'1984' George Orwell - a RANT Book review...kinda

Hey there! Here is my review of the 1984 by George Orwell. If you didn't like the book, you will LOVE this video lol. Enjoy and tell what you thought of it!

[studiojapfilms]

I also needed the audiobook to finish it. Orwell was more of an essayist and it shows. 1984 was just an excuse for him to write about his ideas on communism. The plot and characters could have been written much better, but he didn't bother. All that mattered was the worldbuilding.

[lux-vacui]

I think you didn't read the book carefully, and neither you understood it. First, Winston didn't completely grow up in that society. He was born at the end of WWII. He retains memories of what the old world was like. There are multiple example of this through the book. And the transformation by the Party wasn't even that sudden, it was gradual. It is also explicitly stated that children are far more indoctrinated into the Party's ideals that older people are, because THEY were born into that society.

Second, Winston is supposed to be a rare exception, one who doesn't swallow everything the Party tell him to believe. There are people like that even in oppressive nations like North Korea or the old Soviet Union, even if they were born and raised there which isn't the case in this novel, and there is nothing unrealistic or unconvincing about it. It's just human nature to produce different kind of people. Orwell didn't even want to name the book 1984, his preferred title was "The last man in Europe", but the editors felt 1984 would be commercially more appealing. All this to say that Winston is supposed to be one of the very last individuals who reject the Party.

Third, his affair with Julia symbolizes an act of rebellion against the oppressive regime. The Party tries to suppress human's instincts and pleasures. That's why Winston is so focused on sex in his affair. I think your opinion that he's sexist is completely out of context here. You may find it sexist but it is realistic, it is human. Especially in the context of that dystopian world. The more you try to suppress instincts the more they will pent up and explode eventually.

And lastly, it seems to me like you're trying to label the political parts as "boring" in a objective sense. Have you considered that "boring" is subjective? His historical and ideological description of the Party's methods to reshape human culture give 1984 a level of immersion and brilliance like few dystopian novels have done. I think the manipulation of the language was especially brilliant, how cutting down and simplifying a language makes it impossible for a person to even develop ideas unorthodox to the party.

[OliviasCatastrophe]

I liked 1984 but like... you're not wrong about it being so sudden that he is suddenly 40 and then suddenly is against everything despite being indoctrinated from the beginning. It should've been eased into it... I think that is one thing the Giver does really well! Oh yeah, I found the female rep a bit confusing in this back when I read it too. Mostly because I found the relationship and everything with Julia was really... odd? off? didn't feel real? I can't really remember the wife so I won't comment on that. The concept though was one that was interesting and where it started from where it ended really got to me! I agree that it is the younger generation who questions things more, but I have a feeling he was writing more so in the time where books where made for adults rather than young adults and children... so it would be suitable for the main character to be adult age. I agree that you can't connect to the characters. I didn't either. I read because I read it for school and more so for the concept, world and themes. I read the giver when I was 12 and liked it but not sure if I would still like it? So maybe I should reread...

[PhilipSchmitz]

Winston did not come across to me as an old pervert who wanted sex with a young woman. The sex with Julia, at least in the beginning, was an act of rebellion against Big Brother. The sex became a symbol of their individuality and their freedom. Their love became the antithesis of everything Big Brother stood for. And the love was the most persistent thing for Winston, as it was only possible to break it at the very end in Room 101. I think this is a powerful message and their relationship was profound to me.

[vkeighmanabe]

Julia in this book is then bane of my existence. Why does she do anything that she ever does? She does things and then is just gone, never to be seen again.

My main issue is with the character of Julia👀 when she's introduced, she can do no wrong, but when we get to the part of them rebelling suddenly she's a sleepy bimbo who's bored by the book who's author she just pledged to follow even kill for??? Hmm why?


Julia is always an instrument to make the hero look good throughout the book, everytime Julia is brought up, you learn something about Winston's character... Moral character that is 🙄🙄

The book was fine until Julia, yess George Orwell is a sexist. Even the way he wrote Winston's supposed ex wife 🙄🙄🙄🙄


Especially talking about how she didn't like having sex with him as a character flaw of her??? Like Julia is better because she's young and likes sex? And the way he switches up to make her a little dumb as the book progresses, no.




Also why would he agree to that terrible oath to kill people???

[thelegnedofaurabux]

I see all your points! 1984 it is ine of my favorite books. but ik the story is flawed and omg that part 2 was soo boring. but what makes it 5 stars for me is how it opened my mind to not follow my government without question. This book is applied all the time and for that I'm grateful it made me an independent thinking. story wise yea the giver is MUCH better :D

[Ines-spcb]

omg thank you so much for the review!
I totally agree with you, especially on the part with the boring manifesto that I felt was there just to fill in the pages... even if the book is considered as ahead of its time, it shouldn't be saved from critics!

[knpxh]

I 100% agree with you. I was so shocked at how bad this book was. The sexism was so unnecessary and that entire part 2 could be either taken out or severely shortened. 2/5 for sure, yikes it is not well written but it does have some interesting concepts. I get how this book had international significance at its time (1949) but now it’s just whatever. Thank you for your thoughts!

[benjiben]

I just finished reading 1984... I give it a 3 out of 5 stars...
Loved the review

[brucesnow]

Isaac Asimov has an incredible review of this book that completely demolishes it. I recommend reading that one.

[allenwinberg]

You didn't read any of this Novel.

[tosheatower]

I think you missed the point. Everyone in 1984 has doubts in the society amd they all know the society structure is built on lies. That's what makes the novel so "scary" because in ways it shows how people can be manipulated into acting against what they know to be truth for the sake of appearance.

[marcungemach]

I often watch reviews after i finished a new book and it amazes me how often im not sure if me and the reviewer have read the same book.

[clayton]

A good comment that summarizes my attitude to 1984 as a whole

“1984 is such an oversimplified piece of shit you could apply it to any stage in history and it would work. Its like saying "politicians lie" and then going "wow, we're so headed in to that direction!" as if this hasn't been happening for thousands of years.
1984 is literally only popular because of the CIA, nothing in it is interesting, the writing is bad, the characters are creepy inserts of Orwell's rape fantasy and as I said, the concepts are too simplistic to be meaningful. There's a reason every politician and pundit prances it around constantly, because its not actually a critique of anything, its amorphous, its an artifact used for scare tactics. Anything and anyone can be the
"big bad brother" and this can get any idiot to agree with you. When this post-red scare mania dies out, so will the "relevance" of this book.”

[firetails]

I don't like 1984, it's just so boring and seems pointless, sure it shows how bad this kind of future can be, but that's all it feels like, and in part 2 of the book feels even more pointless, sure world building and everything is nice, but it just seems pointless, the 'war' and forming big brother and everything. I literally can't see why people like this, if you like it, hey good for you, but I just can't see a reason why people find it to be so good and put it as a 10/10 thing.

[iiii]

Your review for the book is about a 2/5 the book is a solid 4/5~ I don’t think George Orwell understood Stalin or totalitarianism very well, where he views the party as wanting power for the sake of power that’s not true., most totalitarian rulers dream of a utopia & feel as if they are creating that while their narcissism blinds them from the reality that they are causing mass suffering & violating human rights. Other than that the book is a very spot on reminder of what you should be careful wishing for in a government because all that power in their hands is less power in yours.

[ProfessorBacon]

Hello! 1984 is one of my personal favorites, so I am a bit sad that you rated is 2/5 stars. But, I enjoyed your review nonetheless! I think your criticism of Winston was wrong concerning him rebelling. In the book, I don't think he started to rebel because he woke up and hated the party, but rather that the pages he bought are an outlet to express his anger and frustration about the society he lives in. Winston was a child at a time before the party and did not know pre party life. But, it is when the party was in control that memories started to take shape and he realizes why society is wrong. He is a remnant of the Old World. But, that's just my thoughts and I can't explain it all in one comment. Keep up the good work!

[anthropomorphicpeanut]

I loved this book but you make good points, nice review

[spawncampe]

Just finished it today, I'll give it a 5.5/10. I'm mixed on it, personally I only read books for entertainment and to get invested into stories, I don't care much for messages being this heavy handed and it's certainly not what determines a story's quality, not that I'm against books with political commentary, I love it when it's told in an intriguing way even if I don't agree with the messaging, what matters is the how. Like you said, The Giver has a similar concept, but that's way more enjoyable. 1984 was kinda messy, might be more enjoyable with some alcohol

[pigdog]

I did not like it that much its world was very unconvincing and laughable at times