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A review by b10h4z4rd
1984 by George Orwell
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like all that can be said about this book, has.
Personally, I think this is absolutely a must-read for anyone at all. The messages were rather overt and unsubtle, but there is still a lot of meaning to be gleaned when looking deeper. Reading this novel is very useful for application to world politics and it seems to me that it is useful for the discussion around totalitarianism/authoritarianism.
However, 1984 is a real dystopia, not a dystopia in the sense of a YA novel. If you go into it expecting flashy rebellion and inspiring themes, you're going to be severely disappointed. If you go into it expecting a hypothetical study into speculative fiction that serves as a warning to those who read it, this book is much more useful. Part of what makes this book so impactful, to me, is that this book is realistic and gritty, which it uses to make a real point on the nature of dystopias.
The unfortunate thing is, 1984 is not an enjoyable read. To me, the characters did not feel very compelling and the plot sort of meandered in a sense, so I enjoyed the underlying critique on society moreso than the actual story. I think the best way to enjoy this novel is to see the characters and setting as a vehicle to tell a message rather than something to invest happy emotions in.
All in all, 1984 is the counterpoint to the idea of sudden revolution, the perceived power of a single person in the face of overwhelming authority, and the idea that nothing outside our own hedonism matters.
Very useful read. I recommend this for everyone, especially considering current political climates, but not as a story being told, but a case study in the hypothetical.
(PS, this book was absolutely a product of the times. Some parts haven't aged well, but I was able to get past that due to the fact that...I don't think Winston, our main character, was meant to be a good person, just a perceptive one. Keep that in mind.)
Personally, I think this is absolutely a must-read for anyone at all. The messages were rather overt and unsubtle, but there is still a lot of meaning to be gleaned when looking deeper. Reading this novel is very useful for application to world politics and it seems to me that it is useful for the discussion around totalitarianism/authoritarianism.
However, 1984 is a real dystopia, not a dystopia in the sense of a YA novel. If you go into it expecting flashy rebellion and inspiring themes, you're going to be severely disappointed. If you go into it expecting a hypothetical study into speculative fiction that serves as a warning to those who read it, this book is much more useful. Part of what makes this book so impactful, to me, is that this book is realistic and gritty, which it uses to make a real point on the nature of dystopias.
The unfortunate thing is, 1984 is not an enjoyable read. To me, the characters did not feel very compelling and the plot sort of meandered in a sense, so I enjoyed the underlying critique on society moreso than the actual story. I think the best way to enjoy this novel is to see the characters and setting as a vehicle to tell a message rather than something to invest happy emotions in.
All in all, 1984 is the counterpoint to the idea of sudden revolution, the perceived power of a single person in the face of overwhelming authority, and the idea that nothing outside our own hedonism matters.
Very useful read. I recommend this for everyone, especially considering current political climates, but not as a story being told, but a case study in the hypothetical.
(PS, this book was absolutely a product of the times. Some parts haven't aged well, but I was able to get past that due to the fact that...I don't think Winston, our main character, was meant to be a good person, just a perceptive one. Keep that in mind.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism