Animal Farm by George Orwell
This book has to be on my short list. Unlike Lord of the Flies where I can’t quite handle the abuse (not quite strong enough a word) done to Piggy and therefore don’t like the book, the disturbing scenes in Animal Farm add up to just the right amount of violence, so I can’t look away yet I know I will be affected forever. Orwell succeeds at drawing out the deception, bit by bit, like a snake through grass, until all the reader can do is watch the impending doom. Yes it’s done with talking animals, but that’s where his power lies. Orwell lulls you into a state of detachment until he is ready to make his final blow. And what a doozy of a last scene, I must have read it a dozen times, even if I haven’t read the book that much. It’s so cinematic; the dizzying effect of looking around and around the table of pigs and men and realizing you can’t tell the difference. Brilliant.
Judge for yourself.
This book has to be on my short list. Unlike Lord of the Flies where I can’t quite handle the abuse (not quite strong enough a word) done to Piggy and therefore don’t like the book, the disturbing scenes in Animal Farm add up to just the right amount of violence, so I can’t look away yet I know I will be affected forever. Orwell succeeds at drawing out the deception, bit by bit, like a snake through grass, until all the reader can do is watch the impending doom. Yes it’s done with talking animals, but that’s where his power lies. Orwell lulls you into a state of detachment until he is ready to make his final blow. And what a doozy of a last scene, I must have read it a dozen times, even if I haven’t read the book that much. It’s so cinematic; the dizzying effect of looking around and around the table of pigs and men and realizing you can’t tell the difference. Brilliant.
Judge for yourself.
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