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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
More detailed exploration of the world of 1984 from a female perspective. Winston does not come off particularly well, but neither does Julia. Not a great source of optimism in these troubled days.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 rounded up. The details of Julia's life under Big Brother are wonderfully depicted, but the plot moves slowly and I'm not sure that the ultimate message added much to the original for me. And it was kind of depressing.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A well constructed and creative addendum to Orwell's original. Newman has masterfully fleshed out Julia's original story. Giving us a deeper understanding of the life intersections of misogyny and fascist-authoritarianism, and the unique qualities of gender based violence by the state.
This is an essential novel for this political moment. I especially appreciated Newman's exploration of motivation in this novel, and ethics more generally. Technology has blurred the lines between fact and fiction in ways that would make Orwell turn in his grave. It's clever for Newman to place Julia alongside us: treading in the grey-water between true and false. She regularly makes life-altering choices with only parts of the picture...
Julia might not be a hero. But she's so incredibly human. And that is what makes this a good story.
This is an essential novel for this political moment. I especially appreciated Newman's exploration of motivation in this novel, and ethics more generally. Technology has blurred the lines between fact and fiction in ways that would make Orwell turn in his grave. It's clever for Newman to place Julia alongside us: treading in the grey-water between true and false. She regularly makes life-altering choices with only parts of the picture...
Julia might not be a hero. But she's so incredibly human. And that is what makes this a good story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Abortion, Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this for the first half, the author expanded the world of the original book in a very original way. However, I thought the last third of the book was a bit silly.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No