Book Review: 1984

 

1984 by George Orwell

Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Format: eBook
Rating: ★★★★★

I’m a big fan of dystopian novels so it was no surprise to me that I ended up enjoying this book a lot. There’s just something about this genre which I find absolutely fascinating. Although I have very high expectations of dystopian fiction, George Orwell’s 1984 did not disappoint me in the slightest.

This book has been on my list for absolute ages and I’m really glad I finally picked it up. I really did enjoy the storyline although it isn’t as unique and original as I first hoped it would be. I simply felt like I came across similar themes in a lot of movies and books in the past years. However, this is probably my fault for not having read it earlier. I really liked how the main characters were portrayed in a very human and somewhat flawed way. Although I didn’t really like the main character personally I believe his character was crucial to the story and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed the book as much as I did if he were portrayed any different.

Overall, I think this is a solid read and you’d probably like it if you’re into books that are quite critical of society. The writing was beautiful and I think this is probably one of those classics that everyone should read at least once in their life.

Goodreads synopsis:
The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “negative utopia” -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel’s hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Book Review: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Book: The Handmaid’s Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★

I am a dystopian enthusiast through and through and had to therefore finally read this book. I went into it not knowing too much about it which I believe was a good thing to do for this specific read. Although, the start of the book was a bit confusing and I wasn’t sure of what exactly was going on I was very intrigued and just couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what was going to happen next.

The writing and story make it an extremely suspenseful read and I believe that to be owing to the fact that the main character is somewhat in the dark and trying to understand and make sense of her current situation as well. You’re taken on this quite emotional journey and although the book is centered around a very serious and saddening topic I absolutely loved it and would probably go as far as to say it will end up being one of my all-time favorite books. I just had an amazing time reading it and was absolutely captivated by the storyline.

Anyway here is the goodreads synopsis but again if you’re wanting to read this I’d recommend going into it without reading up on it too much:

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…