Title: 1984

Author: George Orwell

Hi there,

I think if you wanted to switch up your genres to something quite different than what you are used to, then this book is something to consider. This, and Animal Farm, might be dark stories to switch over to, but hey, it’s the way i prefer to learn how living in such a time would be, than actually living in that time itself.

Not to forget, (my favourite phrase i like to throw out there) the perspective one gets. The more you know and get to know, the more you can refer to in any decisions you make going forward. Experience and perspective are king.

Without further ado, here we go….

Only having read Animal Farm before this, my expectation already was that this would be a dark novel, and probably displaying the story of someone in Russia (whilst during its communist regime ruled), because that was the obvious conclusion.

Imagine my surprise when I find out that it is a story that plays out in Great Britain, or rather, Oceania. After the World War II the world is somehow split into three large countries, with approximately equal size and power, and in constant conflict with each other in an attempt to expand themselves.

As said, we experience the story of the life of Winston Smith, in a state where everything and everybody is constantly under surveillance. Imagine life and technology in the 1980s, where surveillance takes place in the manner of 1) bugs, 2) police patrols, and 3) brainwashed children giving up anyone they overhear naysaying the government.

Our character works in a factory where he assists the party to alter the records (ie. newspapers, etc.) in any way the leadership party wants those articles to be altered. All has to be altered in such a nature that the party always looks good, and is never seen to have made a mistake. The party is good and is always right.

However, Winston is quite aware of the brainwashing activity that is taking place, and somehow meets likeminded people, and secretly meets up. Well, not people, but a woman.

The story has really taken a turn. I was honestly surprised that this was now the course of the story, but quite happy, because it felt that even during a time of such suffrage, people find ways of making and bringing good to the world, even if they need to keep it among themselves.

However, as you might have guessed, this secret good time that they have started living, cannot go on for ever. The leader party finds them out eventually.

This is where Winston truly learns what the party is about. How far they are willing to go to keep them in power, and the current economic lifestyle as it is at present. These are the darkest chapters that you may ever read, because they are quite gruesome and cruel, which you would expect a communist party would be like.

Summary:

Quite a tale of ups and down, but quite a story to tell. In fact, it teaches quite a lot about human psychology, which I hadn’t seen could go so far, as they have shown in the book. The story collects a rating, in my opinion, of 4.2/5