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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
lokoya's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
francescabooks's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
ac_hamilton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Antisemitism
scarafaggy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strenght.
I don't think there is much I can say that has not been said - "1984" is a classic which deserves its status. My only issue was the middle part of the book. The inclusion of excerpts of Goldstein's book was a jarring addition that, in my experience, took the away from the story and disturbed the overall pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
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
_eelenaa_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
2.0
The premise of a totalitarian government and a rebellion against it is very exciting and has a lot of potential, but I think that this book is pretty over-hyped. In my opinion, it ends up being a little pretentious, often opting for philosophical language that really means nothing if you think about it (especially near the ending), and the characters are bland and unlikeable.
It is also too vulgar for my taste. If you have a weak stomach and can't or don't want to read about torture and other gross things, do not read this book, or read with caution.
This is a cult classic, many people adore this book and the social commentary of the story is, all-in-all, good, so I would actually suggest that everyone who is interested in this book reads it, but do not expect anything mind-blowing.
First of all, I just thought it was a bit weird and unnecessary for Julia and Winston to mention how much they hate women and how stupid they think women are on several occasions. Maybe there is a deeper meaning here, but, if there is, I missed it.
Also, WOW this book is vulgar. I understand Winston and Julia sleeping together to defy Big Brother, but the way he describes violently raping and killing her (twice, I believe) is unsettling, to say the least. This also cannot have the excuse of happening to represent them defying Big Brother because, clearly, Big Brother loves violence. They literally perform public executions in front of children. Also, the 10-or-so year age gap? Why?
This book is pretty gross in general, though I suppose sometimes this is not a bad thing; Orwell is very good at describing disgusting textures, smells, tastes and atmospheres.
The ending is what I couldn't stand the most. All of the aforementioned stuff is trivial and generally unimportant but I was really hoping for a mind-blowing ending. Instead, I got O'Brien torturing Winston until Winston pretends to agree with O'Brien's screwed-up worldviews... and magically Winston actually begins agreeing with them?
It's like the book was missing a chunk. At what point did Winston completely do a 180 and go from hating Big Brother to loving it? He clearly knows that what O'Brien is saying and doing is wrong, and yet somehow he changes his mind? This brainwash aspect is, in my opinion, weak and poorly executed.
It is also too vulgar for my taste. If you have a weak stomach and can't or don't want to read about torture and other gross things, do not read this book, or read with caution.
This is a cult classic, many people adore this book and the social commentary of the story is, all-in-all, good, so I would actually suggest that everyone who is interested in this book reads it, but do not expect anything mind-blowing.
First of all, I just thought it was a bit weird and unnecessary for Julia and Winston to mention how much they hate women and how stupid they think women are on several occasions. Maybe there is a deeper meaning here, but, if there is, I missed it.
Also, WOW this book is vulgar. I understand Winston and Julia sleeping together to defy Big Brother, but the way he describes violently raping and killing her (twice, I believe) is unsettling, to say the least. This also cannot have the excuse of happening to represent them defying Big Brother because, clearly, Big Brother loves violence. They literally perform public executions in front of children. Also, the 10-or-so year age gap? Why?
This book is pretty gross in general, though I suppose sometimes this is not a bad thing; Orwell is very good at describing disgusting textures, smells, tastes and atmospheres.
The ending is what I couldn't stand the most. All of the aforementioned stuff is trivial and generally unimportant but I was really hoping for a mind-blowing ending. Instead, I got O'Brien torturing Winston until Winston pretends to agree with O'Brien's screwed-up worldviews... and magically Winston actually begins agreeing with them?
It's like the book was missing a chunk. At what point did Winston completely do a 180 and go from hating Big Brother to loving it? He clearly knows that what O'Brien is saying and doing is wrong, and yet somehow he changes his mind? This brainwash aspect is, in my opinion, weak and poorly executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Murder
goddli's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexism
senn's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
meganro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I despise the main character. He is extremely sexist/misogynistic and his inner monologue is disgusting to read. The way he talks about women and sex and how he wants to abuse them is horrific. The book starts off slow so it may be hard to get into. It doesn’t pick up till about half or 3/4 of the way in. The book explores a lot of interesting themes on political theory and provides a dystopian-like universe to explore the what if’s. What does it take for humanity to be lost? And is it possible for humanity to be regained once it’s been eradicated?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Vomit