George Orwell Matters! discussion
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Orwellian Experiences While Reading
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I read Burmese Days whilst in Hong Kong a few months before the handover. He really knew what he was talking about in that one. I think reading it then enhanced my experience and understanding about the last days of Empire.
Sometimes go the coffee shop after work. I sit quietly with my nose in a book. It's almost impossible not to eavesdrop. Can't imagine the government would need a huge spying apparatus. People just blurt out the most awkward secrets. If I were Big Brother, I'd force people to shut the hell up.
I coincidentally am reading "Down and Out.." and attending culinary classes in the same day, and today i happened to have dish duty in class and also read pages 100-124 in which orwell describes the enthralling life of a plongeur in paris, and although the conditions and pressures under which i have to work are not nearly as extreme, they are relatable.
The first thing that came into my mind when I finished reading "1984" was Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s regime, and how Iraqis lived in fear and terror of Saddam and his family (big brother). What also amazes me about George Orwell’s 1984 that he predicted children are recruited to spy on their own parents and report any suspicious or unapproved of behavior to Party authorities, and this is exactly what happened in Iraq (between the 1980s – 1990s). No wonder George Orwell is one of the greatest authors of all time.
While I was camping and backpacking across Australia, couldn't find a job, had very, very little money and travelling in the remote parts of Western Australia, needing to save $$ for fuel for my motorcycle, and therefore had to beg crumbs of bread from the bakeries - living off old bread and jars of lemon curd and jam for weeks. I've never been so hungry in my life!When I read about Orwell's experiences with hunger in Down and Out, I could instantly relate.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Wow Tom!"haha! I lost about a stone and a half in the 10 week, 10,000km motorcycle camping expedition. The fish we caught when we reached the ocean were always a welcome relief from the grim, liquefied jam and lemon curd (from the desert temperatures)!
When we reached civilization and booked into a YMCA, the very fact of having a roof over our heads for 1 night was so comforting, to just be out of the elements. In down and out, Orwell wrote about staying in the Spike and other hostels, and expressed his relief of being out of the elements, even for just one night.
He hated the hostels for their draconian rules, and for the random strangers he had to, at times, endure for an evening, but put up with them he did - as did I when I was down on funds and on my a*se!"
Enis wrote: "The first thing that came into my mind when I finished reading "1984" was Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s regime, and how Iraqis lived in fear and terror of Saddam and his family (big brother). What a..."That is absolutely frightening. I recently watched a documentary about the Hussein Family (Fascistic/Mafia outfit) and their terrifying reign of demented paranoia! I wonder if Saddam read 1984?
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I was stuck on a flight today while reading "Down and Out..." and there wasn't any food. I was in the early part of the book detailing going without food, which only made the experience -reading- better.
Anyone else?