1984 by George Orwell is nothing short of exceptional. It left me feeling terrified and unsettled. From the very beginning, I was consumed by a sense of dread—a fear that the world Orwell describes could easily become our reality.
Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Published: June 8, 1949
Genre: Fiction, Dystopia, Political Fiction, Science Fiction
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Summary
1984 is set in Airstrip One (formerly known as Great Britain), a society where every citizen’s move is watched by Big Brother, leaving no room for privacy. In this world, where love and sex are outlawed, Winston Smith, an employee at the Ministry of Truth tasked with rewriting history, dares to dream of freedom. Along the way, he meets Julia and O’Brien, and together they vow to rebel against the oppressive regime.
Review
This book explores themes of surveillance, totalitarianism and the erosion of privacy in the world of 1984 which makes me feel like being in a prison. There’s a constant lack of sense of peace or feeling at home or comfortable in your own space. There’s this intense feeling of being watched, of having to scrutinize every action and word. It’s unsettling, and it resonates deeply in our time, where we’re grappling with issues of data privacy and totalitarianism leaders in democratic countries manipulating facts to serve their political agendas. 1984 feels suffocating and hopeless, and it genuinely scared me because the patterns in the book can be found in our society today.
What made this experience even more profound was that I listened to the story through an Audible adaptation, which transformed the narrative for me. It felt more like an immersive radio drama than a typical audiobook. The gasps, the screams, the subtle voices of the characters—combined with the soundscape—brought the story to life in a visceral and gripping way, adding layers of depth to an already powerful piece of literature.
What makes 1984 so compelling is its sharp critique of totalitarianism. Orwell doesn’t just paint a bleak picture for shock value—his intent is to make readers uncomfortable, perhaps to the point of making us realize the importance of keeping a close watch on the state of our government and how detrimental unchecked power can be. The book demonstrates how totalitarian regimes seek to control all aspects of public and private life, including politics, the economy, culture, and even personal beliefs. Many scenes are designed to make your blood boil, highlighting the oppressive and invasive nature of such regime.
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
Orwell’s exploration of how people react to this oppressive regime is especially complex. There are characters who despise the system but do nothing, those who wish to rebel but are too focused on survival or their own safety, and those who actively work to maintain the status quo, either out of fear or blind loyalty. I think these are very accurate representations of how people respond to tyranny. Many of us feel like there are countless things in the world that need to change, but the problems feel so overwhelming that taking action seems futile. At the same time, we also feel the need to find something joyful to do in this bleak world just to keep going.
As I read, I couldn’t help but reflect on our current political climate—the erosion of privacy and the rise of totalitarian tendencies through the manipulation of the truth. It’s all eerily similar to the world Orwell describes. The more you read, the more you realize how prophetic this book is. It forces you to confront the uncomfortable reality that many of the issues presented aren’t confined to fiction—they’re happening now. It’s frustrating, maddening, and heartbreaking to witness the parallels between 1984 and our present-day struggles.
Final Thoughts
This was an uncomfortable and terrifying read, and that’s how you know it’s just so well done. The political critique encapsulated in this 4-hour Audible book made my workday so much more interesting. Andrew Garfield is perfect for the narration.
I would recommend this to any lover dystopian or science fiction much like the level of work of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. But honestly, it should be on everyone’s bookshelf. Gift it to your woke friend or your enemy so they’d feel uncomfortable (:D). I can’t emphasize enough how important this book is for humanity. Please give this one a read.
If you’ve read this book, whether you loved it or hated it, let me know your thoughts! I’d love to hear them. 🫡
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