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anyworldbutours 's review for:
1984
by George Orwell
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have always been drawn to the more sci-fi/fantasy and dystopian style worlds. 1984 always intrigued me that much more due to the parallels I kept hearing and wondering about between the book and the world we live in now.
I had a vague understanding on the premise of the book, I guess with it being so old and part of the 'mainstream' culture over the last 10 years or so with the direct comparisons between our world and the on portrayed within the book. I was shocked to learn how direct the comparisons could be made.
I believe it doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you sit on, you could easily find direct comparisons between this story and the story of the readers 'lived reality'. This is what I find eerily prophetic about Orwell's writing, and I guess initial warning.
Within the story it didn't matter where on the planet you was living, 'War is peace' therefore all factions will be in an eternal battle against each other and each others beliefs. This is exactly what is playing out across the world today. The institutions and governments, 'big brother' doing just enough to appease either side whilst igniting something within the other to keep the never ending war going.
They pretend to care about the casualties, and the never ending demand for peace, but it will never come. Throughout all of human history there have been wars, and the casualties of war, this will never change. Because they don't want it too. So long as they keep playing the people off each other as enemies, just like Oceana and Eastasia or Eurasia, it doesn't matter who. As long as for a fleeting moment everyone feels like they're gaining ground or winning in some way.
I really enjoyed the pacing within the book and always felt like at any moment everything could all go wrong for Winston, and when it eventually did, you felt for him. You wanted him to be one to get away with his 'crimes' to start some sort of a revolution, but in the end it wasn't to happen. Just another one to fall for Big Brother.
I hope that isn't a sign of things to come for our own existence.