Summary (from Goodreads):
'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.'
Winston Smith works for the Ministry of truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101 . . .
Ninteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime.
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Read for The Classics Club.
Edition Read:
Overdrive ebook through local library
Finished this one over a month ago and have been struggling to write a review for it. I've decided just to go simple.
I didn't like it. Sometimes Orwell's prose was very good and sucked me in, but most of the time it was tedious. I didn't feel a connection to the characters or buy into the love story. That's not always necessary, but I feel the ending would have had a lot more punch if it had.
That said, I do “get” the book. I can see how it terrified readers back in the 40s and how a lot of it's terminology continues to be used today (to an extent I didn't realize prior to reading it). It very clearly illustrates the importance of the freedoms we often take for granted. It's definitely a very important book that everyone should give a try.
Verdict:
6/10
I didn't like it, but it should definitely be read. Very much a "classic".
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