Classic Fiction
1946 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Finished in November 2000
Rating: 2/5 (Fair)
Publisher's Blurb:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned—a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.
When Animal Farm was first published, Stalinist Russia was seen as its target. Today it is devastatingly clear that wherever and whenever freedom is attacked, under whatever banner, the cutting clarity and savage comedy of George Orwell’s masterpiece have a meaning and message still ferociously fresh.
My Original Thoughts (2000):
Boring! Took forever to work my way through it.
My Current Thoughts:
I read this over the course of two months, after deciding to read some of the classics that I read in high school. I didn't care for this one at all.
I like Animal Farm, but maybe it's because I've taught parts of it so many times when we cover the Russian Revolution, Lenin, Stalin, etc in my world history courses. Actually, I used parts of the old cartoon version, which the students quite liked.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had been in your class!
DeleteI remember liking Animal Farm a lot and then I read it for a class in college and then loved it. I haven't read it since and I probably won't. I find that the books that I loved in college don't translate well for me now.
ReplyDeleteTi, I'll bet it would have been much more interesting to read it for college than on my own.
DeleteVicki, I doubt I'll read it a 3rd time! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is a book I loved the first time I read it, and I ended up recommending it to a dozen other people who also enjoyed it. I am sorry it wasn't a book for you, Les.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I didn't enjoy it either, Deb. I know it's a favorite of many readers.
DeleteI read this one in high school and other than that famous line I don't remember anything about it! I actually think my friends and I liked it but I wonder what I would think of it now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's not a lot that I remember about it either, Iliana!
DeleteI remember reading this in high school and being inspired by it. But I don't recall much about it now—except it left me with the idea that we need to be able to think for ourselves!
ReplyDeleteLaurel, I wish I could remember more about the book, but I'm not inspired to read it a third time...
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