Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell
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Book Reviews of Nineteen Eighty-Four
Book Review: Timeless story, wonderful presentation. Doubleplusgood!
Summary: 5 Stars
Not only is this an unforgettably great story, it's also a presented here beautifully.
I had somehow reached the age of 28 without having ever read 1984, and I was struck by not only how poignant the world of Orwell's 1984 is today, but just how gripping the story of Winston Smith is. Orwell's style here is compassionate in its matter-of-factness and poetic in its rigidity, which could not be more fitting for the classic tale of Big Brother, Newspeak, and the Thought Police.
A surprise for me was not only how brutal Orwell can be, but also the level of humor present in this text - dark humor, to be sure, but comedy nonetheless. This, again, is very befitting of the famous context in which the narrative is set. In oppressive times, laughter is one of the best defenses we have, and it can sometimes be surprising what seems humorous when we take a step back from the situation.
As mentioned, the presentation here is beautiful. This "centennial edition" by Plume (a division of Penguin Books) is a facsimile of 1984 as it was published in it first edition. The "aged" look fools the reader into thinking they are handling an old and dear text. The paper quality of both the cover and the pages is excellent as well. Also included is an excellent new introduction by Thomas Pynchon.
All in all, a very rewarding literary experience. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Book Review: mostly introduction
Summary: 5 Stars
so i assume everyone already knows what an amazing book 1984 is, and if you don't, well, in case you haven't figured it out based on how this sentance has begun, it is. amazing that is. read it, it's great. the deal with this version is that pynchon wrote the intro, and that's what i'm looking at here.so, i was rather, as it were, stoked about this coming out. pynchon is one of my favourite authors, and to have him writing the intro for such an important book was, to say the least, an enticing concept. well, unfortunately, i really didn't think much of his intro. basically, the biographical information is presented in a rather dry and uninspiring tone, and the philosophical aspects seem, in the worst sense of the word, academic. it provides a somewhat interesting picture of socialism's evolution and existence, but, ultimately, i found it failing in its (presumed) goal of introducing the work at hand. moreover, i found it rather wanting for pynchon's personal style. basically, i'd recommend checking this out of the library for a reading, but if you already own a copy of 1984, don't bother picking this up as a second for the sake of the intro, it is, unfortunately, not worth it. on the other hand, if you don't already own 1984, get two, they're cheap.
Book Review: essential reading for all mankind
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the gold standard dystopian novel which all others are wan and pale by comparison with, and it is so clear and brilliant that it makes the mind reel at its inventions and delivery. If it were discovered a few thousand years from now the reader would still get the sense that at best, civilization was teetering on the edge of annihilation at the hands of its own institutions. There is a timelessness and immediacy in the prose which defies description. Every character in this book is suffering in ways that strip him or her of all the joys that can be shared between people. Only a genius in immense pain is capable of producing a work of this caliber; this is the culmination of a life that was, in the writing of this book, essentially sacrificed. When some people die young we think they left great works undone, but if someone makes something like this, it's something we should all be thankful for and leave it at that; no one having done a thing like this can have died in vain. Of the few that can make a book like this in the first place, only one of them has. This is a treasure of the most vital importance and I say this without hesitation or fear of contradiction, one of the greatest books ever written.Book Review: 1984
Summary: 5 Stars
2084: Mars, A New World Since I am the author of the referenced book, I am naturally familiar with George Orwell's book "1984". It was originally intended to be a 100 year update of his novel which unintentionally led to many of the same conclusions that he reached over 60 years ago. And although the totalitarian planetary government in place in my story is much the same as Orwell described in his book, I believe I have described it's origins in greater detail. Many of the accepted practices in today's world lead to results very familiar to Orwell's readers. Such concepts as "Newspeak", "Doublethink", "Thought Police", and even "Big Brother is Watching You",are being implemented today by contemporary democratic societies, including the U.S. In addition, we now have increased security provisions caused by the war on terror that could result in a severe loss of freedom if left unchecked. I believe my story not only shows that Orwell's warnings were valid, but that given the environment in the world today and the increased apathy of its citizens, many of his prophecies have increased odds of becoming reality.Book Review: Prophet Orwell
Summary: 5 Stars
* " George Orwell's 1984 is a novel to set in a dystopian society. That is to say a society ruled by the few for the benefit of only themselves. The overwhelming majority of people in Orwell's Oceania work for the ruling caste in every sense. The masses of the citizens in this dystopia also live their lives under the control of the rulers. Even the reproduction of human beings is done in a controlled environment in a scientific manner.
Orwell's Oceania is made up of the inner party (rulers), outer party (workers), and the Prols (isolated poor). Winston, the main character, is a member of the outer party in Orwell's dystopia. He works to maintain the society in which he lives while he despises it. Winston secretly wages a revolution in his mind until it can no longer be contained there. The problem is that in Oceania there is no place to rebel from or rebel to. Winston ends up falling into the hands of the state which attempts to fix him or cure him. Orwell leaves it up to the reader to decide whether the officials of Oceania have won and Winston has changed. - [...]tales from tim