I read this book a long time back and it made a great impression on me. I wanted to blog about it but I realized that before I could, I needed to reread it so that I could recall that same experience (as much as possible).
The story is a dystopian novel set in London in the year 1984. There is no longer Britain; it is now called Airstrip One and is a province of Oceania, which is under the control of Big Brother and the Inner Party. Everywhere you go, Big Brother is there and he is watching. Along with the Thought Police, it is impossible to express or even think of betraying Big Brother. In this type of world, where everyone has a set task and willingly conforms to the “expectations” (for there are no rules) of the Inner Party, Winston Smith is alone in his belief that the Inner Party (and Big Brother, himself!) is wrong in their beliefs. When he meets a fellow comrade, Julia, he is drawn more and more towards the idea of conspiracy. But when you are under constant scrutiny and surveillance, it is impossible to trust anyone. Because Big Brother is always watching you …
Now, I’m considered a fast reader but this book took me 3 days to read thoroughly. That isn’t to say that this book is extremely boring; it’s just filled with a lot of details and technicalities that make you think deeply about the consequences they allude to. What makes this book so shocking is how realistic it is; if the right kind of people met and followed this plan, the events in this story, the lifestyle depicted in this book, could truly become a reality! I love this book because it portrays society’s flaws as well as those of every human being – it dissects human emotions and ambition and reveals cold, hard, facts and opinions on what makes the world tick. It is accurate in a most chilling way and makes you think and rethink how society works. If you want to think and want one of the original dystopian novels, definitely read this book! It is amazing, it is thought-provoking, and it will scare the bejeezus out of you if you just take the time to figure out the bigger implications that it is hinting at.