also liked that the writing was very readable and all the newspeak words were explained so the novel still made sense to the average reader. The worldbuilding is very complex and well done.
The star lost is because of personal taste (I found it boring at times and just not my favourite genre) and because it was pretty misogynistic at times.
The star lost is because of personal taste (I found it boring at times and just not my favourite genre) and because it was pretty misogynistic at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Rape and Murder
therobinjoyce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
Winston, the main character, lives in a dystopian country where individual thought is banned and where only the leader, an entity known as Big Brother, is allowed to reason and to decide. He is conflicted by his own thoughts and urged by his natural instincts to question the wisdom of Big Brother. Throughout the pages of the book he moves hopefully toward his own liberation and the liberation of all mankind from Big Brother’s terrifying regime, but in defying Big Brother with his own thoughts, he dooms himself to the full wrath of this totalitarian government.
This book really isn’t for the faint of heart. Obviously, 1984 was written well before our day and the style of writing evidently shows that, but the principles and concepts conveyed in the pages of this book are very thought-provoking (as all of George Orwell's books are) and relevant even today.
Amazingly, he has created a dystopian world far different from what the reality of 1984 was actually like, but one, nonetheless, that is a stark warning to mankind if they continue down certain paths even nowadays.
Throughout the pages of the book, Orwell warns of the serious danger totalitarianism poses to society and goes to extreme lengths to demonstrate the terrifying degree of power and control which a totalitarian regime can acquire and maintain even without the use of much modern technology.
It was truly frightening to behold at certain points and definitely one to read. If you're after a gripping, dark, dystopian tale of seemingly doomed hope and espionage against a totalitarian government, you will most likely be thrilled to read this book. If however, you suffer from any kind of nervous disposition, please do not attempt this novel. One look at the content warnings below will give you a good understanding of why I say this...
TRIGGER WARNING: Torture, Violence, Physical Abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Death, Forced Institutionalization, Sexism, Gore, Sexual Content, Body Horror, Emotional Abuse, Rape, Sexual Violence, Suicidal Thoughts, Murder, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Blood, War, Alcohol, Hate Crime, Genocide, Body Shaming, Gun Violence, Alcoholism, Medical Content, Cursing, Child Death
This book really isn’t for the faint of heart. Obviously, 1984 was written well before our day and the style of writing evidently shows that, but the principles and concepts conveyed in the pages of this book are very thought-provoking (as all of George Orwell's books are) and relevant even today.
Amazingly, he has created a dystopian world far different from what the reality of 1984 was actually like, but one, nonetheless, that is a stark warning to mankind if they continue down certain paths even nowadays.
Throughout the pages of the book, Orwell warns of the serious danger totalitarianism poses to society and goes to extreme lengths to demonstrate the terrifying degree of power and control which a totalitarian regime can acquire and maintain even without the use of much modern technology.
It was truly frightening to behold at certain points and definitely one to read. If you're after a gripping, dark, dystopian tale of seemingly doomed hope and espionage against a totalitarian government, you will most likely be thrilled to read this book. If however, you suffer from any kind of nervous disposition, please do not attempt this novel. One look at the content warnings below will give you a good understanding of why I say this...
TRIGGER WARNING: Torture, Violence, Physical Abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Death, Forced Institutionalization, Sexism, Gore, Sexual Content, Body Horror, Emotional Abuse, Rape, Sexual Violence, Suicidal Thoughts, Murder, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Blood, War, Alcohol, Hate Crime, Genocide, Body Shaming, Gun Violence, Alcoholism, Medical Content, Cursing, Child Death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
saylaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Violence
Minor: Rape and War
washingmachineoverlord's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Honestly, I came into this book expecting a lot more. Overall it seems like the most revered books out there, especially politically, and while the political commentary is good, the plot kind of falls short. On top of that it was a headache to get through, as it was incredibly and constantly depressing. I don't mind sad endings and the such, but this was a whole other level, and made me need a break from dystopia novels overall. It still was a decent book though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Rape
tiredurbanist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
alix_the_book_witch's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Great as a sociopolitical and historical analis yet boring, slow and kinda awful as a novel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and War