A review by buud_w0rm
1984 by George Orwell

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book superseded my expectations

The ending was heartbreakingly realistic. This book should be a requirement for every person on earth to read. The way it tackles totalitarianism, the constructed language  in the book was incredible. especially when the appendix  goes to to much more detail on how oppressive the truth of newspeak really is. you do get the idea while reading the book but even more so at the end. I felt sorry for Julia, Winston even Parsons and Symes surprisingly. The journey through Winstons eyes was sometimes so violent or anxiety inducing or paranoid, i couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. Towards the end i felt like i lost my mimd with him. My heart broke at the realization of the decrepit broken old man he had become. The bleak acceptance that there may never be a change in the minds of individuals because BigBrother has realized every psychological advantage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Torture, War, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Vomit

I think the world can benefit from reading this book and knowing Winston’s story. The amount of commonalities between the book and the world we already live in brings dread to my stomach. What makes me dread it even more is the final message in the book which is that an individual no matter what they believe has no choice but to go with the flow of the collective mind. Even if the collective is wrong, the individual alone can’t fight the current nor can they change the power in which controls the current of the collective minds. An individual WONT change the “party” aka gov’s kind if their (gov) only concern is gaining more and more power. Each day I pray that the small sect of people that want to uprise against their gov will find each other and with all their might (together) push against the wrongness that’s been perpetuated in the first place… I feel sorry that Winston quite literally got the fire put out from him. I think everyone can learn something vital from this novel