Reviews - Julia: A Novel | The StoryGraph

1.75k reviews for:

Julia: A Novel

Sandra Newman

3.8 AVERAGE

noraquinn's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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: Complicated

This was great. Obviously I had to read it because when I was 18 taking AP lit I went around telling everyone George Orwell hated women after I read 1984 for a project. I definitely felt her character had more depth as did other women but I also enjoyed her perspective. Getting mildly distressed at books with Mockingjay themes I fear. I understand one must always resist and be critical. Wish we could live in a world where everything was lovely though. Why is she slightly into feet at the end. Unfortunately British.

veilchen24's review against another edition

4.0

Feministische Neuerzählung des Klassikers „1984“ von George Orwell

Der distopische Klassiker 1984 ist den meisten ein Begriff. Er spielt in einem totalitären Überwachungsstaat, der auf einem heimtükischen Spitzelsystem, Propaganda und Hass beruht. Big Brother, Neusprech und der 2-Minuten-Hass fehlen auch in dieser Neuerzählung nicht, allerdings bringt Sandra Newman frischen Wind mit der Perspektive einer Frau in dieser trostlosen Welt. Julia, die in „1984“ nur als Affäre des Protagonisten eine Rolle spielte, und recht einseitig dargestellt war, steht nun im Mittelpunkt des Geschehens. Ohne das Originals zu misachten, spinnt Newman eine beeindruckende, bewegende Geschichte um Julia, wobei sie die Handlungsfäden der alten Geschichte neu verwebt und uminterpretiert. Die LeserInnen kehren zurück in das London 1984, wo einen der Große Bruder immer beobachtet, jedes falsche Wort zu qualvoller Folter führen kann und man niemandem vertrauen darf. Mit einer neuen Erzählperspektive wird diese fremde Welt nicht nur realistischer und mehrdimensionaler, es gelingt sogar, zu einem hoffnungsvolleren Ende zu kommen. Mit Julia, die an der Politik kein Interesse hat, und eigentlich nur überleben will, ist das Buch weniger mit philosophischen Gedanken und politischer Theorie gefüllt, und zeigt dafür mehr von der Gesellschaft, den Menschen und individuellen Schicksalen. Eine wunderbare Erweiterung der Welt, die Orwell geschaffen hat, die sowohl Kennern von 1984 neue Perspektiven bieten kann, aber auch Neukommende nicht minder faszinieren wird.

catcalledrin's review against another edition

2.5

challenging dark slow-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

mmmliterature's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emily3906's review against another edition

4.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

estowers's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

prosefaerie's review against another edition

3.0

ok so i have lots of thoughts about this one. i was initially so intrigued by this premise (a feminist retelling of 1984 from the perspective of julia)

reading this defo sparked some nostalgia for my a-level english lit lessons

i think where the book falls short is how the writing style was so far removed from orwell's (despite maintaining some of his core ideas)

although it touches on some compelling women's issues, it didnt quite explore party ideology quite the same as orwell (not to mention the room 101 scenes)

i also felt as though the last two chapters were bizarrely out of place

it was always going to be hard living up to the accolades of a classic but i enjoyed reading 'julia'