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I have heard a lot of praise of "1984", by George Orwell. Let me first quote directly from the book's summary on its back cover:
"Winston Smith is a low-rung member of the Party, the ruling government of Oceaina. He works in the Ministry of Truth, the Party's propaganda arm, where he isin charge of revising history. He is but a small brick in the pyramid that is the Party, at the head of which stands Big Brother. Big Brother the infallible. Big Brother the all-powerful.In a totalitarian society, where individuality is suppressed and freedom of thought has its antithesis in the Thought Police, Winston finds respite in the company of Julia. Originality of thought awakens, love blossoms and hope is rekindled. But what they don't know is that Big Brother is always watching."
And....I ADORE this book!! Well, 'Volume One' or 'Part One' (Whatever you call the partitions.) of the book. Instantly a lot of ideas, thoughts and memories begin swirling in the reader's mind, when you start reading the book. This book is primarily evocative and thought provoking.
A lot of (Yes, a Hell, lot of!) other writers, stories and books have copied (another word is stolen, or adapted if you're being polite) the ideas from this masterpiece. Truly, original and most influential, I agree.
I've started with 'Part Two'. The first fifteen or so pages of 'Volume Two', is a little repetitive. More over, I believe these could have been shortened. I fear the same themes and ideas would be reiterated over the entire 'Volume Two' (But, I cannot say it with certainty, unless I've read it.). I may need to skim and skip a few more pages to get back into the juicer parts of the (main) plot.
Still, I'd recommend anyone to read this book even for the ideas and imagination that rings so true in internet/espionage days in 'Volume One'. Also, the book is aimed primarily as an anti-communist propaganda but, works well for any authority figure or government.
Full review after I get through the remaining two volumes (Yes, the entire text is in Three Volumes). Catch you later.
Books Discussed:
1. 1984 By George Orwell.
Related articles
- Bibliophile: 1984, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein. (mdnaseemashraf.wordpress.com)
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