A review by ed_moore
1984 by George Orwell

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

In my opinion 1984 is the dystopian novel. It is a work of utter genius, and in my reread of it not only was it even better, but I discovered so many more of the intricacies, corruption and political structure of the totalitarian dictatorship of Ingsoc. The second time round Orwell’s authorial voice and twists were still shocks, key changes in plot points still brought me chills, and I still sat with utter disbelief upon finishing the book and awe for Orwell’s storytelling. Writing in the post-war society of 1949, Orwell depicts a future imagination of the impact of fascism if anything alike to the ideologies of the Nazi party were to succeed. 1984 focuses on the gaining of complete control through concepts such as the police and surveillance state, manipulation of language and a state of total, each individually a haunting prospect of reality and together a fascinating means of control and devastating future world of which it is an impossibility to oppose. The most terrifying part being Orwell’s fears in 1949 beginning to come into play in modern society today. I cannot praise this book enough, and I strongly believe it will hold it’s gold medal among my favourite books for the foreseeable future, it’ll take quite some masterpiece to topple it.