Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very interesting and meticulously written companion piece to 1984. It may annoy people who are religiously devoted to the canon, as Winston Smith is portrayed as something of a pompous mansplainer, and the Party much more human and fallible than in Orwell’s novel. The author seems to assume everyone reading Julia has already read 1984 (which she is probably correct about), so she kind of elides over the politics and worldbuilding so she can focus on Julia as a character. As a result, the scenery feels a little “generic dystopia”. But Julia’s voice is bang on, perfectly replicating the voice from 1984 while making her a complicated, difficult, three-dimensional character driving an entirely unique narrative and look at how a society like Oceania would treat women.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion