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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: Some fables are more equal than others
Review: I first read Animal Farm two decades ago, while I was in high school. I'm sure many of you did, too. I reread it recently, and I'm convinced that this is one of those books that one should reread when one is a bit older. Orwell's fable of farm animals' revolution sold out by their pig leaders is simultaneously short, fun, shocking, and engaging. It's also pithy and wonderfully written. Plotwise, you just have to crack a wry smile at the historical parallels that Orwell creates when his characters begin spouting their Marxist philosophies and begin to plot a revolution. Other plot points & themes are timeless -- the supply shortages, summary executions, propaganda, political assassinations, and single-candidate elections in "Animal Farm" can be seen in many dictatorships, from Stalin's to Saddam's. Overall, I highly recommend rereading this book, especially if you were a teenager the last time you read it.
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Summary: Animal Farm. Woot!
Review: "Animal Farm" is by far one of the most amazing and powerful books I have ever read. On Manor Farm the animals are mistreated by Mr. Jones, their farmer who has a drinking problem. When one day the animals decide to rebel, Mr. Jones and his family are driven out of their farm. The pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, since they are deemed the smartest of the animals, become the rulers of the farm. The animals rename their farm Animal Farm and create The Seven Commandments which all animals on the farm must listen to. For a while on Animal Farm, life is happy and rewarding. All animals are treated with equal respect, and are allowed to vote on plans for the farm. However, when the desire for power gets the better of Napoleon, things start to get out of hand. When I read this story, I was surprised to find that it contained humor. Although it is an easy read, it is one of those stories that will keep you thinking long after you've finished it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable story.
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Summary: Has Lost None of Its Power
Review: Animal Farm is, quite simply, one of the best and most powerful books ever written. I first read it at 12 years of age but couldn't appreciate the author's entire message, not having the requisite knowledge of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Reading it again, however, I came to understand and fully appreciate the genius of George Orwell. Animal Farm is a scathing criticism of Communism, or more specifically, the Communist system of the former USSR. Himself a Socialist, Orwell detested the way in which its ideals were twisted and manipulated by those in power in the USSR, resulting in a terrible fate for the common people. The story pulls no punches; although Orwell uses the fictional setting of a farm with talking animals, his aim is to expose the reader to the hypocrisy of the Soviet regime. The figure of Josef Stalin is easily identified in the character Napoleon, one of the leaders of the animal rebellion. The leaders were first inspired by Major, an aging boar on the farm who clearly represents Karl Marx. Major had given the farm animals the idea that they should strive for a better life than their current plight . After his death, Napoleon and Snowball, another character representing Vladimir Lenin, lead the overthrow of the human-run farm and establish "Animal Farm." But Napoleon later assumes complete control over the Rebellion, and, as Stalin did, betrays virtually all aims and maxims originally put forth by the rebellion founders. The story ends with the common farm animals in a far worse state of affairs than when the story began. Orwell used his "fairy story," published in 1945, to remind people of the dangers of Soviet Russia, and to differentiate it from the idea of Socialism. It is also a condemnation of totalitarianism in general (one can clearly see Joseph Goebbels in the character of Squealer, the mouthpiece of the rebellion).
These messages are just as powerful today as they were when Orwell first wrote them over half a century ago. To paraphrase the chilling Commandment from the last chapter: "All authors are equal, but some authors are more equal than others." Read, and understand. Orwell achieved a perfection rarely matched in literature. Five stars.
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Summary: An interesting tale of courageous animals.
Review: On Manor Farm, the animals there feel that they are overworked, underfed, and treated unfairly. As Old Major (one of the older pigs) said, "Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever." The barnyard animals agree with Old Major and decide to overthorw their cruel master, Mr. Jones. After an unexpected take over of Manor Farm, the animals elect the pigs as their rulers. Two of the pigs happen to be Snowball and Napoleon. These two are the main leaders of the farm. With Snowball and Napoleon as rulers, many adventures lay ahead for the animals on Animal Farm (formerly Manor Farm). Adventures of war, defeat, deceitfulness, and changes in every day living. In the end, a strange twist occurs that may surprise you. "Animal Farm" is a powerful look at how a government and leadership applies to many people. Many countries are in basically the same situation as the animals of this story. That is what I think makes "Animal Farm" such an interesting book. I also think it is interesting how the author, George Orwell, puts certain animals with certain personalities and how certain things that may seem small turn out to be a major event in the book. I think it is awesome how George Orwell uses this in his writings. If you are into a book where defeat and leadership are a main subjet of the book, or you just like to read about talking animals, I would highly recommend the book "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. It has been a favorite in my bookshelf for years and I hope it will soon be part of yours.
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Summary: Scathingly brilliant attack on communism
Review: "Animal Farm" is about a bunch of animals on a farm. Or, is it? "Animal Farm" is a parable attacking the bureaucratic, oligarchic form of communism that was running wild in Soviet Russia and, to a lesser extent, in China. The animals decide to reorganize the entire was the farm runs so that there is justice and parity for all. Except, some animals/people are a little more equal than others. The new system disintegrates into a corrupt bureaucracy replete with bribes, favoritism, retribution, forced compliance, and oppressive terror. But, it's just a bunch of animals on a farm, right? Right, and the Berlin Wall was just bricks and concrete.
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Summary: Animal Farm Review
Review: this is a one of a kinda type of book. not only is it very creative, with a great plot line and all that in a bag of chips, it "is also a political tract, a satire on human folly, a loud hee-haw at all who yearn for Utopia, [and] an allegorical lesson." - Russel Baker. it has a vivid depiction of the conflict of Stalin and Trotsky. not only that, it also shows the rise and fall of a great utopian empire that later became the Soviet. this book, however, is also very good to read with children, for itz vocabulary level isnt all too high, and it is a very "happy" book, which makes it worse in some ways too. overall, this book deserves a 4 star for it's plot line and historic background. the reason it is not a 5 star book is because it is very predictable and too happy at times which ruin the true meaning of the book itself.
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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: Despite the way it's often talked about, Animal Farm unfortunately does not live up to it's praise. What could have been a very moving story comes off as being dry, flat, and ultimately forgettable. While the message behind the book is a valid one, I found myself feeling like I was reading the Reader's Digest version of the book when I read it. Orwell seems to give a fact-by-fact summary of the book which makes it extremely difficult to feel connected with the story, much less the characters. One really should feel something towards the characters - whether it be admiration or disgust, but I found after reading it I did not feel much of anything towards the lot of them. All in all, it seems that Orwell is simply trying to get his point across rather than actually telling a story. One's better off reading a history book, because that's basically all Animal Farm focuses on - which is unfortunate, because this could have been a really interesting and moving story, and it isn't.
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Summary: Summer reading
Review: This is a good book to read if u have to read one for your summer reading for school it is short yet has a good meaning to it. I would definatly recoomend it to anyone!
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Summary: Aping their Betters
Review: Orwell's 1946 "Fairy Story" and political masterpiece offers a
timeless warning about the dangers of a totalitarian state. Unfortunately the all-too-human nature of the animals who engaged in this egalitarin experiment are destined to recreate
the inevitable abuse of absolute power: lust for still more power, greed for material comforts, plus the surprising and
unrestrained cruelty toward the other animals who were naive enough to trust their leaders for protection. And worst of all--the tendancy of the other farm creatures to behave like sheep by not raising their collective voices to protest the rampant
deception. The characters in this novel are animals who behave in a painfully human manner. Although the ideologies of Socialism and Communism are not specifically named, the effects of revolution are terrifyingly familiar from recent 20th century
history. Old Major--a wise and repsected pig--calls the animals of Manor Farm to an evening assembly. Outlining his dream of a more democratic and benevolent lifestyle for all farm aniamls, he
instills in them the idea of rebellion, which will be followed by an almost utopian existence. The emerging leader pigs under him devise the Seven Commandments, which should provide for general peace and prosperity. Alas, after his death his two successors, Snowball and Napoleon, vie for power. They maniuplate both the facts and the written ideas to their own private purposes of self-aggrandizement. Suspicion, paranoia, deceit and cruelty define the new age of porcine rule. Animal dissidents are converted, silenced or removed, as the memory of actual history is gradually lost in a haze of clever rhetoric and retribution. One by one the rights of the hard-working animals are stripped away or distorted for Napoleon's private agenda--the dream of a peaceful retirement is forgotten. Worst of all, the revised rules permit an oligarchy to sink to human vices; eventually the rulers become barely distinguishable from the humans they vowed to shun. Orwell raises the nagging
question: were the animals better off under drunken Jones, the tyrant, than they are under one of their own? Whether you consider this novel a fairy story, a fable where animals and humans can communicate (zoomorphism) or a cautionary political essay disguised as fiction, ANIMAL FARM has earned an honored place in literary history. Its sobering view of the effects of dictatorship will expand and warn thoughtful minds. His style flows as easily as absolute power corrupts; the plot captivates readers and maintains our interest from the start. Beware the excess of human vice!
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