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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
This was the first time I've ever read 1984, in any form.
Firstly, practically, this graphic novel becomes a little hard to read. While I understand the reasoning, the black text on grey background for much of the book made for tricky reading under an evening bedside light. It was also surprisingly dense in text for a graphic novel. Not particularly a bad thing though.
However, the denseness of the text in the middle and the appendix at the end felt to me to outstay its welcome, as it was at odds with the pacing of the rest of the book.
The art of this book is extremely fitting. It's grim, gloomy and sometimes shocking, even if low in detail (but that feels like the point). Thumbs up from me.
The story itself? I enjoyed the world building, and slowly learning the story of Winston and his past. However, feel like the slow introduction (about 50% of the book) took a sudden turn that never really worked for me. Sure, we got to see a different side to the world, but the pacing felt off. I think that kind of summarises all of it - the pacing feels off. It starts slow, stays slow, jumps to 100 and struggles to resolve anything, while dipping its toe back into the slowness if the beginning.
I feel some of the second halves vagueness is deliberate and it certainly got me thinking. I've seen so many references to 1984 over the years that many things seemed to slot into place where I'm not sure if it's the book or pop culture that's doing the heavy lifting. That all leads to an ending that stays with you. But for the right reasons? I guess that's why I'm still thinking about it.
Firstly, practically, this graphic novel becomes a little hard to read. While I understand the reasoning, the black text on grey background for much of the book made for tricky reading under an evening bedside light. It was also surprisingly dense in text for a graphic novel. Not particularly a bad thing though.
However, the denseness of the text in the middle and the appendix at the end felt to me to outstay its welcome, as it was at odds with the pacing of the rest of the book.
The art of this book is extremely fitting. It's grim, gloomy and sometimes shocking, even if low in detail (but that feels like the point). Thumbs up from me.
The story itself? I enjoyed the world building, and slowly learning the story of Winston and his past. However, feel like the slow introduction (about 50% of the book) took a sudden turn that never really worked for me. Sure, we got to see a different side to the world, but the pacing felt off. I think that kind of summarises all of it - the pacing feels off. It starts slow, stays slow, jumps to 100 and struggles to resolve anything, while dipping its toe back into the slowness if the beginning.
I feel some of the second halves vagueness is deliberate and it certainly got me thinking. I've seen so many references to 1984 over the years that many things seemed to slot into place where I'm not sure if it's the book or pop culture that's doing the heavy lifting. That all leads to an ending that stays with you. But for the right reasons? I guess that's why I'm still thinking about it.
dark
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
dark
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
Good visuals and use of color symbolism to present the classic Orwell book into graphic format.
There's not much else I can say about it because the plot is so well known.
There's not much else I can say about it because the plot is so well known.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2025 - The 52 Book Club Challenge
Prompt 6: Genre One: Set in Spring
The Seasons of 2025
Prompt 1: Spring
Prompt 6: Genre One: Set in Spring
The Seasons of 2025
Prompt 1: Spring
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No