Just finished reading "1984"

[RedFox1]

I just finished reading "1984". Someone suggested it to me a long time back, but I didn't get around to reading it until now. I have to say that it was pretty powerful stuff.

For a book written quite a few years ago, it includes some pretty creepy ideas from today's world. After reading "Farenheit 451" years ago, I couldn't bring myself to watch TV for a month afterward. Now I feel the same way about the radio; everytime I listen to music in the car I think about the songs in "1984" which are just empty words thrown together to appease the masses.

I think the most disturbing part of the book is that none of the problems it brings up are ever really resolved.... pretty grim stuff.

If you've never read it, check it out. Good stuff.

-RedFox1

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Read it in 7th grade. Timeless classic and always will be!

 

[RossGr]

It has been a long time (why before 1984!) As soon as I finish my reread of LOTR I may dig it out and give it a reread.

 

[TripleJ]

Is it anything like Brave New World?

 

[Rand]

Pretty grim stuff in there.
Well worth reading though, it's a classic.

 

[DefRef]

Haven't read 1984, but I did read Animal Farm. Good one.

Aren't you 17 years behind in your reading?

 

[PsychoAndy]

Hey, some of us were BORN in 1984. scary, huh?

 

[BarbeQueGuy]

everytime I listen to music in the car I think about the songs in "1984" which are just empty words thrown together to appease the masses.

You posted this in the wrong thread, the Pop music thread is a couple of pages back.


J/K

<<edit>>

Good read, it was just a little off in its timing.

 

[CPBrownson]

Now that you've read the book you should see the movie. John Hurt is just what I had imagined Winston Smith to be. Of course I believe Winston was modeled after Orwell himself so the casting of this movie was supurb.

 

[Jex]

Ya know, Orwell wrote most of 1984 when he was battling TB or mono or some disease like that. He said it was a lot darker that he orginally intended because of that.

I think it's a great book. Powerfull message. Definately is a must read and should be required reading in high school.

TripleJ, similar message to Brave New World, but I thought 1984 was much more convincing and powerful. If you've read BNW and liked it, definately read 1894.

 

[slunk]

I just read it too. It was never required in my school reading. The book forsees the future, and the way we're going, one day the world will be like that. I just hope I'm not living when it is.

 

[Spoooon]

For those of you that want to read it, here is a link to the complete text: 1984.

edit: He did write it on while having TB, though I don't think he ever said that's why it was so dark. A lot of people believe that's the reason. In addition to having TB, is wife had passed away suddenly a little bit before he started writing 1984.

 

[GoWaldo]

1984 is an amazing book. It makes me wonder if a society like that could actually one day be real.

 

[EvanFerguson]

sweet, this is the only book i've read and liked infact i've read it twice, intense!


what did you think about the ending, specifically the last sentence? I cried actually, whew!

my teacher put it well when he said, &quot;If you think about it, it couldn't have ended any other way&quot;


good deal

 

[beatniks3]

it is a good book i agree. you should try WE by Yevgeny Zamyatin if you want to read the book that Orwell used as a guide to writing 1984. WE is a great novel in its own right. ---->b3<----

 

[SirFshAlot]

many people don't realize that BigBrother only really applied to the upper middle class

the proletariat went about their daily grind

the real heart of the book was the book that O'Brien gave Smith

 

[Piano Man]

<< Is it anything like Brave New World? >>



The two are very similar in many ways. Both books revolve around a world where the government has absolute control using different devices. In 1984 this included the idea of cameras, Newspeak, and the Thought Police. BNW had soma and artificial birth where children were brainwashed into believing what the government wanted them to believe in.

 

[yellowperil]

I think the most moving part of the book is when Winston is recalling the one happy moment in his childhood with his mother and sister playing the ratty board game. That and his first rendezvous with Julia.

 

[Elledan]

Haven't read this book for a while, maybe I should give it a reread

It's pretty good, much better than 'brave new world', which I've read too.

 

[lyric]

I read the book about two years ago. It was definitely a little creepy for me. I highly enjoyed it. Those of you who have not read it yet, give it a try. =)

PS: Big Brother's watching you!