Yes, yes, yes ... it has taken me two years before I actually started my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. I'm a slacker. However, this year, I have changed my ways.
I don't normally do New Year resolutions, but this year, I decided it was the only way I would end up forcing myself to read. Don't get me wrong, I love to read, but as you may know by looking at your own life, everyday events get in the way.
So, this year, I started "No TV Mondays." This has helped tremendously with my reading and has actually made me look forward to Mondays. Sometimes I find myself not being able to wait until Monday to pick up my book and read more, so I end up picking it up a few times throughout the week.
Due to "No TV Mondays," I have read "The Historian," "The Book Thief," "The Hunger Games," "Catching Fire," "Mocking Jay," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I just finished my first book in the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, "1984," by George Orwell.
I've been averaging a book per month this year — I tend to be a slow reader.
For each book I read, I'll do a simple "review." As to keep it short and to not give away too many details (for those who have yet to read the book), it's more of a bullet-point review.
Okay, on to the reasons we all came here ...
"1984," by George Orwell
I gave this book: 4 out of 5 stars
General thoughts
It took me awhile to get into this book. It just didn't seem to catch my attention right away. That doesn't always mean I think it's going to be a bad book, rather I need to push through what seems to be a slow start. Once I got past the first few chapters though, things started to peak my interest.
Book synopsis
This story follows a man, Winston, through a period in time when society is controlled by "Big Brother." Everything you do — eating, working, talking, thinking — are controlled by those in charge.
While most seem to be brainwashed, Winston fights to keep his beliefs, his past and his future. He thinks freely and at times he acts freely. Although Big Brother tries his best to take away everything Winston knows and understands, Winston holds on to what's true to him.
It gives a startling glance into what society could possibly become if we keep heading in the same direction we're going. One all powerful being and little minions there to do his/her work, while they're brainwashed and scared of Big Brother.
3 things I liked about the book
• I'm a big fan of people standing up for what they believe. That is the majority of what I see from Winston throughout this book. That doesn't mean he falters in those beliefs, but I felt in the end he kept hold of them — even if it was deep down inside him rather than at the surface.
• I'm also a big fan of those who stare fear straight in the face. There's a period in the book where Winston is pushed to his breaking point. However, right in the middle of that breaking point, he looked Big Brother straight in the face and pushed through.
• The writing. I've always liked the way George Orwell writes. Every reader likes a
certain type of writing. Some don't like a lot of description (because
they prefer to use more of their imagination than the author's), while
some like a lot of description. I'm somewhere in the middle. I like the
author to give me an outline of what people, places and things look like, however, I
also like for the author to give me a little room to use my imagination. That's what Orwell does for me.
My favorite part
My favorite part is the end. We all saw it coming. It was an ending that was foretold many pages before, but in my mind (some may not agree), Winston held tight to what he believes — all the way to the end.
My least favorite part
Repetition. I felt there was so much repetition when it came to describing how parts of the "government" worked, along with the ins and outs of newspeak.
My favorite character
There's only a few characters in this book and really only one main character, Winston. I'm not sure though if I can put my finger on one character because there didn't seem to be much character development ... and I'm a big fan of character development.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes. First, although it's slow to start, it's a good book and I enjoy Orwell's writing. Secondly, it's a classic and I'm a BIG fan of the classics.
“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”
— George Orwell, "1984"
My next book will not be off this list. I know, I know ... Valeri, you just started the challenge! Well, I've been looking forward to Harper Lee's new book release, "Go Set a Watchman" and I plan to start it as soon as it's out (next Wednesday). However, after that I will be right back to this reading challenge with "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain.
