Rating: 
Summary: Utterly terrifying
Review: I might not be capitalism's biggest fan but I have to say that this book was one of the scariest things I've read in my entire life. It gives a chilling view of what happens when Communism overtakes the world, leaving an illusory, tyrannical dictator known only as "Big Brother" as the leader. No one has ever seen him, yet nothing can escape the watchful eyes of his fanatical secret police. When one man tries to rebel against the iron grip of Big Brother, it ends in tragedy for him. This brutal attack on Communism would be enough to make Marx himself cringe if he knew the turn it would take.
Rating: 
Summary: This one will make you think
Review: I read this book about 25-30 years ago and it seemed so unrealistic back then. But---now children Do spy on their parents, and what is a fad if it's not dressing alike to an extent, and how about the schools now using uniforms, ie. dressing alike to know if you belong there, and oh yes.....Big Brother is watching us now---cameras at traffic lights, speed sensors on the interstates and turnpikes. Oh, and the news that the media prints isn't always true and isn't that "history"? This book does get tedious at times but it's definitely worth reading, I know I have thought about this book of fiction/fantasy off and on for the past few decades. Isn't that a sign of a good book worth reading? My daughters are now reading it for English class and they're struggling through the wordy tedious parts but I tell them they won't forget this story.
Rating:
Summary: incredibly realistic...
Review: This is probably the best book I read... Although it was a bit repetitive in the middle, the plot kicked in. It was pretty frightening, since many things that happen in the world today also happened in the book. The way that the government worked in the book was through fear and torture. They manipulated the way everyone thought by telling them what to think (much like children are told to finish their meals) but then torturing them if they disagree. If you read this book, you may feel like you are actually there, and maybe get frightened too.I recommend 1984 to everyone!
Rating:
Summary: A Determined Society?
Review: In 1984, children spy on their parents. In 1984, everyone dresses the same. In 1984, Big Brother is watching you: making sure that you do not eat too much or have oral sex. In 1984, "democracy" and "liberty" are absent from the dictionary. In 1984, history is 'made up.' In 1984, there is no religion. In 1984, you are part of a whole, the State, but never a whole unto yourself. In 1984, 'you' do not exist.
Rating:
Summary: This could never happen to me...
Review: Yeah right. That is what we would all like to think in our safe, secure little world. When written, no one would pubish this astounding fantastic reality. Mr. Orwell had to wait several years and suffer many dissapointments for anyone to accept and believe in his story. Today, what once seemed 'science-fiction' is an all too true and fast becoming reality. This book will make you question your reality, understand accpetance, empathize with institutionalism and wonder at how individualistic you really are - despite your noblee attempts! Although, at first intimidating, Orwell's style and nature soon becomes free and clear, and though it drags on at some parts; You won't stop reading untill you are done. What seems hard to comprehend and language a few chapters to get used to.. you too will soon think in terms of newspeak and realize how easily it can happen to you too!
Rating:
Summary: Read it again and again!
Review: This is my favorite book of all time! Everything about it is great!
Rating:
Summary: The Classic that will always satisfy...
Review: This book is so straight on that I believe it will never die. I think that Jerry Furland, author of Transfer - the end of the beginning, is possiby George Orwell re-incarnated. I would like to know more about both of these authors.
Rating:
Summary: We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you
Review: with ourselves ....... 1984 is an epic of living terror. Of the haunting spectre of communism that has gone paranoid. The central character Winston is a mechanised survivor in this regime where everything is according to the wishes of "Big Brother" . Winston becomes a rebel to retain his last shred of humanity . He meets Julia who is a rebel (but only from the waist down as Winston remarks) and is well aware of the prevalent hypocrisy and fear.They are unmasked by the thought Police who watch your every move thro hidden telescreens. Winston is arrested and subsequently his reformation begins. He must love BIG BROTHER.... 1984 is a singular in its portrayal of the helplessness of an individual and his acceptance of the sham of BIG BROTHER. Orwell was a genius way ahead of his time and every word of this book proves that fact.
Rating:
Summary: Good if you stick with it
Review: At the mention of 1984, critics will prostrate worshipping Orwell's mastery of metaphors, readers will rejoice at his clarity, and soothsayer's will marvel at his prescience. 1984 has even spawned new english words like "doublethink" and "newspeak". And along with capri pants, it seems in fashion to like 1984. This praise is not meritless and Orwell did indite a great book; however, it didn't grab me the way other books have. For me a good beginning makes me stick with a book, and this is something 1984 lacks. The beginning is ponderous and confusing, and I debated giving up on the book numerous times, but I remembered all the adulatory reviews and decided to stick with it. I am glad I did because the story picks up and still maintains its themes. The beginning did tarnish my view of 1984 a little though and I was still cynical of the praise it receive; after my cynicism disperesed I realized the book did deserve the praise--if the reader can bear the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: A Determined Society
Review: I will have you imagine something. But it can only be what I tell you to imagine. You cannot wonder off. You can think of nothing else. Your past, your present, your future. All irrelevant from now on. You will be told your function. This function, of course, has nothing to do with you. For there is no 'you' from my saying so. There is the State, but nothing else. Liberty? I don't know that term, do you? And you can forget abotu God, since God does not exist. You are part of a whole, which is the State. But you are, and never were, a whole unto yourself.... Forgive me: my creativity is lacking. On the other hand, I hope you get the point. I am trying to give you a picture of what a totalitarian society is. For Orwell, this was Communism. The protagonist of the book is named Winston-an obvious reference to Churchill. In 1984, everyone dresses the same. There are no such things as churches or pornography. A person's home is 'watched' by what they call 'Big Brother," whose face is on a monitor in every house and every building. Presumably, Big Brother is watching to make sure you are not eating too much or having sex. He can see you, presumably, as you walk down the street. The idea of democracy is vacant in 1984. The word 'democracy' is not even among the dictionaries anymore. It has been stricken, and the people brainwashed so as not to remember there being democracy. History, as it were, is no more. History is being re-written. Thus, a child growing up in 1984 will be told that society has been the same for the past 1,000 years. In 1984, personal liberty is gone. You are told what to say, what to think, what to do. Any slight deviance of this is punishable by death, beating, and so on. Even the children are made to watch their parents. Religion has no role among these people. Literature, as well, is not there. Neither is free speech. This book was well put together. The details of this communism are enough to scare the reader. The movie, too, is good. It helps us not to take our free society for granted. Even though the people of 1984 have nothing to compare their horror to, they still feel an emptiness (that is, when they are conscious). It may sound radical, but it is very realistic. Who knows? Maybe the world will become like this one day. If this is so, Orwell is a kind of prophet.
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