Rating: 
Summary: Still a parable for our times
Review: It is so easy to read a book like ANIMAL FARM, say to yourself that it is entertaining enough not to hurt when you have to write your high school book report on it, and then get rid of it and go on with life as you grow into adulthood. But this book is entertaining the way Aesop's fables are entertaining; the life lessons of it keep returning like Springtime after long, cold winters. Orwell wrote this after discovering many of the intrinsic horrors of Communism in the Soviet Union and elsewhere before and after World War II. The political hypocrises and subsequent crimes inherent in the movement were made all the more genocidally infectious to innocent people around the world in the way they always are in political movements: by the leaders' demands of people to look at the culturally genocidal infections of the "other" (in this case laissez faire capitalism and its resultant colonialist/imperialist criminalities in the West), instead of allowing the independent questioning of the relevance and righteousness of what they were dealing with. The Frankenstein impulse of Man's ego as it governs the creation of utopianesque political systems and quasi-cultures has been alluded to many times before and after this novel (even before Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN), but for me never so succinctly, so beautifully, and so painfully accurate as ANIMAL FARM. I just bought this novel for my son, age twelve. I bought it for him not just knowing that he loves animals and stories about animals (a way Dads like me sneak good literature in their system). As he approaches the (help me Lord) teen years where the peer group becomes everything, he will need to know that he can be caught in the same dynamic that the innocent and naive animals underneath the leadership of the pigs were caught up in. (Hearing me lecture about it would naturally have the opposite effect.) Hearing a confused but charismatic kid begin to sound a lot like Squealer in a new and unexpected context for him just might save his power of independent thought when peer pressure comes into play. If I could, I would buy this book for half the world, and let them give their dog-eared copy to the other half; there is no one whose life isn't touched by the intoxicating rhythm of power in groups, and its ability to lead people into total bondage of some sort while it promises to protect your freedom. For example: any and every woman I've ever known who felt the need to regurgitate feminist manifestos at their future ex boyfriends and husbands in order to protect the integrity of an illusory sisterhood--a sisterhood often run by women who would (and often are) sleeping with the very men these confused but loyal women have alienated in their name, needs to read this. Nancy Friday's MY MOTHER, MY SELF and Daphne Patai's HETEROPHOBIA are ANIMAL FARMs for the independent American Woman, struggling to truly know herself beyond the confines of patriarchy, its postmodern discontents, and any culture set up to combat it. For anyone starting the next round of self-improvement courses lauded by the newest pop-psychology guru that have this funny way of feeling like they are not actually leading you anywhere, the work of Stanford Peele, heretic of the twelve step program community, has written several ANIMAL FARMs on this self-help/addiction philosophy, serving them as well as all of us in innumerable ways. For those devoted to a pretty cerebral psychoanalytic perspective on life, or an often emotionally/socially detached Church or creed, psychologist/author Alice Miller's work are in different ways ANIMAL FARMs of their own: they are for the psychologically/transformation-minded who alternately pay too much surface and too liitle in-depth attention to childhood's true effect on the adult human heart...Steele's THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER and Tony Brown's WHITE LIES, BLACK LIES are both ANIMAL FARMs for the Black Community--a community that may only truly take control of its (our) own destiny if we start looking for spiritual/economic *colonics*, instead of socio-political streetsweepers... The metaphors are endless, and endlessly fitting. ANIMAL FARM's power is that it is so deceptively powerful in its simplicity as to make the point only writers of powerful insight, intellect and above board courage can do, regarding what happens to men and women in groups when power becomes intoxicating. And today they need several hundred more pages and a million footnotes to do it AT ALL, let alone as well as Orwell did. It resonates in ways that force you to think beyond the conventional in life (i.e., the pre-programmed), and begin a search to find out what reality really is, for YOU, not someone else. If Jesus came back and was asked to give a sermon for the people of every nation, he would instead tell the world a parabel that would essentially be this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Review of Animal Farm!
Review: I read the book and watch the film of animal farm.In the book I noticed the parallels between book and reality. The history of politics is well shown by pigs and other animals.Especially the russian communism and other dictatorships are referred to Napoleon(the leader of the farm).He reminds me of Hitler who destroy his country(the farm) by his own insanity. Supported by Squealer(Goebbles the minister for propaganda)he takes advantage of the more dump animals(the folk), who work for his luxuary.The industrial revolution is expressed by the windmill, but in the film it moves more and more to the background. The end in the book is open but we all know how it will be....like Benjamin said
nothings gonna change.
Rating: 
Summary: Review Animal Farm
Review: Review of "Animal Farm" "Animal Fram" written by George Orwell.
The story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. The story is told by an omniscient narrator
in the third person. The action of this novel starts when the
oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all animals to a meeting. He tells them
about his dream of a revolution against Mr. Jones. Three days later Old Major
dies, but the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new outlook of life.
The pigs, which are considered the most intelligent animals, instruct the other
ones. Their names are Napoleon and Snowball. Together with another pig
call Squealer, who is a very good speaker, they work out the theory of
"Animalism". The rebellion starts months later, when Mr. Jones comes home
drunken one night and forgets to feed the animals. All animals attack him and
drive him off the farm. The intelligent pigs make up the seven
commandements. No animal is allowed to break one of these rules. Farmer
Jones comes back and want to recapture the farm, but the animals fight and
they manage to defend the farm. The pigs, Napoleon and Snowball often argue.
When Snowball presents his idea to build a windmill, to produce electricity,
Napoleon calls nine dogs, which drive Snowball from the farm.Napoleon
explains that Snowball was co-operating with Mr. Jones.
Some time later the seven commandements change one after the other. The
other animals can`t believe it, because now the intelligent pigs sleep in beds
and live in the fram house. The time passes and the pigs change everything.
During this time deepens the relation with the neighbour farm and one day
Napoleon invites the owners of this farm. They sit inside the farmhouse and
celebrate the efficiency of his farm, where the animals work very hard with
minimum of food. All other animals watch at the window of the fram when they
look inside they can`t distinguish between man and animal.
This is the story how you can read it in the book, when you watch the movie you
can see some differences between them. There aren`t big differences, they are
small. For example the begining in the film isn't like in the book. I think there is a better
begining in the film,because in the book is no real introduction.
There is another perspective of the narrator. In the book is it an omniscent
narrator in the third person but in the film is the narrator Jessie the dog. Other
differences are that the movie has an end and there come new people (new
owners) to the farm.
The story is an Allegory,it means that this what you read have an other
meaning. The story "Animal Fram" is a satire on the Russian revolution and
therefore full of symbolism. Here are some symbols for people and buildings:
1. Old Major = He is the personification oh Lenin who is like the "father" of the
Russians.
2. Snowball = Trotsky
3. Napoleon = Stalin
4. The nine dogs = The red army
5. Mr. Jones = He represents the imperial power
6. Farm building = The farm stands for the Kremlin
7. windmill = The windmill stands for the Russian industry
The book is written well but sometimes it isn`t easy to read. Maybe it is because
of the serious plot. I think if I read the book at home I wouldn`t have
understand as at school. I think I wouldn`t understand the real story
about the book, because at home you read a book to have fun and not to think
about it ervery time. The positive things of the book are that you can understand
the background better than in the film, because when you watch the movie you
think " ok it`s only a film", but when you read it you can think about it. The
negative things of the book are that some parts of the book are boring, because
it is very monotone and that the book has no end.
The negative thing of the movie is that you don`t really know the background.
The good things are that it's more interesting. There are some facts which are
typical for films. For example the begining and the end and the relationship
between the actors.
Only when you read the book you can derive the end from the film, because it
could mean that the family ( Clinton- Family) which come to the farm, is a
symbol for the victory against Russia. This is a point where I would say that it`s a
disadvantage that you haven`t read in the book.
Personaly I think the film is better than the book, because for me the book
was boring and at some parts I don`t want to read it to the end.I think the
movie is better, because you can watch it and you get it easyer to your mind.
But you have to know for yourself if you want to read the book or to watch the
film. book: 2 stars
film: 3 stars Review of Nicole und Katrin
Rating: 
Summary: Animal Farm review
Review: Animal Farm (book/film) You have the option to choose between two kinds of "Animal Farm". The book and the film. As you perhaps know, there are some differences between the film and the book. First there is the book, it has no real narrator. But in the film, Jessy is the narrator and tells us all the feelings of the animals. But in the book the author gives us all the feelings of the other animals. The film is different in some scenes. For example the meeting at the beginning is really different. In the book everything is explained very well. Ther e you get to know where everyone takes a seat or is standing around during the assambly. But there is an other difference. The death of Old Major is an other one than in the book. In the film Old Major is shot by Mr. Jones. The revolution in the film isn`t a true revolution. The revolution is only because of the hunger on the farm. They walk up to the granary and are caught by the humans. There was a small fight between animals and humans and the animals defeated the humans. But Mr. Jones didn`t flee into the city as it was told by the narrator of the book. He fled to the neighbour farm on which he has a one night stand with the wife of the owner of the farm, which is an other difference.
When the farm was quonquered by the animals and the farmers weren`t able to win it back, the farmers overheart the animals and decided to trade with the animals. Close to the end of the film the pics used a film to explain that they are good leaders. In the book they only used their mouth. The last difference between book and film is the end. First Jessy fled with other animals, stayed some years away and when they came back, the pics were dead and a new owner came to the farm. In the book there is just an open end. To put it in a nutshell, the film is much better than the book. Maybe it is because you don`t have to think that much about the things that happen. But I think the film is more effective in expressing the feelings of the animals and delivering the allegorical background.
Rating:
Summary: Animals in Animal Farm
Review: If you love this book, I would consider buying the unoffical soundtrack to the book. Pink Floyd Animals. Roger Waters based his lyrics of the album on this book and was inspired by the basis of Orwell's writings. Pigs (Three Different Ones) was based on the pigs in the books. Gluttoning themselves on Money and power. (Ha, Ha, Charade you are). Dogs became the merciless and ambitious players by selling out anyone to get to the top. Sheep are the mindless followers who rise up by killing the dogs and finaly establishing themselves. The book is great because it is almost the same as the album itself. The only difference is the book is based on a view of Communism and the album is based on waters view of Capitalism.
Rating:
Summary: A book for anyone
Review: This book will always remain a timeless classic on anybody's book shelf. Orwell does a fantastic job in realiting real world events into an easy to follow plot. His form of writting allows the reader much more understanding on the issue of totaltarianism, by linking it to a simple story anybody could understand a enjoy. Only problem I find with this book is it some what takes on a childish form of writting, almost like one of a fairy tale or a kids story. Had Orwell of just put a little more detail and emotion into the book, I would have givin it 5 stars. But overall, I feel a must read for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Animal Farm
Review: Animal Farm is a ten out of ten book for older children and adults. It may be too sophistacted for younger children but once you get into it, the book is an amazing combination of action, dialogue and politics.
A farm is being over worked. The animals revolt in the beginning of the story. Their take over was surprisingly easy. Of course later in the story the humans come back which takes the form of "The Battle of the Cowshed," and "The Battle of the Windmill." Over all, the book has several casualties. One happens because an animal sees a traitor in a dream.
This story could be too violent for young children. Toward the middle of the story the pigs start changing the commandments that they wrote before the revolt. Eventually they change the commandments from "all animals are equal," to "all animals are equal but some are more equal than others."
Later in the story the pigs (who are smarter) learned how to walk and started carrying whips. They did it so gradually the other animals don't notice.
The moral of the story is "power is addictive once you have it you crave more." Furthermore it is almost impossible to find a good leader that cannot get addicted to control.
Rating:
Summary: Historical, Real & Prophetic
Review: I don't usually write reviews on well-known works of fiction because most have read them, and there are hundreds of reviews about these works already. But "Animal Farm" is one of the few books that say so much while being so short, and that reveals genius. This book can be quickly read. The concepts and themes are important, frightening--and real. These things did occur in recent world history ie., Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, among others. Many people in the world could benefit from reading it. It reveals the dark side of human nature. If such evil could occur so recently in our so-called modern age, what can take place now or in the not-so-distant future? It has happened before and it will happen again. When individuality, thought, and creativity are suppressed overtly or by subtle means it is nothing but dangerous and sinister. This book is eery. It was also based on pure, unadulterated reality.
Rating:
Summary: Animal Farm
Review: The main characters of the book is a pig named Napolen, there is a horse named clover and a hole bunch of other animal characters. The setting of the book is at a farm, the farm is ran by the animals of the farm it's name is Manor Farm but the animals call it Animal Farm.This book is animal fiction and the author is George Orwell.
The book is about the animals on Manor farm going on rebellion against the farmer because he doesn't treat them well. The animals scared the farmer away and claimed the farm their own and caled Animal Farm. During the year the animals farmed and kept the farm running. The pigs who were the leaders kept the animals in line. The pigs suggested to make a windmill so the animals did. Then one day one of the leaders was cased away by dogs and Napolen became leader. One night there was a wind storm and knocked down the windmill and the animals had to rebuild it. the pigs were begining to act like humans and the animals didn't like it because the animals barly got any food. To see what happens to the animals you have to read this book.two resons why I liked this book is because it shows what animals might do in the future. the second reason is because it was interesting to see animals rebei against pepole.
Rating:
Summary: Red Plague
Review: This is a great book describing how greedy rulers can pervert a good meaning philosophy. Communism was good on paper but George Orwell told readers that it was actually very different in practice. This also shows readers how when bad times hit a group of people they are easily tricked, and easily become sheeps to a leader. George Orwell warns us not be weak and not to be tricked. Greedy, power hungry rulers exist in every type of government. Don't give them the power. This is a great book, everyone should have this in their library.
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