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zanosgood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
radbear76's review against another edition
4.0
As always with Orwell this is a well written book. He does such a good job you want to wring the protagonist's neck because he's so irritating. Orwell also captures the frustration many have felt in capitalist society of everything being rooted in and defined by money.
cuppycups's review against another edition
dur dur i hate capitalism dur dur dur get drunk dur dur hate plant hate women
natemarcusen's review against another edition
5.0
One of Orwell’s least known books, and yet I found myself reading it two times over wondering why. The main character struggles against middle class mediocrity and unattainable upper class success. He decides to try to descend beneath it all by choosing poverty. He fails at this too. It’s a dark humored funny reflection of ourselves and what we value in life. One which transcends the setting and time it was written in and which I highly recommend.
As far as the symbolism of the Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant) goes, it was a symbol of middle class respectability during Victorian times. The plant was a colonial import from Asian conquests and was previously out of the price range for the common citizen to purchase until the rise of the middle class that coincided during these times. It became popular to display it (fly it) in the front window as a sort of point of family pride.
As far as the symbolism of the Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant) goes, it was a symbol of middle class respectability during Victorian times. The plant was a colonial import from Asian conquests and was previously out of the price range for the common citizen to purchase until the rise of the middle class that coincided during these times. It became popular to display it (fly it) in the front window as a sort of point of family pride.
monica_moniker's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jadeintheshell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
deardostoevsky's review against another edition
5.0
Vicisti, O Aspidistra!
Read it a few years back yet it feels as fresh as yesterday. One of the most underrated books for me. Or maybe so because I could relate with the protagonist at a very personal level. He dwindles between living off as a poor man but in pursue of his artistic calibre or to give up the dreams of the artist while sustaining a socially approved life. It is a satire on the money driven society which has forgotten to live.
It's not life, it's stagnation death-in-life. Look at all these bloody houses and the meaningless people inside them. Sometimes I think we're all corpses. Just rotting upright.
The metaphor of 'Aspidistra' to signify the commonness around was so beautiful. Throughout the story, the protagonist makes this plant, this Aspidistra, a symbol for his fight against the common life.
“My poems are dead because I'm dead. You're dead. We're all dead. Dead people in a dead world.”
He is bitter and troubled, and Orwell shines through this tale of broken dreams to achieve a broken life.
Yes, 1984 and Animal Farm are the obvious treasures, but if you relate with Orwell, this book is a gem as well, it is very different and unique, portraying Orwell in a very different light yet maintaining his criticism on the 'totalitarianism' aspect of money this time.
Read it a few years back yet it feels as fresh as yesterday. One of the most underrated books for me. Or maybe so because I could relate with the protagonist at a very personal level. He dwindles between living off as a poor man but in pursue of his artistic calibre or to give up the dreams of the artist while sustaining a socially approved life. It is a satire on the money driven society which has forgotten to live.
It's not life, it's stagnation death-in-life. Look at all these bloody houses and the meaningless people inside them. Sometimes I think we're all corpses. Just rotting upright.
The metaphor of 'Aspidistra' to signify the commonness around was so beautiful. Throughout the story, the protagonist makes this plant, this Aspidistra, a symbol for his fight against the common life.
“My poems are dead because I'm dead. You're dead. We're all dead. Dead people in a dead world.”
He is bitter and troubled, and Orwell shines through this tale of broken dreams to achieve a broken life.
Yes, 1984 and Animal Farm are the obvious treasures, but if you relate with Orwell, this book is a gem as well, it is very different and unique, portraying Orwell in a very different light yet maintaining his criticism on the 'totalitarianism' aspect of money this time.
upbeatmick's review against another edition
3.0
Truly one of the most unlikeable main characters. Is he protagonist or antagonist? Ugh. It is a credit to Orwell that Comstock can produce such a visceral negative reaction.