Alana’s Comments (group member since Apr 19, 2013)

Alana’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

I listened to it, and maybe it was the way the author emphasized the dry humor, but I found it delightful! I thought it was witty, biting, and challenging, and I found the way she made fun of society very amusing. I look forward to reading more of this author :)

It's never wrong not to finish a book that you're forcing yourself through! There are too many books out there!

That being said, despite being really confused over all of the characters in this one, I will say, a few more chapters in, it somewhat clarifies itself as you see more of the characters who are more important. The point of the descriptions is the frivolous society that cares more about appearances than truth. I found most of those sections very tongue-in-cheek and therefore very amusing. Depends on individual sense of humor though, so I totally understand the perspective of those who may not have enjoyed it as much.

Leslie wrote: "I liked the descriptions of Archer's sister and mother and the comparisons to May's family. One favorite was when Archer knocked on Janey's door and she opened to greet him in a purple bathrobe!!!..."

I have to agree with this, I found all of the scenes with her quite amusing :)

Candace wrote: "It wasn't until Chapter 19, when Orual is struggling with her identity as both Orual and the Queen, that I felt sympathy for her. She has been starved for love her whole life, but her ugliness and..."

I like that, that now she realizes the full weight of responsibility, and the knowledge that not everything is black and white, as she may have believed in the past.

I think he actually had started this book much earlier, but finished it late in his life, from other reading I've done. My understanding was that he'd started it while still an atheist and intended it to show all of the "evils" of God, but after his conversion, changed his understanding of the nature of God, thus changing his perspective on the outcome of the Cupid/Psyche story. I for the life of me can't recall where I got that information though, so please don't quote me on that.

O wow, what a story! I wouldn't have thought of that! So interesting how different cultures would view something like that, just from the novelty of different skin or hair or eye color.

I read this book for another group a few months ago, so I'm not sure I can recall my thoughts on each section. I'll save my thoughts for the final chapter. I look forward to everyone else's thoughts tho!

I didn't start the book intending to read it before the Cupid and Psyche story, it just kind of happened that way, since I knew little about them beforehand. Made it an interesting read that way.

My favorite was easily Fred, because he grows from being a boy, one who doesn't care for anything beyond his own happiness, and not paying attention to how his actions affect others, into a respectable man, who doesn't mind hard work and is willing to be patient to get what he most cares about. Many of us start out as he does but through time and mistakes learn to be responsible adults and parents. I think he's a great example.

I'm over halfway through now, and while she drives me crazy in some points, she's starting to assert herself a bit more and do a lost more introspective thinking, and I think I'm beginning to appreciate her more. We've all gone through those times of foolish, idealized decisions, and it's the growth that comes out of them that is the most important.

I love that one, Eremi! It's funny, but in a tragic kind of way, because isn't that the way so many people think?

I wonder about "humans" in the sense that he's pointing out war's inherent inhumanity? As in, what really makes us human when we're capable of doing such inhuman things to each other?

Up to Book IV now. I'm getting better at keeping all of these characters straight. Makes me think of the world of Faulkner and all of his interconnected characters. Eliot created some very interesting, flawed persons!

It's not that I don't think it will all be linked, it's more like I feel like I need a family tree or diagram to keep track of who they all are! :)

I'm up to about chapter 13 and was following it all ok and finding it interesting until the last couple of chapters, when we've moved off to a whole new group of characters and I'm having trouble keeping them all straight. I'm assuming it will all combine more with the original storyline at some point, though.

Monica wrote: "In the beginning, the commandments represented a socialist and almost utopian society. Everyone had their place and everyone was happy. As the pigs' abuse of power increased and the Farm moved towa..."

Well summarized. Isn't that what most governments set out to do, set up rules that work for everyone, but modify them according to real or imagined needs? Eventually, someone ends up with too much power.

Well, both have a pretty good idea of human nature, that it only takes one (or a few) that get power hungry to not only ruin it but make it downright miserable or even dangerous for anyone else. They are both disturbing in their reality.

Maybe even a way to be subversive, to call governments out on certain actions, but doing it in such a way that he could say "What, it's only a fantasy story!" Or being ironic, stating that it is, unfortunately, no fairy story at all.

It's been such a long time since I read this that I honestly don't remember the actions of the individual actions beyond the pigs, but I think it's a good question. Did Orwell use the associated traits of these animals to get a point across, or just pick animals one would actually find on a farm?

I guess it's about time I get around to reading this, everyone else I think has read it but me! I'm looking forward to the discussion :)