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tiktakkodiak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
southcarolina's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
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.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism
aivi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content and Police brutality
toodeadtoread's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and 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, and Classism
mickymouse_007's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Did I expect this to hit this hard? No. Was I prepared for this flawed masterpiece? No. Do I regret reading this? Also no.
I love the layers of this book. It makes you cry a bit. Just like an onion. I am never really fond of sci fi or dystopian books but this book changed my perspective. It was a really dense book and I think people should at least have a basic idea of the book and its themes before jumping into it because it could be triggering to some folks (especially volume 3).
I love the world Orwell created and used the political references in his time to write it. It's so shocking and dark and dull and creepy. And it's such a big red flag and serves as a warning for all of us.
I hate this book for destroying me though (Do I have to explain?)
I knew that I would give this book a 5 star rating but vol 3 chapter 2 especially sealed the rating- I had no control over it from that point on. I was crying but no tears came out and my heart was thumping in my chest.
Overall, I love it. definitely recommend. I will read this again and again and again just to understand it on a more deeper level.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Police brutality
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
secretly_a_human's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
Minor: Rape
nikenacs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I now liked this SO much better than when I read it in school at 15. Also really, really reminded me why I like philosophy. '1984' takes the essential philosophical questions "What is (objective) reality? Who constructs reality?" and builds an entire state on the thought that a government could prescribe reality, fleshed out to the last detail. The society and world-building in this is nothing less than spectacular (if absolutely horrifying, of course). Also a great example for a book that puts plot over characters - Winston, Julia etc are just vehicles for the story, examples of people who have been brought up in the society this book aims to paint. Anyways, this was a tough read, but I'm so glad I did read it, and it will stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Rape
ribert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Classism
stardustdreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Blood, and War
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Vomit, and Death of parent
sofrosune's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Este es el libro más depresivo que he leído. No es que elijo leer libros depresivos, pero este clásico es de lo más depresivo que hasta ahora conozco. Sin embargo, luego de digerirlo completamente, me acompaña una sensación de calma y gratitud por no vivir en el mundo de 1984.
Pero no puedo decir lo mismo de los chinos, rusos y especialmente de los norcoreanos.
== English ==
This is the most depressing book I have read. It is not that I choose to read depressing books, it is simply that this classic is the most depressing thing that I have read until now. After completely assimilating this book, however, a feeling of calmness and gratitude stays with me, because I (and we) do not live in the world of 1984.
But I cannot say the same about the Chinese, Russians, and or course, the North Koreans.
== Deutsch ==
Ein deprimierendes Buch, dass handelt sich um das Leben der Nordkoreaner.
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Torture
Minor: Sexual content and Police brutality