Bibliophile: 1984 By George Orwell (A Glimpse)

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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.

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Bibliophile: Adios, Invisible Man.

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Reading of "The Invisible Man" was finally completed! Things could be so much better in today's world of information overload and instant gratification, if one were locked up in a room with nothing but a book, that man would read, reread and even memorize that book.

Something similar occurred with me. I was on a two and a half hour flight, yesterday, from Delhi to Bangalore, to resume my job hunt here. I was allotted a window seat and, surprise, I didn't have any travelling companion on my side. No sir not even one! I was free to move up the side arms and sprawl on that three seat couch. Cheers! I still had the distraction of my laptop but, as I've not got it's battery replaced, this repaired junk would barely run a few minutes. Hence, no more distracting laptop.

All options snatched away from my hands. All distractions muted in my mind. I was finally free to do some quality work - Crack open a book and read it.

The Invisible Man: My review -

The Invisible Man was a good book. Though parts of it were prolix and a bit dated as are most classics. Some pages are full of unneeded imagery. Now, onto the finer points of the story. The story shows in small glimpses the psychological effects of Invisibility on a man. His effort to handle this new found advantage (power) and finally, his downfall.

A lot of questions comes to my mind. "Where is the blame?" Is the society or these mundane and average
people to be blamed in the crime of not understanding a man's achievement or their mistreatment of him just
cause he was invisible? The first part of the blame I believe is on the society. Unwilling to agree and sympathize with the protagonist.

This mistreatment (discrimination?) of the invisible man by the society may have been the prime cause of
his insanity, I'd argue. But, then, "Are we inherently evil (or good) only a moment away to show our true nature and color?"

A quote comes to mind about blame:

"The superior man resolves to walk alone, and is caught in the rain. He becomes bespattered and people
murmur against him. Where is the blame in this?" - I Ching

And as is custom, here is a quote from The Invisible Man -

"Hitherto I have gone on vague lines. We have to consider all that invisibility means; all that it does not mean." - The Invisible Man.

Now, I'll be off to reading 1984 and job hunting. Wish me luck.

Books Discussed:

1. The Invisible Man by H.G Wells (Science Fiction, Classic, Tragedy, Thriller)

Books Mentioned:

1. 1984 by George Orwell (Dystopian Future, Society, Science-Fiction, Psychology)

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• Bibliophile: 1984, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein. (mdnaseemashraf.wordpress.com)