1984

The reason for choosing this George Orwell classic goes back to my last post. A few months ago Jeopardy had a category for 1984. They had two actually. One for the year, the second for the book. It's been on my list of reads for a while. After I passed my last exam, I went to the library and checked it out.

Synopsis
1984 takes place in a futuristic (er... alternative) future 1984. The world is ruled by three supernations, Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia. Set in what was once London (now called Airstrip One in Oceania), 1984 features Winston Smith as a worker of the outer party. Monitored closely by telescreens, Winston is careful with every move he makes. Big Brother must be worshipped. The rebellions must be hated. Strict obedience is required.

Thoughts
I won't ruin the story of the book, but I thought 1984 was an enjoyable read. It's somewhat political as it delves into purposes for war and class warfare. It's a fairly simple story and very easy to read. Orwell's dystopia is truly frightening, and depressing. Some of Winston's paranoia I'm sure has been felt by teenagers at some point in time. In this book, though, the paranoia comes with good reason. Part of the book displays the nature of punishment that happens to those who dare to defy Big Brother. Orwell also show how people feel when they color outside the lines created by those in power.

I enjoyed the book. It's not something that struck me as fantastic, but it was interesting enough to keep me going. It's also nice to finally get some of the references out there in the modern culture. The content never gets too graphic, though there is definitely some mature subject matter. Would recommend to anyone interested in political theory, or like me, just wants some classic literature to read.