Hello! I'd like to know if anyone of you has already read 1984. I read the book recently [I mean, about May or June], I just loved it. It's wonderful. It's so claustrophobic and lighty! Well, I have no words, it's better doing no efforts. Anyways, anyone? 8D ~peace, tobias
yeah, that's probably my favorite book, i've read it multiple times... I love the way orwell writes, classic
When I first read 1984 in 1952 I thought to myself, "This won't ever happen!" and now in the 21st century it has become a reality! Suggested further reading: . . . Animal Farm by George Orwell . . . Watership Down by Richard Adams.
I love the book; I count it among my favorites. The ending depresses me every time, though. I have not read the book once without crying at the end.
indeed! When I was reading it I just thought how Orwell was a genious. It's a kind of dark portrait of our actual society!
At first I thought this book was inspired by the eastern bloc and especially the Soviet regime - one political party, very strong censrship, rewriting history and so on. Later I understood it had a broader meaning reflecing the whole misuse of power by the big leaders. Anyway when I read it I really enjoyed it. It was both - the actual plot and the political and philosophical idea behind it. And it probably helps you develop a critical thinking about politics and society in general.
hope you love it. every time i reread it i find another parallel to what's going on in the world now.
Read it over winter break .... so that you'll have time to really think about it. It's not an assignment, it's an experience!
I read this book when I was 13 and totally didn't get it. I remember a good adult friend asking me what I thought of it and I said "Big Brother should have died at the end". Good thing I re-read it when I was 17. It blew me away - I remembered the plot pretty well, so the 2nd reading allowed me to explore the motivation and reason behind what was going on. I'm now 24 and itching to read it again. I still think about the book at least monthly. Another excellent read is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - I thoroughly recommend reading it a short time after having read 1984. But be prepared for the severe depression I loved (and hated) that Winston, during the hate speeches, found himself chanting "BB" with everyone else even while he was beginning to rebel. The poor guy didn't stand a chance.
Orwell (or Eric Blair) was literally on his death bed when he wrote 1984 in 1948. He wrote it to provide his son with a legacy. Orwell was flat-ass broke. He was reacting to what he felt was an England that was falling into state control of just about everything. What makes it so remarkable is that he was describing much of the world reaction against democracy which has been steady since 1950 despite a lot of baloney you read about the 20th century being the century of democracy. Orwell had TB. He chain smoked. His book, Animal Farm, is easier reading, but I liked Down and Out in London and Paris. I found it easier to identify with. If you ever have a summer read his complete works. "I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls and woke to find it true, I was not meant for a place like this was Smith, was Jones, were you?" Big Brother.
Eric von Estangen - - Thanks for reminding me about Down and Out in London and Paris. It's been several years since I read it because whoever borrowed my copy thought that they needed it more than I needed it. I've just returned from ordering it from Amazon. For me Animal Farm is more chilling than 1984.
I agree. I think the reason is because 1984 is science fiction analogy and Animal Farm is allegory. I believe allegory has an element of timelessness and eerie reality that is lacking in science fiction. Just an opinion of an old soldier with too much time on his hands.
I read "1984" a while ago (atleast 10 years ago) and liked it. But, now I am bored of people making comparisons to the here and now (though I am sure people were making comparisons in 1949.) To read again would be a real chore for me, so I never have. But, I guess it is a "Classic".
How old are you? I thought that the 1st Régiment Étrangère Parachutiste was disbanded in the early 1960s.
