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Summary: A very touching and inspiring story
Review: My first impression of animal farm was not very good. I expected it to just be about "Talking Animals!"Boy,was I wrong. It was so interesting.I could not put it down for a second. It's about animals who rebel against their owner because they are very mistreated.so they kick him off the Manor Farm,and claim it their very own "Animal Farm" throughout the story they learn about friendship,betrayal,and hard work.If you read this book it will teach you th meaning of life,love,and the meaning of friendship!
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Summary: Are animals really this smart?
Review: I have just recently finished reading the book Animal Farm,written by George Orwell, with a four star rating by me.
I think Gorge Owell got this book off to a great start. That is what earned a star. It all starts out on a cold night when Mr. Jones goes in the house without noticing that the gate to the animal barn was left unlocked. This automatically got my imagination zooming on what could happen with the gate unlocked. You will have read the book to find out. On
the farm there is a pig named Old major. His real name is Willingdon Bueaty. He is a prize winning middle-white boar OWNED by Mr. Jones. He has thick fur/hair with black and white spots on him.Old major likes to share his dreams with the farm, because he feels that they have great and powerful meanings to them. He is very respected on the farm also.
The detail in this book is so grand also. For example, I think the best detailing is done when George Orwell is explaining what the farm looks like. Also when he describes what Old majors' living space is. The dtiling is so great in this book that I give it two more of the four stars, that I rated it. Most books you read only give settings at some of the locations in the book, but this book details almost every change of setting.The fourth and final star i give this book as with all books goes to the autgors credit. He deserves this star for putting forth the effirt to give us this amazing piece of literature.
The only reason i did not give this book a fifth star is because no book is perfect, there is always things that can be added to it. I give this book an age rating of eight and up. ANIMAL FARM IS A WINNER!
Rating: 
Summary: Are animals really this smart?
Review: Animal Farm was a very deep book. It's one of those books where when you read it you get a different perpspective every time!. I think the author got this piece of literature off to a grand start. In the very beginnings of this book Mr. Jones is very drunk. The animals wait for him tom go in the house and turn the bedroom light off. All the animals had a high rspect for Willingdon Bueaty. That is the name of the prize winning middle- white boar that was OWNED by Mr. Jones. The old pig always liked to share his dreams with the farm animals. He was so respected that all the animals were willing to lose an hours sleep just for him. The animals eventually make a daring attempt to (live better lives)at the old farm. I give this book a rating of 5, and an age limit to 10 and up.
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Summary: An All to Real Fairy Story
Review: I am so glad I picked this book up and read it! I didn't have the opportunity to read it in High School like many people have, but have always thought about reading it. Let me tell you... it is worth the wait!
I find it interesting that Orwell subtitled this book a Fairy Story. This "Fairy Story" has more reality in it than some history books. Orwell uses animal characters to give us a startling picture of how an idealistic system of thought(Socialism), became a frightening, all consuming machine (Communism).
What's so interisting is that the actions of these animals are so indicative of how man reacts to power and privilige. I don't necessarily agree with socialism, but it is a system of thought that does have some merit. When you take it on it's own it can lead to real equality and humanity. But, the truth is, when power hungry leaders get their clutches on it, the result is less than humane. That is what happened to communism, and it happened so quickly!
Is Orwell a political prophet? His book was written just before WWII and well before the Cold War. But he surely had a good take on where communism was going and how it would manifest itself.
Read the book... you won't be disappointed. It is a very quick read. If you have been wanting to read the classics, this is a great book to start with! Take the time to add this to your reading experience.
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Summary: Deft, well-thought out and wonderful
Review: I just recently finished ANIMAL FARM and loved it. Some other reviewers have criticized it for being too short, but I think the shortness is a good thing. No one wants a book that gives you a lot of fluff and filler nonsense, which ANIMAL FARM never comes close to doing. It is creative, dry, cynical, satirical and to the point. The plot is reinforcing the quote, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," which is an important point to make to anyone of any age. However, I don't think anyone under the age of a very intelligent, mature 10 or preferably 11 years would be able to appreciate this book to its fullest. A younger child could read it, even though the vocabulary might be confusing, but he wouldn't understand it as deeply. All in all, this is a deep but vastly entertaining read. If you haven't read it, do so, and if you have, read it again.
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Summary: Timeless...
Review: "And so I understood, more clearly than ever, the negative influence of the Soviet Myth upon the western Socialist movement...it was of the utmost importance to me that people in western Europe should see the Soviet regime for what it really was. Since 1930 I had seen little evidence that the USSR was progressing toward anything that one could truly call socialism...[I am] convinced that the destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we wanted a revival of the socialist movement."
--George Orwell, from Russel Baker's preface.Upset with what he viewed as Stalin's perverse interpretation of socialism, Orwell wrote this brilliant, allegorical attack on the effects of Soviet socialism (i.e., communism) in the USSR. In fact, Orwell had personally seen and felt its impact during the Spanish Civil War, where he nearly lost his life fighting against the Stalin supported Spanish government. The story is about farm animals who mistreated by the human farmers unite and run the humans off the farm, creating a small seemingly Utopian community where all animals are equal. Unfortunately, as the story unravels trouble befalls the animals as some animals become "more equal than others." For students of socialism and Soviet history this is an entertaining and insightful must read. Moreover, its friendly unpretentious language should be a welcomed respite from the boring, often esoteric pages found in history books and scholars' essays. At the same time, even if you have no background in these areas you will nevertheless find that Orwell's message is omnitemporal, applying to all times, and also to all systems of government. It is a frightening and foreboding warning that all people must head: Those who claim to be our leaders, working for our benefit, will in the end have us working for their benefit; with once altruistic motives for assuming leadership turning to absolutism. Animal Farm is a wonderful book for both adults and children, to be read on many levels, and at many points in one's life. Its language is easy, it length short, and therefore gives rise to no excuses why it should not be read.
--ross saciuk
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Summary: Literature as a means of understanding history.......
Review: I believe that good literature can often provide a deeper understanding of the implications of history and political/philosophical ideas.... Animal Farm is an easy to read fable which quickly conveys how the most well intentioned ideas can be turned into a means of social slavery in the hands of the wrong people (as they say,'absolute power corrupts absolutely')who coddle and finally coerce gullible followers.....a lesson on the vital importance of real democracy and the need for literacy at every level of society. So read the book, and save your hide. You'll understand that line....after you read the book!
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Summary: TEACHERS??
Review: Why is this no longer required reading for advanced Emglish?? Absolutly unthinkable.
Rating:
Summary: Some books are more equal then others
Review: Like the Adventures of Huck Finn there is more to this book than just an entertaining story. Though the message is a little more obvious in this story. At least I hope it is! We've seen through history the failures of Animal Farm... Let us take heed... The story and the characters in this story are things we see played out before us over and over again. Orwell puts this all together in a brilliant narrative!
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Summary: "Animal farm" - The book about communism
Review: If you quickly look at the cover, title or the thickness of this novel, you might think this to be a book for children about farm life (thats what I thaught at first), but don't be tricked by this fact, really this book is a very well written novel which shows the 20th century history of Russia (or the USSR) in a very satiric way. The story is set on a farm somewhere in England. The animals living there inspired by the ideas of an old pig (Carl Marx) revolt against Mr. Jones who owns the farm (Nicholas II and his supporters). As soon as Mr. Jones runs away the farm is renamed from Manor farm to Animal farm (Russia-USSR) and the seven commandments are set up, which should keep the animals free and equal between each other, but as you can guess the novel doesn't end like this "...and they lived happily ever after." In fact the end is very pessimistic (as to the existence of communism in the near future). This book shows us that no matter how good the original ideas are (Marx's ideas for example) for the governing of society, leaders always get corrupted if too much power is given to them (Stalin). In my opinion Communism came into this world too early and in the wrong place (Russia in 1900 was certainly not ready for Communism and I think that no country in the next 5 or 6 centauries years will be ready for any of the forms of communism). For instance what would happen if you turned Medieval-feudal England into a democratic country? Nothing would work this regime would be overthrown and there some King on the throne again who return feudalism, same thing with communism. "Animal Farm" shows us that pure communism is impossible and that it has to be heavily 'mixed' with capitalism. Thus creating a mixed governing system like the NEP in 1920s USSR (It wasn't called USSR in those times). The novel might also be interesting to children (8+) even though ending will disappoint them and they won't understand the story behind the book. The only thing that I didn't like about this book that it was a bit short (97 pages and the font is quite big). But I still think that this is a superb book but it would be even more outstanding if Orwell would have made it a bit longer. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could!
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