A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick With extraordinary relevance and renewed popularity, George Orwell’s 1984 takes on new life in this edition. “Orwell saw, to his credit, that the act of falsifying reality is only secondarily a way of changing perceptions. It is, above all, a way of asserting power.”—The New Yorker In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where … city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.
Lionel Trilling said of Orwell’s masterpiece, “1984 is a profound, terrifying, and wholly fascinating book. It is a fantasy of the political future, and like any such fantasy, serves its author as a magnifying device for an examination of the present.” Though the year 1984 now exists in the past, Orwell’s novel remains an urgent call for the individual willing to speak truth to power.
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Disturbingly prescient.
This was read long ago, but still remembered. I would love to try it again at my age now and see if it rocks my world as much now as it did then.
Oceania, the setting of “1984,” is one of the most detailed and realistic fictional settings I’ve ever read. I’d put it right up there with Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
There are also too many memorable lines and phrases to list. Being a huge David Bowie fan, I was delighted to read the origins of his song, “We Are the Dead” in this book.
Some may …
Everyone should be reading this one again
A fantastic example of unfortunately realistic dystopian novel. It seems more and more relevant in the current climate.
A great classic.
What book have I been meaning to reread?
I read this in 1984 and it seems even timelier now.
Disturbing and disheartening read. I know it’s a classic, but I wish it wasn’t so prophetic. At least it tool humanity longer to get there.
Pertinent reading for understanding politics in todays’ society.
This book is not an easy read. But it was a book way ahead of its time. It is dark and forbidding. George Orwell gets to the heart of social control and manipulation. Much of what he wrote about in the book all those years ago was uncannily accurate.
Liam
Living in the world of 2018, where it won’t be too hard to realize for the observant minds that there now truly exists a system that launches ‘a sub-committees of a sub-committee only to decide if people should put the comma before the bracket ends or after it.
The book itself rather than being a novel is more of political and sociological …
What can I say about 1984? I read it years ago and found it fanciful. This could never happen! Unfortunately, the country has changed so much that it is not the same USA I grew up in. Today this novel is prophetic! Orwell’s depiction of the press, the social structure, the national police, etc. They are the same today as what Orwell depicted in …
Didn’t I already review this… Look it makes no difference what I say, if you’re reading this review you’re already curious. READ IT.
READING PROGRESS
January 26, 2021 – Started Reading
January 26, 2021 – Shelved
January 26, 2021 –
1.0% “Whilst reading Samuel Pepys diary, which is more like an history lesson and to be honest not enjoyable to …
Orwell’s classic is a must read for everyone who cherishes their freedoms. Especially today. When schools, media and politicians seriously argue the benefits of Socialism or Marxism or Communism, it’s time to reread this book (as I have).
Orwell deftly anticipated a world where an authoritarian government would force society into thinking one …
Orwell does a masterful job of predicting the future! It is scary how accurately this book mimics today’s reality. No wonder the term “Orwellian” is so common1
A book from my childhood about the future coming to reality today.
DNF ~55% (5h 27m left)
So I know this book is supposed to be a masterpiece of dystopian writing and a lot of people love it. Unfortunately, I found this story to be pretty boring. I only listened to as much as I did because it was playing in the background while I worked on a sewing project.
I found the main character, Winston Smith, to be …
This book was definitely worth reading.
Timeless classic, but getting harder to read these days.
1984 is a book that I will be thinking about for years to come. The fact the it was written in 1949 is almost unimaginable. I don’t have words to adequately express the impact this book has.