George Orwell
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| Front cover |
Date read: 14 - 21 August 2017
Length: 311 pages (347 including introductions and appendix)
Winston lives in Oceania and works for the Party in the Ministry of Truth, rewriting the past. But he doesn't like the world he lives in, with telescreens and microphones everywhere, recording his every move. He doesn't believe this world is better than before the revolution and seeks the truth. He has a secret love affair with Julia, and together they search for answers. What happens when they get caught by the Thought Police?
As a novel, I feel it's got great. There's not much character development and they seem a bit bland. You feel for them because of their circumstance, the horrible things they endure. The world they live in is not really set up, you're just sort of thrown in and have to figure things out for yourself, by following Winston about his day to day life.
That being said, it is a very political novel, and even though it was published in 1949, there are some points which are very valid in Britain today. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. There is no privacy in Oceania, your every move, thought, breath, is recorded by a screen or a microphone. We have a reality television series called Big Brother, which is basically the same. There's always some kind of war or conflict between counties here, the same in the novel between Oceania and Eurasia or Eastasia. Technology is advancing very quickly. We all have cameras on our phones, ready to snap and record at a moments notice. Machines are taking over our jobs, we're already being served by them in supermarkets. For a novel written so long ago, it's crazy that this is still very relevant today.
One thing I'm glad doesn't really apply is Newspeak. Yes, we use abbreviations, and some people do 'text speak' but that's shortening words, not eradicating them altogether. Our dictionary is expanding, not diminishing. If something is very good, we can use words like fantastic, great, brilliant, not plusgood. And I hope that will never change!
A novel worth reading in this political climate, but don't be too disappointed by the story. The message behind it is powerful.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
Overall rating
Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist
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