1984

Rating:
Summary: A twisted eery tale
Review: This is one of the most disturbing stories ever written. But it is done so perfectly. If you want to read about messed up polatics and a twised state of human affairs than this is the book to read. It had parts where my brian would tingle as it talked about the economics behind war the the strength in developing a conflict. It was truely remarkable. A very influencial peice of literature.

Rating:
Summary: Dark and Bold
Review: 1984 is written in the style of the "negative utopia." It is a dark vision of a future society in which personal freedom has been destroyed and in which a small group have established dictatorial control over the many. It was written mainly as a warning against authoritarianism and totalitarianism.....not just the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, but also against the totalitarianism of the mind that is currently evolving in capitalist culture as well. Orwell was a socialist. This is only relevant to counter those who say that Orwell was criticizing socialism. He most certainly was not...socialists stand for personal freedom and economic democracy.

This is a very well written book with a good plot. Orwell's vision was a clear one and a danger that has not entirely been eliminated today.

Rating:
Summary: A Word To Those Interested In This Book
Review: Quite a dark story. It became boring at times and had a bit too much informational writing. Definitly not your average story. Well written. The plot was okay. Read it if you want the experience. I would recommend Animal Farm over this if you are looking for dystopian socities. It is much more light hearted and easier to read.

Rating:
Summary: A perspective into the Future....
Review: I read this book in an honors lit class in 9th grade and was surprised to find that it was not a suspended book at my high school yet (and at the same time I was glad it wasn't). Now I am a Junoir and able to fully apprieciate the well written polital novel. As I recall, it is about a man named Winston and is based in the furture where the government was nearly in complete control over a person and their thoughts. This place is Oceana which is located in London and at war or allienced with East Asia and Eurasia (Winston is the only one who knows the truth to this and is therefore especially watched closely as he contains top secreate information from the "Truth Ministry"). Big Brother is the politacal party that controls London and the secrete police is basically it's secrete weapon to reading the peoples thoughts and killing them off. Winston falls in love with a woman (illigally) named Julia and therefore ends up joining the Brotherhood (good political party against Big Brother). Here we see telescreens that are hidden all over secrete and public places to moniter peoples movements and thoughts. Winston gets caught doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing and is sent to one of the prisons (the most interestingly detailed part in the novel). Here Wiston must face the ultimate punishment of his life...his own fear. Read it, ponder over it, and fear it, and enjoy it. I've even heard that today London has at least 1 survalence camera for every 15 people (sounds kind of like the telescreens to me).....

Rating:
Summary: Sweet!
Review: I first read this book on a friend's reccomendation and since then, it has become one of my favorite books of all time. many other reviews give you the plot summary, so i won't bother. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone, especially someone who wants to think about the direction our society is heading. it's kinda disturbing, but only because it's plausable.
happy reading.

Rating:
Summary: Which is the scarier thought?
Review: To think that by 1984 we had begun to exhibit some of the ideas Orwell expressed in his novel, or that so many believed that none of it had come true?
In 1984, Orwell paints the vision of a world layered with Marxist and Socialist philosophies, a place where individual freedom is being oppressed and forgotten. Told through the perspective of Winston Smith, a member of The Party, Orwell shows the struggles and consequences of a man daring to go against The System.
It is a riveting tale injected with political and social philosophy. A timeless classic that will certainly be revisited by future generations and very likely passed off as "incorrect predictions" because the concepts Orwell covers are too frightful to entertain as reality. From Big Brother watching citizens through Telescreens to the past being rewritten from one moment to the next.
I highly recommend this novel to not just science fiction fans but to all citizens of the present, as a reminder that freedom is only a reality as long as we do not take it for granted.

Rating:
Summary: Read the book
Review: I suspect that most readers of these reviews have already read (&/or reviewed) the book in question. I'm not going to precis 1984 for the remaining readers but simply state that the writing is understated and matter of fact but nevertheless compelling, many points are subtly made and perhaps one sentance in 10 could be used as an aphorism or commentary of 'modern life', whether it be organised sport, national events or geopolitics. Nothing else comes close to that hit-rate, except a dictionary of quotations.

For the few who have not yet read the book, see what you're missing!

(ps - it was lumped together with Animal Farm, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies and various JB Priestly plays as distopian visions in my long-gone schooldays - they're all worth reading too.)

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Dystopian Novel
Review: Just finished 1984 by George Orwell. Truly, this is the best novel in the entire dystopian genre. Orwell eschews the lighthearted writing style of Aldous Huxley for an atmosphere suffused with fear and paranoia. In terms of creativity, 1984 is one of the most refreshing books I've ever read: the ideas of Newspeak and doublethink, the use of the past as a means of controlling the present; all are amazing ideas that should ring true today. Orwell's thoughts on "continuous warfare" should be especially cogent in light of the current "war on terror".

The best part of the book is Winston's stay at the Ministry of Love.

The only problem with this book is that it puts its ideas before its plot. An example: at a critical juncture in the exposition, when Winston & Julia have started working for the mysterious Brotherhood, Winston sits down and reads a book for about 25-30 pages. The ideas conveyed in the book are fascinating, to be sure, but it brings the narrative to a dead halt.

Rating:
Summary: 1984
Review: Winston is a party member in a government that controls the very thoughts of its citizens. He works diligently until he falls in love with Julia. He ignors his duties and disobeys his society. They find freedom for a while, but will it last? The society in the book is interesting and depressing, too. The characters have believable personalities. If you like happy books don't read it though. It's depressing and politcal but well written.

Rating:
Summary: More Relavent Now than Ever
Review: Anyone who is interested in the nature of power and manipulation of the masses should read this book. Despite the fact that it was orriginaly an inditement against Stalinism, it is still relevant in 21st century America.
The nature of the "War on Terror" could have been taken dirrectly from the book, in places word for word. The story provides facinating insight into the way that reasonably inteligent people can chose to behave in irrational ways in the name of partiatism and loyalty.