Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

1984 by George Orwell

197 reviews

tilde_c_s's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Torture, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Classism

Minor: War

hikajelny's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

An amazing ride of a read. I can understand why 1984 continues to stay relevant up to this day, since the issues discussed by the author are mirrored on the contemporary world now (whether it's direct or indirect implication). The story allows you to understand the working system of politics-social-economy in a consideraly simple since it cut quite straight to the idea and how it implicates in the working world.

The author succinctly built the world and the underlying bleakiness of it through carefully chosen words and stark comparisons of ideals vs reality by the protagonist's world view. It gripped me so much that I found myself holding my breath, as if I was living in the world itself under the constant scrutiny of the society and system. To a degree, the book is like a hypocritical writing for me, in a sense that it twisted your mind as such you began to question everything you read out of unsureness.

Another thing to enjoy is how the story flows; it's not too rushed nor too compact, allowing readers a room to breathe and comprehend the reality that Winston is living. It's an introspective writing that helps you to be more aware of what is happening around you as well. Plot is easy to follow and most of all, it's not too long (especially considering the theme it brings).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse and Torture

maess's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and War

raypaws's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: War, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape

lorraine19's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The beginning can be a bit difficult to understand and slow to get into. But once as you really get into it and appreciate the world building, it opens your eyes to why this is considered a classic. There is a deep examination on what it means to be human at the root of this book that I think is often overlooked in favor of the political debates. The characters are complex people in a complex world. It is a very dark read but not a "feels good" book if that's what you are looking for. I personally appreciate the seriousness and the depth of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, War, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Genocide, Gore, Grief, and Gun violence

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Stalking, Cursing, Infidelity, Ableism, and Homophobia

airfryer's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Confinement, Torture, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Violence, Infertility, Misogyny, and Infidelity

Moderate: Blood and Vomit

Minor: Rape

daybreakreads's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

Painfully slow, dull writing. I normally enjoy dystopian novels but this one was just trying too har. Everything was for shock value, which ended up making nothing surprising. I find it ironic that the story involves sending a warning against scaring people into believing your political ideologies, but the author is a socialist and is advocating for socialism. The government claims to be socialist, but at one point it’s revealed it’s not actually socialist, and the only way forward is to become socialist. I don’t care what your political leanings are, there’s blatant hypocrisy by the author in trying to scare people into becoming socialist whilst advocating against scaring people into agreeing with your political opinions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality

Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Sexual violence, Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, and War

One n word usage

kaymay29's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and War

Moderate: Stalking, Slavery, Body shaming, Child death, Colonisation, and Death of parent

modrinkscoffee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, War, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Torture

Moderate: Misogyny

laughingkatana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

2.0

I completely understand why this book is a staple in the U.S., I understand the messages it hold, and I even see why people like it, but I did not enjoy the book even slightly. It is incredibly boring and drawn out. The author paints a tedious life through tedious writing and description. The only plus is how in depth the dive into the main characters thoughts and emotions is. I'm glad I read it, but honestly probably wouldn't recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, War, Torture, Violence, Alcoholism, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Murder