On a scale of 1-5 stars, with 5 stars being the best, how do you rate 1984?
***** (Loved it)
27%
[ 3 ]
****
45%
[ 5 ]
***
0%
[ 0 ]
**
9%
[ 1 ]
* (Loathed it)
0%
[ 0 ]
Gave up on it, didn't finish it
0%
[ 0 ]
Didn't read this one
18%
[ 2 ]
Total Votes : 11
Author
Message
lisa2062 Administrator
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 919 Birthday: 23rd December
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: August book: 1984 by George Orwell
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
_________________ Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject:
I read this about 2 months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got really involved in the world that George Orwell creates and found it to be scarily believable.
I still find myself thinking about it regularly. Usually due to comparing aspects of the story to things that are happening today, either in the Media, globally or UK, or even new product launches. For example:
Spoiler:
I thought the new fitness prgramme for the Nintendo Wii was like the enforced fitness the Party makes everyone do through their TV sets in the mornings. Ok, I know the Wii isn't forcing people to be fit, but just the idea that people do their regular exercise infront of a games console just got me thinking. Perhaps I read too much into things....!!
I gave it 4 stars overall. _________________ Currently Reading:
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject:
Spoiler:
I love doing Wiifit!
I'm going to try to do a re-read on this, to refresh my memory, and hope it's as good as I remember _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
I hadn't read this in over 20 years. I enjoyed it as a kid, but I now feel after re-reading it that the message was wasted on me before. Or maybe it's just even more relevant now than ever. Scarily believable. _________________ Currently reading - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
I've read this a few times, it's one of my favourite books. I'm going to re read it sometimes this month. I'm reading Cancer Ward right now, set in Soviet russia and seeing lots of similarities. _________________ Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:41 am Post subject:
I started reading 1984 today, my copy is from my Sixth Form college library and has pencil underlinings from my younger self, aww ! _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:
Amie wrote:
I've read this a few times, it's one of my favourite books. I'm going to re read it sometimes this month. I'm reading Cancer Ward right now, set in Soviet russia and seeing lots of similarities.
I see you are also reading Wild Swans, which I think also has similarities: B.B./ Chairman Mao, false confessions, traitors, marriages having to be approved... _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Just finished 1984 last night and although I have read it before I am not sure how I feel about it this time. I read it a few years ago in college and remember loving it and feeling really emotional about all the issues raised, this time I just kind of didn't really care! Maybe its just not as thought inspiring second time around or maybe this lovely world we live in has turned me into a hard and cynical witch! I still gave it 4 stars as there is no denying how well this book is written and I did love it the first time around! _________________ Currently Reading: Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
I finished it this afternoon. I loved it just as much this time round, and saw lots of parallels with what's happening now in the world.
Spoiler:
for instance, Britain being consumed into the US, with all the recent comments about being Bush's lapdog. Also the watching every aspect of our lives, which is getting worse now. There were other things but I can't remember them now!
I guess as we get on with Wild Swans there'll be similarities, we're only at chapter 6 so far so the communist revolution's not really in full swing yet. _________________ Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:55 am Post subject:
Today I finished reading 1984. I can only give it 4/5 because I found it so upsetting, I don't like upsetting books !
Spoiler:
I loved the way that even after meeting Julia and embarking on a relationship with her Winston still is pessimistic and knows that the will not defeat the Party, that it's the other way around and the Party will defeat them- both physically and mentally.
This is in contrast with my most recent read The Bourne Identity where one man fights against all the odds to clear his name etc. w/ the help of a woman...
We are led to empathise with Winston and the miserable conditions of his gritty day-to-day existence. Which of course makes it so much worse when they are captured and tortured in Part Three.
I hated Part Three, it was so disturbing ! The beatings reducing him to a cringing animal- horrible !
_________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
I didn't reallt enjoy this book very mcuh at all-I gave it 2*s. I'm not sure if it was the subject matter, or that I didn't relate to the characters, or what, but I expected so much more of it. Maybe I shouldn't build books up so much before I read them!
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