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George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four

M

Marty

New Member
Never really been into books,but going passed the book shop i called in to see if they had anything on one of my hobbies,when i saw Stephen Kings - The Shining on offer,not being scared by a film since salems lot when i was about 10 i decided to buy it hoping it will do the trick. I then remembered hearing how big brother the tv show was based on a book by George Orwell called 1984 and purchased that also.

Has anyone read 1984,any opinions (no spoilers) would be appreciated!
 
Yes, I have read 1984 and it is one of the best books I have ever read, which is good because I don't tend to go for political things.

I am about to do a bit of shameless pimping now because I have to tell you the book group a friend and myself have recently started are looking set to read 1984 as the first group book, and this would start in the month of August so feel free to join us by following the Cow and Chicken link at the bottom.

Big Brother the show is based on this because there is a 'big brother' figure present in the novel and basically indicates that you can not go anywhere, do anything, or think anything without someone knowing about it. The book itself is based around this as the big brother figurehead controls all media that people see and uses 'the party' in order to construct this in line with current government rules.
The main character, Winston Smith, actually works for the party and has to edit newspapers to fall in line with big brother.

Those in the UK may also know of the TV show called Room 101 (not sure if you get it stateside) which is also taken from the novel 1984.

It really is a very good book and one which I would recommend people to read, alas I can't talk anymore about it for fear of giving things away.

Enjoy

Mxx
 
George Orwell: 1984

George Orwell's "1984" is by far (withe the exception of the Bible)one of the most profound books I've ever read!

Anyone else have any comments/questions regarding George Orwell or any of his works?
 
Oh my God. I just finished reading that book yesterday. How very strange that the first topic on this forum would discuss it.

Yes, it is definitely a very good book. It's second in my top ten list, in fact, beaten only by Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.
 
1984 is an unbelievingly accurate description of a totalitarian regime. It is a dark and terrifying vision of a man being totally controlled by an anonymous system (mysteriously hidden behind the "best" leader named Big Brother) in every aspect of his life, being surrounded by secrect agents willing to report even the smallest disagreement with the goverment, brainwashed by language without meaning and history without a grain of truth in it. No place for intimacy, trust, honesty, a sense of safety. It's hard to believe how many people were forced to exist in such a not humane world in reality.

To conclude - a brilliant book.
 
1984 is one of the most important books ever.

Along with Brave New World, it is good evidence that sci fi is the relevent and important.

I am surprised how many who have read and enjoyed 1984 claim they don't enjoy science fiction. What do they think science fiction is?
 
Originally posted by HBinjection
1984 is one of the most important books ever.

Along with Brave New World, it is good evidence that sci fi is the relevent and important.

I am surprised how many who have read and enjoyed 1984 claim they don't enjoy science fiction. What do they think science fiction is?
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I agree this is an important book. I am probably one of those who would say that I admire (I am not sure if "enjoy" is quite the right word) this book, but that I do not generally go in for science fiction. In doing so, I would probably be basing my judgement more on stereotypes and assumptions than on much experience of the genre. I would be defining sci-fi narrowly as relating to other planets and lifeforms, rather than on a broader ranging definition that would take in such visions of the a future as 1984 or Brave New World. Alien-centred sci-fi isn't really for me, but each to their own.
 
Well, David18117, I certainly understand your dislike for alien fiction. I'm not crazy about the bulk of it. I especially hate when authors get heavy-handed with created languages, someone called the phenomenon, "calling a rabbit a smeerp." But my distaste stems mostly from poor writing, or lack of imagination or originality.

I used to not read sci fi at all, I couldn't get into it, but someone turned me on to a few books and I really enjoy a lot of sci fi now -- mostly Phillip K. Dick, William Gibson and Olaf Stapeldon.

I don't read fiction to escape reality, to learn about unreal worlds. I read it to learn about the world we live in now.

I think 1984 is extremely relevant, and part of what makes it seem like a non sci fi book is that a lot of the far-out elements don't seem so far-out anymore.
 
Originally posted by HBinjection
a lot of the far-out elements don't seem so far-out anymore.
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Indeed! The proles being kept occupied with sport and trivia, it could never happen - just ask the editor of the Star or Hello magazine.

Elsewhere in this forum I said I read to escape. You have reminded me that what I really meant was that I often read to escape from my humdrum existence, to explore something with deeper meaning. I share your interest in examining the world in which we live.
 
George Orwell, 1984

Hey,
I have to read it for my literature class and I was wondering if you guys who have read it have any feedback.
Lani
 
Just sit down and read it, don't drag it out over days and days. The book is short and easily digested in one or two sittings. I remember this being one of my favorite books back in middle school. I reread for a college class on Utopian/Distopian Lit and was a bit bummed out. While the story obviously hadn't changed, my reading tastes had. I was a bit bored by the end of it.
 
I read this quite recently actually, and I enjoyed it but not as much as I thought I would. This is one of the books that I found to be ruined slightly by my expectations. If you go into it forgetting all the hype and such then I think that you will find it to be a good read :)
 
MonkeyCatcher said:
This is one of the books that I found to be ruined slightly by my expectations. If you go into it forgetting all the hype and such then I think that you will find it to be a good read :)
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I agree with what you have said here. I was disappointed in the book because of my own expectations. So, if you just read it without any expectations you may find it a good read.

However, when it was first written it was probably the first speculative fiction type book to appear. That's why I think it became a classic. Now, however, there are many books of this type so its revelations will not come as a surprise to you. Just try to remember that it was written when the fear of communism taking over the world was very real. In fact if you keep this in mind while reading it, you may be able to understand why people were so afraid.
 
Billy said:
However, when it was first written it was probably the first speculative fiction type book to appear. That's why I think it became a classic. Now, however, there are many books of this type so its revelations will not come as a surprise to you. Just try to remember that it was written when the fear of communism taking over the world was very real. In fact if you keep this in mind while reading it, you may be able to understand why people were so afraid.
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Excellent points :) The problem is that now she is going to be going into the book with her mind working overtime ;) :p
 
its definatly a book on my "to read" list. i keep hearing all these good things about it. it helps that i have a copy lying around at home
 
I have heard 2 different theories on Orwell's intent with this book. One is that he wrote it as a portent of what could happen and the other is that he wrote it as a reflection of the times in which he was living, he just switched the last 2 numbers in the title. Which one do you guys think it is?
 
When I read 1984 it reminded me of the short film Cannon Fodder, about a city-state that exists only to make war on another city-state, one that may not even be real.
 
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