From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

1984

George Orwell

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. Week 5: Number in Title

* Week 5: Introduction
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* Week 5: Progress Post
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Feb 06, 2012 Adam Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

In the far-flung year of 1984, the world is controlled by an ultra-efficient society called IngSoc controlled by the omnipresent Big Brother. Winston Smith is haunted by the vague feeling that life wasn't always the way it is; there was a time when your every action wasn't being scrutinised; when you were able to walk the world without wondering whether your entire exist was going to be vaporised without a moment's notice; when you were free to love, to live, to think for yourself. Slowly, Winst In the far-flung year of 1984, the world is controlled by an ultra-efficient society called IngSoc controlled by the omnipresent Big Brother. Winston Smith is haunted by the vague feeling that life wasn't always the way it is; there was a time when your every action wasn't being scrutinised; when you were able to walk the world without wondering whether your entire exist was going to be vaporised without a moment's notice; when you were free to love, to live, to think for yourself. Slowly, Winston starts entertaining thoughts of rebellion against Big Brother and his legion of Thought Police, but how can you rebel when the slightest misstep will mean certain death?

This is the book the launched so many of the tropes that form the basis for modern culture. Its bleak and silently horrifying view into a world of ceaseless surveillance and totalitarian control still harmonises with the reader even after all these years. Not many books can withstand the crushing pressure of time, but this one has. It's almost hard to believe it was written in 1949.

Throughout reading this, I was constantly struck by way IngSoc was seeking to control ever more strongly the residents of Oceania, by the sheer pointlessness of the future they were seeking to create. The language of IngSoc, NewSpeak, was formulated to limit the ability of its speaker until the brain no longer had any connection to the formation of speech, until words are worth no more that the quacking of a duck. The goal of IngSoc is to create a world where mankind is as mindless as sheep. It made me feel like screaming, but what was really revolting about the notion was the possibility that given the chance someone would set out to do just that. In the land of the mad, the man that can convince others of his madness is god.

A book that is so engaging that I was hard to put down. Do beware though that this book deals in dark matters that will strike a deep cord especially toward the end. This book revels in 'there but for the grace of god' territory. The origin of the Orwellian nightmare that is foundation for so many dystopian tales with it's openly evil society and ceaseless monitoring.

A darkly striking story that is a must read. ...more

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