for the love of a book.

Book: Nineteen Eighty-Four
Author: George Orwell

I had presuppositions of this book before I read the first sentence. I'd heard of it from a friend who had to read it for a high school English class, and told me it was a worthwhile read. The title being a number, I deemed the book eerie, futuristic, disheartening, and mysterious at first glance.

I read Nineteen Eighty-Four in audiobook format (listen to it here), which I highly suggest because it truly made Winston come more alive in my mind, as George Orwell wrote as a first person narrative.

For the most part, I was correct in my impressions considering the title; it is a futuristic and philosophical novel. I did not know that Orwell had written 1984 in the 1940's, published it in 1949. I'd simply assumed the book was about a person born in 1984, or something that happened in 1984.

George Orwell asks many questions he leaves unanswered, I believe, on purpose. Questions about who O'Brien really was, and if the underground rebellion really existed, or was it a scheme thought police publicized to more easily expose and prosecute thought criminals?

Personally, I don't think the underground rebellion existed. The government was so manipulative, it could literally read minds.

So the true question lies in: What was Orwell getting at in Nineteen Eighty-Four? Was he foreshadowing our own future; what he thought reality was coming to?

I don't think 1984 could ever happen the way he wrote it. For the sake of power, yes, people do insane things, but art still prevails. The minority counter-culture still prevails and has distinct voice. Love lingers, sex isn't forsaken in this culture (by any means). George Orwell had interesting concepts in his mind, to say the least. Very intriguing book, indeed. It is one of those books I will have to read again and again to grasp Orwell's perspective in its fullness. I am glad it was written.

Favorite character: I would have to say that Winston, the protagonist, is my favorite character. I like his perspective on life and thought, his conflict, and the inner turmoil that reigned over his situation as he lived in a totalitarian society. I have hope in O'Brien, too, though I think he might simply be a schemer to reel in thought criminals like Winston to his ultimate demise.