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Summary: I Read Animal Farm
Review: I read Animal Farm by George Orwell The New Signet Version with a Preface and an Introduction both new features to accommodate the book. The novel itself was very enjoyable to read and was thought out completely with a creative mind. The symbolism is ever present in the story helping it to produce the fairy tale affect. This book I thought was a real (relatively short) page-turner because along with the excitement throughout the story there are many characters developing to go along with the farm itself changing as well. George Orwell's masterpiece was a subtly rebellious novel of the times, he was telling the world what he felt about the current events, which he did not agree with. Orwell's ability to combine many different aspects of spinning a great yarn makes this a must read.
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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: "Animal Farm" is a story that tells about how people, or animals in this case, can be so power hungry and mean and decieving. It all tells a lot about teamwork, if everyone works together, they can accomplish many great things, and if some people start acting arrogant and think they are better than they others, they will mess up everything. In this story, all the animals worked together to overthrow the humans. Everything in the farm was going great, infact it was perfect, until Napoleon became power-hungry and kicked Snowball out of the farm. Then Napoleon started changing the rules and made them more beneficial to him and the pigs. Finally the rules were so unfair that some animals wanted to rebel but thier plan was discovered before they could take any action. That was when Napoleon started killing them, after seeing what happened to some of the animals, the other animals lived in horror in a prison that they once used to call home. Years passed, some of the animals started dieing off, and the unlucky ones continued to be the slaves of Napoleon and his pigs. In the last part, the pigs invited some of the people over for dinner. While the other animals were looking through the window, they realized that they could tell no difference between the pigs and the humans and they were shocked with horror. This was a very good book that taught some valuable lessons. Another book that can kind of relate to this story is "1984" also by George Orwell, but this book was much better and quicker.
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Summary: A great look at history through the eyes of animals.
Review: I feel that Animal Farm by George Orwell presents a dynamic representation of Russian society in the years following the Russian Revolution. Animal Farm presents the problems of Soviet Communism in a metaphor that is easily understood, and engaging to read. At the outset, the animals follow the wishes of Old Major, a boar, who represents the idea of Karl Marx and Lenin. He presents his idea for a peaceful society, free of human oppression and harmony for all species. Old Major dies three days after the meeting and the younger pigs, Snowball, Squealer, and Napoleon all establish "Animalism", which is based on the foundations of Old Major's ideas. The pigs assume control of a Democratic Animal Farm; decisions are made based on the wishes of all the animals. However, over time, a rivalry develops between Napoleon and Snowball, both fighting for control of the Farm. One day, Snowball gives a passionate speech about his idea to build a windmill for the farm. However, Napoleon orders nine dogs to attack Snowball, who is chased off of the farm. Napoleon now declares that only pigs will make the decisions, because it is what is best for the society. Napoleon changes his mind on the windmill, and the animals set to work on the project. The windmill is destroyed however, during a violent storm. Napoleon sees his opportunity. He blames the destruction on a Snowball conspiracy, and now declares that anyone who opposes Napoleon's rule is a traitor. Napoleon begins acting more and more like a human, sleeping in a bed, drinking alcohol, and trading with other farms. Old Major's original plan forbids these kinds of actions, but Squealer explains his actions through propaganda. There is finally a domino effect which leads the animals down the path of the Russian people in the 20th century. I felt this book presented a great metaphor of the Russian Revolution, bringing about sympathy for the animals, who were led down the wrong path. I felt Napoleon's character was developed well, starting as a believer in the original ideals, to a power hungry dictator. The animals of the farm also symbolize the population of the Soviet Union, trusting leaders and their decisions. Orwell presents a depressing outcome, but leaves a sense of hope in the story, trying to prevent history from repeating.
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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: This book was a greatly written tale of the possiblity of animals taking over their farm. The treacherous pigs with their obvious use of trickery are able to use the other farm animals to their own advantage. In the story the pigs change the rules of Animal Farm throughout the story and by the end these pigs are no better than their human counterparts.
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Summary: Brillian Fairy Tale for Adults...
Review: Every time I read something by George Orwell, I'm convinced what a genius he was. This novel, along with 1984, is so entrenched in our collective consciousness now that it is difficult to remember a time when they didn't exist. I think that political extremists on either side would like to subvert Orwell's message for their own purposes. What makes Orwell great however is that he is not simply skewering the left or the right, but politics itself. To paraphrase Woody Allen in Sleeper (his take on 1984) "It doesn't matter who is in charge - they're all terrible." Historically, Animal Farm was written as a polemic against Soviet communism after Orwell returned from fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Even though the USSR is his main target, Animal Farm reads like a blueprint for every violent revolution ever. I'm also reading a book on the French Revolution, and I'm amazed at how much the two link up. First comes the idyllic phase when the oppressors have been overthrown. Next, the "liberators" soon set themselves up as demi-gods. Next comes marshal law. Eventually, it does become impossible to distinguish the men from the pigs. "All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This book, written before 1984, introduces some of the themes that Orwell will do much to develop later. For instance, like Big Brother, Napoleon - the leader - gradually does away with the animal's history and memory. He gradually alters the Seven Commandments of animals, while maintaining they were "always" that way. ("We are at war with Eastasia. We have ALWAYS been at war with Eastasia.") This book is so spot-on in its depiction of human (animal) behavior its scary. Whenever Napoleon institutes another sacrilege, the "sheep" are quick to shout down any opposition with their cry of "Four legs good, two legs bad." Inevitably, this becomes, "Two legs good, four legs bad." Four legs are bad, four legs have ALWAYS been bad... If you were forced to read this in school, or haven't read it in a long time, give it another chance. It's extremely short and you'll enjoy it.
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Summary: A Funny And Strange Classic
Review: I bought this after my high school teacher said I should read it. I was quite suprised when it was funny. The story is simple. A bunch of mistreated animals decide they have had enough of the farmers tyranny and overthrow the farmers. They then rename the farm Animal Farm with tha pigs as rulers. everything works out well, but then the pigs get more and more tyrannical, until one pig, Napoleon, takes over alltogether and they are no better off than they had been under the rein of the humans. This book is both funny and bizarre. i find it hard to believe that an unconventional book like this is regarded as a classic. The best book ever written.
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Summary: Good book...
Review: Good book. I was able to keep attention and even though Im in 11th grade, it still kept me reading and wanting to know more. I liked the ending and I thought it was overall a good book.
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Summary: Did John Lennon ever read this book?
Review: Orwell retold the Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin's purges, etc. with brilliant skill in Animal Farm. But the book should never be thought of as a period piece. It is a revelation of the secular "totalitarian temptation" that attracts many well-meaning people to this day. Take the lyrics of John Lennon's anthem "Imagine" and correlate them with the words of Major's "Beasts of England." As Lennon himself might have said, "It isn't hard to do." Ponder the implications.
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Summary: Animals Are Malnourished -- a review by Olivia, age 9
Review: Mr. Jones' farm, the Manor Farm, is a pity. His animals are malnourished and always sick, and he doesn't much care. After they die he just cooks them and eats them. Jones is always slobbering drunk. In the beginning of the story Old Major is the leader of all the animals. He is a great leader until his death one night. All the animals are shocked and they need a new leader. The pigs are the smartest animals, so they are always leaders. At first Snowball is the leader, but then Napoleon comes in and he wants to be leader. All the animals go up against humans and kill Jones' men. When Napoleon decides to trade with humans he doesn't tell any other animals because it's against the rule, "Whatever goes on two legs is an enemy." Animal Farm is very interesting because the animals all have different points of view, such as when the hens must lay eggs for Napoleon. He wants to trade with the humans, but the hens think it's bad for their health because they have to lay about 30 a week. I like Boxer the best because he has a good attitude and he always works the hardest. Boxer always looks at the positive side of things. I was very enthusiastic about the book, and when I shared it with friends I got them interested in reading it.
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Summary: Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Review: "Animal Farm" is a clever book that is supposed to be a metaphor for Communist Russia, using farm animals to represent various people groups from that era. Take heart, though, for even if you are nearly completely oblivious to the specifics of this period of history (like me,) you will be completely entertained by this book. Orwell paints an awesome picture of a barnyard where the animals speak to each other and eventually learn how to read, write, and use tools. These animals band together and form a revolt against the human farmer, and they win their freedom. The story is very interesting on two accounts. The first point of interest is the way in which the animals' behaviors match their personality traits. For instance, pigs are known to be intelligent, so they rise to leadership and do all the planning. Horses are strong and reliable, so they do all of the grunt work on the farm without asking questions. Sheep are stupid and so bleat the same mantras over and over, etc. The second point of interest is the description of how the utopian society eventually deteriorates into a dictatorship as the intelligent pigs assert themselves and become power-hungry. Immediately after the revolt, the animals decided on seven laws for the new society of animals. However, as the pigs became more greedy, they started breaking the laws to suit their own desires and then change the laws to suit their needs. The rest of the animals were either too stupid to notice the difference or too afraid to say anything about it. So, the pigs keep grabbing power and changing laws to suit their nature until eventually they are indistinguishable from the human master who preceded them. Even if you are unfamiliar with the events that represent the Russian metaphor, this story provides a great lesson in how power can corrupt even the most noble-minded beings. The story also is entertaining and gives your imagination a great workout.
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