Rating: 
Summary: a quick overlook of the symbolism and hypocrisy
Review: This book is not about pigs and horses and sheep on a farm. This book is not about pigs who take control over other animals. This book is not about animals revolting against Mr. Jones the farmer. This is a book about the Russian Revolution, and each of the characters in Animal Farm plays a role as someone else who really lived.Old Major - Karl Marx. Invented communism, inspired revolution. Snowball the pig - Leon Trotsky. Wanted good for all the people, supported communism. Napoleon the pig - Joseph Stalin. Greedy for power. Squealer the pig - Propaganda. Boxer the horse - Oblivious, hard working, supporter. Moses the raven - Religion. Mr. Jones - Czar Nicholas II. (run out of his country after the people and Karl Marx revolted due to his poor leadership). Dogs - KGB Secret Police. The Sheep - Followers. Benjamin the donkey - Skeptical Russians. THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS
A large part of this analogy of the Russian Revolution is the hypocrisy involved. Napoleon and the pigs set rules, only to break and change them as they pleased. Seven Commandments were written to be followed as laws and rules to all the animals.
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill another animal.
7. All animals are equal.
But by the end of the story the commandments are altered by the pigs. The law stating that whatever goes on two legs is an enemy is changed to the sheep's chanting of "Four legs good, two legs better!" after contact and trade with humans is made. After the pigs begin to sleep in the old house of Mr. Jones the farmer, the fourth commandment is changed to: No animal shall sleep in a bed WITH SHEETS. The law: "No animal shall drink alcohol" is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol TO EXCESS." After Napoleon brutally kills many of the animals for disobedience and treachery, (even though they were killed for crimes they never committed), the law was changed to: No animal shall kill another animal WITHOUT CAUSE. At the end of the story, all seven commandments are erased, and replaced with a single commandment: ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.
Rating:
Summary: Not Very Dark
Review: This is another interesting book. It has a very insightful look at relationships if you take it away from the main story. This is probably his best work. The writing is far less dark then many of his other books.
Rating: 
Summary: A Masterpiece!
Review: I can't say that this is an enjoyable book to read. In fact, this is the most disturbing book I've ever read, and I can't see how anyone could say it's appropriate for children. That being said, the book is brilliant. Orwell's view of human nature is truly pessimistic and shocking...
Rating:
Summary: Simultaniously Entertaining and Thought Provoking
Review: A quick glance at the title, cover and general thickness (or lack thereof) of this novel may suggest this to be little more than a young reader's book abouty animals on a farm. Any of you people remember the old saying "don't judge a book by its cover?" Far from that initial impression, Animal Farm is, in fact, a very intelligently written social commentary, one which may actually even surpass Orwell's other socially aware novel, 1984. Without revealing too much, the story is set on a farm in England. The animals there, inspired by an aging pig, carry out a revolution to oust the cruel human owners and claim the farm, as well as their independence. They immediatly set down laws, mostly discussing the equality of the animals and forbidding certain acts which may lead to human like behavior, and beging to run the farm for themselves. I won't go on, but rest assured, this is not a novel about the peaceful farming lives the animals lead. As I stated before, I found this to be even better as a social commentary than 1984. The unusual premise, which uses humans only when absolutly necessary, and more interesting characters give this book a much broader appeal than 1984. Like that other book, though, there is a very important lesson to be learned from this. I personally was somewhat reminded of the United States' history, how originally it was supposed to be a nation of freedom and equality, and how we wound up using other humans as slave labor. Anyway, this is an excellent book, and I wholeheartedly reccomend it to any and all readers. In fact, I would label this as essential.
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Summary: A definitive book of the post-World War II era
Review: When speaking of posts-World War II books, three come to my mind, Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and Animal Farm. All are best read, but Animal Farm ticks out of the bunch for a good reason. It is a great anti-communist essay and beloved childrens fable mixed into one. Do not let the children fable part scare you off, it is there to help give analogies to certain things. I cannot top reading his once I have started, and I'm sure that my kids will love to read about the struggles of Snowball and Napoleon. Do not pass by this book.
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Summary: The Pigs at their Best!
Review: I was forced to read this book in my 8th grade English class and I hated it. At that young age I just could not grasp the brillance of this book. A few years later since I already had the book (an it was such a short book)I decided to read it again. This time I can say that I was captivated. George Orwell was quite a pessimist, but he had a really great way of getting his point across in his stories. This book is such an insightful look at man's true nature. Watching the farm slowly change throughout the book from a complete hell for the animals to an animal utopia and then back to what it used to be by their own hands (or hooves) gives no hope to what the future of our world can be. The last few lines of Animal Farm made such an impact on me. They really say all that needs to be said in so few words.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Fun... plus a message too
Review: Look, I'm not going to sit here and write yet another review gushing about how I "got" the socio-economic message in this book. It was undeniably present from the first page to the last. What I enjoyed most about this book was that it was a fun read. You do not have to have aspirations to be a UN delegate to enjoy this book. I mean, lets face it, reading about animals taking over a farm is fun stuff. Couple that with the fact that this book is a short 140 pages well, I think it is just about the perfect read for anyone. With a book this good and this short the traditional excuses of "too much school work" or "too busy at the office" just don't fly. Turn off the TV, power down the video game and take you mind on a journey. Oh, and try this little experiment, once you have read it keep it on the shelf then read it again in 10 years or so, it will be like a whole different book.
Rating:
Summary: Still a Timeless Classic
Review: I'm not going to give a synopsis of the whole book, you can read other reviews if you're looking for general information. But I'd like to expound upon on character in the story, Mollie. Mollie was the horse who ran away from the farm after it was discovered that she was receiving sugar and petting from the humans from the adjacent farm. Orwell is using Mollie in the story as a metaphor for capitalism. Surprisingly, Orwell was a socialist, but his ultimate belief was that man was simply unable to govern himself no matter what the ideology. Mollie is a reminder of the excesses of our government in the 1990's, and a warning of what eventually comes from it. Much like the U.S populace, Mollie was unconcened about who ran the government, or what polices were in place (like the 60-70 percent of the US population that doesn't vote). As long as she was getting her 'ribbons' and 'sugar' (i.e., money and material possessions) she was quite content to live in any regime, even a corrupt one like the humans had created for the animals. Remember the Clinton years? Who really cared what the President did, as long as the economy was swell? Orwell was more prophetic than most of us realize. Of course, in a communist society, sugar and ribbons are the first things to go. So Mollie heads over to the other farm, not caring about how she will be treated, but only desiring some more of that sugar. A book that should be read to every child once he/she is old enough to understand its implications.
Rating:
Summary: A corrupt revolution
Review: Animal Farm, by George Orwell, tells a story of the once peaceful Manor Farm. The animals decide to overthrow humans, and take on the job of supporting themselves by themselves. Day by day, the social imbalances start to emerge, such as the pigs determining themselves as the thinkers of the society; therefore they should get more priorities. The revolution was created to change society to where all animals are equal, but through the seven commandments, Napoleon, the leader boar, takes absolute power over the animal society. This story explains the Russian revolution in average English, where almost anyone can read it to understand the story, but there are many real meanings to it. Each animal represents a character in a revolution; such as Squealer representing the one who gets to a high status buy simply obeying the stronger side. Slowly it explains how their so-called equality becomes hard solid dictatorship. This idea of communism is easier said than done, as this book implies, since at the end, there will be someone who stands up to be a leader. There are many reasons that I recommend this book, but mainly because it compares real life to a fiction in a perfect way. Also as some minor positives, the book is short, very short so you won¡¦t be looking at a half ton book thinking do I want to read this? for slow readers like myself. Lastly, as I stated above, this book is written in not very complicated English, so almost everyone can read it. On the five star scale, this book is definitely a five star, so read it!
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Summary: Pure Socialism, Pure Fiction!
Review: This book should open the eyes of many who are caught up with the ideas of utopianism, absolute egalitarianism, and other "heaven-on-earth" ideas. Orwell does a masterful job in this short, easy, and fun to read book showing how a "utopian-oriented" revolution can go wrong. Though the book is humorous, it has a serious and solemn message for any generation. Though Orwell was a socialist himself, he had the guts to prove that "socialist" transformation or revolution of society can go wrong if the leaders of the revolution adopt "rightist" attitudes and behaviours along the process. This book shows the similarities between Animal Farm and the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. The pigs in the book represent the Soviet vanguard leaders of the revolution; the dogs the ruthless secret police; and the rest of the animals the various bodies within the USSR during the Stalin era. This book is a good reminder that no matter what words and rhetorics are spoken in the past, leaders can succumb to the influence of power and elitism and throw out their past socialist beliefs in actual behaviour. Pure forms of socialism cannot happen on this side of life. People are still inherently selfish and proud. Positivism is a dead social theory (individual genes, personalities, and brain processess do matter on how society is formed and structured). What is society? It is the product of human personalities. This should awaken the ideological slumbering of many liberals, socialists, and leftists. Orwell does a good job showing that no matter what (poor or plenty) people only seek their own self-interest when the opportunity arises.
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