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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: In 1944, George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, although it was not published until 1945. It took a year to find a publisher for the parody of a Socialist society. The story is centered on a farm in England. A secret meeting is held by the animals of the farm. The animals are rallied to rebel by Old Major, the prize winning pig of Farmer Jones. Old Major tells the animals of a dream he had in which all animals are free from human control. The animals conclude that man is the enemy and all his bad habits must be avoided. All animals are equals. The animals band together and revolt, driving the terror stricken Farmer Jones from the farm. The pigs take command of the new society, setting up rules of conduct and assignment of duties. Commandments are established based on the theory " Animalism " promoted by the pigs. The rules of conduct established by the pigs slowly change to best serve the ruling class of self important pigs. Questions by the other farm animals concerning the commandments are quickly put to rest by self promoting propaganda distributed keenly by the shifty pigs. To the animals own horror the utopian society they dreamed of is just that a dream. Orwell has the unique talent of making politics interesting and entertaining. Animal Farm is obviously a comedy of Stalin's Russia, but also a criticism of Marxism. It is evident that Orwell studied Marx's theory closely. In reading Animal Farm you can see that Orwell favored a Socialist society, but thought it would fail. Orwell' s Animal Farm reads like a good history lesson dusted with enough fairy dust to make it entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the effects of a totalitarian government or just a good read.
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Summary: An Entertaining Read on a usually Dry Topic of Government
Review: This book had some of the things I like best encorporated into it. The book was short, it was funny, and it gave insight into a complicated topic.Using an animal farm as the backdrop, Orwell shows the Communist Uprising and its way toward decline. He also writes to show our Capitalist Democracies fault(s). Again, without giving away much, a great short book worth picking up to have your intellect tickled.
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Summary: A winner
Review: I had to read "Animal Farm" in high school and I liked it. It's an original story, there's no other book that is anything like it, or at least none that I have heard of. It's about some farm animals who can talk, and they are governed by Major the pig, the leader of the animals. He talks of a revolution that could take place one day in the animals' favor of overthrowing the people who control the animals. The animals are overly worked and aren't given enough food, so the animals plan on rebelling so that they can have the land and all the food for themselves. "Animal Farm" was a lot better than I first thought it would be. Reading about Napoleon's leading the animals to doing such things as building windmills, of Boxer always wanting to work harder no matter what, and the animals from Animal Farm attacking any human being who tries to invade is interesting and makes this book all the more great. The turmoil and the freedom once the animals get what they want is evenly balanced to make this book even more compelling. Pretty much, it's one of the best books I've ever read. Even if you didn't have to read the book in high school, I recommend at least checking it out and reading it in your spare time, you probably won't be disappointed. It's a great all-around book.
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Summary: Pound for pound it can't be beaten
Review: A scathing satire of the Communist Revolution in Russia (and revolution in general), Orwell's Animal Farm is one of the few books that I feel should be read by every high-school student. The book is fun, fast, fierce - and profound. A must read for anyone planning to vote on election day.
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Summary: Great book!
Review: I was in 6th grade when I first read ANIMAL FARM. I am now in 8th grade and I am still finding different ways to interpret things. I found it a great book and George Orwell did a wonderful job writing it. It gives a great overview of the Russian Revolution.
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Summary: simple, but brilliant
Review: You could make a pretty good case that this short masterpiece should be #1. Orwell deals with the Russian Revolution via a barnyard allegory. The wise pig Major has come to the end of his days on Manor Farm. Before departing, however, he shares his dream of a world without Man. The animals of Manor Farm soon revolt and establish Animal Farm, where "All Animals are Equal". This utopian ideal proves to be short lived as the pigs begin to take power and soon there are denunciations, show trials, rationing, special privileges for pigs & finally we find that while all animals are equal, "but some animals are more equal than others". It's a simple, but brilliant, satire that pretty much devastates Marxism. GRADE: A+
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Summary: A SATIRICAL FABLE
Review: Animal Farm is the story of a revolution gone sour. Animalism, Orwell's take on Communism, is an illusion used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their lust for power. At the beginning of the book, Mr. Jones, the master of the farm, is irresponsible toward his animals, so old Major, a white boar, informs the other animals of the need to form a rebellion against Mr. Jones and the human race. The other animals embrace the idea of a revolution and develop a scheme to overthrow Mr. Jones. After the revolution is complete, the animals feel an immediate freedom, a set of commandments is developed for the new "Animal Farm," and they all begin working together for a common good. However, it does not take long for the new society to begin to corrupt. The satisfaction of removing Mr. Jones from the farm prevents the animals from noticing the politics still going on within the farm. The animals are convinced by those in power that their memory of the original utopia and commandments are false. So long as the animals cannot remember the past, because it is being continually altered, they will have no control over the present and future. George Orwell is making a great political statement in Animal Farm with specific emphasis on mass rebellion. It personifies Karl Marx's ideas for communism and illustrates what can happen after a revolution with specific attention to the fact that every society is political and contains "pigs" who will always grab for power. This satirical fable leaves the reader with a better understanding of communism and the anatomy of political revolution in any culture.
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Summary: History With A Twist...Of A Pig Tail!
Review: I've read animal farm so many times, and I still love it. My class is now reading it in school for L.A. and Social Studies, and I feel bad because I've read it and now have to sit out and read "OF MICE AND MEN"( wich isnt too good). It's amazing how it (as an alagory) explains Russian history, around Stalin's time. Orwell, who never liked pigs, Casted pigs as Stalin (Napolean), Trovsky (snowball), Marx (old Major), and others. With Farm animals represtenting the people, Dogs : Children brain washed and taught to fallow and protect Napolean, Sheep: Less inteligent, and easily fooled people, Boxer: Workers, thinking only of the good of the country. When you irst read, you may not notice it, but this is all true, with few flaws. If you enjoy these alegories, and want more "history" books, Try THE WIZARD OF OZ, wich is about the great depression...see if you pick it up!
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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: I read this, because my friend told me it was great and said it was hilarius. Well I however disagree. This novel reeked of total sucktitude!! Meaning it sucks!! oh it's true alright, it's true!The novel is so repetitive, and very boring. The novel has its occasional dramatic moments, especially the one with boxer was great, and the battles were well described, but other than that it was just very uninteresting. After a while the slaughtering was over done, and i was thinking, "if the animals know they'll get slaughtered, why are they still confessing?" The building of the windmill just kept repeating and repeating, and it was really dissapointing that snowball didn't return. I personally think this novel sucks, and that my friends, is true!! Oh it's true, it's true.
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Summary: A great book
Review: One of my friend's reccommended this book to me and I loved it! It is a quick read (I was able to read it in a few hours) I would recommend this book to anyone!
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