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Summary: The Most Frightening Book I've Ever Read
Review: This book vividly portrays the most extreme end of socialism's slippery slope. The book is terrifying to read because the eery science fiction-like society which Orwell describes is not so inconceivable. I lived in Russia a few years ago and was struck by the cold impersonal drabness of everything. In the blank, hollow, empty eyes of many of Russia's elderly I saw how tyranny had literally erased personality. The spark of humanity which puts light in the eyes had been doused, and all that was left was a shell of a human being who was no longer a person, but merely a function with no independent thought. George Orwell's 1984 has existed to a large degree in totalitarian regimes of the past, and its radical egalitarian roots exist in society today. They seem to be an integral part of human nature's dark side.Two things in this book were especially profound for me. First was Orwell's exposition of the social conflicts between the highs, the middles, and the lows, which Winston Smith read about in Goldstein's book. George Orwell understood totalitarianism well enough to see that equality is not socialism's end, but merely the propagandistic means for replacing the highs. Self-serving tyrants inevitably usurp socialism's ideals and use them to become the highs themselves, indulging themselves in privilege at the expense of the rest of society. After reading Goldstein's book, Winston understood the how, and O'Brien explained to him the why when he declared, chillingly, that power was an end in and of itself. The second thing which struck me as profound was Orwell's exposition of Newspeak, the official language of Oceania which robbed people of their ability to think by robbing them of their ability to express thoughts in words. Rudimentary examples of doublethink, crimethink, and the thought police can be seen in various political groups within our society today. This book is brilliant and prophetic, a must read for all those socialist utopians who have forgotten the dark realities of human nature.
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Summary: 1984 is 7 years past but is this future possible?
Review: WOW! The images in this book will stay with you for a long time. Depressing and Uplifting at the same time, this book is a must read, especially if you want to avoid our own future turning into the picture that Orwell paints here. This book is read in high schools all over the nation for a reason: it speaks about the human heart - both the darkness there and the and the longing for freedom.
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Summary: Wow
Review: My class could do this for an extra credit grad and I am glad about that. This book is frightening realistic. The technology in this is possibly and some of its here, the government has come and gone in a lesser degree, and the issues faced are here. If someone with enough brains and had a hated enemy of the people, this government may come. The story is very believable and is a must read for casual and serious readers alike.
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Summary: A lesson to be remembered...and learned from!
Review: 1984 is a book that is meant to show what can happen from total government control and of the corruption that money and power can bring. It was created in the time of the horrific World Wars, when the shameful attempt at genocide occurred for many unfortunate peoples, and is still occurring in different ways around the world. 1984 was also created to bring to light what terrible things could happen if freedom was no longer allowed and completely controlled. If you read the novel, which I definitely recommend, you'll discover a dystopia based on what could have happened from the Wars, and (ironically) what is happening now, to make the world a totally controlled place, a one-personality brainwashed culture. In Orwell's world, the things you see, hear, or do are ONLY what They want...
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Summary: Utterly terrifying
Review: I might not be capitalism's biggest fan but I have to say that this book was one of the scariest things I've read in my entire life. It gives a chilling view of what happens when Communism overtakes the world, leaving an illusory, tyrannical dictator known only as "Big Brother" as the leader. No one has ever seen him, yet nothing can escape the watchful eyes of his fanatical secret police. When one man tries to rebel against the iron grip of Big Brother, it ends in tragedy for him. This brutal attack on Communism would be enough to make Marx himself cringe if he knew the turn it would take.
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Summary: This one will make you think
Review: I read this book about 25-30 years ago and it seemed so unrealistic back then. But---now children Do spy on their parents, and what is a fad if it's not dressing alike to an extent, and how about the schools now using uniforms, ie. dressing alike to know if you belong there, and oh yes.....Big Brother is watching us now---cameras at traffic lights, speed sensors on the interstates and turnpikes. Oh, and the news that the media prints isn't always true and isn't that "history"? This book does get tedious at times but it's definitely worth reading, I know I have thought about this book of fiction/fantasy off and on for the past few decades. Isn't that a sign of a good book worth reading? My daughters are now reading it for English class and they're struggling through the wordy tedious parts but I tell them they won't forget this story.
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Summary: incredibly realistic...
Review: This is probably the best book I read... Although it was a bit repetitive in the middle, the plot kicked in. It was pretty frightening, since many things that happen in the world today also happened in the book. The way that the government worked in the book was through fear and torture. They manipulated the way everyone thought by telling them what to think (much like children are told to finish their meals) but then torturing them if they disagree. If you read this book, you may feel like you are actually there, and maybe get frightened too. I recommend 1984 to everyone!
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Summary: A Determined Society?
Review: In 1984, children spy on their parents. In 1984, everyone dresses the same. In 1984, Big Brother is watching you: making sure that you do not eat too much or have oral sex. In 1984, "democracy" and "liberty" are absent from the dictionary. In 1984, history is 'made up.' In 1984, there is no religion. In 1984, you are part of a whole, the State, but never a whole unto yourself. In 1984, 'you' do not exist.
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Summary: This could never happen to me...
Review: Yeah right. That is what we would all like to think in our safe, secure little world. When written, no one would pubish this astounding fantastic reality. Mr. Orwell had to wait several years and suffer many dissapointments for anyone to accept and believe in his story. Today, what once seemed 'science-fiction' is an all too true and fast becoming reality. This book will make you question your reality, understand accpetance, empathize with institutionalism and wonder at how individualistic you really are - despite your noblee attempts! Although, at first intimidating, Orwell's style and nature soon becomes free and clear, and though it drags on at some parts; You won't stop reading untill you are done. What seems hard to comprehend and language a few chapters to get used to.. you too will soon think in terms of newspeak and realize how easily it can happen to you too!
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Summary: Read it again and again!
Review: This is my favorite book of all time! Everything about it is great!
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