1984

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Summary: 1984 review
Review: 1984 was a brilliant work of literature that should still be studied today. The issues presented in the story affect all nations and all people around the world. It makes you realize how influenced and manipulated people can get because of a dictating government. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because it is important that we know about what could happen if we let the government take things too far. Also, there is a love story involved in the book, which holds your attention well. A book like 1984 helps to remind you not to take things for granted, because once you read about what Winston and his people go through, you realize you probably have it so much better.

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Summary: Simply Magnificent
Review: In light of our current climate, a totalitarian government, the ministry of truth, newspeak, doublethink and the thought police seem chillingly real and not too far removed from our present circumstance. Inspite of the stark, cold, lonely world which Orwell warns us about,Winston, the main charecter shows us the real strength and ultimate weakness of human nature.
It is a strong thought provoking and yet extremely touching work of genius.
This is one of those books, which you will want to read again and again
As Orwell said "during times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act"

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Summary: The title should be revised to say 2004!
Review: With the advancement of Homeland Security here in the United States we are beginning to see the onset of a true big brother. The number of agencies FBI, CIA, INS, and other alphabet soup organizations are now cross matching databases. They are gathering information from local municipalities and those that are in the system, better not have anything to hide.

September 11th accelerated the path that we were already on. I hope that some sanity is also metered out in the process.

After being a futures author, investor, and broker for the past 11 years, one of the glaring points in the book is how statistical data is constantly being modified and rewritten to serve who will benefit from the moment. I just hope that these "mistakes, misquotes, and misinformed" changes never occur in such a draconian fashion.

Great book. Everyone should have a copy on their shelves.

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Summary: The dark world of the future
Review: After reading 1984 it is easy to see why it is a classic. George Orwell's predictions are a dark and terrifying world that captures the reader and forces them on. The stories told is one that may yet come to pass. The things he predicts have in some cases already been implemented in some areas of the world. I found the book to be a somewhat difficult read, so don't expect to breeze through it. All in all I rate it a 5 out of 5.

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Summary: A Dictionary for 2003
Review: Doublethink and Newspeak need no explanation to people growing up with a Patriot Act that takes away liberties. We don't need the brilliant economic explanation that Orwell provides for the state of perpetual war with constantly changing enemies...
But it's amazing how "1984" keeps popping up on enigmatic posters at recent antiwar rallies with references to doubleplusgood wars and war equalling peace and freedom equalling slavery. On February 15 in New York, I saw a young man holding a poster with the ultimate reference to this great cautionary novel: "1 + 1 = 2". If you don't know what that's referring to, please read this book today.

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Summary: Mr. Frankel, read this!
Review: I really enjoyed 1984 by George Orwell. I thought Orwell really captured what a dictatorship can do to a country. Big Brother was obviously a "parody" of some infamous dictators of the world (Stalin, Hitler). It was also very interesting to see how Winston acted. He was not a pure outsider, who is only trying to help his fellow countrymen. He is actually a true rebel. His actions, his dreams, his thoughts of sex and his readings of books are all signs of the rebellious actions of an outsider of the government. But, in contrast to Orwell's great portrayal of the rebellious Winston, is his lack of depth when it comes to Julia. She seems to be only into the rebellious act of sex, and that is about it for her. She is otherwise pretty subservient to men. And, I loved the ending simply because tragedy, or just an unhappy ending, is always an interesting way to end a story. I thought the way Orwell had Winston captured, tortured, and then having him turn into a supporter of Big Brother, all through the double cross from O'Brien made it a brilliant way to end the book.

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Summary: 1984...
Review: 1984 by George Orwell is a very interesting book. Why? because of his unique way of writeing and his views of what life would be like in 1984. The book does, however get boring. Eben though the book seems boring and uneventful you should continue reading, because it gets more exciting the further you read. The story opens with the main character Winston Smith and he describes several of the things he sees, such as the bizarre letters or words he sees on walls. Later in the book he meets and finds love in a girl named Julia. They join a secret organization called the Brotherhood to try and over throw the government which they hate. The book continues with their expierences in the brotherhood and the troubles they run into.

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Summary: "...That lunatic dislocation in the mind..."
Review: Hmmm...some pretty hyperbolic reviews for this book so far. Well, I can't deny that it is now the equal best book I've ever read (along with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which I'm going to read again, to see which is better), but all this talk of causing depression and paranoia is a little over the top. Frankly, it made me feel euphoric to be so engrossed and stimulated. It certainly stirs emotion, it certainly is prophetic and it is impossible to put it down, but the real strength for me lay in the absolute craftsmanship present in the writing. I think this is because the book is a combination of fiction and political philosophy - all the more clever because the political philosophy has to ring true in regard to the fictional content, and also be relevant to reality in order to make it's impact on the reader.
Much of it describes the conflict within Winston Smith's head; the contradiction between what he believes to be true and what he is told to believe, so you have a lot of thoughts and concepts being discussed at length during the story. To order and structure a novel of this kind and present a cohesive description of a system of government in such a way is an amazing feat. Having seen the film, I could not see how the people employed alongside Winston Smith can be involved in their own deception and be blind to it, but Orwell is absolutely convincing. It is such an intricately woven novel. I have often thought that I would like to write a novel, and one of the things that stopped me is the knowledge that I would not have the patience to get to the end, but then to read something like this makes you realise that there is no point because it would be impossible to write anything as complex and compelling as this. Orwell discusses so many ideas yet every time he revisits one, he takes it further and delves deeper into the system, and deeper into the mind - without repeating himself.
Frankly, I find it difficult to explain just how well written this is, to say nothing of the great story.
To sum up in one sentence...absolutely fascinating.

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Summary: Chilling...
Review: Doesn't everybody have a list in their mind of the books they would like to read during their lifetime? '1984' has been on my list for many years and, with a long commute, I finally decided to get the audiobook.

Although I would still say it is necessary reading for all people, especially at this juncture I think Americans should pick up this book. When I read the slogans of Big Brother, I felt sick:

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

In some ways, I feel like George Orwell from his 1948 perspective 'called it.' So many of the scenarios that he described are right on. He wrote this book after Stalin took power in Russia. Orwell had rejoiced at the Bolshevik Revolutions but when the reports of Stalin's brutality came out, he was upset.

The first half of the book was great, but I have to warn you that the second half was extremely disturbing and depressing. I had a hard time listening (audiobook) to the last two cassettes. I did finish the book, but it was difficult.

Even more than fifty years later, Orwell's words still have the power to affect the reader. '1984' is a valuable work that rings true.

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Summary: Orwell must have had a time machine...............
Review: ..............cause its happening!
For the people how haven't read the book or are unsure if they should read it please take my recommendation and READ IT NOW. I promise you that you will be stunned how frightning and amazing this book really is.