Goodreads | Animal Farm

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Orwellian	5	26	04/03/2008 05:06PM
******	1	3	11/25/2007 09:16PM

Zinta rated it:

(review of isbn 0151072558)

11/04/07

bookshelves: fiction

Read in March, 2006

It wasn't my first stay on the farm. I'd read Orwell as a girl, one with ethnic roots reaching back to the Baltic States (Latvia) then occupied by the Soviet Union, and so having grown up on stories of human cruelty and betrayal, of human nature gone corrupt when faced with the seduction of power -- all of that rather than the common, soothing fairy tale. For that reason, I surely understood it on a deeper level than most of my peers. I was fifteen the first of many times I visited the Soviet Un...more It wasn't my first stay on the farm. I'd read Orwell as a girl, one with ethnic roots reaching back to the Baltic States (Latvia) then occupied by the Soviet Union, and so having grown up on stories of human cruelty and betrayal, of human nature gone corrupt when faced with the seduction of power -- all of that rather than the common, soothing fairy tale. For that reason, I surely understood it on a deeper level than most of my peers. I was fifteen the first of many times I visited the Soviet Union. And even though I had been born in the then freedom of the United States, I understood well enough that what I was witnessing was the essence of evil.

George Orwell was a socialist. With leanings towards Trotsky, perhaps an idealism that would be tested by the ugly reality of human nature, he did not stand where I stood in terms of ideology. I leaned more towards a laissez faire capitalism, a system never tested on this planet to this very day, but that did not detract from my enthusiasm for "Animal Farm." On this barnyard, we saw eye to eye and snout to snout.

"Animal Farm" is a story as if written for a child, and yet, not. Its language is simple. But the adult aware of history and politics, of the ways of government out of control, fully recognizes the parallels Orwell intended with the Russian Revolution. His animal characters had human counterparts. Marx, Trotsky, Lenin, Stalin, all find their form here among pigs become men, or is it men become pigs. Guard dogs mimic KGB, hard working horses (Boxer) mimic the hardworking proletarians, tragically deluded. A farm of abused and overworked animals, often slaughtered when they have passed their prime as work animals, revolt against the farmer - mankind - surely the epitome of cruel animal. Alas, given such power as to run the farm themselves, the animals quickly shift into social classes delineated by power. Pigs rule, and with their rule comes privilege. To sustain privilege, the pigs change laws to their convenience and pleasure. The basic tenet of "All animals are equal" becomes "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."

Orwell wrote about the Russian Revolution. And well he should, because it can be argued that the cruelty of that government has as yet not been fully understood by the "free world" even today. Yet the power and timelessness of this tale is that it can be applied to all governments when not held firmly within their checks and balances -- and frightening parallels can be witnessed in the current administration of the United States. I reread the book today with growing dis-ease. With all of our talk of superiority, our Patriot Acts and our eavesdropping, our acts of aggression and our collective amnesia surrounding the Geneva Act, there but for the grace of God go we... ...less

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Meridyforgot rated it:

02/07/08

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

What suprises me most, in glancing at the other reviews, is that the people who didn't like the book, didn't like it because it was boring. I didn't like it because it was creepy! Animals taking over like that is frightening to me. Perhaps it is because I have seen the creepy cartoon. (My husband actually bought the cartoon to watch it more than once. Maybe I will go into the movie cabinet now and throw it away! ;)

But seriously. I think everyone should read in once, understand the symb...more What suprises me most, in glancing at the other reviews, is that the people who didn't like the book, didn't like it because it was boring. I didn't like it because it was creepy! Animals taking over like that is frightening to me. Perhaps it is because I have seen the creepy cartoon. (My husband actually bought the cartoon to watch it more than once. Maybe I will go into the movie cabinet now and throw it away! ;)

But seriously. I think everyone should read in once, understand the symbolism, learn from it, and apprieciate the good things about America. Just know you may not enjoy it. After that the lesson should be remembered, but the creepy story forgotten. What bugs me most about the story is Boxer. I mean he is a great guy (I mean horse). He is a hard worker, gentle, giving, and valuable to society because he is capable of doing great things. And what does he get for it?? Those of you who have read the story know. How agrivating is that?!?!? I have a hard time respecting him. He was duped! Year after year he gives service to these evil leaders and gets nothing for it. Not that we should all be selfish, but we need to look for good leadership. Boxer supports these bad leaders! He thinks they're wonderful until they betray him. Use your head. I find it extreemly agrivating that all of his talents are wasted on undeserving leaders who don't care about him at all. He counted on the government to take care of him and they didn't care about him at all.

Now, I hope that every one knows, that even though America is not perfect and has flawed leadership sometimes, that I love America. It has the most potiential to do good when compared to other forms of government, all things considered. But I would hope that I would not be duped by politicians promising me the moon, and then taking my hard work and money and using it selfishly for themselves. And i would hope that I would not continue voting for people like that year after year after year. Do not be duped America! Use your heads. If they are not promoting and DOING good things, don't vote for them. I think that is the most important lesson this book taught me. And it also taught me not to depend on government to take care of my problems. The animals depend on their government for everything, therefore the government as all the power, and then the power is abused. Take charge of your own life! Help should be provided by government if truely needed as a TEMPORARY safety net. However, there is no way that a government can provide everything for everyone without being socialistic and having too much power and then taking away everyone's freedom of choice....less

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Erie rated it:

03/09/08

bookshelves: classic

Read in March, 2008

Untuk menikmati buku ini sepertinya anda harus memiliki ketertarikan mengenai politik atau minimal mengetahui sedikit tentang sejarah Uni Soviet dan komunisme.
Sebuah alegori, satir dan parodi yang ngeledek habis-habisan komunisme, Uni Soviet dan tentu saja Stalin.
Cerita dimulai dari seorang.. eh, seekor babi hutan tua (Major) disebuah peternakan yang mendorong para ternak2 untuk memberontak dan mendirikan peternakan yang dikelola oleh mereka sendiri. Para binatang akhirnya memberontak d...more
Untuk menikmati buku ini sepertinya anda harus memiliki ketertarikan mengenai politik atau minimal mengetahui sedikit tentang sejarah Uni Soviet dan komunisme.
Sebuah alegori, satir dan parodi yang ngeledek habis-habisan komunisme, Uni Soviet dan tentu saja Stalin.
Cerita dimulai dari seorang.. eh, seekor babi hutan tua (Major) disebuah peternakan yang mendorong para ternak2 untuk memberontak dan mendirikan peternakan yang dikelola oleh mereka sendiri. Para binatang akhirnya memberontak dengan mengusir sang pemilik peternakan dan mendirikan "negara" sendiri. Disini kita bisa meng-analogi-kan Major sebagai Karl Marx, Mrs Jones sbg Tsar, peristiwa pemberontakan yang disebut Rebellion oleh para binatang sebagai Revolusi Bolshevik. Mereka merumuskan suatu paham yang mereka sebut Animalism (komunisme) yang dituangkan dalam The Seven Commandment, menciptakan bendera hijau bergambar kuku/cakar dan tanduk (palu & arit) dan tentu saja memiliki lagu kebangsaan sendiri (The Beasts of England) Hehehe...
Ketenangan negeri Animal Farm menjadi kacau ketika para babi yang digambarkan sebagai binatang yang pandai mulai serakah. Diawali dengan "kudeta militer" yang dilakukan Napoleon, seekor babi yang haus kekuasaan. Ia menjadi seorang diktator di AF. Memata-matai para penduduk dan menghukum binatang2 yang dianggap sebagai mata2 dan penghianat. Dan seperti biasa, para diktator (entah itu binatang atau manusia) sepertinya memiliki penyakit yang sama yaitu semakin lama ia berkuasa maka semakin narsislah dia! Napoleon mulai mendirikan patung dan gambar dirinya di AF, menciptakan lagu dan puisi yang memuja mereka habis2an, memperingati ultah secara nasional dan tentu saja menganugerahi diri sendiri dengan berbagai medali kepahlawanan. Para pemimpin AF mulai memutar balikan fakta sejarah (sejarah selalu ditulis oleh para pemenang), memodifikasi, membengkokan dan bahkan melanggar Seven Commandment yang telah mereka sepakati diawal revolusi. Membodohi rakyat yang tambah lama tambah bego dan sengsara aja. Aku bener2 sedih melihat nasib si Boxer.

Denger2 sih dulu Stalin jadi keki berat dan melarang buku ini beredar di Uni Soviet (kesindir kali dia) Hehehe... Soalnya kelakuan si Napoleon tambah lama emang tambah mirip dia sih.
Akankah AF akan mengalami keruntuhan seperti halnya komunisme dan Uni Soviet?
Atau malah akan menemukan kejayaannya? Baca sendiri deh... kalo penasaran itu juga :)
Gileee... bukunya tipis abis tp review-nya panjang amaaaat... Ampun deh. Heu...

Next destination! Another Orwell's... 1984
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Kristen rated it:

04/02/08

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: Everyone

I felt like this was one of the best books I have ever read. I was left with a crazy feeling in my stomach of sadness and awe, because I believe Orwell has wrote a masterpiece. At first, before reading it, I was nervous I would not see the satire and I would not connect it to Communism. Yet it was blantantly obvious and while pulling the readers to sympathize with animals like Boxer and Benjamin, one could dare to predict what would happen next and come to hate the pigs and Napoleon. At firs...more I felt like this was one of the best books I have ever read. I was left with a crazy feeling in my stomach of sadness and awe, because I believe Orwell has wrote a masterpiece. At first, before reading it, I was nervous I would not see the satire and I would not connect it to Communism. Yet it was blantantly obvious and while pulling the readers to sympathize with animals like Boxer and Benjamin, one could dare to predict what would happen next and come to hate the pigs and Napoleon. At first, it almost showed how Communism COULD work, in a perfect, selfless world. I was confused a bit and was thinking that it was not that bad. But then, I realized all the issues and from every problem, like changing the commandments and bartering with humans, and I saw the terrors Commmunism can bring. I really enjoyed reading the book (even though the ending was sad and I was very upset when Boxer died) and I have already recommended to it to several friends. It was an easy read, but made me think a lot after. That last sentance was really a well-deserved slap in the face to humankind and it left me with chills. I loved the book!

comment part 2- While the book was a blatant example of Communism, Orwell also seemed to mean it as society as a whole. Socialist, Communist, whatever, any nation could have been taken advantage of like the farm was. Any nation could develop unfair classes, and it almost reminded me of the French Revolution - 3 Classes they had, and once you were the lower class, you could never be higher. Also, it seems once you're the lower class you don't really realize you are the lower class, you instead blindly follow. That was greatly shown by Boxer's quote, "Napoleon is always right." With an attitude like that, no one could even stand up. Another way it reminded me of the French Revolution was when there were blind executions and forced confessions and everyone wanted to put everyone to death by guillotine (dogs?). In addition, any nation could have a constitution of some sort and have it altered, yet the animals were so blind they either didn't notice or couldn't do anything about it. It was kind of a downer about society, or perhaps just a warning.

I thought it was on the list. :(...less

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Amang "Po" rated it:

(review of isbn 9799644828)

07/24/08

bookshelves: world-literature

recommends it for: Orwellian

Pernah diterbitkan dengan judul Binatangisme hasil terjemahan Mahmud Djunaedi, Animal Farm terbit lagi di bawah bendera Fresh Book pada tahun 2006. Buku ini sebelumnya diterbitkan juga oleh penerbit Sumbu (Yogyakarta) tahun 2001. Karya aslinya (bahasa Inggris) terbit 17 Agustus 1945 di Inggris. Buku dari penerbit Sumbu dicetak dengan paperback dan 109 halaman (edisi Indonesia).

...more Pernah diterbitkan dengan judul Binatangisme hasil terjemahan Mahmud Djunaedi, Animal Farm terbit lagi di bawah bendera Fresh Book pada tahun 2006. Buku ini sebelumnya diterbitkan juga oleh penerbit Sumbu (Yogyakarta) tahun 2001. Karya aslinya (bahasa Inggris) terbit 17 Agustus 1945 di Inggris. Buku dari penerbit Sumbu dicetak dengan paperback dan 109 halaman (edisi Indonesia).

“Kawan-kawan, sudah jelas bahwa sumber kesengsaraan hidup kita tak lain adalah tirani manusia. Maka hanya dengan menyingkirkan manusia-lah kita bisa menikmati hasil keringat kita. Hanya dengan menyingkirkan manusia-lah kita menjadi merdeka.” -- Mayor Tua

Dikisahkan sebuah tanah pertanian bernama Manor Farm, dan di sana terjadi pemberontakan satwa di pertanian ini terhadap pemiliknya yang jahat dan pemabok, Jones. Dipimpin oleh dua babi bernama Napoleon dan Snowball, mereka mengusir Jones, mengambil alih pertanian dan menjalankannya tanpa campur tangan dari luar hanya untuk satwa di seluruh Inggris. Semua bekerja sesuai kemampuan masing-masing. Mereka punya lagu revolusioner sendiri berjudul "Beast of England":

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the golden future time...

Riches more than mind can picture,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon the day...

Setahun dua tahun kemudian masalah timbul: ada perpecahan di tingkat pemimpin, yang lalu meletupkan bentrokan keras di antara dua pemimpin paling vokal, Napoleon dan Snowball. Jargon persamaan di antara semua satwa menjadi tak jelas begitu satwa yang berkuasa menganugerahi diri mereka sendiri privilese baru. Akhirnya, sistem eksploitasi baru pun muncul.

Animal Farm saya baca pertama kali tahun 1997. Itu artinya, 52 tahun setelah diterbitkan oleh Eric Blair, si empunya nama George Orwell. Bagiku, semoga ini benar, Animal Farm merupakan sindiran halus terhadap revolusi Rusia dan Stalinisme yang tidak mampu membendung Kapitalisme. Suatu kritik yang bagus untuk gerakan kiri dan juga hantaman keras di pantat untuk kaum kapitalis.

Bila suka membaca karya George Orwell, silakan berkunjung ke link ini http://www.orwell.ru/library/i...
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miaaa rated it:

09/23/08

Read in September, 2008

Aristotle in his book Politics noted that man is, by nature, a political animal. I think by this fable, Orwell deliberately reminds us about that.

Throughout political history, we witnessed similar political cycles occured and could be traced back to Plato and Aristotle. Kingship or Monarchy may devolve into it's deviant form of Tyranny, Aristocracy may devolve into Oligarchy, and Polity or Democracy may devolve into Ochlocracy.

It is impossible to ignore those cycle when we read t...more Aristotle in his book Politics noted that man is, by nature, a political animal. I think by this fable, Orwell deliberately reminds us about that.

Throughout political history, we witnessed similar political cycles occured and could be traced back to Plato and Aristotle. Kingship or Monarchy may devolve into it's deviant form of Tyranny, Aristocracy may devolve into Oligarchy, and Polity or Democracy may devolve into Ochlocracy.

It is impossible to ignore those cycle when we read this fable. You can identify few is occured in the Manor Farm or the Animal Farm. Personally, Napoleon reminds me to Adolf Hitler or other grim leaders by the way he emerged as the leader in the Manor Farm. And what he has done to maintain the power. Just look how easy it is to change the rules when you're in power.

The occupants are constantly hungry, troubled by the cold in winter and by the flies in summer. They laboured in an endless task but they're proud enough to acknowledge that they're not enslaved by human. But are they really happy?

***

Dalam bukunya Politics, Aristoteles berkata bahwa manusia (walau tentunya saat itu yang dia maksud adalah pria)
secara alami merupakan hewan politik. Menurutku lewat fabel ini Orwell kembali mengingatkan kita akan hal itu.

Dalam sejarah politik dunia, kita menyaksikan proses politik yang terjadi yang bisa dijejaki ke masa Plato dan Aristoteles. Monarki akan berubah menjadi Tirani, Aristokrasi menjadi Oligarki, dan Demokrasi menjadi Ochlocracy (ketika massa yang memegang kekuasaan)

Rasanya sulit tidak mengingat proses tersebut saat membaca fabel ini. Dalam beberapa kejadian di Manor Farm kita bisa mengidentifikasi proses yang mana yang sedang berlangsung. Secara pribadi juga menurutku proses Napoleon sebagai pemimpin hampir sama dengan ketika pertama kali Adolf Hitler dan pemimpin-pemimpin 'menakutkan' lain mulai berkuasa. Terutama semua cara yang dilakukan Napoleon untuk mempertahankan kekuasaannya. Lihatlah betapa gampangnya mengubah peraturan ketika duduk di tampuk kekuasaan.

Mereka selalu kelaparan, ketika musim dingin datang mereka kedinginan dan ketika musim panas datang lalat-lalat datang
mengganggu. Mereka mengerjakan tugas-tugas yang tiada akhirnya namun luar biasa bangga karena tidak lagi diperbudak oleh manusia. Tapi benarkah mereka bahagia?
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Reza rated it:

07/16/08

مزرعه حيوانات از آن دسته كتابهائيست كه هميشه مي توان خواندش. ايده هايي كه از يك دغدغه ناب انساني سر چشمه مي گيرند ، چيزاهايي نيستند كه تاريخ مصرف داشته باشند. هرچند بيش از چندين دهه از عمر آن مي گذرد اما ، داستاني كه جرج اورول با روايتي جذاب و در عين حال ساده بيان مي كند ، در همه �...more مزرعه حيوانات از آن دسته كتابهائيست كه هميشه مي توان خواندش. ايده هايي كه از يك دغدغه ناب انساني سر چشمه مي گيرند ، چيزاهايي نيستند كه تاريخ مصرف داشته باشند. هرچند بيش از چندين دهه از عمر آن مي گذرد اما ، داستاني كه جرج اورول با روايتي جذاب و در عين حال ساده بيان مي كند ، در همه دوران تازه خواهد ماند چرا كه به نوعي روايت وجهي مهم از وجود انساني ماست:قدرت
داستان مزرعه حيوانات ،‌ ماجراي حيواناتيست كه براي رهايي از جور و ستم انسان دو پا ، بر عليه مالك مزرعه با شعار " همه حيوانات برابرند " دست به انقلاب مي زنند و كش و قوس هاي وقايع اين انقلاب ، خط روايت داستان را شكل مي دهد.رويكرد فكري و نگاه بسيار عميق اورول به مسئله قدرت و آرمانگرايي انساني در كنار داستانپردازي بديع و نثر بسيار زيباي اورول - اگر متن انگليسي آن را بخوانيد - اثر ماندگار و تامل برانگيزي را شكل مي دهند كه هيچگاه غبار تاريخ از درخشش آن نمي كاهد. گذشته از همه اينها ، "مزرعه حيوانات " مانيفست بسياري از انقلابات تاريخ است. سرگذشت آرمانهاي بازيچه شده در دستان قدرت ، حماقت معصومانه و يا شايد معصوميت احمقانه توده ها و پاياني طنز آلود كه اورول با گزاره اي متناقض نما و به تعبيري سو رئال - اين شايد ماهيت همه انقلاب هاست كه در آن كراهت چهره واقعيت ما را به گذار از آن وا مي دارد - رقم مي زند:
همه حيوانات برابرند ولي بعضي برابرترند...

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Lyman rated it:

(review of isbn 0451526341)

08/11/07

bookshelves: classics

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: every thinking person

This is a lovely Folio Society slip covered edition of Animal Farm, with pen and wash illustrations inside and out. A very fine example of the bookmakers art.

It has been way too long since I have read Animal Farm. Probably not since I was a teen. It appealed to my young know-it-all teenaged sensibilities. Only then, we were poking fun at the commies – the Russkies and the Red Chinese. Which makes some sense, since this was an allegory on the Russian Revolution.

Oh, how times have chang...more This is a lovely Folio Society slip covered edition of Animal Farm, with pen and wash illustrations inside and out. A very fine example of the bookmakers art.

It has been way too long since I have read Animal Farm. Probably not since I was a teen. It appealed to my young know-it-all teenaged sensibilities. Only then, we were poking fun at the commies – the Russkies and the Red Chinese. Which makes some sense, since this was an allegory on the Russian Revolution.

Oh, how times have changed. Today, I read it, and I feel more of a chill because it is a dire warning about our own government. We are led by a government that is changing the rules as it goes along. It dangles the boogeyman of Osama Bi Laden to try and frighten us into following whatever it says. It feels it is beholden only unto itself.

Is Animal Farm that relevant? You be the judge.

This is the story of Manor Farm, which is taken over by the animals, led by the pigs. The pigs teach a song, “Beasts of England” and develop the Seven Principles of Animalism – the seven commandments, or the animal bill of rights (so to speak).

So far, so good, eh?

When Napoleon Pig and Snowball disagree over building a windmill to benefit everyone with light and energy, they decide to have a civil debate. Snowball is eloquent and seems to convince the crowd. Napoleon makes a lame retort, and then has his soldiers – the dogs – chase Snowball. Napoleon then says he is in control, for the good of all the animals, and there will be no more meetings.

Later, whenever anything goes wrong, it is the fault of Snowball, who has snuck in and done the dastardly deed, no matter how improbable. Napoleon uses the fear of Snowball’s treachery to strengthen his stranglehold on the animals.

This seems destined to go on forever, but Napoleon’s hubris soon shows the other animals his true colors. It is all about him and the other pigs.

Reading this novel (very short) gave me the chills.

Orwell was warning us about dictatorships, but it seems like he is warning us about our own government.

Read this book, and then decide for yourself.
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Douglas rated it:

(review of isbn 0141187387)

06/06/07

Read in October, 2006

recommends it for: nobody

The book "Animal Farm" I hated so much. I have never read a book that bored me as much as this one. I only read this because I was required to as a class. This book made me want to sleep after every single word. But to not be so harsh I believe I disliked this book so much because it was something I would normally never read. Its one of those books that teaches you lessons as you go along reading others. One lesson i learned from the book was if I know something and i'm not planning...more The book "Animal Farm" I hated so much. I have never read a book that bored me as much as this one. I only read this because I was required to as a class. This book made me want to sleep after every single word. But to not be so harsh I believe I disliked this book so much because it was something I would normally never read. Its one of those books that teaches you lessons as you go along reading others. One lesson i learned from the book was if I know something and i'm not planning to help anyone then there is no point in learning it. I personally would not recommend it because i didn't like it. But if you like these types go for it. This book is based on a true event that happened in this world but the strange things are is the characters are all animals. This book talks about how the animals are tired of being overworked and underappreciated. So they rebel against their leader and create their own type of ruling. But things take a turn for the worse when 2 out 3 characters begin to get greedy with the powers that they are given. They begin to use their intelect and wity conversation skills to either brainwash the other animals or enforce their will on the animals. One scene that I remember is when the 2 pigs that b egan to get greedy run the only good pig out of the farm. They consfiscated a couple puppies at a young age from their mother in order to train them to become bodyguards for both the two pigs. After the puppies grow Napolean, one of the greedy pigs. uses them to run the only decent pig out of the farm. After this everything begins to go downhill. The animals unwitingly believe things will sort themselves out by themselves but they come to a horid conclusion. The farm goes back to being the way it was when they had there human owner but know with animals. Napolean ends up treating the animals worse than they were treated before. Anyone opposes him would be executed. So the animals begin to regret what they have done but its too late for them to do anything about it. ...less

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Sara rated it:

10/18/07

bookshelves: read-and-reccommended, read-and-will-read-again

Read in September, 2007

I was on holiday in Scotland and this was on the bookshelf in the chalet were staying in. Having read 1984 I was interested in reading other Orwell's classics and with Animal Farm being popular reading material, I didn't see why not to give it a chance.

I read it in a day.

For the first time in a long time I picked up a book and couldn't put it down. That's what I enjoy about Orwell's writing. Its very easy to read and very addictive. I'm not a learned person when it comes to politics, ...more

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Steven rated it:

08/23/07

bookshelves: 1001, class, politics

Read in August, 2007

Wow. It took maybe a couple of hours to read this book - talk about a couple of hours well spent. I always thought I knew the story well, but reading its presented a wholly different experience. After a speech by wise Old Major , the great pig (read Marx/Lenin), in which it is noted that the life of an animal is misery and slavery and than man is the only creature that consumes without producing, the animals rise up and throw off the yolk of their oppressive master Jones (read Romanov family)...more

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Melissa rated it:

09/13/08

Read in August, 2002

If you want to read a “classic,” but don’t want to work too hard, Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is the book for you. Unlike the other novel he is famous for, 1984, Animal Farm is a quick and easy read, a “fairy story.” Nevertheless, it maintains a strong stance against government propaganda and increased government control, making it an interesting read.

Obviously the links between the Animal Farm and the rise of Communism in the Soviet Union is key to...more

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Núria rated it:

10/10/07

bookshelves: 2007, borrowed, literatura-inglesa

Read in October, 2007

Para la 'Banned Books Week', decidí animarme a leer un libro prohibido para celebrarlo. 'Rebelión en la granja' me pareció la mejor opción, porque siempre me había llamado la atención hasta cierto punto. Me ha gustado. Es lúcida y dura, pero divertida, aunque sea un humor con muy mala leche. Y la escena final me ha parecido brutal. Un buen día los animales de una granja logran expulsar al amo hum...more

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Ramok rated it:

(review of isbn )

07/20/07

Read in July, 2005

recommends it for: everybody

Saya teringat sebuah quote dari Picasso, "Seni adalah kebohongan, kebohongan yang mengungkap kebenaran". Dan itu yang terasa ketika membaca novel yang sangat kuat menggambarkan politik kekerasan dalam sebuah institusi yang digerakkan dengan kekuasaan yang cenderung otoriter. Novel Orwell ini adalah novel pertamanya yang sempat saya baca. Novel yang sarat sindiran pada rezim totaliter di masa novel ini disusun bermula dari kisah pemberontakan hewan ternak di sebuah peternakan dipimpin o...more

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Ted rated it:

07/12/07

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: everyone

Mark Twain remarked that a classic book is something that everyone wants to have read, but no one has. I was surprised to find that "Animal Farm" fits into this category. It certainly counts as a classic of political allegory and most people I ran into had failed to read it. This is surprising considering the work is short, only about 130 pages, and about as straight forward as a book can be.
In many respects "Animal Farm" derives its force from its simple narrative. Much li...more

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M.C. rated it:

10/02/08

bookshelves: 2008---2009

Read in September, 2008

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a satire on communism.

The cyclic relationship of slavery and revolution manages to prevail in a mere 100 pages. In the novel, a hog by the name of Major condemns mankind of enslaving animals and inspires his fellow "comrades" to overthrow their human masters. And so rebel the animals did--successfully driving out their human masters out of Manor Farm, which they renamed Animal Farm. Though the animals eventually find themselves serving the more...more

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Bardia rated it:

(review of isbn 9644530527)

01/02/08

George Orwel, another Hefez for Iran

Animal farm is the expression of the greatest pains of human beings in very simple and symbolic words. The story is of a kind that is loved almost by every body; from a seven year old child up to a ninty year old scholar. The ambitious goals of ever-selfish human beings, empowered by the power and wealth provided by laymen and unaware people, turned into corruption, homocide, depression, and thereby poverty, injustice, and misery. One of the best, if not t...more

Animal Farm

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