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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
It had been a while since I read the original 1984 so I was trying to remember all the little details from Winston's story that were brought up in this book. I thought this was great and horrific and so well done. By the end my brain felt scrambled.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Newman breathed life into Orwell's world. Julia became a full woman, and we got to see her childhood extensively. The world of 1984 got color and texture with a few new characters and a whole ton of additional backstory and explanation. This was super satisfying to read right after a reread of 1984, where I was baffled and mildly annoyed by Julia's flatness, especially in some pivotal moments in 1984, when she is silent and the main character speaks for her. This story explained it all.
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Julia was pitched as a feminist retelling of 1984, but it didn't really hit that for me and unfortunately left me wanting a bit more. It was more of a 1984-adjacent story that centered the women's experience during the regime, particularly Julia's (Winston's lover in the original story). I liked how the author wove her story through the events of the classic, and the ending gave me a 'complete' feeling than 1984 didn't, but I didn't really connect with Julia's character and there were moments were the story really dragged. I was thankful I listened to the audiobook, as I think I would've DNFd a few times if I'd been reading the physical one.
Overall an ok story. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it and I appreciated what the author was trying to do whilst tackling such a classic book.
Worth noting, the narrator, Louise Brealey, for the audiobook was excellent!!
Overall an ok story. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it and I appreciated what the author was trying to do whilst tackling such a classic book.
Worth noting, the narrator, Louise Brealey, for the audiobook was excellent!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, War
challenging
dark
sad
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I've read 1984, a couple times actually. I don't know why I thought Julia would end any differently. I have the same sickening dread in my heart now that I remember from the first time I read 1984. Now it is worse given the state of the world. This is really and truly happening now. I need to re-read 1984 again now.
Also, incredibly disheartened by how many people around me hadn't read 1984 and had also never even heard of it. HOW???? I guess that goes a long way to explaining the state of the current political climate down south.
Also, incredibly disheartened by how many people around me hadn't read 1984 and had also never even heard of it. HOW???? I guess that goes a long way to explaining the state of the current political climate down south.
dark
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
dark
medium-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:
Complicated
This first 150 pages of this book were so slow, but the second half delivered the closure I wanted from 1984.
Lost interest and it’s been a while since I read the original 1984. Seems too close to modern day america
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Interesting enough that I finished it but didn't add much to the original story. And a book isn't feminist just because it is a female standpoint.