From the Bookshelf of On Paths Unknown…

1984

George Orwell

Start date: January 23, 2015

Discussion: UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA - ORWELL

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UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA - ORWELL

1984 Part 3 : ENDING SPOILERS
By Traveller · 59 posts · 31 views

last updated Jan 01, 2016 04:07PM

1984 Part Two
By Traveller · 113 posts · 49 views

last updated Jan 01, 2016 09:28AM

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What Members Thought

May 30, 2008 Cecily rated it really liked it

Shelves: language-related, scifi-future-speculative-fict, film-good-or-better-than-book, classics, dystopian-apocalyptic

The colour of this book is grey, relentless grey: of skin, sky, food, floor, walls, mind, life itself. Added piquancy comes from general decay, drudgery, exploitation, chronic sickness, and malaise.

Ten Shades of Grey?

There is also sex and (non-sexual) bondage, domination, and torture.

I don’t expect a dystopian book to be happy reading, but this reread was far grimmer than I remembered it, partly because I read it immediately after the lyrical beauty of another dystopia, Fahrenheit 451, reviewed ...more

323 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2010 Karl-O rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: to-be-read-again, dystopian, language, english-literature

Simple: Nineteen Eighty Four is a book everyone should read. Not because it should be classified under non-fiction, nor because it explores entirely new aspects of human nature, and nor even because of the breathtaking imagination of George Orwell, but because of the simple fact that if we want to “survive,” it can be crucial for our survival and of our world as we know it.

One of my favorite books is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. I believe that human beings are capable of doing what Dos Simple: Nineteen Eighty Four is a book everyone should read. Not because it should be classified under non-fiction, nor because it explores entirely new aspects of human nature, and nor even because of the breathtaking imagination of George Orwell, but because of the simple fact that if we want to “survive,” it can be crucial for our survival and of our world as we know it.

One of my favorite books is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. I believe that human beings are capable of doing what Dostoyevsky outlined and the world would be a far better place if they do. I can surmise that it is my favorite book because it talks about the world as I want it and think that it should be. But the perfect world can be entirely different for each and every one of us, and that's why I don't see as a necessity for everyone to read that book. But 1984 talks exactly about the opposite and in this lies the reason why I think everyone should read it: it talks about a world surely enough nobody wants to live in. Dostoyevsky’s world can be realized with enormous effort, whereas Orwell’s can be realized when no effort is done to change it from what it has become.

Readers of the book can argue that a world like that of the book would never be realized, given the “civilized” state we live in. I disagree and my counter argument is that the world the book discusses is imminent if not already here. Every tool of surveillance Orwell is talking about has an equivalent in our world today; The characteristics of Newspeak can be found in at least all the languages I speak; Every act of deception he talked about has been performed in some countries around the world if not in all of them. In short: everything he talked about is relevant to the our world more than anything.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is that of language. It shows how alteration of language can consequently alter thought and how for example the use of adjectives is crucial for being creative and able to use one’s imagination. Orwell also points out that the “simplification” of language affects the mind and its ability to think objectively.

Another interesting topic here is emotion. The book is filled about how emotions evolve and how someone can control them within oneself and others. In astonishing and smart prose, Orwell elucidates the means by which it is possible to erase love, plant hatred, induce respect, and even kindle belief of an idea. The book also recognizes the importance of sex along with other human instincts, such as the longing to be free, in shaping societies.

I think the book deserves more than the buzz it gets, along with its author. He was one of the smartest people I met in literature and reading this book was definitely one of the best reading experiences I’ve had. ...more

109 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2007 mark monday rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mind-the-gap, world-of-insects, after-the-fall

'tis the season...

13 T A L E S O F T E R R O R: BOOK 9

yikes, the gloomiest of dystopias, the driest of writing, plus the inevitable sardonic twist ending to make your heart shrivel. an unhappy classic. read this while listening to the totally inappropriate eurythmics soundtrack and your mind will break too! mine sure did. the acid probably helped. ah, college.

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since the idea of rereading 1984 sounds about as exciting to me as living in the novel 1984, i have decided to instead review the wondr ...more

88 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2010 Jonfaith rated it it was amazing

Shelves: speculativelyspeaking

There I was, at the pub. No pints (points)for challenging the credulity, is there? Trust me, I was at the pub. Some nice enough gent was talking about the barbecue place he had opened up the street. I was half listening and half thinking, I NEED to try this man's brisket. That isn't code. He glanced down at the bar and saw 1984. He offered, oh, you're reading that again. Everyone at the public house assumes I've read everything. Jesus. I hadn't. I was a Winston Smith virgin, in fact reading it i ...more

13 likes · Like · see review