1984

Read and reviewed: Jun 07, 2021

This book was selected for the book club. I've wanted to read it for quite some time, but I didn't realize it would be so gripping. I read it in 3 days. Could barely put it down. Spent my full Friday in bed reading it. The book is divided into three parts. Life under Big Brother. The revolution. The Ministry of Love. Great universe creation on the first part. The second part is getting long when all you do is reading the book, and it feels like reading 50 pages in a row of political essays. It is interesting, mind you, but it was still a lot to digest in this form. Not the biggest fan of how women are treated in this part. And then, there is part 3. And wow, that was difficult to read. For the actual torture. I read The Kite Runner and Po-on just before, but I found this part harder to read than anything I read in those last two books. And then, this ending. I am satisfied with it. With the extension of Oceania by winning the war, if it is even true, and the final love for Big Brother, the tear of idolatry and realization.

Now, really, what I think about the book. Really well written. George has this capacity to summarize and explain systems with such clarity. To understand the layers of internalized manipulation and control. The way it modifies behaviors and interpersonal interactions. Identity, pride and sense of belonging. It's frightening, when you no longer know what is real or not, what can really be refuted. The book was written more than 70 years ago, and is so relevant right now. I don't think I would have wanted to read it or study it in high school. But at the same time, I watched A Clockwork Orange, even if very different.

Now for some spoilers. Of course, O'Brien would be on the Brotherhood. Of course it would be a way to trap, target and magnetize dissidents. How brilliant. Now, the question is, is there still another resistance beyond the fake resistance lead by Big Brother? And is Winston really completely empty inside? Playing chess and drinking alcohol at the coffee, not really talking to anyone, besides a few hours at work each week? What is still happening inside? There is still this fight. The fond memories with his mother. Of course, they are immediately delegated to doublethink, to fake memory, but there is this tension, still. Not to her, of course, after such torture. But still. Does everything that constitute him really disappear?

I understand why it is a classic and considered a necessary read. There is sadness. Because this has been real, is and will be, to some degrees, to some people. You know, the world, today. 4.5 stars