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hhcharlesb's review against another edition
3.0
En los días de Birmania Orwell vertío lo que aprendió durante su estadía como policía imperial, habla del racismo, el orgullo, las apariencias y todo lo que hace a un britanico britanico en sus colonias, expone muy bien las estaciones, ambientes y recursos naturales, los personajes son un estereotipo de los colonizadores en las Indias y juega con lo que más les interesa.
shobnob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mosalah314's review against another edition
3.0
"There is no armour against fate."
Orwell praised Evelyn Waugh as a first-rate writer, but condemned him for his religious attitudes. I think I personally prefer Evelyn Waugh's religious sentiments to Orwell's insidious cynicism. Waugh's stories have a bit more soul, his optimism is neither naive nor dull. Orwell feels like drinking cough syrup; it's good for you, but tastes like shit. Both men are excellent authors whose stories are deeply embedded with a sense of fate, but I much prefer Waugh's version of fate to Orwell's. Being in an Orwell novel would truly be a nightmare, everyone just seems to eat shit and die.
Overall, this was a rather boring book. Burmese Days is a lot less daring than 1984. Orwell doesn't exactly pull his punches, but the scope of the book is underwhelming. The suicide at the end ties it together perfectly, but the build-up felt dreary, tired, and quite pedantic at times.
Orwell paints a crisp, lucid, and vital picture of imperialism, racism, and moral bankruptcy. He paints a little portrait of hell, that the British expertly established for themselves in Burma. The characters are developed well, especially the protagonist Flory, but with the exception of the doctor there isn't a single likeable character in the book.
The prose is obviously robust, polished and effective, but nonetheless Orwell's descriptions of Burma were not overly entertaining or inspiring for me. I laughed a few times, but less than I expected. It felt like this book could have been 100pgs shorter. This reminded me a bit of Camus, if Camus was severely interested in politics and a lot more British.
Not a book I'd reccomended, really, but also not a waste of time. I feel a bit more jaded having read this book. There were a few moments of deeply moving psychological exposition which is why I love Orwell, and what I expected more of to be honest. Orwell has a profound insight into the human psyche, he understands the tortured kind of darkness and disgusting sort of egotism which moves people to participate in the more banal forms of evil. The banality of evil is one thing this book captures expertly.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, but I've given Orwell the benefit of the doubt and rated this 4 stars. An excellent writer, who apparently decided that this particular story needed to be boring for some reason. The last 5 pages hit pretty hard, but I don't know if 295 pages of build-up really justified the impact.
Orwell praised Evelyn Waugh as a first-rate writer, but condemned him for his religious attitudes. I think I personally prefer Evelyn Waugh's religious sentiments to Orwell's insidious cynicism. Waugh's stories have a bit more soul, his optimism is neither naive nor dull. Orwell feels like drinking cough syrup; it's good for you, but tastes like shit. Both men are excellent authors whose stories are deeply embedded with a sense of fate, but I much prefer Waugh's version of fate to Orwell's. Being in an Orwell novel would truly be a nightmare, everyone just seems to eat shit and die.
Overall, this was a rather boring book. Burmese Days is a lot less daring than 1984. Orwell doesn't exactly pull his punches, but the scope of the book is underwhelming. The suicide at the end ties it together perfectly, but the build-up felt dreary, tired, and quite pedantic at times.
Orwell paints a crisp, lucid, and vital picture of imperialism, racism, and moral bankruptcy. He paints a little portrait of hell, that the British expertly established for themselves in Burma. The characters are developed well, especially the protagonist Flory, but with the exception of the doctor there isn't a single likeable character in the book.
The prose is obviously robust, polished and effective, but nonetheless Orwell's descriptions of Burma were not overly entertaining or inspiring for me. I laughed a few times, but less than I expected. It felt like this book could have been 100pgs shorter. This reminded me a bit of Camus, if Camus was severely interested in politics and a lot more British.
Not a book I'd reccomended, really, but also not a waste of time. I feel a bit more jaded having read this book. There were a few moments of deeply moving psychological exposition which is why I love Orwell, and what I expected more of to be honest. Orwell has a profound insight into the human psyche, he understands the tortured kind of darkness and disgusting sort of egotism which moves people to participate in the more banal forms of evil. The banality of evil is one thing this book captures expertly.
I'd rate this 3.5 stars, but I've given Orwell the benefit of the doubt and rated this 4 stars. An excellent writer, who apparently decided that this particular story needed to be boring for some reason. The last 5 pages hit pretty hard, but I don't know if 295 pages of build-up really justified the impact.
varya13's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Начинается довольно медленно, но вчитавшись, тяжело оторваться. Фаворит после 1984.
thegulagula's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
With George Orwell, it was not an instant hit with me. His novels may seem boring and heavy to some but they have always aroused my curiosity on the themes and historical events. His narrative has always been detailed, it makes you feel like you were there in London, Paris, Burma and even the dystopia of 1984.
Burmese Days was set in Kyauktada, an upper town in Burma in the 1920s. It was based on Orwell's experience when he was stationed as a police officer there. This was the day when Burma was ruled by the British India. The story revolved around John Flory, an English timber merchant with his fair share of insecurity, and his circle of social members.
This book talked about racism and people of colours, corruption and colonialism. Despite being a century ago in a different country, the sense of colony, the corrupted authority and the 'native' sentiment still seemed relevant in my country at this age. Definitely recommended if you dig into George Orwell's books.
It is always so with titled people, they are either adored or hated. If they accept one it is charming cimplicity, if they ignore one it is loathsome snobbishness; there are no half-measures.'
With George Orwell, it was not an instant hit with me. His novels may seem boring and heavy to some but they have always aroused my curiosity on the themes and historical events. His narrative has always been detailed, it makes you feel like you were there in London, Paris, Burma and even the dystopia of 1984.
Burmese Days was set in Kyauktada, an upper town in Burma in the 1920s. It was based on Orwell's experience when he was stationed as a police officer there. This was the day when Burma was ruled by the British India. The story revolved around John Flory, an English timber merchant with his fair share of insecurity, and his circle of social members.
This book talked about racism and people of colours, corruption and colonialism. Despite being a century ago in a different country, the sense of colony, the corrupted authority and the 'native' sentiment still seemed relevant in my country at this age. Definitely recommended if you dig into George Orwell's books.
It is always so with titled people, they are either adored or hated. If they accept one it is charming cimplicity, if they ignore one it is loathsome snobbishness; there are no half-measures.'
lungching's review against another edition
4.0
George Orwell, who was born and worked in Burma, writes a sadly true and yet satirical story of the life of a British citizen working in Burma. It tells of the lives of the native Burmese and the relationship to those occupying their country. Told by a wonderful story teller and writer, it is a good read.
hades9stages's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the story a lot but it draggeeeddd. This is a novel set in British Burma during the British Empire. The story revolves around John Flory, a British timber merchant living in Burma, who becomes disillusioned with the colonial system and struggles with his own sense of belonging and morality.
Orwell's novel offers a critique of British colonialism, highlighting the racism, exploitation, and corruption within the colonial administration. The book vividly portrays the cultural clashes between the British colonisers and the Burmese locals, shedding light on the oppressive nature of colonial rule and its impact on both the colonisers and the colonised.
The novel is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a searing indictment of imperialism, exposing the hypocrisy and moral decay inherent in colonial systems. Orwell's firsthand experiences as a police officer in Burma equipped him with insights into the complexities and injustices of colonial governance, which he skillfully portrays in the novel.
This is important for its examination of themes such as identity, power dynamics, and the destructive nature of prejudice. Through Flory's character and his internal conflicts, Orwell delves into the psychological toll of conformity, loneliness, and the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals within oppressive systems.
The novel's relevance extends beyond its historical setting, offering insights into broader issues of power, exploitation, and the complexities of cultural clashes that persist in contemporary society. Orwell's masterful storytelling and his unflinching portrayal of colonialism continue to resonate with readers, inviting reflection on the enduring legacies of imperialism and the ethical challenges inherent in systems of domination and oppression. It’s just a shame that it was so incredibly SLOW.
Orwell's novel offers a critique of British colonialism, highlighting the racism, exploitation, and corruption within the colonial administration. The book vividly portrays the cultural clashes between the British colonisers and the Burmese locals, shedding light on the oppressive nature of colonial rule and its impact on both the colonisers and the colonised.
The novel is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a searing indictment of imperialism, exposing the hypocrisy and moral decay inherent in colonial systems. Orwell's firsthand experiences as a police officer in Burma equipped him with insights into the complexities and injustices of colonial governance, which he skillfully portrays in the novel.
This is important for its examination of themes such as identity, power dynamics, and the destructive nature of prejudice. Through Flory's character and his internal conflicts, Orwell delves into the psychological toll of conformity, loneliness, and the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals within oppressive systems.
The novel's relevance extends beyond its historical setting, offering insights into broader issues of power, exploitation, and the complexities of cultural clashes that persist in contemporary society. Orwell's masterful storytelling and his unflinching portrayal of colonialism continue to resonate with readers, inviting reflection on the enduring legacies of imperialism and the ethical challenges inherent in systems of domination and oppression. It’s just a shame that it was so incredibly SLOW.
nanginbooks's review against another edition
4.0
As a burmese, i found my self comparing Orwell's burma to my burma. I was more interested in U pokyin and the doctor's story than Flory's.
illreadmyownway's review against another edition
4.0
This is a heartbreaking book that shows how bad colonisation is. The story takes place in Burma when the British were in charge, and it's about a guy named John Flory who's lonely and unhappy. He's trying to figure out how to deal with all the complicated social and political stuff going on.
Orwell uses Flory's perspective to describe how racist, corrupt, and violent the colonial rulers were, and how terrible their actions were for both the people in charge and the people they were controlling.
Even though it's a tough read, Burmese Days is a great book that you won't be able to put down. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in the history of imperialism and how it still affects us today.
Orwell uses Flory's perspective to describe how racist, corrupt, and violent the colonial rulers were, and how terrible their actions were for both the people in charge and the people they were controlling.
Even though it's a tough read, Burmese Days is a great book that you won't be able to put down. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in the history of imperialism and how it still affects us today.
harryreadbook's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fine book about how awful the British were in India/Burma. I think I just like Orwell better when it's not a novel. He has such great observations and writes in detail, but it hits harder when he's describing something real. I think this is based heavily on reality, but his characters are maybe even too flawed for my liking. Anyway, it was fine and everyone got a deserved ending.