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dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this surprisingly - the plot twist totally surprised me and the way the book was written was increcibly done - I found myself completely bewitched to the mindset of the main character the whole way.
The only part of this book that I didn't like was that I was expecting more from 'room 101' and that some parts of the book were excruciatingly slow - namely the excerpts from 'the book'.
The only part of this book that I didn't like was that I was expecting more from 'room 101' and that some parts of the book were excruciatingly slow - namely the excerpts from 'the book'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture
Moderate: War
Minor: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am still mulling over this book. There is so much. I will definitely need to read it again, perhaps even multiple times, to better understand everything Orwell is laying out here.
Update: Upon some reflection, this book has really stuck with me since reading it. The analysis of language and the written word, the manipulation of memory and the past, and the movement of power and the surveillance state... they were all such incredible frameworks for understanding the worlds we live within. It was incredible to me that analysis from the 1940's was still so sharp and applicable to the present. This was a book that really encouraged the reader to ask questions and reflect.
With all that said, the book was heavily misogynistic. Winston's character said a lot of horrible things and Julia's character was basically treated like a manic pixie dream girl. I don't think these flaws should be excused and instead should be met with rigorous critique.
The ending was also very bleak, which some people may have a problem with. I personally didn't mind it so much because I felt like it captured the feeling Orwell was writing from - that deep hopelessness and despair, the anti-utopia as discussed in Erich Fromm's afterward.
Overall, this was a book where you take what you need and compost the rest. And even with it's many faults, I think there was still a lot to hold onto.
Update: Upon some reflection, this book has really stuck with me since reading it. The analysis of language and the written word, the manipulation of memory and the past, and the movement of power and the surveillance state... they were all such incredible frameworks for understanding the worlds we live within. It was incredible to me that analysis from the 1940's was still so sharp and applicable to the present. This was a book that really encouraged the reader to ask questions and reflect.
With all that said, the book was heavily misogynistic. Winston's character said a lot of horrible things and Julia's character was basically treated like a manic pixie dream girl. I don't think these flaws should be excused and instead should be met with rigorous critique.
The ending was also very bleak, which some people may have a problem with. I personally didn't mind it so much because I felt like it captured the feeling Orwell was writing from - that deep hopelessness and despair, the anti-utopia as discussed in Erich Fromm's afterward.
Overall, this was a book where you take what you need and compost the rest. And even with it's many faults, I think there was still a lot to hold onto.
"We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, War
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We feel that we are paper, choking on you nightly.
You would be hard-pressed to find a book more immediately engaging than 1984. The worldbuilding is paced perfectly, firstly offering us glimpses of Winston’s small rebellions such as keeping a diary. We get to see his daily life under Big Brother and the challenges he faces before the main plotline starts. This immediately hooked me in, as I felt the book unfolded naturally and the city was easy to picture in my mind. I was able to connect to his struggles, and the pace ramps up naturally rather than a sudden shock to the system.
We’re put into Winston’s perspective, and I found not having been spoiled was thrilling. Being unsure on who to trust, was novel, and I wasn’t expecting the eventual betrayal to come from a certain character. During one part of the book, specifically the brotherhood scene, I did feel it was too good to be true. I’m glad the writing didn’t treat the audience like a fool and my suspicions were very clearly founded.
The last portion of the book is incredibly disturbing, but after the attention given to the cruelty of the party, it feels deserved and not out of left field. The ending is especially impactful, as you can feel Winston’s thoughts have been completely tangled. The narration is inconsistent intentionally, and I think it made a great impact.
Orwell has a very direct writing style, typically favouring shorter sentences, with the occasional long line for impact. He doesn’t need to bloat the text with unnecessary language, and it was a joy to read and put myself in Winston’s shoes.
You would be hard-pressed to find a book more immediately engaging than 1984. The worldbuilding is paced perfectly, firstly offering us glimpses of Winston’s small rebellions such as keeping a diary. We get to see his daily life under Big Brother and the challenges he faces before the main plotline starts. This immediately hooked me in, as I felt the book unfolded naturally and the city was easy to picture in my mind. I was able to connect to his struggles, and the pace ramps up naturally rather than a sudden shock to the system.
We’re put into Winston’s perspective, and I found not having been spoiled was thrilling. Being unsure on who to trust, was novel, and I wasn’t expecting the eventual betrayal to come from a certain character. During one part of the book, specifically the brotherhood scene, I did feel it was too good to be true. I’m glad the writing didn’t treat the audience like a fool and my suspicions were very clearly founded.
The last portion of the book is incredibly disturbing, but after the attention given to the cruelty of the party, it feels deserved and not out of left field. The ending is especially impactful, as you can feel Winston’s thoughts have been completely tangled. The narration is inconsistent intentionally, and I think it made a great impact.
Orwell has a very direct writing style, typically favouring shorter sentences, with the occasional long line for impact. He doesn’t need to bloat the text with unnecessary language, and it was a joy to read and put myself in Winston’s shoes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism
tense
slow-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:
No
Only read it bc it's a classic but i honestly regret ir, idk how i manage to finish it
It's really slow, nothing really happens untik the last 100 pages
And the worst thing it's how the author and the characters describe and trear women
It's really slow, nothing really happens untik the last 100 pages
And the worst thing it's how the author and the characters describe and trear women
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, War
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't enjoy this book much. The story is well written and easy to read (besides searching the meaning of a few words). I was not a fan of the antisemitism woven through the book.
I did not enjoy the 'book within a book'. I begrudgingly read it because I was unsure whether it was important to the story or not. I found the ending of the book a bit trash too. I have searched for an explanation of it, but haven't felt satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, War
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Antisemitism
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Alcohol, War
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is my favorite novel of all time. Despite a few flaws, every thing is so deeply profound, emotional, and compelling, and I do mean literally every even tiny element of this novel, from the history of its writing and its author to the novel itself and its impact on pop culture and journalism is, as I described before, deeply profound and emotional and compelling. To be honest, almost every book I've read since has disappointed me since I read it, it's just so impressive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think that the setup of the world and political system is genius, and I thought part I and part 3 were disturbing but really great reads. It really made me think about the meanings of loyalty, history and memory. However, I thought that the middle section of the novel was a huge drag and I really struggled to get through part II- it felt more like a political manifesto from Orwell than a novel with a plot. That’s not to say that I didn’t find the ideas interesting, and the commentary on totalitarianism is relevant even today, but I think I would have preferred the book if the political elements were wound throughout rather than presented as an info dump.
I also think that the female characters were badly fleshed out, used as plot devices rather than characters in their own right, and I was uncomfortable with the presentation and lack of exploration of misogyny in the book.
I also think that the female characters were badly fleshed out, used as plot devices rather than characters in their own right, and I was uncomfortable with the presentation and lack of exploration of misogyny in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexism, War