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Animal Farm and 1984
by
"The two novels that you now hold in your hands have become 'modern classics'. . . taught in many schools as examples of moral weight and political prescience . . . read for pleasure, excitement and instruction." -- from the Introduction by Christopher Hitchens
PRAISE FOR ANIMAL FARM
"A wise, compassionate, and illuminating fable." -- The New York Times
"Absolutely first-rate ...more
PRAISE FOR ANIMAL FARM
"A wise, compassionate, and illuminating fable." -- The New York Times
"Absolutely first-rate ...more
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Kindle Edition, 389 pages
Published
2003
by Houghton Mifflin
(first published 1948)
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Start your review of Animal Farm and 1984
I read Animal Farm once a decade. It is a quick read that constantly reminds me that I need to keep the blinders off and not take everything for granted.
I have a strange desire for bacon for some reason.
I have a strange desire for bacon for some reason.
Two of my favorites books of all the time.
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 better with the government than it was before the ...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 better with the government than it was before the ...more
Oct 18, 2011
Mariel
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
m.d.
Recommended to Mariel by:
witches saw the future
Celebrity Death Match tournament versus Macbeth.
In a galaxy that's this one and today only most people don't realize it because it scrolls on the screen in teeny tiny neon green letters with a sterile surgical instrumental backdrop. Or CNN. Once upon a time that's today. There was a MAN and a Big Brother and they were one and the same. What about the sisters?
"You could be big brother, you know. People always ask who the MAN is supposed to be. You're a man, aren't you? Although it has been some t ...more
In a galaxy that's this one and today only most people don't realize it because it scrolls on the screen in teeny tiny neon green letters with a sterile surgical instrumental backdrop. Or CNN. Once upon a time that's today. There was a MAN and a Big Brother and they were one and the same. What about the sisters?
"You could be big brother, you know. People always ask who the MAN is supposed to be. You're a man, aren't you? Although it has been some t ...more
4.5 rounded to 5 stars.
For individual reviews, follow the links below:
Animal Farm
1984 ...more
For individual reviews, follow the links below:
Animal Farm
1984 ...more
Sep 22, 2020
Patrick Peterson
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
clssics,
communism,
history,
philosophy,
political,
sense-of-life,
fiction,
novel,
psychology,
reference
2020-09-22 (This review is of 1984 only, at least for now.)
"the three slogans of the Party stood out in bold capitals:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."
This is the defining import of this book to me. The slogans were not only repeated many times in the book, but their importance and what they represented was carefully explained many times and ways. Orwell's masterpiece did a fantastic job of explaining how total corruption of the language (words were supposed to mean the ex ...more
"the three slogans of the Party stood out in bold capitals:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."
This is the defining import of this book to me. The slogans were not only repeated many times in the book, but their importance and what they represented was carefully explained many times and ways. Orwell's masterpiece did a fantastic job of explaining how total corruption of the language (words were supposed to mean the ex ...more
I love 1984, I love Animal Farm, and I love George Orwell. There is so much wisdom and depth to these two stories and there is so much that has been written or said about them, it would be a struggle to review them without subconsciously regurgitating all the good things I've heard. I just feel like both of these stories, and especially 1984 should be read by everyone. I believe it helps you appreciate what you got and to question everything you hear. I believe they are some of the most thought
...more
Two classic books in one! I read both of these stories years ago and loved them.
Re-read.
brilliant. a must-read.
brilliant. a must-read.
It is difficult to rate a novel which is incomplete. This version if Animal Farm and 1984 does not contain the full versions of either book. Animal Farm has only the first 10 chapters and ends abruptly on page 86. 1984 has only the first 3 sections and repeats itself.
This is more a sampling of Orwells Classics rather than a complete read.
If you want to read the full novel. Don't purchase this one ...more
This is more a sampling of Orwells Classics rather than a complete read.
If you want to read the full novel. Don't purchase this one ...more
Two of my favorite books! Meant to re-read 1984 with the student book club, but it got away from me. 1984 was one of my favorite required high school reads my senior year, and I LOVE to teach Animal Farm!
‘There are no replacements for George Orwell, just as there are no replacements for a Bernard Shaw or a Mark Twain…he pricked, provoked and badgered lazy minds, delighted those who enjoyed watching an original intelligence at work.’
Time
Time
Sep 01, 2015
Leonard
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literature-english,
favorite
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
Joseph Stalin
In Animal Farm George Orwell reenacted the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, Major, Napoleon, Snowball, Jones, and Frederick incarnating Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, Tsar Nicolas II and Hitler. But through the fable, Orwell critiques not only communism but also any corruption of power, leaders highlighting real or imagined threats to instill fear in followers and solidify power.
Leon Trotsky
As often repeated throu ...more
Joseph Stalin
In Animal Farm George Orwell reenacted the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, Major, Napoleon, Snowball, Jones, and Frederick incarnating Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, Tsar Nicolas II and Hitler. But through the fable, Orwell critiques not only communism but also any corruption of power, leaders highlighting real or imagined threats to instill fear in followers and solidify power.
Leon Trotsky
As often repeated throu ...more
Re-read this gem last night. It never gets old. Truly another beautifully written classic
You Must Read Animal Farm. That's the brief version of my review.
Eric Arthur Blair, or George Orwell as the world knows him, is a genius at describing fear, terror, doubt, uncertainty, mischief, evil, and hopelessness. The writing is beyond exquisite, even if the topic is morose. Such a loss to the world that Mr. Orwell died when he was just 46 years old. The unwritten works that he never wrote, the works that would have enriched our world and weren't meant to be. In Animal Farm, much like 1984, ...more
Eric Arthur Blair, or George Orwell as the world knows him, is a genius at describing fear, terror, doubt, uncertainty, mischief, evil, and hopelessness. The writing is beyond exquisite, even if the topic is morose. Such a loss to the world that Mr. Orwell died when he was just 46 years old. The unwritten works that he never wrote, the works that would have enriched our world and weren't meant to be. In Animal Farm, much like 1984, ...more
If you read this book as a straight fiction then it’s a novel for children and I am sure they will enjoy it and of course they will start to hate the pigs (maybe that’s why we don’t see many cartoons or stories with pigs for children except Peppa pig which my grandkids love so much).
However if it’s a political story that represents a party that overthrows a government and takes over the country giving promises to the people and then in years to come changes those promises, then the writer had s ...more
However if it’s a political story that represents a party that overthrows a government and takes over the country giving promises to the people and then in years to come changes those promises, then the writer had s ...more
It is always difficult to review a book so widely read and appreciated. Especially one which is still relevant since the time it was written. I do not know anything about the Russian Revolution which this book is supposed to be based on nor am I well versed with the aristocratic/ political regimes of the world.
The title is so misleading, could have fooled me into thinking that this was a book about a farm where animals can talk and live together harmoniously... sort of like something Enid Blyton ...more
The title is so misleading, could have fooled me into thinking that this was a book about a farm where animals can talk and live together harmoniously... sort of like something Enid Blyton ...more
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It must be at least 20 years since I last read these two dystopian classics. Although, I'm certain my opinion of them wouldn't have diminished one iota if I were to read them today. In fact, I'm sure they would, even now, contain much relevance to the current political scene.
The ending of Animal Farm is particularly prescient: the abandoned and betrayed animals looking in through the windows of the farmhouse and being unable to tell the pigs from the humans. This from a novel written 10 years be ...more
The ending of Animal Farm is particularly prescient: the abandoned and betrayed animals looking in through the windows of the farmhouse and being unable to tell the pigs from the humans. This from a novel written 10 years be ...more
Who controls the past controls the future. ...
Aninal Farm was entertaining until I kept on finding the similarities with Venezuela. It was like the history of the last 15-20 years of the country told in the form of a fable and written decades earlier.
1984: this was worse than watching a horror movie (which I hate) because while in a movie I'm always aware it's fiction, the book kept on confusing me making me feel I was actually going through a factual piece. Only specific elements got me out of it. The biggest impressions happened while re ...more
1984: this was worse than watching a horror movie (which I hate) because while in a movie I'm always aware it's fiction, the book kept on confusing me making me feel I was actually going through a factual piece. Only specific elements got me out of it. The biggest impressions happened while re ...more
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 this point...yet. ...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 this point...yet. ...more
Orwellian has been introduced into the English language for good reason.
I liked the Animal Farm more than 1984- As for the 1984 nothing strange for me. I'm from Syria and I know that what he said is what we lived in the 80s and 90s but the prisons are much much worse.
The Animal Farm 4 stars
1984- 3 ...more
The Animal Farm 4 stars
1984- 3 ...more
I have finally read 1984. It just took me a few years to pick it up. My rating is leaning more toward 3.5 more than 3.
I enjoyed the book. I really don't know how to express my feelings about it yet. But I did enjoyed it. ...more
I enjoyed the book. I really don't know how to express my feelings about it yet. But I did enjoyed it. ...more
I never saw that ending coming!
No books hit as hard. Not even Metamorphosis by Kafka. The allegorical imagery can require interpretation, but it hits hard even without it. When I read Metamorphosis, the emotion was "despair". Orwell isn't about despair. It's plainly about the death of hope. And nothing hits harder than that.
Animal Farm
Animal Farm and 1984 are contrasted in the foreward to edition, and it's rightly pointed out that Animal Farm was written with more time at hand, but 1984 had to be completed before the end ...more
Animal Farm
Animal Farm and 1984 are contrasted in the foreward to edition, and it's rightly pointed out that Animal Farm was written with more time at hand, but 1984 had to be completed before the end ...more
Animal Farm was an interesting book, not what I was expecting out of traditional literature read. The main point of the book is that the animals want freedom and equality as humans have and in order to do that they have to overthrow the farm. Throughout the book, the animals, and the three pigs fight for power within the farm. In the end, the rest of the animals are watching Napoleon, Snowball, and Major sit, eat and drink alcohol at a table of humans. Although the animals were mad that the pigs
...more
Reread 1984 now that it doesn’t seem quite as bad with the doublespeak. Paid particular attention to the way we retain three classes bit. In 2021, we still have quite a bit of work to do on that.
Jan 16, 2013
Shaun
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2013,
george-orwell
This collection contains two of Orwell's greatest works that most certainly complement each other and are thus worth reading together. Yet because I wrote a separate review for Animal Farm, I will stick to 1984 in this review.
Not only can Orwell write with the best of them, but his philosophical and intellectual insights are notable. A story about one man's ultimately futile resistance against a powerful and totalitarian regime, 1984 illustrates how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I think wh ...more
Not only can Orwell write with the best of them, but his philosophical and intellectual insights are notable. A story about one man's ultimately futile resistance against a powerful and totalitarian regime, 1984 illustrates how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I think wh ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodreads Librari...: Issues with covers (2 books) | 1 | 13 | Oct 30, 2020 06:39PM | |
| Teal Farms Keto | 1 | 4 | Dec 15, 2018 08:41AM | |
| Чемпионы: Быстuuuuuuu | 1 | 6 | Oct 27, 2016 09:36PM | |
| A rip off "Bunt" from 1924? | 1 | 7 | Sep 11, 2016 10:46PM | |
| ANIMAL FARM | 4 | 21 | Nov 26, 2015 03:46PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.
In addition to his literary career Orwell served as a police officer with the Indian Imperial ...more
In addition to his literary career Orwell served as a police officer with the Indian Imperial ...more
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“In that case the current orthodoxy happens to be challenged, and so the principle of free speech lapses. Now, when one demands liberty of speech and of the press, one is not demanding absolute liberty. There always must be, or at any rate there always will be, some degree of censorship, so long as organised societies endure. But freedom, as Rosa Luxembourg [sic] said, is ‘freedom for the other fellow’. The same principle is contained in the famous words of Voltaire: ‘I detest what you say; I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ If the intellectual liberty which without a doubt has been one of the distinguishing marks of western civilisation means anything at all, it means that everyone shall have the right to say and to print what he believes to be the truth, provided only that it does not harm the rest of the community in some quite unmistakable way.”
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“ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”
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