George Orwell

A True Classic. A Masterpiece. A Must-Read. One of the milestones of the written world. Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history to satisfy the demands of the Ministry of Truth. With each lie he writes, Winston grows to hate the Party that seeks power for its own sake and persecutes those who dare to commit thoughtcrimes. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can't escape the fact that Big Brother is always watching...

1984 by George Orwell

1984

Atli 💗🧚🏽‍♀️

Their embrace had been a battle, the climax a victory. It was a blow struck against the Party. It was a political act.

Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime 

Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.

How could you make appeal to the future when not a trace of you, not even an anonymous word scribbled on a piece of paper, could physically survive?

it's kinda crazy how this isn't even the first time in the book whereby sex with a woman is described to be this egregious, harmful act.

He would tie her naked to a stake and shoot her full of arrows like Saint Sebastian. He would ravish her and cut her throat at the moment of climax.

All subsequent crimes against the Party, all treacheries, acts of sabotage, heresies, deviations, sprang directly out of his teaching. 

welp, this is still relevant. i mean why do we always have to be at war with "the other side?" like who tf even is "the other side?"

George Orwell’s 1984 takes on new life with extraordinary relevance and renewed popularity. “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 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.

Igor Lanko

The weariness of the cell is the vigour of the organism. Do you die when you cut your fingernails?

Already we are breaking down the habits of thought which have survived from before the Revolution. We have cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman. No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer.

It must be so; how could the immortal, collective brain be mistaken? By what external standard could you check its judgements?

里森

You must get rid of those 19th century ideas about the laws of nature. We make the laws of nature.

One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.

We shall turn you into gas and pour you into the stratosphere. […] You will never have existed.

O’Brien had tortured him to the edge of lunacy, and in a little while, it was certain, he would send him to his death. It made no difference. In some sense that went deeper than friendship.

‘E could 'a drawed me off a pint, grumbled the old man as he settled down behind his glass. A 'alf litre ain't enough. It don't satisfy. Anda 'ole litre's too much. It starts my bladder running, Let alone the price.' You must have seen great changes since you were a young man,' said Winston tentatively.

Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one.

There is a word in Newspeak, said Syme, I don't know whether you know it: duckspeak, to quack like a duck. It is one of those interesting words that have two contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it is abuse; applied to someone you agree with, it is praise.

The revolution will be complete when the language is perfect.

“What opinions the masses hold, or do not hold, is looked on as a matter of indifference. They can be granted intellectual liberty because they have no intellect.”

Once when he happened in some connexion to mention the war against Eurasia, she startled him by saying casually that in her opinion the war was not happening. The rocket bombs which fell daily on London were probably fired by the Government of Oceania itself, 'just to keep people frightened'.

Indeed, so long as they are not permitted to have standards of comparison, they never even become aware that they are oppressed.

Selina 

‘We shall abolish the orgasm. Our neurologists are at work upon it now’

‘How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?’

Winston thought. ‘By making him suffer,’ he said. 

‘Exactly. By making him suffer. Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing’

I had a sudden hankering to reread 1984 and I will neither apologize nor explain that any further… thank you goodbye..

Katie Buchanan

ebrar

I wish this book didn't sound so familiar

Elif Türker

I just love the world building here, reading it while listening to the audiobook makes me shiver. I don't think because it's chilly in the morning, it's the part when you can vaporized because you look incredulous when a victory was announced. 

What if you look sad on hate week, because you sympathize to the thought criminals? It really doesn't matter. Because... 

The Big Brother's really wants to make the people of Oceania to be stupid. 

Angelica Blanche Salva 

Morning read:

I just love the world building here, reading it while listening to the audiobook makes me shiver. I don't think because it's chilly in the morning, it's the part when you can vaporized because you look incredulous when a victory was announced. 

What if you look sad on hate week, because you sympathize to the thought criminals? It really doesn't matter. Because... 

WAR IS PEACE 

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY 

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH 

The Big Brother's really wants to make the people of Oceania to be stupid. 



I listened to the audible version and it was really amazing. It’s currently free with your membership and I would highly recommend 

Sophie Keast

Really really great. I few oages were boring but except for that I loved it. And it's just unbelievable how intelligent it is even though Its really old

Gwenifer

camille paradis

read this sophomore year of high school… why is this referenced so much george orwell needs a grip!!! no rape fantasies are not love thank you so much <333

a novel

Nineteen eighty-four

It’s so hard to read… to finished it.

Amna A.

1984, a novel in which George Orwell predicts a rather horrifying future. A future of terror, where people are put under constant surveillance, where they abolish you for being a criminal of thought by carrying radical beliefs, where they control the media and alter the truth. The further I got in the book, the more horrifying it became, the more I realized how familiar 'they' seem to be. I realized that Orwell's novel almost hit the bulls eye in it's prediction, for many are already living in this state of terror, and worse yet, some don't even realize it. 

This was a disturbing book. This was a book that kept me up all night after the night of finishing it. This, to me, was more a masterpiece of a warning than it is of a book.

Luke Harkness

Incredibly written, powerful story

There's no doubt that this is one of the great novels in history. It's written wonderfully and sometimes required me to reread certain sections to understand the situation better.

The story itself was a little bland. Not the usual highs and lows of what we're used to today. But still one that made you want to keep on reading.

Sarah Sammis

Read on a bus from Mexico City to Morelia.

james

Udit

George Orwell was a snitch who reported suspected Jews, homosexuals and communists to the British police before he died. I hope he's burning in hell.

Mariana

Despite finding it harder to read than Orwell's Animal Farm, 1984 still proved to be an intriguing reading that can lead to much reflection on its subject.

Tony Evans

Angelo Ruta

If there is no word for freedom, how can anyone be free? Winston Smith lives in a nightmare world where the Thought Police spy on everyone and children are taught to betray their parents. Even the smallest sign of disagreement with the Party results in torture, imprisonment, or death. Big Brother oversees everything - but who is he? Winston tries hard to keep his thoughts and fears to himself. But then he meets Julia, a strong-minded young woman who is willing to run the terrible risk of their being found together. Will kindly Mr Charrington keep their secret? Can Winston and Julia find happiness despite the dangers that threaten them? Help new readers wave goodbye to their misconceptions of great literature being dry tales in dusty old tomes by introducing our vivid and witty covers and bright illustrations accompanying the lively and accessible retold text. The world's greatest classic stories come to life in these expert retellings. Baker Street Readers give an enchanting taste of the original tales, quoting best-known lines and most memorable moments, all supported with wonderfully witty (and sometimes scary!) illustrations .An introductory "cast of characters" list and an appendix with points for further discovery assist readers of any age to explore these timeless stories from around the world.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

this book felt like a pond pretending to be an ocean if that makes any sense at all. while i understand that the characters' lack of subtance and predictability of it all is, to a degree, intentional i still cannot get behind it as it made this book both feel meaningless and boring. i cannot help but think this book has gained popularity due to the fascination people have with dictatorial regimes but as someone who lives in a country that has faced communisim i couldn't help but feel like this book added little to the conversation.

Claudia Beneyto

would have slayed more without misogyny tho

Read at last. Wondered what all the fuss was about. Still wonder! And the f list celebrities starring in big brother this week. Now understand the concept. 

Joanna Tweedale

Do you suppose it is beyond us to produce a dual system of astronomy? The stars can be near or distant, according as we need them.”

Some great concepts given birth to a plethora of ideas for modern cinematography and cultural perception of politics / power. Facts are swapped like suiting the weather gloves. And of course great lyrics of say RATM are often reminiscent.

However the writing style can be extremely boring at times. It’s worth considering that for its time the book offers unbelievably accurate look into the future of societal freedom.

But it also could be why the writing seemed boring to me—I’m too young to be amazed by these ideas.

At the end of the day it’s still worth it. It’s classic, and it’s the source of so much.

“Do you suppose it is beyond us to produce a dual system of astronomy? The stars can be near or distant, according as we need them.”

Some great concepts given birth to a plethora of ideas for modern cinematography and cultural perception of politics / power. Facts are swapped like suiting the weather gloves. And of course great lyrics of say RATM are often reminiscent.

However the writing style can be extremely boring at times. It’s worth considering that for its time the book offers unbelievably accurate look into the future of societal freedom.

But it also could be why the writing seemed boring to me—I’m too young to be amazed by these ideas.

At the end of the day it’s still worth it. It’s classic, and it’s the source of so much.

The highly regarded dystopian novel "1984" by George Orwell examines themes of surveillance, totalitarianism, and the distortion of reality. Even though I recognize its importance, I personally did not finish it because I could not connect with it. 

While there are parallels between it and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," I thought Atwood's writing was more captivating.

Still, "1984" is a significant cautionary story that has had a long-lasting influence on literature and society. If you enjoy thought-provoking dystopian fiction, it may be worth exploring, despite my personal reservations.

The highly regarded dystopian novel "1984" by George Orwell examines themes of surveillance, totalitarianism, and the distortion of reality. Even though I recognize its importance, I personally did not finish it because I could not connect with it. 

While there are parallels between it and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," I thought Atwood's writing was more captivating.

Still, "1984" is a significant cautionary story that has had a long-lasting influence on literature and society. If you enjoy thought-provoking dystopian fiction, it may be worth exploring, despite my personal reservations.

C Fernando Maciel 

Probably, the best distopic book I've ever read.

Not for average minds! 

My favorite book so far!

Anton

The ideas are very though provoking and I'm sure I'll be pondering about them a lot. 
The plot development was kind of obvious.

Chaitanya Baranwal

The best books are the books which make you think after they're finished. 1984 left in me some sort of chilly feeling, and towards the end, I was at odds with myself. Thinking about the book leaves me with opposing views. Man is both gullible and intelligent, life is both easy and horrifying. 'Doublethink' has affected me as well, two plus two is indeed five.

The only thing I have against this book is that the core plot heavily draws from the earlier novel 'Animal Farm', with a lot more elements added. I read 'Animal Farm' after '1984', and I could clearly see the similarities both the novels portray in their settings. That being said, it's exceptional how the dystopia created in this 1949 book eerily relates to 2017, and horrifies me about everything going wrong today: privacy threats, censorship and misinformation.

Never have I ever read a book where the author can write so magnificently. Every sensation or feeling that was written, was described so perfectly that I could practically feel it myself. George Orwell definitely paints a most beautiful picture with his words.

Writing is an art that Orwell has truly mastered.

I loved the concept of this book as well. It truly makes you think. I believe this topic aligns with many aspects of modern society today as well, complicated to explain but if you read it for yourself you’ll see what I mean. (I’ll probably come back and edit this, just need to recover from the ending).

Naturally, like most books, this one has its faults. What bothered me was the extremely dated way Winston talked about Julia. (Love interest)

E.g. ‘I wanted to rape you and murder you afterwards’

However, I believe it is important to embrace these dated faults and learn from them. And not edit them from history, like The Party…

I’m speechless.

Never have I ever read a book where the author can write so magnificently. Every sensation or feeling that was written, was described so perfectly that I could practically feel it myself. George Orwell definitely paints a most beautiful picture with his words.

Writing is an art that Orwell has truly mastered.

I loved the concept of this book as well. It truly makes you think. I believe this topic aligns with many aspects of modern society today as well, complicated to explain but if you read it for yourself you’ll see what I mean. (I’ll probably come back and edit this, just need to recover from the ending).

Naturally, like most books, this one has its faults. What bothered me was the extremely dated way Winston talked about Julia. (Love interest)

Trigger Warning⚠️ Mention of SA

E.g. ‘I wanted to rape you and murder you afterwards’

However, I believe it is important to embrace these dated faults and learn from them. And not edit them from history, like The Party…



1984 by George Orwell

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