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Summary: 1984- A world within a book
Review: George Orwell, In his book 1984, Creates a world in which the past is determined by the present. Where though itself is no longer free, and where thought-crime is death. Orwell present us his horrific vision of the future through the thoughts and actions of Winston, a member of the outer party who is about to realise "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" -an apsolute classic. If you havn't read it, you havent seen the future
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Summary: An everlasting masterpiece
Review: This book, first published in 1949, revolves on a couple of lovers, caught with their independent and suspicious brains and memories in the grip of a ruthless totalitarian régime that claims complete control over bodies and minds of its subjects, and considers as a criminal and a crime whomever and whatever does not toe its line. Not only had its author already written about imperialism and totalitarianism, but he had also fought for freedom (Spanish civil war, on the republican side) when he published it. WW2 had recently finished, the cold war was at its beginning and the world had been fully informed about the horrors of Nazi Germany and of the communist Soviet Union. Orwell was one of those Western writers who, though communists, had grown disgruntled with the massive crimes of "real socialism" in the USSR, such as the killing of dozens million people: a feat, against which even the shoah pales. Another one of these writers was Arthur Koestler ("Darkness at Noon"), who however kept to the events in the Soviet Union. Orwell's perspective extends to the whole world in a dismaying prevision; his lucid political and historical analyses, as well as his prophecies on future technological developments from major to minor ones (many of which have been realized), were terrifying. The world was lucky that, eventually, its 1984 did not have to see the forecast of the book, while, indeed, it saw the prelude to the failure and downfall of several of its totalitarian régimes. However, we only have to look around ourselves to realize that the danger still exists, and that the number of people wishful, though not yet powerful enough, to enact it is growing FAST. This book actually is one of the masterpieces of XX century English literature, and should be saved for the future. Whoever calls it "a piece of garbage" can only be either too young and inexperienced, or too ignorant of history and politics.
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Summary: Brilliant Book
Review: 1984 is truly a modern classic. It's integration into modern political thought testifies to it's importance in social awareness and the democratic system.And Sandra from Canada, small minded people who flame public speaking areas on the Internet should be banned. I thought spiteful remarks like that weren't allowed.
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Summary: A Great Book!!
Review: 1984 is one of the best books of the twentieth century. Some readers might simply view it as an expose of Soviet inhumanity, it goes much deeper, even though there are examples of totalitarianist torture. A reader might be surprised that the United States is included in Oceana. In an nutshell, Orwell intended to show us what our responses to Communism would be. The reason Big Brother is Watching You is because of self-preservation. If things had not changed, we would have become totalitarianist countries, too.
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Summary: The scariest book I've ever read - and one of the best
Review: This book is not nice, and it isn't meant to be. But it's impressive, very impressive. And horrible, it's the only book that has ever frightened me. It's not a book you can read lightly. Still, 1984 is a brilliant book - one of the best books ever written. But beware: if you are looking for light entertainment, this is not for you. For everyone else: read this, if you already haven't.
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Summary: 1984 is one of the bests novels of all time
Review: When I was a kid I read 1984, it changed the way I view everything, I can see that we are starting to look like the guys in the book did, the theme is now a classic, I can only say I like it very much
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Summary: I think this book is horrible
Review: I have never read a bigger piece of garbage in my entire life. For the people who read and enjoyed this book...GET A LIFE!
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Summary: The Best Book of the Twentieth Century
Review: Anybody who sees 1984 as simply an attack on Bolshevism and Fascism is missing the point, for Orwell was attempting to show his readers what totalitarianism would look like in Britain and/or the United States if forces and trends already in motion in the late 40s and early 50s were to go unchecked.... Folks, Old George was quite the prophet, because the Inner Party (with virtually all of the wealth and political power in the nation) , The Outer Party (with their 401k, Toyota Camrys, and houses in the suburbs), and the Proles (doing the underpaid grunt-work, their minds numbed to reality by sports and popular culture) all exist today in America. In a time when government intervention is more pervasive than in any other time in our nation's history, 1984 is essential reading.
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Summary: A View Ahead?
Review: I read this book for a Utopian Lit class at my high school and thought that it represented the totalitarian views very well. I did not like how Winston gave in after fighting so hard to try to make changes. I can see that this world is entirely possible in the not-so-distant future. The way that their society is set up, there is no way to change it. The telescreens, are already in use in terms of security cameras, hidden cameras, etc. It is really easy to find out anything about anybody today. This is quite scary.
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Summary: A true classic!
Review: Orwell does a fantastic job of showing the negative effects of a utopia. He shows how "the party" can take over everything. They can control you, and everyone can be the same. The individual person no longer exists. His realisism portrays true possibilities of what might occur. 2 thumbs up ! Go Lakers!
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