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pinkballoon100's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lelandbuck's review against another edition
5.0
A scathing condemnation of Anglo-colonial mindset like only Orwell could deliver.
bookman39582's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
morgcxn's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
Wtf was that ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Animal death, Suicide, and Animal cruelty
rc90041's review against another edition
4.0
There are flashes of searing brilliance here: the descriptions of a dying leopard, of a native Burmese dance shocking to English sensibilities, the absurd, comic corpulence of the cartoonishly evil U Po Kyin, the dogs gnawing at amputated limbs at the squalid local hospital. The story is pure melodrama. The characters are all cardboard caricatures. Yet, this is a book that will stay with you. Its primary value is as a historical artifact, a kind of fictionalized journal of Orwell's time in colonial Burma. It's also valuable as an early piece of Orwell's writing, and you can see early signs of his growing powers here, powers that would become fully realized some years later.
hhcharlesb's review against another edition
3.0
En los días de Birmania Orwell vertío lo que aprendió durante su estadía como policía imperial, habla del racismo, el orgullo, las apariencias y todo lo que hace a un britanico britanico en sus colonias, expone muy bien las estaciones, ambientes y recursos naturales, los personajes son un estereotipo de los colonizadores en las Indias y juega con lo que más les interesa.
shobnob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mosalah314's review against another edition
3.0
"There is no armour against fate."
Orwell praised Evelyn Waugh as a first-rate writer, but condemned him for his religious attitudes. I think I personally prefer Evelyn Waugh's religious sentiments to Orwell's insidious cynicism. Waugh's stories have a bit more soul, his optimism is neither naive nor dull. Orwell feels like drinking cough syrup; it's good for you, but tastes like shit. Both men are excellent authors whose stories are deeply embedded with a sense of fate, but I much prefer Waugh's version of fate to Orwell's. Being in an Orwell novel would truly be a nightmare, everyone just seems to eat shit and die.
Overall, this was a rather boring book. Burmese Days is a lot less daring than 1984. Orwell doesn't exactly pull his punches, but the scope of the book is underwhelming. The suicide at the end ties it together perfectly, but the build-up felt dreary, tired, and quite pedantic at times.
Orwell paints a crisp, lucid, and vital picture of imperialism, racism, and moral bankruptcy. He paints a little portrait of hell, that the British expertly established for themselves in Burma. The characters are developed well, especially the protagonist Flory, but with the exception of the doctor there isn't a single likeable character in the book.
The prose is obviously robust, polished and effective, but nonetheless Orwell's descriptions of Burma were not overly entertaining or inspiring for me. I laughed a few times, but less than I expected. It felt like this book could have been 100pgs shorter. This reminded me a bit of Camus, if Camus was severely interested in politics and a lot more British.
Not a book I'd reccomended, really, but also not a waste of time. I feel a bit more jaded having read this book. There were a few moments of deeply moving psychological exposition which is why I love Orwell, and what I expected more of to be honest. Orwell has a profound insight into the human psyche, he understands the tortured kind of darkness and disgusting sort of egotism which moves people to participate in the more banal forms of evil. The banality of evil is one thing this book captures expertly.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, but I've given Orwell the benefit of the doubt and rated this 4 stars. An excellent writer, who apparently decided that this particular story needed to be boring for some reason. The last 5 pages hit pretty hard, but I don't know if 295 pages of build-up really justified the impact.
Orwell praised Evelyn Waugh as a first-rate writer, but condemned him for his religious attitudes. I think I personally prefer Evelyn Waugh's religious sentiments to Orwell's insidious cynicism. Waugh's stories have a bit more soul, his optimism is neither naive nor dull. Orwell feels like drinking cough syrup; it's good for you, but tastes like shit. Both men are excellent authors whose stories are deeply embedded with a sense of fate, but I much prefer Waugh's version of fate to Orwell's. Being in an Orwell novel would truly be a nightmare, everyone just seems to eat shit and die.
Overall, this was a rather boring book. Burmese Days is a lot less daring than 1984. Orwell doesn't exactly pull his punches, but the scope of the book is underwhelming. The suicide at the end ties it together perfectly, but the build-up felt dreary, tired, and quite pedantic at times.
Orwell paints a crisp, lucid, and vital picture of imperialism, racism, and moral bankruptcy. He paints a little portrait of hell, that the British expertly established for themselves in Burma. The characters are developed well, especially the protagonist Flory, but with the exception of the doctor there isn't a single likeable character in the book.
The prose is obviously robust, polished and effective, but nonetheless Orwell's descriptions of Burma were not overly entertaining or inspiring for me. I laughed a few times, but less than I expected. It felt like this book could have been 100pgs shorter. This reminded me a bit of Camus, if Camus was severely interested in politics and a lot more British.
Not a book I'd reccomended, really, but also not a waste of time. I feel a bit more jaded having read this book. There were a few moments of deeply moving psychological exposition which is why I love Orwell, and what I expected more of to be honest. Orwell has a profound insight into the human psyche, he understands the tortured kind of darkness and disgusting sort of egotism which moves people to participate in the more banal forms of evil. The banality of evil is one thing this book captures expertly.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, but I've given Orwell the benefit of the doubt and rated this 4 stars. An excellent writer, who apparently decided that this particular story needed to be boring for some reason. The last 5 pages hit pretty hard, but I don't know if 295 pages of build-up really justified the impact.
varya13's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Начинается довольно медленно, но вчитавшись, тяжело оторваться. Фаворит после 1984.
thegulagula's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
With George Orwell, it was not an instant hit with me. His novels may seem boring and heavy to some but they have always aroused my curiosity on the themes and historical events. His narrative has always been detailed, it makes you feel like you were there in London, Paris, Burma and even the dystopia of 1984.
Burmese Days was set in Kyauktada, an upper town in Burma in the 1920s. It was based on Orwell's experience when he was stationed as a police officer there. This was the day when Burma was ruled by the British India. The story revolved around John Flory, an English timber merchant with his fair share of insecurity, and his circle of social members.
This book talked about racism and people of colours, corruption and colonialism. Despite being a century ago in a different country, the sense of colony, the corrupted authority and the 'native' sentiment still seemed relevant in my country at this age. Definitely recommended if you dig into George Orwell's books.
It is always so with titled people, they are either adored or hated. If they accept one it is charming cimplicity, if they ignore one it is loathsome snobbishness; there are no half-measures.'
With George Orwell, it was not an instant hit with me. His novels may seem boring and heavy to some but they have always aroused my curiosity on the themes and historical events. His narrative has always been detailed, it makes you feel like you were there in London, Paris, Burma and even the dystopia of 1984.
Burmese Days was set in Kyauktada, an upper town in Burma in the 1920s. It was based on Orwell's experience when he was stationed as a police officer there. This was the day when Burma was ruled by the British India. The story revolved around John Flory, an English timber merchant with his fair share of insecurity, and his circle of social members.
This book talked about racism and people of colours, corruption and colonialism. Despite being a century ago in a different country, the sense of colony, the corrupted authority and the 'native' sentiment still seemed relevant in my country at this age. Definitely recommended if you dig into George Orwell's books.
It is always so with titled people, they are either adored or hated. If they accept one it is charming cimplicity, if they ignore one it is loathsome snobbishness; there are no half-measures.'