Books & Stories

1984

“Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell

My Rating: 4.5/5

Minds are influenced to the extent of the abandonment of free thought, every piece of media is controlled to achieve maximum political effect and every word and movement is monitored. Even on the surface, the ideas raised here by George Orwell are increasingly noticeable in the real world. Nineteen Eighty-Four is hauntingly appropriate in our current society, raising issues relating to human social interaction that have lingered on since the beginning of civilisation. For the subtext alone it is worth reading this book, but as well as the accurate albeit exaggerated portrayal of our world, there is some engrossing storytelling and character work. I loved reading the development of Winston’s encounters with the dark-haired girl, and of his various interactions with characters throughout the novel. The final third of Nineteen Eighty-Four is extremely dark, and whilst exploring some interesting notions of the concept of reality and truth, there are many horrible moments that make the book difficult to read. This is justifiably with an aim to attain realism, and allows Orwell to drive home some very thought provoking points. Excellent book.