Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

1984 by George Orwell

194 reviews

olliejay's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

This book isn't for those looking for pure entertainment. There are moments where it feels like it is droning on with complicated terminology, and a long stretch of narrative about capitalism vs. socialism. However, if you stick through it, you'll find a very complex main character and a high-paced latter half of the book.  This is a slow, psychological thriller doused heavily in political commentary.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

meganpbennett's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

1984 is George Orwell's dystopian look at the future. Dystopias are drawn from the present, taking one or two things that are and exaggerate them until they become what could be. Some are more accurate than others, and the more accurate a dystopia, the scarier it tends to be, The surveillance state coming out of the Second World War and the Red Scare of the Cold War, all lead into the Telescreens, the retconning of history, Thought Police and Big Brother. 

1984 is a terrifying look at what could be. It was also not intended to be an instruction manual, but a look at what happens when things are taken far, far, far too far. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Excrement and Vomit

catrinaplace's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A part of my soul just went missing and oops, I think it was this book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, and Medical trauma

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Acephobia/Arophobia

sinaprst's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I read this book 2 years ago and it still sits with me to this day and I think about it at least once a day. 
Though written in 1948 it still feels modern and discusses issues that have never been more important. 
I think everyone should read this book at least once in their life, believe me, you won`t regret it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, and Police brutality

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Gaslighting

jenna_justi2004's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Not gonna lie I want to take my eyeballs out and eat them. This shit was so horrifying I can’t even fathom a world like this. But at the same time I see the similarities on how it is today. Not to that extent but enough. And it’s very scary. I didn’t like the book at all but I get the message and I will never ever be reading anything by this man unless I want to unalive myself. I literally have no happiness currently so. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

zos's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.0

I know this is a "classic" but it might be one of the books that solidified my love for the dystopian genre. I love the world that was built, I love the characters and the decision that they make. This is one of my re-reads every year or so. I keep a physical copy of this book in my car in case I go anywhere and need something to read (once my phone and kindle die).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol

sadiaa's review against another edition

dark reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

ramireads's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this surprisingly - the plot twist totally surprised me and the way the book was written was increcibly done - I found myself completely bewitched to the mindset of the main character the whole way. 

The only part of this book that I didn't like was that I was expecting more from 'room 101' and that some parts of the book were excruciatingly slow - namely the excerpts from 'the book'. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

valeria_balzan's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

I was pretty invested in this book at the beginning. Usually world building is tough for me to understand but with this one was different, it was told in such a way that was understandable but not flat or boring. 

Reading about this dystopian past (future?) makes me understand and appreciate this classic for what it is: a journey of dehumanization. Exploring themes such as totalitarianism, manipulation (both physical and historical), control and loyalty.
The world building alone makes for such a rich setting that gives place to the critique of modern society that it is. 

The third act of the book threw me on a reading slump but it was (almost) worth it for that ending scene.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape