1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four

So true, so current that it hurts! One of the books that times can't change unless we start learning from our mistakes. But depends on how many of us are willing to truly open our eyes and see where we are heading to, by repeating the errors of the past into our present and maybe future. At the moment I m writing these lines, into my mind are popping some images from Gaza and images from the...more

So true, so current that it hurts! One of the books that times can't change unless we start learning from our mistakes. But depends on how many of us are willing to truly open our eyes and see where we are heading to, by repeating the errors of the past into our present and maybe future. At the moment I m writing these lines, into my mind are popping some images from Gaza and images from the Holocaust. Here is the link: http://www.tubel.ro/israel-vs-nazism-trist-dar-adevarat/ That comes to show that, maybe, Orwell's 1984 is even closer to us than we think. As we speak, our lives are under the "magic" of television, internet and we are already using abreviations in order to describe our feelings. Feelings that are bigger and stronger than "I luv/ <3 u", or "soulm8", "needu2nite". Or they should be.When was the last time you slowed down to eat dinner with thgthe family, or went on a trip,detached yourself from worries and truly lived your life?   hide

There is a reason why this book is classified as a classic. To be more exact, there is a TON of reasons why this book is classified as a classic. It is more emotional than Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, but strangely more expository as well. Imagery, details, concept, opening and ending, poem, romance, characters... in short, everthing in the story is open to interpretation. This book needs to be...more

There is a reason why this book is classified as a classic. To be more exact, there is a TON of reasons why this book is classified as a classic. It is more emotional than Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, but strangely more expository as well. Imagery, details, concept, opening and ending, poem, romance, characters... in short, everthing in the story is open to interpretation. This book needs to be re-read numerous times in order to grasp its myraid of nuances, and truly deserves a detailed analysis. Incredible. Even if you don't study writing, as a novel this book still succeeds tremendously. It will suck you into a scary and freakishly realistic world (all the more so in our era) which will make you question your basic political beliefs. While it may be comforting to know that this is a work of fiction, the ideas it presents should be thought about as it is not too far off from our time... It's compelling, it has a moving romance, its an epic tale, it's powerfully written, and it is a novel. Do I need to say more? READ IT. P.S. This book is a bit of a grind, and doesn't actually have a fun payoff at the end, so if you are the sort to HATE bad endings, avoid it. Otherwise, trust me, it's all worth it.   hide

This was not the easiest book to get through for me, especially compared to Animal Farm which is the only other Orwell Novel I have read. However, I did quite enjoy it. I will not try to sum it up (if you don't already have an idea of what it is about you could find a much better description than I could give), but I will say it is definitely a must read. The second half especially...more

This was not the easiest book to get through for me, especially compared to Animal Farm which is the only other Orwell Novel I have read. However, I did quite enjoy it. I will not try to sum it up (if you don't already have an idea of what it is about you could find a much better description than I could give), but I will say it is definitely a must read. The second half especially was quite intriguing, more like a gruesome train wreck at some parts where the only thing keeping me reading was the sheer fact that it had to get better or to see where it would finally end. I agree that there are some parallels to today’s society especially looking back at the Bush Regime and those who not only supported it, but also asserted its legitimacy and integrity (If I didn’t know any better I would think the newspeak words were created just for such people). I only hope that our society can progress in a better direction and not be doomed to always follow the cyclical swapping out of one evil for another which this book discusses; or worse. I am actually going to, and am looking forward to, reading the appendix and the afterword!!!   hide

An amazing book, though frankly terrifying and quite horrific. The plot centers around Winston, every day guy in totalitarian society ruled by the Party whose control is absolute. People live alone, cut off from one another with their only loyalties to the ever watching Big Brother, leader of the Party. Mere obedience is not enough, you must completely surrender yourself and are trained to do so...more

An amazing book, though frankly terrifying and quite horrific. The plot centers around Winston, every day guy in totalitarian society ruled by the Party whose control is absolute. People live alone, cut off from one another with their only loyalties to the ever watching Big Brother, leader of the Party. Mere obedience is not enough, you must completely surrender yourself and are trained to do so from birth, even a negative thought in regard to the regime will be spotted and is punishable by death. For the last 7 years doubt about the Party has begun to build in Winston's mind and so gradually, one tiny act at a time, he goes about starting a personal revolution which will ultimately lead to his demise. 1984 is an astounding observation on power which really goes into depth on the subject. Though written around 1950 I think, it feels hugely contemporary and raises many issues that can be related to our own lives, making them all the more poignant. Read it, for so many reasons.   hide

Wow. This was good. The last time I read this book, I think it was 1984.At that time, I saw it merely as some weird science fiction thing that fortunately hadn't come true. Of course, my English teacher at the time tried to help us see how it was about conformity.Two things motivated me to give it another look. Someone said that it was a brilliant political satire. SATIRE, I thought, satires are...more

Wow. This was good. The last time I read this book, I think it was 1984.At that time, I saw it merely as some weird science fiction thing that fortunately hadn't come true. Of course, my English teacher at the time tried to help us see how it was about conformity.Two things motivated me to give it another look. Someone said that it was a brilliant political satire. SATIRE, I thought, satires are funny. Okay, you know how people imagine different actor's voices as different characters when they read a book? I thought I'd try to imagine what this book would be like if it were a movie made by the Coen Brothers or Tim Burton. (I figured that Woody Allen or Mel Brooks was a little too silly). It helped, especially early on when Winston Smith's life is so bleak and lonely.The other thing that encouraged me to read it was when a friend suggested a cartoon idea to me- Ted's 1984 Cartoon I just figured he was referring to the illegal wire taps and email phishing, but it it SO much more than that- the propaganda, the use and abuse of the media, TORTURE, and the psychological tricks of perpetual war. Wow. It is really frightening.The first part of this book is bleak and depressing, the second part is an exciting combination of political thriller and romance. The third part is almost as surreal and existential as a Jean Paul Sarte play.What is truly frightening is not the idea of this book being somehow prophetic, or of how it features many of the kinds of ideologies and tactics of the current administration, what is really scary- and shaming, is that this isn't just a satire of Socialism or post WWII Brittan or 1940's America, or the NAZIs or the Soviets or the cold war, it isn't just a satire about conformity- and it is, by the way. It occurred to me that John Hughes or somebody could rip off the basic plot and turn it into a movie about how miserable high school can be. It's not just a warning about how society or governments could evolve. What it is is a searing commentary on human nature. Very much in line with the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. We are all oppressors and followers. We are all capable of torture or betrayal. That's the frightening part.If you read this and really take it seriously, you will be bound to become skeptical of any politician- regardless or party or promise. You will treasure and appreciate you rights, freedoms and your relationships. And you just might be a little less comfortable undressing with the TV on. I don't have a web-cam on my computer. Do you?   hide

I have discovered that my telescreen has an unsight spot behind a bookshelf in the Recdep office, so while I have the chance I will write a review of 1984 hidden from the prying eyes of the Party. Of course my speakwrite is on the fritz so I will have to write this review by hand in my journal. The book is about Winston Smith, a fellow worker here at the Ministry of Truth in Airstrip One, and his...more

I have discovered that my telescreen has an unsight spot behind a bookshelf in the Recdep office, so while I have the chance I will write a review of 1984 hidden from the prying eyes of the Party. Of course my speakwrite is on the fritz so I will have to write this review by hand in my journal. The book is about Winston Smith, a fellow worker here at the Ministry of Truth in Airstrip One, and his attempts to find out about the Brotherhood. For me the book is doublethink, as it was both good and ungood. I liked reading about Winston's adventures but, because of his outrageous claims against the Party, the entire time I was reading the book I was worried I may get arrested by the Thought Police for commiting crimethink. If I were to resort to duckspeak, I would tell you that the book was doubleplusungood and to throw your copy into the memory hole, but that is untrue. I am not into science fiction, but 1984 was still an enjoyable read. Well, I had better finish this up. It is almost time for Physical Jerks and after that I need to alter the chocarat (chocolate ration) to show that it is up to 15 grams per week. That's about a third of a Hershey Bar now! I also need to make some "Down With Eastasia" posters for Hate Week. We've always been at war with Eastasia. At any rate, read 1984 but remember Big Brother is watching!   hide

Imagine a world where u r not free to say what u want to say because some one has stolen your freedom of expression. Imagine a language which is contracting day by day because some one wants to make your expressions become paralyzed.Imagine a world where history but not the future changes on the will of a person who has a desire to rule the world. All this seems fiction but its the reality of...more

Imagine a world where u r not free to say what u want to say because some one has stolen your freedom of expression. Imagine a language which is contracting day by day because some one wants to make your expressions become paralyzed.Imagine a world where history but not the future changes on the will of a person who has a desire to rule the world. All this seems fiction but its the reality of our times. George Orwell had imagined all of this in the 20th cnetury itself through his masterpiece '1984'. This is a story of a time when people have been deprived of their right to expression & their language is been shortened day by day so that people can not even think of anything. and all of this done by Big Brother who rules the entire nation.The country is forced into an eternal war and people are made to believe that this war is for their betternment and earlier the conditions were far worse than they r today. and who so ever tries to raise his voice against the system is destroyed and even get disappeared and no one comes to know or retaliate for this. those who come forward are tortured like anything and are made to believe that they are wrong and whatever is being done is for their good only upto the limit that a person himself starts beliving in it. its d relaity of our tmes also where d real big brothers are trying to rule us and making us believe at d same time that it is for d good of the world and we actually satrt believing in it.... a fascinating story of a future which has the capability to change everything from past to present to future.   hide

I picked this one up because of the fact that, since its writing, its concepts have become ingrained in our society. I suppose I originally thought the book would be something like a bad conspiracy theory due to the fact that the terms "Big Brother" and "1984" have been thrown around so often. The book turned out to be one of the greatest lessons I have ever had. While...more

I picked this one up because of the fact that, since its writing, its concepts have become ingrained in our society. I suppose I originally thought the book would be something like a bad conspiracy theory due to the fact that the terms "Big Brother" and "1984" have been thrown around so often. The book turned out to be one of the greatest lessons I have ever had. While the idea of telescreens and erasing the past seem unlikely to reach such an extreme, the book has relevance even today. Even in the US, the government is becoming more involved in everyday life as information gathering becomes easier and easier. While we probably won't see such a large scale manipulation of history, it is easy to see smaller examples of propaganda and manipulation of public thought. I think that it serves as a strong warning. Such control will not come through some great communist revolution, but it will continue to tighten through small, barely noticeable advances in government. As our two parties gain and loose favor, each will expand in their own ways. It is more difficult to undo these changes once they are in place. As a result, despite having two seemingly opposing parties, we have a single steadily advancing government. The ideas presented in the "Brotherhood"s book and those of collective solipsism are interesting to consider as well. Overall, this is definitely one to build on my own personal philosophy. A must read for anyone.   hide

This is arguably the most influential book of the 20th century. Even people who have never read it know of big brother and room 101. Various parts of this book have influened everyone from the highest politions to popular culture.It is also scary how true many parts of the book have become. It may be that the book did not predict the levels of technology we have today, but in a society where we...more

This is arguably the most influential book of the 20th century. Even people who have never read it know of big brother and room 101. Various parts of this book have influened everyone from the highest politions to popular culture.It is also scary how true many parts of the book have become. It may be that the book did not predict the levels of technology we have today, but in a society where we are seen on camera dozens of times a day many could argue some of it's main points have come true.It's interesting that the Government thinks that there always needs to be an enemy to keep the population in line, and people quickly forget who the old enemy even was. Think Americas hatred of communism, quickly followed by their hatred of terrorism. The fact that the country is at war is also used as the reason for constant surveilance.It can be even argued that Orwells ideas of Newspeak can be seen today as Governments try to twist our language and make certain words and phrases taboo, if it is something against their own policies.Ok, so I don't think that the totalatarian state that Orwell predicts will become a reality, but certain parts of his nightmare vision have and increasingly will become reality. The book certainly make me think hard about certain Government ideas in ways I may not of thought about if I had not read this book. The good thing about this book is that every time a Government "big brother" policy is thought up, this book is used as a counter argument. I am certain that if this book had not been written that there could be even more Government surveilance around today than there already is.   hide