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A review by sueread2030
1984 by George Orwell
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I wonder what George Orwell would say and feel if he saw how his beloved Democratic world had become his biggest fear!!
While I personally think that the writing style is not for everyone's taste because it is more "tell than show", I do believe that everyone ought to read this book at least once.
George Orwell's "1984" is a profound political treatise encased in the trappings of dystopian literature. It presents a chilling depiction of a world where totalitarianism has extinguished the flames of individuality and freedom.
“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows”
The narrative follows Winston Smith, a cog in the Party's machine, as he navigates a society suffocated by surveillance and propaganda. Orwell masterfully crafts a lexicon that has seeped into modern discourse, with terms like "Big Brother," "doublethink," and "thoughtcrime" becoming synonymous with oppressive regimes. The book's prescience is uncanny, as it explores themes of privacy, truth, and state control—issues that resonate deeply in today's digital age.
I loved how Orwell did not hide anything in his book. He did not write in clues for others to interpret however they wanted. He just slaps you with what he wants to say
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices.”
While the novel can be stark and despairing, its enduring power lies in its warning: a reminder of the fragility of liberties we often take for granted. "1984" is not just a book; it's a cautionary tale that remains as relevant now as it was the day it was written.
- Surveillance and Privacy: Just like the omnipresent telescreens in "1984", today's society grapples with the issues of surveillance through various forms of technology, raising concerns about privacy and the extent to which personal data is monitored and used.
- Disinformation and Truth: The concept of "doublethink" and the manipulation of historical records by the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's work mirrors current discussions about fake news, media bias, and the shaping of public perception through controlled information, especially in light of what is happening today in the Middle East.
“What is needed is the right to print what one believes to be true, without having to fear bullying or blackmail from any side.”
“A world in which it is wrong to murder an individual civilian and right to drop a thousand tons of high explosive on a residential area sometimes make me wonder whether this earth of ours is not a loony bin made use of by some other planet.”
- Authoritarianism and Freedom: The novel's depiction of a totalitarian regime exercising absolute power over its citizens reflects fears about the erosion of democratic institutions and individual freedoms in the face of authoritarian governance structures. Unfortunately, those who claim to be the beacon of democracy are the ones adopting the role of BIG BROTHER.
“You are free to be a drunkard, an idler, a coward, a backbiter, a fornicator; but you are not free to think for yourself.”
- Technology and Control: "1984" foresaw the role of technology not just as a tool for progress but also as a means of controlling and manipulating populations, a concern that remains highly relevant with today's advancements in technology. Even social media platforms that were created for entertainment are now used maliciously.
- Resistance and Resilience: The spirit of rebellion and the quest for truth by the protagonist, Winston Smith, inspires ongoing discussions about the importance of critical thinking, individual agency, and the resilience of the human spirit in challenging oppressive systems. Because, for those in power, our lives do not matter.
“Looking at the whole world as a whole, the drift for many decades has been not towards anarchy but towards the reimposition of slavery.”
- The Freedom to love are we really free to love whomever we want? are we seeking love or the comfort of being seen and heard?
“Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.”
Audible has the Dolby experience with the voices of Andrew Garfield and Tom Hardy.
While I personally think that the writing style is not for everyone's taste because it is more "tell than show", I do believe that everyone ought to read this book at least once.
George Orwell's "1984" is a profound political treatise encased in the trappings of dystopian literature. It presents a chilling depiction of a world where totalitarianism has extinguished the flames of individuality and freedom.
“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows”
The narrative follows Winston Smith, a cog in the Party's machine, as he navigates a society suffocated by surveillance and propaganda. Orwell masterfully crafts a lexicon that has seeped into modern discourse, with terms like "Big Brother," "doublethink," and "thoughtcrime" becoming synonymous with oppressive regimes. The book's prescience is uncanny, as it explores themes of privacy, truth, and state control—issues that resonate deeply in today's digital age.
I loved how Orwell did not hide anything in his book. He did not write in clues for others to interpret however they wanted. He just slaps you with what he wants to say
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices.”
While the novel can be stark and despairing, its enduring power lies in its warning: a reminder of the fragility of liberties we often take for granted. "1984" is not just a book; it's a cautionary tale that remains as relevant now as it was the day it was written.
- Surveillance and Privacy: Just like the omnipresent telescreens in "1984", today's society grapples with the issues of surveillance through various forms of technology, raising concerns about privacy and the extent to which personal data is monitored and used.
- Disinformation and Truth: The concept of "doublethink" and the manipulation of historical records by the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's work mirrors current discussions about fake news, media bias, and the shaping of public perception through controlled information, especially in light of what is happening today in the Middle East.
“What is needed is the right to print what one believes to be true, without having to fear bullying or blackmail from any side.”
“A world in which it is wrong to murder an individual civilian and right to drop a thousand tons of high explosive on a residential area sometimes make me wonder whether this earth of ours is not a loony bin made use of by some other planet.”
- Authoritarianism and Freedom: The novel's depiction of a totalitarian regime exercising absolute power over its citizens reflects fears about the erosion of democratic institutions and individual freedoms in the face of authoritarian governance structures. Unfortunately, those who claim to be the beacon of democracy are the ones adopting the role of BIG BROTHER.
“You are free to be a drunkard, an idler, a coward, a backbiter, a fornicator; but you are not free to think for yourself.”
- Technology and Control: "1984" foresaw the role of technology not just as a tool for progress but also as a means of controlling and manipulating populations, a concern that remains highly relevant with today's advancements in technology. Even social media platforms that were created for entertainment are now used maliciously.
- Resistance and Resilience: The spirit of rebellion and the quest for truth by the protagonist, Winston Smith, inspires ongoing discussions about the importance of critical thinking, individual agency, and the resilience of the human spirit in challenging oppressive systems. Because, for those in power, our lives do not matter.
“Looking at the whole world as a whole, the drift for many decades has been not towards anarchy but towards the reimposition of slavery.”
- The Freedom to love are we really free to love whomever we want? are we seeking love or the comfort of being seen and heard?
“Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.”
Audible has the Dolby experience with the voices of Andrew Garfield and Tom Hardy.