1984

Rating:
Summary: Not a prophecy, but a social study
Review: Surely one among the few best social allegories ever written, together with Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451 and Catch 22, and the harshest and least humorous among them. Though inspired by the Soviet regime, the mechanisms described in the text are suitable for most democratic and non-democratic contemporary societies. More than a prophecy, the novel represents a study of current social dynamics.
Pressure for acceptance, mandate for substantial submission in spite of retention of a viewable independence, stratification of people by means of limited privileges are the pillars over which any sufficiently complex group relies upon. The thread develops from the particular situation of the chief character, Winston Smith, depicted against the environment created by the Party to his final struggle and breakdown, when he is forced to turn personal feelings from another person towards the Party, because "there is no love, except love of Big Brother, there is no loyalty, except loyalty towards the Party". Even if the description of interrogatories and tortures is quite detailed and has been sternly represented in some film scenes, I have found two other issues as the most shocking in the novel: the speech of O'Brien (Smith's inquirer), in which he lines out the three stages, "learning, understanding and acceptance", that Winston is going to pass in order to cure his "mental derange and defective memory", and the picture of the fade remembrances of Winston's childhood, writing out the merciless way of how selfish a child could be, attached to Winston as an eternal sense of guilt, and which builds a parallel layer, more intimate and personal, about the subject of retaining memory of past events. Maybe Orwell has been too optimistic, because nowadays, as a consequence of media development, learning and understanding are no longer required: it is possible to obtain a direct acceptance.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect Masterpiece
Review: It's hard to describe what I personally consider the best book ever written. This masterpiece novel works on so many levels, that I guess every reader would find something else in it. For me it deals with the basic and most important issues in life, society, government, wars, religion, education, brain-wash, the place of the individual, the hardship of being alone (physically and mentally), the concept of holding two contradictious thoughts at the same time, the position of the individual in history, the nothingness of being human, love, family, loyalty and betrayal, the instinct of any animal in nature to survive, and so much, much more. I read the book at least 5 times already, and find myself doing it every year or two.

I'd also recommend everyone to watch the excellent movie adaption made in the year in question, starring John Hurt and Richard Burton, which I think is one of the best book adaptions made for cinema. While it can't contain all the levels and issues presented in the original book, it adds images and voices and makes the reading of the book extremely realistic.

Rating:
Summary: doubleplusgood
Review: a wonderful novel, makes you feel more secure and also more independent in this world.

one of my favorite novels. definitely in my top ten of books I have read, I never get sick of it.

a must have for any library.

-winston

Rating:
Summary: A suggestion...
Review: I think that every good aware American citizen should
read this book every five years or so. Our freedom is what
makes this country so great. The freedom to be different.
The freedom to dream and love according to your own
desires. Go into Orwell's world of supression and
live out the danger with those who dare to rebel. I
read this book to remind myself that the freedom we all
love and flourish in, can be restrained in the name of
the "state's interest." Reread this book. Encourage your
kids to read it. Orwell is an excellent writer.

Rating:
Summary: necessary read
Review: 1984 is a scary, dark, and depressing book. What makes it scarier is that it could happen...

Anyone who likes novels, politics, and/or government must read this book. It is, of course, about the totalitarian society of Big Brother and the Thought Police. What makes the novel scary are the parallels that can be drawn between the novel and the U.S. government (and those of other Western countries). For instance, how war is used in the media by the government. This is why it is a required read, read it for yourself and draw the parallels where realistic- they are there.

Besides that, the story is excellent; fast paced, well written, and entertaining. The characters are believable and vividly drawn. Overall, an absolutely essential book.

Rating:
Summary: 1984=2002
Review: If you've yet to read this masterpiece, hurry. When you get tired of reading or think that what Orwell writes is unrealistically drab, then flip on CNN and catch your daily dose of propaganda. The world of 1984 is modern America, bin Laden is Goldstein and the book is terrifying. John Ashcroft on 1.29.02 ordered a semi-nude statue of Justice in the Justice Department to be covered by a sheet (check the nydailynews.com archive - No Nudes Good News at Justice). 1984 depicts a world in which the populace suffers but suffers because a war is being waged, a war against faceless terrorists whose existence is only proved by the occasional bombing and "telescreen" broadcasts of the Brotherhood's evil leader Goldstein. Life in Airstrip One (UK) is a miserable existence with barely enough food, many people going without shoes, no art, no free speech and cheap, rotgut alcohol. Give the recession and the Bush administration a few more years in their 'war against terrorism' and see if you can even still find this book outside of illegal personal collections.

After you're done with 1984 check out "Homage to Catalonia" Orwell's account of his time spent in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Communists and Anarchists (which means believing in no central government by the way, the way the Native Americans, Druids and numerous other peoples lived, not all out savagery like the American thought police would have you believe) versus the Fascists. Homage to Catalonia will help you have a better understanding of what WWII was all about, how the advent of technology set the stage for the top nations in the world to battle of raw materials, slave laborers and market share. Do some research and see that nearly all of Europe was Socialist or full on Communists at the time of WWII and then realize that American Fascism and Soviet Communism (really Soviet Fascism) defeated Nazi Fascism and that the Cold War was necessary for American Corporations to grow and take over the world with every country that didn't want to be bent over by the US Corps. being invaded outright or overthrown by American backed troops for being Marxists. The collapse of Soviet Russia was disatrous for America because no bad guy meant we had to pay back debts and answer for the daily suffering of millions of Americans. Enter the evil camel jockeys and the questions of fairness for the common man are again put on the back burner.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books of the 20th century
Review: This is a very powerful novel of great meaning to today's society. One of Orwell’s most important points in his portrayal of society is how it fits the old adage that “Ignorance is bliss.” The citizens believe whatever the Inner Party members tell them because through ignorance they do not have to worry about the meaninglessness of their own lives. The choice between acting upon the truth and staying “blissfully” ignorant of it is one that Winston has to face, and he—-like the other millions of Outer Party members—-chooses to avoid the truth for a less physically painful life.

This novel shows that the quest for individuality and freedom can often be a dangerous thing. By accepting the kind of euphoric idealism of modern society, one can quite ironically lose all meaningful freedom in the process.

This book's prophecy is quite similar to that of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" (another excellent novel), in that they both try to point out that our increasing trend toward individual freedom, coupled with our materialistic attitudes and increasing lack of morality, are leading us down a path to a “Brave New World,” or a 1984 scenario. Of course, the feelies will most likely not become a part of our reality, and Thoughtcrime and memory holes are equally as unlikely. What is likely, however, is a new generation whose thought patterns could be very similar to that of Huxley’s Alphas: “Ending is better than mending.”

The one question that remains unanswered in either of the two novels is whether it is worth trying to mend our rapidly conforming society, or to simply end all attempts at revealing the hideous face of ignorance that encumbers so many people today. Perhaps, as Orwell’s Inner Party slogan claims, ignorance really is strength, and those that believe themselves to be free truly are. However, as Huxley and Orwell agree, the “strength” of ignorance can never be compared to the power of truth.

This is a novel that should be required reading in school. Everyone can benefit from Orwell's brilliant work, and every reader's life will be changed because of it.

Rating:
Summary: Reader Beware
Review: 1984 is a study of the human psyche, both at individual and group level. Written in the setting of a Nazi and Communist style dictatorship, the book examines the struggle between the individual and the masses as well as providing a brutally frank answer to the question of why does history repeat itself. Orwell's profound insight takes the reader on a rewarding journey of discovery. But let the reader beware: once you read 1984 and comprehend its message, there is no going back. This book is not for the squeamish.

Rating:
Summary: more a kind of summary than a review on 1984
Review: The protagonist Winston Smith works as a minor member of the ruling Party in London, under the leadership of ubiquitous Big Brother, who has never been seen except on telescreens and posters which are hanging everywhere. The posters keep reminding him that 'Big Brother is watching you'and by means of telescreens he is indeed observed day and night.
The Party disapproves of art, of sex and of any kind of spriritual activity.
In these conditions it is quite impossible for the individual to lead an authentic life and to express emotions except those in the daily recurring procedure of the Two Minutes Hate.
Every Party member knows the worst crime to be commited is 'Thoughtcrime' which means to be affected by wicked thougts against the totalitarian regime of the Party.
Winston is bothered with dreams and memories of past times and provoked by secret glances
from O'Brien, a powerful member of the InnerParty.
Winston meets Julia, a dark haired rebelling Party member.
They begin a love affair in a private room and both agree that love like theirs will destroy the Party.
Later on, Winston receives a message from O'Brien to join O'Briens secret group, the brotherhood, whose obeject is also to overthrow the Party.
After reading a frobidden book written by Goldstein, the enemy of the Party which contains the philosophy and the ultimate goal of the Party, Winston is convinced that the hope of the future lies in the proles.
His world collapses when the Police crashes into the room.
He is held prisoner and tortured in the Ministry of Love, where O'Brien spends months trying to brainwash him.
At the end Winston's spirit is broken'..

I enjoyed reading the book'it informs much about the conditions people had to live under in totalitarian regimes..for example in Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia.
The novel also reveals the cruel, inhuman and merciless methods used by the Communists in the endless tortues of brainwashing'

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Classic
Review: 1984 is a great read but not a compelling one. It can be a little hard going at times. The characters are a little frustrating thus making it a little annoying to read. Still it is a great classic and well worth persuing to the end.