Scan barcode
A review by _eelenaa_
1984 by George Orwell
adventurous
dark
reflective
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? No
2.0
The premise of a totalitarian government and a rebellion against it is very exciting and has a lot of potential, but I think that this book is pretty over-hyped. In my opinion, it ends up being a little pretentious, often opting for philosophical language that really means nothing if you think about it (especially near the ending), and the characters are bland and unlikeable.
It is also too vulgar for my taste. If you have a weak stomach and can't or don't want to read about torture and other gross things, do not read this book, or read with caution.
This is a cult classic, many people adore this book and the social commentary of the story is, all-in-all, good, so I would actually suggest that everyone who is interested in this book reads it, but do not expect anything mind-blowing.
First of all, I just thought it was a bit weird and unnecessary for Julia and Winston to mention how much they hate women and how stupid they think women are on several occasions. Maybe there is a deeper meaning here, but, if there is, I missed it.
Also, WOW this book is vulgar. I understand Winston and Julia sleeping together to defy Big Brother, but the way he describes violently raping and killing her (twice, I believe) is unsettling, to say the least. This also cannot have the excuse of happening to represent them defying Big Brother because, clearly, Big Brother loves violence. They literally perform public executions in front of children. Also, the 10-or-so year age gap? Why?
This book is pretty gross in general, though I suppose sometimes this is not a bad thing; Orwell is very good at describing disgusting textures, smells, tastes and atmospheres.
The ending is what I couldn't stand the most. All of the aforementioned stuff is trivial and generally unimportant but I was really hoping for a mind-blowing ending. Instead, I got O'Brien torturing Winston until Winston pretends to agree with O'Brien's screwed-up worldviews... and magically Winston actually begins agreeing with them?
It's like the book was missing a chunk. At what point did Winston completely do a 180 and go from hating Big Brother to loving it? He clearly knows that what O'Brien is saying and doing is wrong, and yet somehow he changes his mind? This brainwash aspect is, in my opinion, weak and poorly executed.
It is also too vulgar for my taste. If you have a weak stomach and can't or don't want to read about torture and other gross things, do not read this book, or read with caution.
This is a cult classic, many people adore this book and the social commentary of the story is, all-in-all, good, so I would actually suggest that everyone who is interested in this book reads it, but do not expect anything mind-blowing.
First of all, I just thought it was a bit weird and unnecessary for Julia and Winston to mention how much they hate women and how stupid they think women are on several occasions. Maybe there is a deeper meaning here, but, if there is, I missed it.
Also, WOW this book is vulgar. I understand Winston and Julia sleeping together to defy Big Brother, but the way he describes violently raping and killing her (twice, I believe) is unsettling, to say the least. This also cannot have the excuse of happening to represent them defying Big Brother because, clearly, Big Brother loves violence. They literally perform public executions in front of children. Also, the 10-or-so year age gap? Why?
This book is pretty gross in general, though I suppose sometimes this is not a bad thing; Orwell is very good at describing disgusting textures, smells, tastes and atmospheres.
The ending is what I couldn't stand the most. All of the aforementioned stuff is trivial and generally unimportant but I was really hoping for a mind-blowing ending. Instead, I got O'Brien torturing Winston until Winston pretends to agree with O'Brien's screwed-up worldviews... and magically Winston actually begins agreeing with them?
It's like the book was missing a chunk. At what point did Winston completely do a 180 and go from hating Big Brother to loving it? He clearly knows that what O'Brien is saying and doing is wrong, and yet somehow he changes his mind? This brainwash aspect is, in my opinion, weak and poorly executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Murder