Rating: 
Summary: Compelling Novel
Review: George Orwell's 1984 was a wonderful book. His style of writing was so unique and believeable. Orwell creates an elaborate future (which is now our past) which is perfectly plausable. It is an utterly frightening representation of what could be; a government which controls the people under them even in their personal lives. They are intimidated into submission. A beautifully phrased portrait of horrifying circumstances. While I could not put it down. It absolutely intrigued me. Already it has become one of my favorites. I could even relate parts of it to my life.
I'd reccommend this book to anyone who is thinking about - both young and old. It is a wonderful piece of literature. I know that I'll be reading it again. For the full message of this work is something that deserves to be read twice.
Five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: So terrifying and frustrating that you can't put it down
Review: I sat down to read George Orwell's novel on a Tuesday night while my family had dinner in the next room. For the following few hours, their dinner conversation was interrupted with my bursts of anger and frustration. "How can you call the destruction of words beautiful?!" I cried. Orwell writes so convincingly that it frightens the reader into thinking, "What if Oceania really existed in that form? How could I break free from the oppression, the mindlessness, the fear and anger that surrounds all aspects of life?" It creates a level of paranoia, especially since there is no happy ending. The main character, Winston, is never freed from the bondage of being brainwashed and held captive in his own mind. For if we are not free to think, we are not free at all. However, I think Orwell succeeds best in terrifying us to the point that we are sure to count our blessings and be sure not to take for granted the beauty of words, thoughts, and freedom.
Rating:
Summary: can predictions really come true? read and make up your own
Review: George Orwell has another hit. Animal Farm was only a glimpse at his intellectual genius. This story takes you on a carefully regulated emotional rollercoster. You will go from intense shock to indignation for the characters involved. This small glimpse into what Orwell considered to be our inevitable future has left me with a strong sense of denial. Everything from the telescreen that watches your every move to the mere thought of a "thought Police" force gave me the shivers. There are several interesting implications for example the use of a term called "doublethink" which implies that people can hold two contradictory thoughts in their heads at the same time and beleive them both to be true. overall this book was an amazing peice of work, there was never a time that i put it down unless i had to. i would definitely recommend this to any person who wants to take their mind for a ride.
Rating:
Summary: Time to think
Review: George Orwell is a master of the English language, his superb style of writing and the intensity of the story is sustained throughout.The novel covers a timeless issue. Orwell attempts to shock us with the extremities that exist in a totalitarian society whose ultimate purpose is to obtain power. Perhaps these issues, as mentioned in the afterthought, are relevant in areas apart from totalitarianism. Perhaps capitalism is also a class distinction where money is representative of power. These and other issues are covered, proving Orwell's brilliant writing genius.
Rating:
Summary: The World of 1984
Review: 1984 is a thought provoking book of what George Orwell thought the world would actually be like in 1984. It is a scary prediction, that your whole society is controlled by an unseen figure and all individual thought is completely discouraged. Free will is taken away and people are basically forced to become living robots, submitting to every will of the Party. An original thought will lead you to become wiped out of existence, and the Party will change the past so that you never existed in the first place. This frightening society is conveyed by the life of Winston Smith, an unhappy Party member who holds the idea of Brotherhood. 1984 is unlike any book I have ever read. Since it requires some deal of imagination, I would not recommend it to anyone who has trouble imagining a totally new system of living. The workings of the government require deep thought, so it is not a very easy book to read. However, I enjoyed reading about this insight of the future. I am completely honest in saying that 1984 is one of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing and thought provoking novel
Review: George Orwell had my attention from the first to last page of his novel 1984. 1984 is a fascinating and mind-inducing novel. The story of Winston Smith's struggle through life in Oceania is extremely captivating and thought provoking. Orwell's sharp, detailed descriptions paint an image of an unforgettably unique society. His story is a detailed description of a man living in the worst case scenario communistic society. Orwell's ideas and images are extremely brilliant. His extreme communist society brainwashes their citizens to become emotionless, violent, and thoughtless. I was mesmerized by the way the society dehumanized its citizens. People had no freedom what so ever. The concept of people having the inability to think, loves, and express themselves is engaging. I found 1984 to be an extremely thrilling novel, I recommend it to anyone interested in a classic and contemplative piece of literature.
Rating:
Summary: 1984 by George Orwell
Review: I thought 1984 was an incredible novel. Orwell's compelling story of the the future not only presents an interesting and suspenseful plot but also warns the world of a possible society that seems good on the outside but is rotten on the inside. Orwell makes a powerful point that government control can lead to the worst, particularly when it monitors every aspect of peoples' lives. He also demonstrates the fact that conformity and sameness is not necessarily happiness. I think Orwell was commenting more on communism and totalitarianism than our society, since Americans are allowed to be indiviudals, plus we have the right to freedom of speech (along with freedom of thought). Personally, I would not be able to survive in the world of 1984, where one cannot think what they please, where emotions and ideas are constantly supressed and destroyed. Overall, I thought this was an absolutely amazing book. I especially enjoyed the fascinating concept of doublethink. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a good eye-opening and thrilling book. I plan on reading it again myself.
Rating:
Summary: A chilling look into our possible future
Review: George Orwell's 1984 is a book that discribes in flawless detail a realistic, but nightmarish world. It is the possibility of this world that made the most profound impression on me. I think that censorship is one of the most harmful things a government can do, and this story demonstrates what happens when censorship is taken to extremes and a reactionary elite comes to power. Orwell's vision of society, even bleaker than Fascist Germany and Communist Russia, continues to fascinate as gradually every part of it is explained in detail, from the Party's slogans to the torture of political prisoners. But most of all, 1984 reminds us of our society; of what it must never become. Censorship and conservatism are abundant in America, but as long as we remain aware, the world will never come to the dire straits of 1984. This is an essential read for any voting citizen of any country.
Rating:
Summary: Doublethinking Distopia
Review: I believe George Orwell was a visionary, a bit imaginative, but very intelligent nonetheless. His views on individual privacy and freedom of thought in 1984 are a very serious issue.
Freedoms are beginning to be limited in our country, whether in the form of tighter airline security or the banning of books in schools. What is next, the ultimate oppression of our thoughts? What would it take for a government to control thought?
In 1984, the majority of Oceania's inhabitants are compliant with "Big Brother's" oligarchical totalitarianism. This greatly bothers me because I think that in the event of another devastating depression era, the world could again turn to radical forms of government, including ones similar to the principles of "Ingsoc" (English Socialism).
Some say that society would never resort to supporting such a system; with this I must disagree. Take a look at leaders like Lenin, Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Society followed these destructive men regardless of what some knew then, but all know now. The people wanted change-needed it; they were desperate, and this will happen again.
Will you be a denier? Ultimately, a system resembling Ingsoc will be an option, with thoughtcrime as its consequence. Do you wish to keep your privacy, your freedom to thing? I do.
Rating:
Summary: 1984 will open your mind!!
Review: I think that part of the impact of 1984 is lost now - I think it meant A LOT more to my parents growing up in the '60s. But the inner themes of the human spirit and how we function in society are just as applicapable today as when written in 1948. Orwell was a wise, wise man....
|
