Biastai

Why am I posting book reviews? Because reading books is time-consuming. No one wants to spend a month or two reading a lousy book. I'll offer here my "two cents" on whatever book I finish.

1984, George Orwell

Just finished listening to this on audio while driving. I will run into some difficulty reviewing this as I must guard against revealing spoilers.

The year is 1984 (the book was written in 1949) in the country called Oceania. The story follows Winston Smith, a government worker who struggles with the heavy burden of living under the continual surveillance of the ruling party.

The reader will dabble in sociology, politics, group psychology, and much more in the most engaging manner. Utterly gripping in his simple language, Orwell toys with the reader in ending almost every chapter with events happening and emotions raging at fevered pitch. The next chapter begins calmly altogether in another setting and at another time. The reader scrambles to reorient himself. Does Orwell intentionally recreate an affect resembling amnesia for the reader? If so, it is extremely effective.

I absolutely recommend reading this. The descriptions of the thought-crushing government will dramatically stimulate your own thoughts! But the word which perhaps describes 1984 best is...haunting.