book data
3,637 ratings,
3.95
average rating, 263 reviews
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published
June 1st 2003
by Harcourt
binding
Hardcover, 385 pages
isbn
0151010269
(isbn13: 9780151010264)
description
ANIMAL FARM
George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture. It is the account of the bold str...more
George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture. It is the account of the bold str...more
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avg 3.95
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in February, 2008
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Read in November, 2008
Its quite unique how he portrays his characters as animals. And its often hilarious. But once again...hes a socialist...this is what he wants...why does he trash it here but fight for it in real life? But I have to thank him just like I did for 1984 for making a great book explaining the pitfalls of socialism.
Overall:
Storyline is funny yet serious.
You hate pigs more after your done.
You realize that George Orwell is a hypocrite.
Read it and feel great we aren't to th...more
Overall:
Storyline is funny yet serious.
You hate pigs more after your done.
You realize that George Orwell is a hypocrite.
Read it and feel great we aren't to th...more
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Read in May, 2009
These are Orwell's most famous books. Both are dystopian tales of the dangers of a totalitarian government.
Similarities between the books:
The government knows best.
The intelligentsia seize power.
The naive proletariat are oppressed and kept ignorant.
The government bends or breaks its own rules for its benefit.
The government uses propaganda to keep the proletariat in check.
The government rewrites history to prove that it's correct and that life is be...more
Similarities between the books:
The government knows best.
The intelligentsia seize power.
The naive proletariat are oppressed and kept ignorant.
The government bends or breaks its own rules for its benefit.
The government uses propaganda to keep the proletariat in check.
The government rewrites history to prove that it's correct and that life is be...more
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04/13/09
Colin
added it
This novel is about a farm set in the Stalin era in the years before World War II. It was published in 1945 and later became nominated one of the best novels of the 20th century.
George Orwell has written this book wonderfully. He uses the animals in the story to play the roles of Russian leaders and other people in the era of Stalin. Some of the main characters are: Napoleon, Snowball, Mr. Jones, Boxer, Clover, Mollie, Moses, and too many other important characters to name! The main theme...more
George Orwell has written this book wonderfully. He uses the animals in the story to play the roles of Russian leaders and other people in the era of Stalin. Some of the main characters are: Napoleon, Snowball, Mr. Jones, Boxer, Clover, Mollie, Moses, and too many other important characters to name! The main theme...more
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Read in December, 2008
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Animal farm is the story about a group of farm animals that take over a farm and run the farm the way they feel a real farm should be ran; By animals.
Old Major is the head of the Animals on the farm and gathers them about a dream he had. He tells the Animals about his dream and his new philosophy of Animalism
of how Animals are slaves to humans and should rise up and take over. Three days later old Major dies and the Animals decided to do as old Major had told them and
...more
Old Major is the head of the Animals on the farm and gathers them about a dream he had. He tells the Animals about his dream and his new philosophy of Animalism
of how Animals are slaves to humans and should rise up and take over. Three days later old Major dies and the Animals decided to do as old Major had told them and
...more
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I gave this book 4 stars more for the idea and story than for the writing style, which was a little slow for my taste. The ending, in my opinion, was fantastic and I also loved the meaning behind this story. I would definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you want to study something about power struggles and how the differences between those with smarts and those without them shape these struggles.
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Read in March, 1983
recommends it for:
Anyone
Although Animal Farm isn't his best work, Orwell, a socialist, does a fine job of dismantling the fallacies of totalitarianism.
1984 is better, though has some faults, namely in the strangeness of its sexuality, and the perhaps unconscious equation between sex and freedom. The end is classic, scenes of statist tyranny and manipulation of reality for which Orwell is famous.
1984 is better, though has some faults, namely in the strangeness of its sexuality, and the perhaps unconscious equation between sex and freedom. The end is classic, scenes of statist tyranny and manipulation of reality for which Orwell is famous.
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These books are definitive proof that "absolute power corrupts absolutely." Orwell shows how fear, hate, and ignorance can lead to oppression, and we are chilled by its portrayal...We are also reminded of how important it is to think for ourselves, and remain vigilant when it comes to social and political issues.
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Azeem by:
orwell didrecommends it for: free thinkers
I learned that pigs are total jerks, and socialism will never work with farm animals! They're too stupid. Humans, however will get it right eventually. I have faith. Orwell is amazing.
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
barnyard animals rebelling agaisnt their farmer
Orwell writes about the animal's rebellion against the farmer, forming their government, corruption in the new government, then a rebellion and split of the newly formed animal government. This was another stab at types of government. Farmer=dictator, animals new rule=communism, animal second rebellion=democracy. If it wasn't written from farm animal point of view it might have been less interesting and harder to follow. Orwell probably wasn't pro or con to any particular system of government, j...more
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recommends it for:
Those with insomnia
This book, besides possibly draining I.Q. points from the reader, and worsening whatever vision problems you may already have, is an wanton waste of life time. In my estimation, political and social symbolism accounted for, "Animal Farm" has a plot surpassed by the dictionary, a character development rating of negative one billion, and a redundancy surpassed by none other, an impressive feat, for sure. If my comments offend, please attribute it to simple mindedness, poor brain functio...more
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Read in June, 2005
My students sometime ask me what my favorite books are I've ever read, and these are two of my all-time favorite books wrapped into one! Pristine examples of how "the pen is mightier than the sword"! As an aspiring writer, I want to do more than just "write a book." I want to write books that get people to think--I mean, really, REALLY think--about important issues. Orwell was a master of this art. Few middle school students are going to grasp these books but some high school...more
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Read in February, 2009
recommended to Amie by:
eric blairrecommends it for: my sisters since we often suffer from being manipulated by pigs
What's not to like about the book? It was fun, simple read with an interesting storyline. Yes, I get that it was meant to be about Stalin and WWII, but the ignorant can enjoy the fabulistic aspect of it just as much. And if you must find a learning lesson out of it, why not be convinced that pigs are one of the smartest creatures on 4 legs. In folklore terms, eating the meat of the pig is said to contribute to lack of morality and shame, plus greed for wealth, laziness, indulgence, dirtiness...more
Read in October, 2008
Great read--
I thoroughly enjoyed both Animal Farm and 1984. The last sentence of the former that equates humans with pigs is simply priceless. Animal Farm is short, to the point, and entertaining. In other words, it's brilliant. It's a superb work of allegory - one that actually succeeds in the areas of entertainment, edification, and good writing- and I'm even willing to venture to say that it's better than Dante's Divine Comedy, if it's not comparing oranges to apples.
1...more
I thoroughly enjoyed both Animal Farm and 1984. The last sentence of the former that equates humans with pigs is simply priceless. Animal Farm is short, to the point, and entertaining. In other words, it's brilliant. It's a superb work of allegory - one that actually succeeds in the areas of entertainment, edification, and good writing- and I'm even willing to venture to say that it's better than Dante's Divine Comedy, if it's not comparing oranges to apples.
1...more
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a short book, written during World War II, about a group of animals, who overthrow their human caretaker and create their own farm. Apparently this alludes to the rule of communism, especially to the Soviets at the time. The uprising starts off in good taste when it is evident that it is for the better of the entire farm, and the animals realize that their toils are just taken advantage of by humans. The pigs, the smartest of the group, organize and convince the rest, and a constitution of fi...more
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11/13/07
Januario
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Read in August, 2007
In this book, there are animals in a farm who have the ability to talk. The have la leader and he is a pig. the animals in the farm all had a meeting and the leader said that he had a dream. He said that the farm animals became free from their owners and started their own community. After a few hours when the leader told his dream, he died. This was the result of making the animals in the farm think about revolting against their owner. When they decided to do that, they fought against t...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
I listened to the audio version of this on my way to/from work. These are classic tales of the corruption of power and the ideals of Marxism. What I learned in the intro to 1984 is that Orwell had been a soldier in the communist regime fighting against Franco in the Spanish civil war. He believed strongly in the concepts of democratic socialism, hating both capitalism and fascists, despising the corruption of the totalitarian state.
While the symbolism in Animal Farm is painfully o...more
While the symbolism in Animal Farm is painfully o...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone
Somehow, I was one of the few among my friends in high school that was never assigned either Animal Farm or Nineteen Eighty-Four. Now, they are among my favorite books, having gotten to them recently. Reading them back to back, I felt they were not only perfect companion pieces but just a species away from 1984 being a direct sequel to Animal Farm. Even the events that transpire in the microcosm that is the farm directly inform where the world had gotten to by the "futuristic" dysto...more
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Read in November, 2007
This book is basically when an old pig dies and he has a dream that the animals will have control or power over the humans.After he gives his speech of what the other animals should do after he dies,he dies 3 days later.Eventually it gets more interesting because they actually overpower the humans but you got to read it to find out.However it made me think alot about slavery when they finally overpowered the humans since the pigs did nothing but give commands and make up rules.I recommend this t...more
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What would you like to read in March? (please vote twice!)
1984
Of Mice and Men
Great Expectations
The Scarlet Letter
Little Women
Pride and Prejudice
Other...
The Grapes of Wrath
The Great Gatsby
Jane Eyre
Animal Farm
Crime and Punishment
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Old Man and the Sea
Hamlet
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