1984: 75th Anniversary

1984 is one of those books that absolutely lives up to its reputation. The story is gripping, unsettling, and incredibly thought-provoking, especially with how relevant many of its themes still feel today. Orwell’s depiction of surveillance, censorship, propaganda, and the manipulation of truth feels less like distant fiction and more like a warning that continues to resonate in the modern world.Despite being written decades ago, the book remains incredibly engaging and hard to put down. It’s the kind of novel that stays in your mind long after finishing it.

What can be said about this book that has not already been said? Orwell’s despondent view of an evil utopia hits all the right notes. His vision into a near-possible future is stunning, depressing and all too understandable. A warning, a final prophesy written by a spirited visionary in the final stage of his life.Many have read this book early in their youth, most likely as part of their educational upbringing. 1984 and Animal Farm are standard, pedantic texts battle ready for disaffected youth to sink their teeth into. This book, among the greats, seems boundless in the echoes and touchstones resounding within its tome. In revisiting the text many years later, one will find that Orwell’s words seem strangely even more relevant than they were at first blanch. Perhaps even more so than they were when original meted out and scratched into paper during the author’s self-imposed exile in the Scottish isle that was his final home so many years ago.There are so many elements here that have such deep and broad depth that will keep this work of literature relevant for many more years. Orwell invented the terms “Big Brother” and “Thought Crime” and dove unrepentantly into issues of privacy, personal freedom and individualism. All this before the revolution of the internet! He also fretted over the degradation of language (OMG!) and the breakdown and bastardization of society’s communal bonds, family bonds, bonds of friendship and the abolishment of simple love. His vision of a mechanized society (one that even turns books out by machines), is more than a decry by a luddite so much as it concerns the debasement or obliteration of the individual and sense of self.Orwell’s main thrust seems to be right at the heart of man and the core inner lust for domination and power, simply for its own sake. That ever-present evolutionary tendency to thrive at all costs without purpose or direction, and the ability of that singular impetus to take over and distort all else toward its own end. He digs that up out of the blackest parts of the human heart and disgorges it upon the shoreline of society receding tide as if to say, “This too is what you are. Do not kid yourself.”For me, this book was rough. The tone was bleak. Throughout. Unflinchingly somber and hopeless. Yet, the story of the protagonist and his struggle amid this world turned upside down, is relatable and believable. Despite the obvious despair and immeasurable odds, we do feel for Winston Smith (the protagonist) and we do root for him. We follow him in his desperation to find something, some way to express himself and make a dent in the impenetrable wall that has become the totalitarian society which he is a part. We feel his constant fear and ever present distrust of everything—almost. The little glimmers of possibilities, even when they are squashed, keep your interest and balance the grim-gray that pervades everything.One thing that struck me was that the female character Julia, is an interesting addition. She has a good amount of gumption and serves more than just a goal or love interest. She is fleshed out pretty well and adds a lot of dimension to the story by sharing the protagonist’s goals, but also coming from a slightly different more realistic viewpoint.Another thing I found interesting in reading this book in present time was how insular the story is. We are just as stuck as the protagonist. All news of the outside world and the society is filtered to the reader through the regime in power. We never really know who to trust or when something might be real or made up or mere speculation. Nothing ever really seems certain. The story never ever escapes this – there is never an Oz-like “Man behind the Curtain” moment. Not really. We are told how some things work, and sometimes by sources that are deemed more reliable than others, but we don’t truly find out.This tight view point, keeps up a claustrophobic feeling that forces the storyline to remain connected to the protagonist’s individual struggle. Even though Winston Smith is concerned with larger concepts and a revolutionary struggle on a society level–the story remains individualistic. However, the tale is not a man’s struggle with himself, it is a man’s struggle to find himself among others; the interrelatedness of things and how important that is. The totalitarian regime in power has distorted this effect and is manifesting control by continually putting up road blocks and pseudo-constructed, societal norms to hamper true progress and growth.Even still, the individual struggles to find their place in society. As the story goes on, I think it is clear that most of this doomed society continues to struggle with this. And the powers that be, must expend an immense amount of effort and expense to constantly suppress this. In the end, can that really work? Have a care. Big Brother is watching.Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: "No Deodorant In Outer Space". The podcast is available on iTunes, YouTube or our website.

The story is bleak, from start to finish - it can’t read any other way, and I love the book for that reason. It’s a timeless narrative that showcases the dangers of a totalitarian regime. It’s a book everyone should read at some point. My biggest gripe is the pacing and the slowness of the story - so much dialogue and narrative is repeated and the story, at times, gets boring and repetitive. This doesn’t take much away from the novel, it’s a beautifully written piece of work that still holds up as one of the best ever written.

Definitely a warning book. But it sent chills down my spine at some points! If it's been in your list for a while not is good time to read it!

Fantastic book! Arrived quickly and in great condition!

A must read. Illuminating, frightening. Author was remarkably prescient.

Book is fine other than the fact it looks like someone knicked it with a box cutter and some of the upper margins have a random sliver of black on them. Almost like it was poorly cut. Pretty crappy quality for a hard copy, but oh well

It’s a classic for a reason. I enjoyed the book and wish I’d read it sooner like many of my peers.

Increíble ambientación, y gran historia.Deberían hacerle una película o serie. El personaje principal, Mrs Smith, encaja perfectamente con el ambiente.

Great book for student of political majors

كويس

Great book, a must read!The cover really fits with the theme of the book and looks great on the shelf

Roman le plus connu de George Orwell, devenu un classique de la SF dystopique, 1984 est un livre à lire au moins une fois dans sa vie.Je l'avais lu adolescente en Français, étudié le film en cours d'Anglais, j'ai voulu le relire en VO. Si vous suivez mes "C'est lundi, que lisez-vous ?", vous savez que j'ai pris du temps pour le relire. En effet, même si le niveau d'Anglais m'est accessible, ce livre demande une certaine concentration en VO, et chez moi c'est souvent bruyant avec les enfants !Pour les quelques personnes qui ne connaissent pas l'intrigue, 1984 est l'histoire de Winston Smith, anti-héros, dont le rôle sert finalement à dépeindre les rouages d'une société totalitaire. Je parle d'anti-héros parce que son personnage est assez lâche, et quand il agit c'est de façon plutôt stupide. On ne peut pas dire que l'on s'attache vraiment à lui, mais il représente parfaitement le résultat de la dictature dans laquelle il évolue.L'histoire se présente en trois parties, la première expose la société gérée par le Parti et le symbole que représente Big Brother. La seconde est consacrée à l'histoire d'amour et la rébellion de Winston. La dernière est le résultat de cette-dernière.Si je dis qu'il faut lire ce livre au moins une fois, c'est pour la façon très juste avec laquelle l'auteur décortique le fonctionnement d'une société totalitaire. De l'embrigadement des jeunes, à la manipulation de l'information, en passant par la surveillance constante, 1984 est à la fois un rappel historique et actuel (cf la Corée du Nord ou même la Chine) et un avertissement pour le futur.