Animal Farm

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Summary: Great Quick Read
Review: Animal Farm is a book that makes you think about what you are reading. I felt claustrophobic when I was reading this book because every time the pigs were acting like hypocrites, the other farm animals would just go with it. The pigs always had Squealer to rely on to convince the other animals who were stupider than the pigs.
My favorite character was Benjamin, the donkey. He was my favorite because he just sat back basically and watched everything happen and didn't do anything stupid about it. If he had spoke out and protested against the pigs, he would have been killed. If he tried to keep a rebellion quiet and just talk to the other animals about rebelling, the animals would have been stopped and punished.
I liked the book because it showed me a different perspective on communism and how it can come into power. Using animals instead of people was brilliant, I thought, because it's something that not only adults can relate to.
I give praise to the author George Orwell because he constructed this masterpiece over fifty years ago and students in schools across the nation are still reading it. The book is still being read and learned from after all these years.
I learned from this book about Russian history and how people like Stalin and Trotsky came into power starting a communist reign. I also learned a bit about Orwell and how political he really is.
I thought the ending of the book was very good. How the pigs were acting more and more like humans everyday when all they told the animals was to be against humans, because this is why they rebelled in the first place. In the end, the pigs couldn't even tell the difference between the pigs and the humans because they were so alike.
I have no questions about the book, and if there are things left unanswered then I think that they were meant to be unanswered by the author. I think if they were answered that it would only detract from the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend because it's such an enjoyable quick read. I would like to read 1984 by George Orwell after reading Animal Farm because I enjoyed Animal Farm so much.
All in all, Animal Farm was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone who can obtain the book.

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Summary: Animal Farm Review by JFalc
Review: If history is your thing, you enjoy reading, and you live on
a farm, Animal Farm, by George Orwell is definitely the book for you,
my friends. This is a classic novel written during WWII that follows
the occurrences during the rebellion of communists in Russia. This
satire can be directly matched up with the actually happenings
dealing with the Soviets and their rebellion against capitalism.
Throughout the book I was captivated and forced to read more
and more. When I began reading, I liked all the animals the same but
about halfway through the book I began to dislike the pigs and feel
sorry for the other animals being put to work like the pig's
servants. I liked the fact that this book had understandable
language, was short, and the story was easy to follow. The story
never got boring at a single point throughout. George Orwell did an
excellent job writing the book to fit the story of the rebellion of
the Soviets. The story from the Jones' farm matched well with the
story of the Russian rebellion. I enjoyed reading this book and I
would probably recommend this book to a friend because it is a quick
read, but it is also quite interesting and intriguing. I would also
probably purchase another one of his books and see if his great
writing style is evident in his other books.
At the beginning of the story, I liked every animal the
same. I did not like one more than the other. As the story
progressed, I began to dislike Napoleon. Napoleon, like many
leaders, got power-hungry. He continued to desire more and more
power as the book progressed. The more power he achieved, the worse
his decisions became. He put the other animals to work as if they
were his slaves. He changed their seven "unchangeable" laws. Many
other things were done by Napoleon because of the power that he had
and the bad judgment he possessed. Napoleon's power hunger made me
realize that too much of a good thing has a bad outcome. His power
got into his head and thereof controlled his mind. When things like
power and wealth are excessive, something needs to be done. If no
action is taken, excessive power and wealth can lead to harmful
consequences.
The end of the book was very interesting. Napoleon, the
leader of the rebellion against human beings and the enforcer of
Animalism, has become completely humanlike in his behavior. Napoleon
ends up making peace with the humans who were once enemies of the
animals on the farm. This ending is very odd considering the stance
of Napoleon early on in the book.
The ending was quite unusual and unexpected, but overall this
book was excellent. I recommend it to anyone who desires a
righteous, reputable read.

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Summary: Animal Farm 101
Review: When reading the title Animal Farm on a blue book that has a picture of a pig and a horse on it, many questions come to mind. After reading the back of the book, which contained the summary, it made things a little clearer and only makes you want to read more. This is exactly what I thought when
the book was assigned for me to read.
Usually books that are chosen for school, I don't really like, or they don't hold my interest very well, however Animal Farm by George Orwell was an exception. Overall I thought the novel was a nice, easy read, that kept me involved and at times left me wanting to read on. The book paralleled
Russian history, and told a tale of two pigs that over threw the farmer, and then they took control of the farm. They developed a new source of government called animalism, which was a spin off of communism. The two pigs
in charge were Napoleon and Snowball, but symbolically they were Trotsky and Stalin. Throughout the whole course of the book it showed how Napoleon became power hungry and over threw Snowball. It also told of the struggles
and hardships that the animals went through, with their new government and new leaders.
The book taught me different lessons about how being power hungry could corrupt one. This lesson was displayed throughout the book, mainly by the character Napoleon. He is a strong leader and wanted everything to be his own way, no one else's. He displays this characteristic about himself by the ejection of his right hand man, Snowball. After Snowball has been removed from the picture, Napoleons power really gets to him. He starts creating all of these crazy work hours, which force the animals to work long, hard hours, with little food. While Napoleon and the other pigs eat feasts and drink beer as much as they please. All of this shows how power can go to a pig's head.
The reading of the book Animal Farm, really brought out different emotions in me. There were times when I was reading, that I just felt like yelling at the animals for obeying Napoleon's absurd rules for so long and never questioning it. Then at other times I was proud of all the hard work the
animals did, and how they accomplished all of their goals without the help of humans. When Boxer died, I felt as though I could cry, and I probably would have if I didn't have to stop to tend to something else, which took my
mind off of the book for a second. So for anyone who plans on reading the book they should be ready for their emotions to be going in all different directions, because mine certainly did.
My favorite character throughout the book was Boxer, the carthorse. Boxer was a strong worker, always willing to do more and wanted what was best for the animals and the farm at all times. Throughout the book he had a motto,
"I will work harder", which eventually evolved to "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right." Those words that Boxer lived by showed how dedicated he was to the farm and his leader, Napoleon. Up until the very last moment of Boxer's life he was always helping and working his hardest. Another reason he was my favorite character was because his personality was very loveable. Even though he worked from sun-up to sun down, he was still
pleasant and considerate around the animals. Always helping and showing the animals, especially Clover, his tender side.
As a whole I thought the book was very well written and think it was a very creative idea that George Orwell came up with. However if there were one thing I could change, it would have to be the ending. I thought that book ended abruptly, almost like it was a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter, leaving you wanting more. The end described how half a dozen farmers and half a dozen pigs were all sitting around a table, drinking beer, and discussing the success of Animal Farm, while little do they know, the animals are right outside listening to them. Although it was a thought
provoking ending, it left me unsatisfied and wondering what was to become of the animals, and if there would be another rebellion. If I were George Orwell, I would have had Snowball come back and take over the farm, leaving the reader feeling content about the book and knowing that the animals would have a good life with a worthwhile leader.
I would recommend this book to a friend, because it is an easy yet thought provoking read. On the contrary I don't think I would read anything by Orwell again. The reason I feel this is way is because he writes mainly on things that have some sort of political meaning, and the political world
doesn't interest me. Although if you are a person who really enjoys that particular kind of writing then by all means George Orwell is an author who deserves your time for his books.
Now when I go to turn in my copy of Animal Farm, all of curiosity will be cured, all of the unanswered questions will now be answered. The book with the horse and pig on the front now tells a story within itself. After reading and doing my final analyzation on Animal Farm, I don't know if I
will ever be able to look at a pig the same way again.

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Summary: animal farm
Review: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." That is the theme throughout Animal Farm. The book Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, entertained me throughout its entirety; because of the straightforward writing style and the way he compared totalitarianism to a group of farm animals. My favorite character in the book was Napoleon. He was the leader of all the animals on the farm, because he was the smartest and most manipulative. He had the ability to make people do what he wanted them to do regardless of whether or not they wanted to do it. The character that I disliked the most was Boxer. Boxer took everything at face value and was extremely gullible.
The thing that I liked most about the book is the simplicity of the book and straight forwardness of the book. The author did an excellent job in writing the book by making it simple and to the point. From the book I learned how easy it was for Stalin to manipulate people and keep them on the side of communism. The one thing that I did not like about the book was that you don't find out what happened to the farm and the animals at the end of the book.
Animal Farm is a book that I would recommend to a friend because it is an easy read and once I picked it up I could not put it down. I would read other book by George Orwell because of how much I liked Animal Farm. Animal Farm is an excellent book, written with great description. "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but it was impossible to say which was which." This book is truly a great read.

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Summary: ANIMAL FARM
Review: Take the ideas and concepts of totalitarian governments, write a book with farm animals rebelling against their master, and mix in the events of communist countries around and leading up to World War Two. And the finished product is Animal Farm, the "fairy story" by George Orwell. I had neutral feelings throughout the book except for some important events, such as when Boxer was carried away by the horse slaughterer, and the end scene in the farmhouse. At these points I was very caught up in the story. Overall, I did not enjoy reading the book, but I did not mind it. My favorite character and the one who stood out most to me in the story was Benjamin the donkey. He was the oldest among the animals and the wisest, except for the pigs and maybe the dogs. Even though he knew of the dangers and deceptions, he stood by and let them become slaves to the pigs because he believed life would always be bad no matter what any animal did. Besides these traits, the main one of Benjamin's that I like is that he is the only animal smart enough to see what the pigs and dogs are doing to the animals. This also leads to what I dislike about the book. I did not like how all the animals accepted the ideas and rules of the pigs so easily. This may have been how it was in real life, but I still have a hard time reading the book and watching the characters give up their freedom so willingly.
George Orwell is an excellent writer. He managed to portray totalitarian rule in a very original way, with animals on a farm acting out the rise of communism in Russia. He follows actual events well enough that Animal Farm can teach the general history of Russian communism. I learned about the start of communism, its rise and corruption, and what it came to be. The ending of the book was very well done; I could not put the book down for the last forty or so pages. The end scene was especially good. It left me in thought about communism, society, and man in general. I thought George Orwell stopped the story at a good point, even though it left me with many questions about the fate of Animal Farm, also known as Manor Farm. I would recommend the book to a friend because I think everyone should read it once. The book may be an easy read, but it should be read by all because it has higher level concepts and ideas that make it stand out among others of its kind. I am also interested in reading other works by this author because Animal Farm had great style and great ideas. Now that you have learned of George Orwell's great work, it is time for you to witness it for yourself. I dare you to pick up a copy of Animal Farm and see why it is considered a must read in today's day and age.

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Summary: Animal Farm Review
Review: Watch out all you 'four-leggers'! Here come the animals of Animal Farm by George Orwell.
I can't quite describe how if felt to read Animal Farm. I felt loathing toward the pigs, Napoleon in particular, and deep sympathy for the other animals. Napoleon (and Squealer) took advantage of the power and the trust that everyone, especially Boxer, put into them. It was almost like a movie, when you know something the characters don't, but can't do anything to help them. I found myself telling Boxer to stop working and Clover to realize that the commandments had been changed.
Boxer was my favorite character by far. He was old and dedicated, but not the brightest crayon in the box. He represented the stereotypical "person" and was very loyal, even if he didn't know whom he was loyal to. Another reason I loved Boxer was because he always did more than his fair share and took the bulk of the work upon himself. Unfortunately, the system got him. No matter how loyal he was, in the end he got sent to the slaughter house/glue factory. That goes to show that there is no pleasing a totalitarian government.
Animal Farm was written very well, and wasn't all that difficult to read. To me, it was a new way of reading, because I had never read a political satire before. It was very interesting, and actually kind of fun to try and decipher the parallels it had to the Russian Revolution.
By reading the book, I learned a lot about the totalitarian government system as a whole, as well as some of the tactics the used to keep the "people" at bay. For example, they used propaganda like blaming everything that went wrong on Snowball, who had been exiled from the farm earlier. I also learned a lot from the prologue and the preface both, so I would advise at least skimming them before reading the book. It tells you a lot about George Orwell as well as the background of the book and the time period.
I liked the ending because it was thought provoking. I actually had to read it more than once to get the full meaning of it, but the comparison to men and pigs was very creative.
I didn't think any questions were left unanswered, but at first I didn't understand what parallel the windmill was. I also wasn't sure what the two farms represented, although I had a hunch they might be the United States and Germany.
To anyone who read and enjoyed Animal Farm, I would recommend Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell as well. Nineteen Eighty-Four, while also about totalitarian government, applies more to today's society than Animal Farm did. Truthfully, it was almost disturbing how perfectly parts of the book describe today's culture, especially Big Brother in terms of the Patriot Act.
All in all, when you read Animal Farm, I think you'll have a wild time!

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Summary: Animal Farm Review for Honors English 10 by George Tobias
Review: Are totalitarian dictators pigs? George Orwell, the author of Animal Farm, believes they are. Animal Farm is a satire that attacks totalitarianism and Communism. The book was brilliantly realized and intelligent. Orwell made all the right stylistic choices, such as using pigs to represent Stalin and Trotsky, and the simplicity of the story conveyed Orwell's anti-Communist stance well. The simplicity of the characters prevented one from getting too attached to the characters, but it was necessary since the book is an allegory. Though most of the characters were stereotypical, I did like several of them and even felt emotion at the death of one. I liked Benjamin, the quiet cynical one. I liked it when he said that after the rebellion things shall go on as they always have, "that is badly." I was also sad when Boxer died, because Boxer had pure intentions and innocence, which turned out to help cause his downfall. It was saddening to see Boxer taken advantage of by Napoleon even though he wanted to do the right thing. I really disliked Napoleon since he was corrupt and he made all the other animals suffer. I also felt frustration when the illiterate animals let Napoleon take advantage of them.

Overall, the book was quite humorous and enjoyable, but most importantly, the humor had a purpose. For example, the way that the pigs amended the commandments was rather humorous. The final line of the book, in which the author comments that the pigs and humans cannot be told apart, was funny and powerful; it made the ultimate insult to Stalin and his followers by saying that they were pigs.

I really liked the book, but certain things were ambiguous. I was confused as to whether the people who were executed had actually committed the crimes they confessed to, and if they had not committed the crimes, then why would they have confessed? Though certain parts were confusing, I learned about Russian history since all the events were simplified. I would like to read other books by George Orwell; he is a supremely talented author and social critic. I would also recommend this book to friends. So, are totalitarian dictators pigs? Animal Farm, by George Orwell, certainly makes a compelling case that they are.

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Summary: Animal Farm Rules!!
Review: Have you ever read a story about the battle between animals and humans on a man named Mr. Jones' farm? Well me, Mike Kasunic? I have!
At the beginning of the novel, I felt excited for the animals because of Old Major's opening speech and the determined revolution that was about to be led. I felt as though the animals were a minority that needed freedom, just like many ethnic groups throughout the world. As the story advanced, I started to feel uneasy towards Napoleon and Squealer, his faithful companion. As soon as rules started changing, I felt sympathy and anxiety for the lesser animals of Animal Farm, for they could not realize what was going on and they were rather helpless. I think that George Orwell does a great job of twisting your perspective on certain characters and also on basic human emotions, such as fear, greed, or sadness.
My favorite character was Clover, because she was an important part in the disbelief of Napoleon's tyrannical statements, which were directed through Squealer of course. She was also a very caring creature, this was expressed heavily during Boxer's struggle. Clover was the most morally sane character, without her there would be no opposition to Napoleon's scheme. Even though Boxer had second thoughts, he couldn't allow himself to believe that Napoleon would do any wrong doing to his own "followers", the fellow animals.
I thought that this book was very easy to follow, which happens to be very pleasant after the allegorical and epic poems we have been studying lately. The character introduction is wonderful, all the while remaining simple and straightforward. The only thing I disliked about Animal Farm was partially what made me love it. Although I loved the simple structure of Animal Farm, sometimes the writing was very bland. Although it the writing wasn't too interesting at times, the plot moved very fast which kept me very attentive. I finished the novel in one sitting because of the way it pulls you in.
I applaud George Orwell for his courage in writing this novel during times of struggle and danger. He did a great job of satirizing the totalitarian movement and explained a lot about how the tyranny came into place.
After reading through this book, It taught me much more about the totalitarian government and how it came into power. It also taught me a lot about the use of satires and allegories in stories, which are both present throughout the novel.
Although the ending of Animal Farm was predictable if you have any common sense, it was perfectly executed in the sense that it was just a never-ending cycle, the cycle of a revolution. Even though it was seen coming, the ending was still shocking for me and almost disturbing in a way. How could somebody live that way? Apparently greed and power can overcome some people more than others.
George Orwell does a concise job with the execution of Animal Farm, leaving me with no confusion. The book was perfectly thorough while remaining as simple as can be. I would definitely recommend this to a friend, but it is highly recommended to have some knowledge of 20th century totalitarianism before reading.
I am planning on checking out some of George Orwell's books in the near future. I think he has a great style and purpose with his writing. Books like Animal Farm and 1984 will never be forgotten, they are classics. I would enjoy reading more satires about the political struggles of his time.
Whether you are interested in reading a book about a band of animals taking over a farm or the satiric totalitarian story that lies beneath the letters, then Animal Farm is for you. Just about any age group can find enjoyment in this novel, understanding the deeper meaning or not.

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Summary: Long Live Animal Farm
Review: One of the greatest works of literature of all time was definitely Animal Farm. The use of all the different literary devices from the allegory and satire, to the use of certain names to convey the characters actions was definitely a strong aspect of this story. My overall feelings while I read the book were mostly a feeling of surprise, as each event would lead up to the next one, never really stopping to give a lot of information on settings, at least not all at once. They did a great job to diverse the information on the setting, only giving it to you when it was necessary. The main part of my feelings fell into the book when they talked of the bond between the animals as a whole, each one helping the others to complete the work and almost having the unity that a family would.

The characters were the greatest part of the book, though each one was clever in its own way, they all had the same general feel that they each were trying to make you part of the story and trying to teach you exactly what they thought you should. Of the characters though, the best one was Benjamin. The smartest of all the animals on the farm, he was the only one that saw what was going on throughout the book, though never told anyone. Each time a rule was changed, he noticed it. And when they took Boxer in the glue truck, Benjamin was the first to notice it, and tried to warn him before they took him. I must definitely give a huge standing ovation to the author, for not only making an interesting book to read, yet equating it to Russia's Communist and Totalitarian government and teaching us of this time period.

Though the ending was slightly less catchy than the rest of the book, it was still well thought and showed everything that it was meant to show, the leader of the government taking all the credit and profit for himself, becoming a 'Fat Pig'. There was one thing however, that throughout the book perplexed me to no end. Benjamin was always out of the way, never really talking to anyone, but had the bond with Boxer. But though he never talked, and noticed all the changes and the wrong doings on the farm, why did he never speak up? Even someone that is completely anti-social would have spoken out against the killings of the innocent and the changing of the Seven Commandments.

I would definitely recommend this book to most of my friends, though many of them are science fiction people, so they may not read it. But I would definitely recommend it to them nonetheless. As for reading other books he has written, almost definitely would, considering that I have already read about four of them. I love the style of writing he uses and just can't get enough. And in the words of the 'Leader, Comrade Napoleon', "LONG LIVE ANIMAL FARM!"

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Summary: Animal Farm Review
Review: Author George Orwell writes about a farm taken over by the animals who were once enslaved there by a farmer. Their actions are symbolic of the actions of Russian communists. The most powerful pig in the book, Napoleon, represented Stalin, the Russian leader who killed all those who opposed him. The book is said to be a satire, which is a writing that uses humor and ridicule to expose faults in society with the intention of bringing awareness and change to that aspect of society.

If you enjoy political aspects, this book portrays a strong view on Russian communism. If you don't like politics, Animal Farm uses metaphors between humans and animals, there is not a direct, in-your-face political take. While reading the book, I felt wrapped up in an imaginative story relating to historical facts. Orwell ties you in with his plot seemingly about a farm with animals taking charge against the farmer, while in retrospect he was really writing about Russian government. At the end, I was left with a sense of pessimism that all who try to obtain power over others will eventually turn into what they primarily were against. I was also left with a sense of hope that readers of the book will realize mistakes of the past and won't make the mistakes themselves.