Nineteen Eighty-Four in Utopian and Dystopian Reading Group

Apr 04, 2012 Belle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: absolutely-memorable, dystopian

After reading Wool, by Hugh Howey, I was so thirsty for another dystopian. So I picked up this one, since it had been on my to-read list since last year, and in my book case since I bought it four years ago.

This was a quick read, and I got really absorbed into the book. However, this is a difficult one to review. I can't decide if I hated it, or if I liked it. It was definitely a roller-coaster ride for me, as it invoked a multitude of emotions, ranging from reverence, disgust, fear, loathing, b After reading Wool, by Hugh Howey, I was so thirsty for another dystopian. So I picked up this one, since it had been on my to-read list since last year, and in my book case since I bought it four years ago.

This was a quick read, and I got really absorbed into the book. However, this is a difficult one to review. I can't decide if I hated it, or if I liked it. It was definitely a roller-coaster ride for me, as it invoked a multitude of emotions, ranging from reverence, disgust, fear, loathing, bitterness, and yet... self-awareness.

One of the main reasons why I found it to be a difficult journey was the main character, Winston. I couldn't respect him. He was an absolute nervous wreck. He had a bit of conviction in the beginning, but he had really low self-esteem, which made me doubt his ability to do something worthy and courageous to rise up from his pitiful circumstance. Winston didn't have any positive relationships. He didn't even like people very much. And before he "fell into lust" with his opposite female character, he imagined sexually violating her, and also bludgeoning her in the head with paper weight! Geez. This main character is completely dysfunctional.

Even as a child, he was an abhorrent, little, naughty devil. The way he treated his mother and sister were just despicable. Overall, I really didn't find any redeeming qualities in him. Yet, I still rooted for him, holding my breath for a transformation that would occur to redeem his character.

But the dreariness of the tone in the book perpetuated, to the point where it became burdensome for me as a reader. There was no glimmer of any positive aspects. None of the characters of this world were the least bit likeable. The only one I felt any compassion for was Winson's mother, because she had to deal with the brattly, little ingrate that Winston was as a child. Then again, I began to question her parenting abilities... but I digress. None of that is important.

Surprisingly, the author was still very effective. Orwell was ruthless. He didn't have any intention to sugar-coat anything. He wanted us to experience a world, which was dreary, hopeless, and saturated in despair, mistrust and paranoia. This was a glimpse of the world at its worst state.

The writing style was respectable. Orwell really drew me in with his storytelling. He also succeeded in his world-building, providing the reader with enough details to be able to conceptualize a fully-functioning, dark future society, complete with its own language (Newspeak.)

What kept me holding on was the hope for some kind of transformation to occur in the novel. I was expecting things to turn around. Hoping that Orwell would make the "Proles" band together to be able to rise up and overthrow the cruel government, proving that good always overcomes evil, and that balance is eventually restored. Unlike many other books, however, this one didn't bother coming into full circle. The story remained exhaustingly dark from beginning to end. There was no hope. No triumph. No sense of redemption.

There was tension throughout the whole ride. Tension that was overly disturbing, frightening and depressing. There was also a huge chunk of information dump in the middle section, where the story stopped being told, and was replaced by an essay about the evil schemes of the government, and the truth that they are hiding from the rest of the citizens.

That said, I still wholly believe that it's an important piece of literature, because in the section where the "information dump" occurs, Orwell offers some valuable political hypotheses, which made me reflect upon what is happening in our world today. The ideas and theories that this book ignite are mind-blowing. I felt this middle section was the "heart" of the story, where the substance resided. The yummy, gooey center in a hardcandy, if you will.

It's hard to fathom that at 1948 (when this book was written,) Orwell was able to imagine the kind of political perversions that are happening today. Then again, maybe today's political perversions were initially inspired by this book. Who knows. It's rare that I can respect a book this deprresingly pessimistic. But I think that's what makes this book an important piece of literature. It gives us a glimpse of the hideousness of human nature that all people are predisposed to, especially when immersed in desperate circumstances.

This book left a lasting impression in my mind. I came away with lessons about human nature, lessons about power, and lessons on gratefulness for the reality that I'm currently living.
...more

Like · see review

Mar 23, 2012 John Elwood rated it liked it · review of another edition

Couldn't get through it. Sorry Orwell, but I preferred your predecessor's work, WE, by Yevgeny Zamyatin. However, ANIMAL FARM was pretty damned cool, wasn't it? And who can forget POLITICS AND THE ENGLISH LANGAUGE? My students never will, that's for sure. ...more

Like · see review